By NECJOGHA Reporter, Nairobi
Nairobi has hosted the 3rd WISER PASS National Synergy‑Building Workshop, held from 28–31 January 2026, bringing together stakeholders from across the Greater Horn of Africa to strengthen the use of weather and climate information services.
Organised under the WISER Pan‑African Seasonal Strengthening (WISER PASS) project, the event provided hands‑on training on products and services developed by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC). It also fostered national partnerships among meteorological services, media organisations, humanitarian agencies such as Save the Children, and key sectors including disaster risk management, agriculture, health, water, and energy.
Delegates from South Sudan and Uganda joined the workshop, which focused on improving communication, dissemination, and uptake of climate information. Organisers said the initiative was designed to ensure forecasts are more accessible, actionable, and relevant to communities and decision‑makers.
Participants engaged in practical sessions on sub‑seasonal to seasonal (S2S) forecasting, learning how to interpret and apply ICPAC’s climate products to real‑world challenges. Trainers emphasised the importance of tailoring information to local contexts, ensuring that farmers, health officials, and disaster managers can act on forecasts with confidence.
The workshop also highlighted the role of media in bridging the gap between science and society. Journalists and broadcasters were trained on how to translate technical forecasts into clear, engaging messages that resonate with communities, particularly those most vulnerable to climate shocks.
WISER PASS, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is implemented through a strategic partnership between the UK Met Office and ICPAC. Building on earlier WISER programmes, the project enhances sub‑seasonal to seasonal climate services across the region, promoting co‑production, equity, and innovation to support informed decision‑making and sustainable development.
Organisers noted that the Nairobi workshop is part of a broader effort to embed climate services into national planning frameworks. By strengthening collaboration between meteorological agencies, humanitarian organisations, and policymakers, WISER PASS aims to ensure that climate information is not only produced but actively used to save lives and protect livelihoods.
Participants left the workshop with renewed commitment to building resilient communities across the Greater Horn of Africa. As climate risks intensify, organisers stressed that coordinated action and informed advocacy will be critical to achieving measurable and lasting resilience outcomes.
