Dodoma, Tanzania; 21st September 2023

Tanzania through the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) in collaboration with  the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) as the Peer Advisor and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as Implementing Entity of Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF) in Tanzania, organized a stakeholders workshop on preparation of Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) National Contribution Plan for Tanzania on 21 September, 2023, Dodoma, Tanzania.

During his official opening remarks, Dr. Ladislaus Chang’a, Acting Director General of TMA and Vice Chair of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said preparation of the GBON National Gap Analysis for Tanzania was followed by preparation the GBON National Contribution Plan based on the identified gap.

“The Contribution Plan is at draft stage for discussion today and further improvement in ensuring that comments and recommendations from stakeholders are well considered and reflected in the priority activities contained in the National Contribution Plan”. Said Dr. Chang’a.

Dr. Chang’a also alluded on the progress of SOFF project in Tanzania, which is implemented in three phases namely; Readiness Phase, Investment Phase and Compliance Phase. “The deliverables of the readiness phase are; GBON National gap analysis, GBON National Contribution Plan and Country Hydromet Diagnostic, the priority activities that we are going to agree today will be carried forward for implementation during the Investment Phase to address the identified gaps”. Emphasized Dr. Chang’a Representative from DMI, Mr. Christian Rodrup said he expects to receive concrete inputs from stakeholders for improvement and ensure that all the important aspects are well articulated to address the National Gaps and comply with the GBON Requirements, he also insisted that among the four essential pillars of delivery of the early warnings for all in five years requires simultaneous development and implementation of the full value chain of climate services, which includes aspects such as: observation, monitoring, analysis, forecast of hazards and dissemination to end users.

On the other hand, Assistant Country Representative of UNDP in Tanzania, Getrude Lyatuu, appreciated the collaboration among stakeholders and insisted that Tanzania should be more aggressive during the implementation process and ensure earlier and quality submission of GBON National Contribution Plan.

SOFF is a United Nations financing mechanism that supports Members of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) with the most shortfalls in observations to close the basic weather and climate observations data gap, by providing long-term financial and technical assistance, prioritizing on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). SOFF aims to support and accelerate the sustained collection and international exchange of the most essential surface-based weather and climate observations in compliance with the internationally agreed Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) to improve weather forecast in Members of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

ISSUED BY PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT,

TANZANIA METEOROLOGICAL AUTHORITY (TMA)

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