SAREPTA - Capacity building projects at MET Norway

Developing and emerging countries face increasing vulnerability to weather and climate hazards, but lack the institutional and technical capacity to deliver tailored, actionable climate services. Addressing this gap requires sustained capacity development across both technical and operational domains.

This contribution presents the umbrella project SAREPTA of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Funded by NORAD and spanning partnerships in multiple countries in Africa and South-east Asia, SAREPTA aims at strengthening capabilities of meteorological institutes in weather forecasting, verification, forecast communication, user engagement, marine services, climate services, and data management.

This presentation draws on ongoing projects in Vietnam, Bangladesh, Malawi, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The project period varies across countries, with some collaborations spanning more than a decade and others having been initiated more recently. We highlight key experiences and lessons learned from implementation across the different countries. 

SAREPTA capacity building projects are structured around a set of overarching principles. For example, a key principle is the use of open and free software. Activities include the implementation of open-source tools for visualization of forecast products and verification, climate analysis and empirical-statistical downscaling, and the integration of relevant data into unified systems. End-to-end dissemination through digital technology such as mobile weather applications, and the exploration of AI-based methods in weather forecasting are also part of the work. Similarly, in the context of weather, climate and marine services, the project includes the full value cycle, from the use and analysis of local observations to downscaled climate scenarios.

Both MET Norway and partner institutes in each country have nominated dedicated expert teams. Activities include regular in-person workshops, taking place both in partner countries and in Norway, complemented by digital follow-up meetings to maintain progress. Cross-cutting coordination of MET Norway teams ensures a holistic approach across thematic areas and regions. Additionally, we strive to collaborate with other partners working in these countries to maximize impact and leverage existing and local networks. Overall, in this presentation we highlight that sustainable capacity is built through close, long-term collaboration with partner institutions, with topic-experts working side-by-side to ensure relevance and long-term impact within each focus area.