The WMO Regional Association I (Africa) has set its priorities for the next four years, with the nomination of Mr Fetene Teshome, the Director General of the Ethiopian Meteorology Institute (EMI) and Permanent Representative (PR) of Ethiopia with WMO as the new President of the Association, and the Director-General of Mozambican National Institute of Meteorology (MNI) and the country’s Permanent Representative (PR) with World Meteorological Organization, Dr Adérito Celso

 Félix Aramuge as the Vice President.

The high-level session, held from 16 to 17 February resolved that Early Warning for All initiative should be integrated into the regional strategy and priorities with a roadmap for implementation. Members also agreed to seek available opportunity to organize an African Summit on Early Warnings for All, with support from partners. It called on the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) to consider a comprehensive African regional SOFF programme to close Africa’s major gaps in the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON).

In his high-level opening address to the Heads of National Meteorological and hydrological Services and decision-makers in Africa, WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas, noted that ‘’much progress in hydro-meteorological services had been made in the past years’’. “WMO, together with partners, has created new mechanisms like SOFF and Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) to improve financing for Early Warning Systems”, he said.

Mr Teshome said early warnings are an essential service that guides decisions which help save life and property, and the Ethiopian Meteorology Institute (EMI) is enhancing its capacity to deliver these services.

Outgoing President, Daouda Konate, said that the Early Warnings for All Initiative offers an opportunity to provide adequate services to save lives. He noted that digitization of services would help reach the last mile. He called on Members to mobilize their governments for continued support in enhancing the infrastructural transformation of the meteorological services.