AGENDA ITEM 5.1: Relevant Activities of the Partners and Observers That Add Value to the GFCS

World Meteorological Organization PAC-7/Doc.5.1 PARTNER ADVISORY COMMITTEE Submitted by: Secretariat SEVENTH SESSION 13.X.2017 Reading, United Kingdom, 17 to 18 October 2017 DRAFT 1

AGENDA ITEM 5.1: RELEVANT ACTIVITIES OF THE PARTNERS AND OBSERVERS THAT ADD VALUE TO THE GFCS

SUMMARY

DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED:

(a) Сonsider the updates on GFCS;

(b) Provide guidance for further enhancing the collaboration and coordination among PAC partner agencies for the implementation of the GFCS.

CONTENT OF DOCUMENT:

The Table of Contents is available only electronically as a Document Map*.

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5.1.1 Efforts have been continued to strengthen coordination of activities with WMO Members, constituent bodies and partner organizations to leverage resources, expertise and promote alignment of the various initiatives by various actors in the Partner Advisory Committee (PAC) focus countries (Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Dominica, Moldova, PNG and Tanzania).

5.1.2 In Bhutan, with support from WMO, from 7-9 November 2017, the Bhutan National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) will host a stakeholder workshop to assess the capacities of providers and needs of users of climate services in support of decision-making in the agriculture sector in Bhutan. This workshop will inform the customization of the Climate Services Toolkit in Bhutan. The workshop is technically supported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and financially supported by Environment and Climate Change Canada through the Programme for Implementation of GFCS at Regional and National Scales. This activity stems from the recommendations of the Regional Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services for the Third Pole Region (Jaipur, India, 9-11 March 2016). In addition, an implementation plan for the provision and use of climate services in the Third Pole is being finalized by WMO.

5.1.3 In Burkina Faso, resources from the Climate Risk and Early Warning System (CREWS), initiative led by WMO, the World Bank Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) are being leveraged with resources from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project to implement the National Action Plan with the support of the GFCS Coordination office in Dakar. A new GFCS Coordinator is in place since May 2017. The coordination of activities in PAC-7/Doc. 5.1, DRAFT 1 p. 3

Burkina Faso is centered around the inter-agency task force on climate services in Burkina Faso which was created by the GFCS. Burkina Met Service has become an autonomous agency, and is now due to accelerate its signature of the decree to create the national framework for climate services (NFCS) this year. Finally, Burkina and six countries in the Sahel are actively seeking to secure funding for the operationalization of their NFCSs, through a regional funding proposal to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The GFCS is currently supporting program formulation, due to be finalized at the end of the year. In addition, a USD 1,5 million regional CREWS project for West Africa is in preparation. This project will provide regional and global support for operational systems for risk information and early warning in Burkina Faso and others countries in the region.

5.1.4 In Dominica, the 2016 Climate and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment study served as a strong catalyst to create a functional regional partnership with the Caribbean Regional Climate Center (Caribbean Institute for Meteorology & Hydrology, CIMH) and identified adaptation and risk management needs. However, there are no climate services being developed for the health sector at the national level as a result. On the contrary, the Ministry of Health developed a further plan of action from the study with significant advances to address data issues identified during the study and is seeking funding for a Health National Adaptation Plan (H-NAP). The key recommendation from the Dominica experience is that a regionalized approach is the most efficient in the Caribbean. Progress has been made in this regards. CIMH have considerably stepped up their engagement with the regional health community and have now produced two health bulletins in May and August 20171. The WHO/WMO Joint Office has developed with Health Canada a workbook for Climate and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments in the Caribbean Region. Moreover, WHO and UNFCCC are developing Climate and Health Country Profiles for several islands (including Dominica) which will be launched at COP23 and may result in additional support to Dominica.

5.1.5 In Moldova, the World Bank has contracted an international non- profit organization specialized in exploring and communicating connections between the environment and society in the Eastern Europe to support Moldova in developing a national framework for climate services. Through a consultative process this effort is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. A Project preparation funding application was submitted to the Green Climate Fund to develop a proposal for Moldova focusing on climate services for the energy sector. The emphasis in Moldova is on solar resource assessment. The PPF application is still under review.

5.1.6 In Papua New Guinea (PNG), the “Enhancing Adaptive Capacity of Communities to Climate Change-Related Floods in the North Coast and Islands Region of Papua New Guinea” Programme implemented by UNDP,

1 https://rcc.cimh.edu.bb/files/2017/08/Caribbean-Health-Climatic-Bulletin-Aug-2017.pdf Office of Climate Change and Development and PNG Government has been extended until December 2017. Disaster preparedness plans have been completed in three provinces as well as hazard assessments for inland and coastal flooding. The assessments will inform flood preparedness and response plans in the pilot provinces (New Ireland Province and East Sepik). An international consultant to work with provincial counterparts in the development of the plan is under recruitment. In the context of the project titled “Raising Awareness and Enhancing Community Resilience to Climate Change and Impacts Affecting Coastal and Riverine Communities in Madang Province" awareness-raising and training on the importance of mangrove conservation was initiated. The awareness program reached 500 villagers. Trainings have also been conducted on best practices for mangrove and conservation as well as establishing mangrove nurseries. 6000 mangrove seedlings have been collected by WWF for planting. A grant agreement is being negotiated with World Conservation Society to implement mangrove planting/conservation project in New Ireland province. Policy development consultations have been completed to strengthen the resilience of communities in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARB) to natural disaster and climate change=related risks. Preparation for community risk mapping in the ARB is in progress.

5.1.7 In addition, in June 2017 the CREWS Steering Committee approved the development of a project to provide improved drought monitoring and early warning systems that can foster better decision-making for agriculture, disaster management, energy and Infrastructure in PNG (with a budget of USD 1.65 mn). The project aims to strengthen end-to- end EWS focused on reducing drought impacts, while at the same time leveraging and providing a foundation for EWS focused on other hazards, and specifically flooding. The project will start in late 2017 once the committed funds from donors become available. The project will address gaps identified by a study by the Regional Integrated Early Warning System (RIMES), a capacity assessment of the PNG Met Service undertaken by the Bureau of Meteorology of Australia and a national consultation on climate services supported by the GFCS.

5.1.8 In Tanzania, as part of activities under the GFCS Adaptation Programme in Africa, an expert from the WMO Technical Commission on PAC-7/Doc. 5.1, DRAFT 1 p. 5

Climatology was deployed to review the seasonal forecasting methodology at Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) and provide recommendations to improve forecast reliability. The no-cost extension of the Programme concluded in July 2017. The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation has indicated their intentions to support a Phase II of the Programme, the anticipated start date is end of 2017. Phase II would further strengthen the institutional mechanisms put in place to enable the co-design of climate services in the agriculture/food security, disaster risk reduction, and health sectors (with WFP, IFRC, WHO, Tanzania and Malawi Met Services as the primary partners). In addition to support from the GFCS Adaptation Programme in Africa, a UK Met Office (WISER) initiative is also providing support to TMA with funding from Department for International Development (DFID). Plans are also underway to develop a Green Climate Fund proposal for Tanzania focusing on climate services for the energy sector. Additionally, the High-Impact Weather Lake System (HIGHWAY) project was recently awarded to WMO by DFID for implementation. The Programme is £ 3.2 mn spanning over three years and aims to increase the use of weather information to improve resilience and reduce the loss of life and damage to property in the East African region, specifically within the Lake Victoria area. Plans are also underway to develop a Green Climate Fund proposal for Tanzania focusing on climate services for the energy sector. WMO is in agreement with UK Met Office and the World Energy & Meteorology Council for developing together with TMA a GCF full proposal for Tanzania to be submitted before the end of 2017.