KNMI-Global: Lessons learned during the first phase of the SOFF as a peer advisor to 5 countries

In light of the rapidly changing climate, it is crucial to advance weather and climate services across the world. Cooperation and partnerships are important to accelerate such efforts around the globe. Due to the existing gaps in early warning systems, UN’s Early Warning 4 All (EW4ALL) campaign was launched to ensure that every person on earth is covered by early warning systems by 2027. In 2021, the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI)-Global program was launched to support weather and climate services focusing on countries with the largest gaps.

Effective early warnings require chains from observations to analysis to communication to their use to avoid impacts. As one contribution to such chains, KNMI contributes to the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) as a fundamental step towards achieving EW4ALL. SOFF is a financing mechanism to improve (sharing of) basic weather and climate observations in around 60 of the Least Developed Countries. KNMI acts as a peer-advisor for five countries, i.e. Cabo Verde, Sao Tome & Principe, Uganda, Senegal, and Suriname. In the first phase of SOFF, the Readiness phase, we have analysed and reported on the country’s capacity gaps and hydro-met status, through collaboration with the hydro-meteorological service and local stakeholders. In many countries, there is already a high density of weather stations, yet issues around data policy, data management and communication hamper the international sharing of such data. Stakeholders often recognize the high value of climate and weather services, but stronger collaboration and partnerships are needed to advance products and services.

Additionally, SOFF Uganda is an important pillar of the Water at the Heart of Climate Action programme, which launched in 2023. This programme is an ambitious and collaborative initiative geared towards mitigating the impacts of water-related risks and disasters and increasing the resilience of communities in Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, and Rwanda through effective early warning systems.

Drawing from practical experiences and lessons learned, we will highlight best practices, quick wins, and common challenges encountered during our collaborative international efforts under KNMI-Global to advance weather and climate services in diverse contexts.