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World Meteorological Organization IBCS MC-4/Doc.3.1 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE Submitted by: INTERGOVERNMENTAL BOARD ON CLIMATE Chair of the IBCS SERVICES 10.X.2016 Fourth Session DRAFT 1 Darmstadt, Germany, 17 to 19 October 2016

AGENDA ITEM 3: REPORTS

AGENDA ITEM 3.1: REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL BOARD ON CLIMATE SERVICES

SUMMARY

DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED:

Review the report and provide guidance on ways to further enhance implementation and effectiveness of the GFCS

CONTENT OF DOCUMENT:

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

* * On a PC, in MS Word 2010 go to “View” and tick the “Navigation Pane” checkbox in the “Show” section. In MS Word 2007 or 2003, go to “View” > “Document Map”. On a Mac, go to “View” > “Navigation Pane” and select “Document Map” in the drop-down list on the left. IBCS MC-4/Doc. 3.1, DRAFT 1, p. 2 REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL BOARD ON CLIMATE SERVICES 3.1.1 Key to the success of the GFCS is effective involvement and 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 this regard, efforts have been continued to develop a Proof of Concept by focusing activities in a limited number of countries identified by the Partner Advisory Committee (Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Dominica, Moldova, Papua New Guinea and Tanzania) and in Colombia and Peru identified as additional countries for support by WMO, while at the same time promoting flagship projects in various countries to provide support to as many countries as possible. 3.1.2 The GFCS Adaptation Programme in Africa being implemented in Tanzania and Malawi (http://gfcs.wmo.int/Norway_2) has received additional funding (NOK 60 million) following a positive evaluation of its first phase for a second phase to be implemented during the period 2017-2019. In the countries where flagship projects were initiated through facilitation of national consultations, Action Plans have been endorsed by the governments of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger and Senegal. Vanuatu developed a national framework for climate services, while Madagascar approved a decree establishing the national framework for climate services. At the regional level, a consultation on climate services for the Arab Region was held from 4 to 6 October 2016 that agreed, among others, to develop demonstration projects on the application of climate services for water resources management and agriculture and food security. A consultation on climate services for Southern Africa is being planned for 29 November – 2 December 2016, organized in collaboration with MeteoSwiss, the German Weather Service (DWD) and the Meteorological Department of Zimbabwe. With the workshop in Southern Africa, developing countries would have been covered by regional consultations which have facilitated identification of priority activities for implementation of GFCS. 3.1.3 While efforts are being undertaken to operationalize the Climate Services Information System (CSIS) that will provide the backbone for access to climate data and products by Regional Climate Centres (RCC) and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), to enable accelerated access to products and data, a fast-tracking approach for the development of capacities of Members in need of support is being pursued. The approach would consist in tapping into the capacities of advanced NMHSs willing to provide a suit of data, products and the needed technical support services to enable their effective utilization by the less capable NMHSs. Through twinning, this approach would not only enable capacity development, but also put in place the needed elements to ensure sustainability of activities implemented. A Help Desk for the GFCS is being developed that will provide a platform for the visualization of the various products and services made available by Members as well as tools, methodologies and examples of climate services development and application. 3.1.4 Efforts have continued to align initiatives with partners who are investing considerable amounts of resources in support of climate services related activities in various developing countries. A white paper articulating the contribution of the Copernicus Climate Change Services (C3S) of the European Union to the Climate Services Information System (CSIS) is under development. C3S will make available critical data for the Global Data Processing and Forecasting System (GDPF) and the WMO Information System (WIS). Similarly, efforts are being pursued with the World Bank, UNDP and other partners to ensure that investments under the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund and other funding mechanisms are aligned to maximize the benefits of investments IBCS MC-4/Doc. 3.1, DRAFT 1, p. 3 and minimize duplication, as recommended for example by the roundtable organized on 13-14 April 2016 by WMO and the World Bank Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery.

3.1.5 Partners have continued to engage in the activities of the GFCS. The European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) were the last organizations to join the PAC which has now a membership of 17 partners (http://gfcs.wmo.int/partnership). The Partner Advisory (PAC) Committee is implementing its workplan in support of the GFCS. In this context, the PAC develop the White Paper on the Contribution of the GFCS to Agenda 2030. In addition, PAC members have provided experts to service the Task Team on Operational and Resource Plan, and the Monitoring and Evaluation Task Team, which proposed the framework for the mid-term review of the GFCS. Furthermore, as agreed in its workplan, the PAC will be advocating the GFCS through side events at COP 22.

3.1.6 Through partnerships with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) , the GFCS has been able to deploy two experts in the FAO Regional Office in Dakar to facilitate support to the countries where flagship projects were initiated in West Africa, experts in Burkina Faso and Niger to support implementation of the Action Plans developed with the assistance of the GFCS, and two experts at the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC). Two experts will be deployed at the African Centre for Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD).

3.1.7 To further advance GFCS implementation active resource mobilization efforts are being pursued. Following the accreditation of the WMO as an implementing agency for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) proposals have been developed for climate services for energy covering the eight countries benefiting from immediate support to develop the Proof of Concept and a proposal for enhancing climate resilience in the 3rd Pole. A third proposal in support of seven countries in West Africa where flagship activities were initiated is under development. In addition, proposal was submitted to the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Government.

3.1.8 To strengthen linkages of the GFCS with global level policies, collaboration with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) enabled the publication of “Climate Services for Supporting Climate Change Adaptation” a supplement to the technical guidelines of the National Adaptation Process. This publication is expected to increase the use of climate services in national adaptation planning and practices. Equally, efforts are being made to have the GFCS directly reporting to the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) of the UNFCCC.

3.1.9 The activities implemented under the GFCS were possible thanks to the contributions made to the GFCS by WMO Members. Additional contributions were received from China, Republic of Korea and Switzerland.

3.1.10 Challenges in implementing the GFCS relate to ensuring effective partnerships, mobilizing resources to enable implementation of critical activities including coordination with key partners and initiatives, and mobilizing appropriate support from Members. ______