The League of Arab States adopts Roadmap on Capacity Development of Meteorology and Climate Services in the LAS region.
On 28 and 29 April, 2015 in Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, The League of Arab States (LAS) held a Forum on Capacity Development of Meteorology and Climate Services in the LAS Region. The Forum, hosted by the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with technical and logistical support from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) was held in conjunction with the LAS Permanent Committee on Meteorology on 26-27 April 2015 and the LAS Meeting of Ministers responsible for Meteorology on 30 April 2015). Participants included Directors of National and Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of the LAS countries, Permanent Representatives of countries with the WMO, International Development Partners, UN and International Organisations, Development Banks and WMO Technical Experts.
The aim of the Forum was to build up the awareness for the need to strengthen the NMHSs in the LAS region as a key element of national development and of how to advance regional cooperation through the establishment of technical and financial mechanisms which support the development and implementation of a capacity development strategy of meteorological and climate services in the LAS region.
The Forum was divided into six thematic sessions: 1) Capacity Development Strategy for the Arab Region; 2) Human Resource Development for Meteorology and Climate Services in the Region; 3) Meteorology and Climate Observation Networks; 4) Operational Forecasting and Early Warnings; 5) Climate Data Rescue and Management; and 6) Partnerships and Regional Cooperation for Capacity Development in the Region.
Some of the key issues discussed included the current state of and challenges faced by many NMHSs in the LAS Region. In particular, country presentations were made which highlighted the deficiencies and challenges facing countries after various conflicts and disturbances. The many challenges, amongst others include: the lack of sufficient financial resources; the lack of Meteorological equipment, spares and consumables; poor telecommunications for national and international data collection and exchange; the lack of adequate human resources; insufficient trained personnel; and inability to keep up with new and emerging technology.
Based on these challenges, participants deliberated on some of the potential opportunities for technical cooperation and different financing mechanisms available which can be used to enhance NMHS capacities, starting with data rescue and management followed by the strengthening of observation networks, improving forecasts and early warnings and training of personnel, all of which are priority areas identified at the first capacity development meeting that was held in Marrakech, Morocco in April 2013.
Jeddah Roadmap
The Forum resulted with the agreement to a roadmap on capacity development of Meteorology and Climates Services in the LAS Region which includes the following recommendations: 1) Formalising the LAS Forum on Capacity Development; 2) Developing an Integrated Arab Strategy and Implementation plan on Meteorology (Weather and Climate infrastructure and Services); 3) Establishing a cooperation agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) between the LAS and WMO; 4) Establishing a Resource Mobilization and Financing Strategy for the development of NMHSs in Arab countries and, 5) Establishing a Collaborative initiative on Climate Data Rescue and Management in the Arab Region.
The Roadmap was submitted and endorsed at the Ministerial Meeting of Arab Ministers In-charge of Meteorology, which followed the Forum on 30 April 2015.
Please find the Jeddah Roadmap of the LAS Forum.pdf