UNDP Tanzania in partnership with 10 other African countries are holding a three days training workshop on Tech Transfer and Innovation for Climate Change and Early Warnings Systems at the Whitesands Hotel from 14-16 October.
Tanzania is one of the most vulnerable countries to the negative impacts of climate change. Farmers and rural communities are particularly vulnerable due to their lack of access to information and early warning systems. International renowned experts are working with Tanzania to increase resilience to climate change through access to climate data for sustainable planning.
Tanzania is collaborating with UNDP to promote access to relevant climate data that will help reduce the impacts of climate change in all development sectors. These efforts are being channeled through the Multi Country Support Programme to Strengthen Climate Information Systems in Africa (CIRDA) that brings new technologies and capacities to help farmers, policy makers and the private sector to make informed decisions in the face of climate change. The CIRDA Programme, financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF), is an example of the concrete actions that African countries are taking to increase resiliency to climate change.
The CIRDA Programme is particularly innovative due to the significant involvement of the private sector, such as mobile telecommunication and agricultural index insurance.
As part of the CIRDA implementation, a three-day training workshop is being held at the White sands Hotel to provide technical knowledge and experience to the National Meteorology and Hydrology Services such as the Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) and Disaster Management Departments (DMDs); in their efforts to address local and community needs. Apart from participants from Tanzania, representatives from other CIRDA participating countries - Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, the Gambia Liberia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Uganda and Zambia - are also present.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Richard Muyungi, UNFCCC Focal Point for the Government of the Republic of Tanzania “The capacity to ensure that development planning is instituted on accurate climate information and services is extremely relevant and it is an objective for which we are glad to work jointly with our UNDP and regional partners.”
Emphasizing on the relevance of the training, the UNDP Country Director, Mr. Philippe Poinsot stated “I am appealing that we have an immense task ahead of us, none of us has immune to the effect of climate change therefore strengthening climate information and early warning systems is crucial.”
Higlighting on this important training, Bonizella Biagini, manager of CIRDA at UNDP-GEF reaffirmed the CIRDA commitments in supporting the country’s weather and climate data. He said “Farmers, local communities and policymakers in Africa need weather and climate data that are scientifically sound, accessible and user-friendly to develop mid- and long-term National Adaptation Plans.”
Note to Editors: The CIRDA Programme supports national climate service in their efforts to collect, analyze and disseminate climate information as a key tool in long-term planning and adaptation. The Programme is working with partners and stakeholders in Tanzania, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, the Gambia Liberia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Uganda and Zambia to improve access to relevant climate information to meet local needs and make informed decisions. Key partners are national meteorology services, government decision makers, private sector, farmers and local communities.
0 comments:
Post a Comment