Theme: Seasonal Climate Prediction, a Strategic Planning Tool in Sustainable Socio-economic Development
Place: SAFARI HOTEL, Windhoek, Namibia
Date: 27 –28 August 2011
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), through the Climate Services Centre, is organizing the Fifteenth Southern Africa Region Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-15), in Windhoek, Namibia, 27-28 August 2011. This will be followed by a Disaster Risk Reduction stakeholders training workshop, 29-30 August 2011. SARCOF-15 is a collaborative effort between the SADC Climate Services Centre, SADC DRR Unit, World Bank-GFDRR, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), and other partners. The SARCOF-15 forecast dissemination workshop is preceded by a 10-day Climate Experts Capacity Building Workshop of SADC National Meteorological/Hydrological Services (NMHSs) only, for the purposes of developing the 2011/12 seasonal climate forecast.
Proper interpretation of seasonal climate forecasts and their application across various socio-economic decision-making processes still remains a challenge in the region. It is, therefore, necessary that there is widespread stakeholder participation in the SARCOF process. This is a major priority of the process as it provides mutually beneficial interface between the climate information and prediction services practitioners and those that need to apply the products across a wide spectrum of socio-economic sectors. The SARCOF process is continuing to transform into an effective and reliable source for climate information and prediction services in order to fully exploit their potential for enhancing multi-sectoral, social and economic development.
The main objective of SARCOF-15 is to develop a consensus climate outlook for period October 2011 to March 2012 rainfall season for the SADC Member States. The forum will also discuss the potential impacts of the consensus seasonal climate outlook on other socio-economic sectors including disaster risk management, food security, health, water resources and hydropower management, among others. The forum will also review the October 2010 to March 2011 rainy season for the SADC region.
Participants to SARCOF-15 will include climate prediction experts from the national Meteorological/Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in the SADC region and climate scientists from universities, research institutions, as well as regional and international organizations engaged in climate modeling, prediction and applications for the region. Various regional and international governmental and non-governmental organizations and development partners are also expected to attend. Due to inadequacy of the necessary resources, the SADC Climate Services Centre will not be in a position to fund those wishing to attend SARCOF-15.
Those wishing to attend can express their intention to do so through completing the attached request-for-participation form and submitting it to the Meteorological Services of Namibia not later than 22 August 2011, email: somsess@meteona.com.
Co-operating institutions include all SADC National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, the IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre; African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD); International Research Institute for Climate and Society; World Bank; World Meteorological Organization; Food and Agricultural Organization, Famines Early Warning; World Health Organization; Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA); European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts; National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration; the United Kingdom Meteorological Office; and others.
English will be the working language for the Forum.