National Consultation Workshop on the National Framework for Climate Services in Togo

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Summary
Dates: 
Tuesday, May 29, 2018 to Thursday, May 31, 2018
Location: 
Adétikopé
Togo
TG
Type: 
Workshop

Togo has taken the first step to bringing much-needed climate services to its citizens by conducting a national consultation on its National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) from 29 to 31 May 2018. While Togo has historically contributed little in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, it is nevertheless vulnerable to climate change and its effects on food security, health, deforestation, biodiversity, land degradation, and hazards like floods and severe winds.

To address Togo’s need for climate services, the Global Framework for Climate Services team is working with the Togo National Meteorological Agency and the Economic Community of West African States to develop the country’s NFCS. The commitment of key governmental authorities to implementing the NFCS was secured through a series of outreach meetings, culminating in the three-day national consultation. The Prime Minister of Togo, Professor Komi Klassou, conveyed that climate change is a great challenge for the country, which must be addressed with climate services to help them mitigate and adapt. The ministries of agriculture, livestock and fisheries; health and social protection; security and public welfare; and infrastructure and transport have committed to help implement and operationalize the Framework.

The national consultation was attended by authorities in charge of NFCS priority sectors; local stakeholders (including village chiefs, women’s organizations and farmers); experts from the Togo National Meteorological Agency; representatives from international organizations; and national media. Participants formed working groups to collaborate on key deliverables, including a roadmap for Togo’s NFCS implementation. The roadmap details the list of activities; an audit of available and missing hydrological and meteorological data; key partners who can deliver required information; and potential technical and financial partners for resource mobilization.

Participants also visited the flood-prone village of Aklakou to better understand their climate information needs and expectations; to understand which early warning systems are most appropriate for the locality; and to share and receive feedback on the workshop results and recommendations. In addition to this exchange, the community expressed their willingness and enthusiasm to work with the Togo Met Service by collecting data using rain gauges to be installed in the village.

Following the successful national consultation, a strategic and action plan for the NFCS is under development, to be validated at a national meeting before the end of the year.

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