MEDIA ADVISORY

INTRA-AFRICA CARRABIN AND PACIFIC (ACP) CLIMATE SERVICES AND RELATED APPLICATIONS (ClimSA) FORUM

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

What: The 2023 Intra-ACP Climate Service and Related Application Forum (ClimSA)

Theme: Building Bridges for Climate Services: Advancing Stakeholder Dialogue to      

             Enhance Regional Resilience in Vulnerable Countries

When: 11- 13 September 2023 (9H00-17H00/ GMT+4)

Where: Seychelles, (Kempinski Seychelles Resort)

Who:  The 2023 ClimSA Forum is jointly organized by the African Union Commission and the Organization of African Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), in collaboration with the Government of Seychelles, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Commission (EC), under the framework of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Intra-ACP Climate Services and related Applications Programme (ClimSA).

Background:

The event is an amalgamation of the 3rd OACPS and 1st African ClimSA Fora, creating a comprehensive and dynamic platform for participants to share best practices and explore possible solutions for climate action. This is the first ClimSA Forum to be held in hybrid in Africa.

The 2023 ClimSA Forum aligns with OACPS and regional organisations’ strategies and with the Global Frame- work for Climate Services (GFCS) and contributes to the achievement of the SDGs and the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Climate variability and change lie behind much-prevailing poverty, food insecurity, and weak economic growth in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Most of the poorest people in these regions are food insecure, mainly due to their dependence on climate sensitive livelihoods predominantly rainfed agriculture. Changes are expected in crop production, seasonal water resources, malaria prevalence, crop pests and other climate sensitive aspects of rural life. Hydro power production, irrigation re- sources, fisheries, pastoralism, post-harvest industries, and inhabitants of flood prone settlements, are all at risk from increased climate variability as a result of climate change.

Purpose and Objective:

The purpose of the forum is to build bridges between providers and users of climate services through the ex- change of experiences and best practices stemming from the implementation of ClimSA programme, and learn about the contribution of stakeholder dialogue to enhance regional resilience in vulnerable countries.

The main objective is to raising awareness of the benefits of climate services for end-users in advancing dialogue among stakeholders through the mechanism of feedback, synergies and complementarities, particularly in relation to the operation of the RCCs and their Climate Services Information Systems. This will contribute to the sustain- ability of climate services generation, delivery and application, as well as for enhancing regional resilience in most vulnerable countries in ACP regions.

Expected outcomes:

• Users’ requirement for the tailored climate services in alignment with science-based knowledge identified;

• Best practices (including criteria) for user engagement identified, taking into account regional specificities, climate sensitive sectors and groups with specific vulnerabilities;

• Improved common understanding of climate services value chain and its applications, (including the limitation and strength);

• New alliances and partnerships for sustainability of the programme, as well as on financing mechanisms and related donor requirements are built.

Participants of the Forum:

Participants on the 2023 ClimSA Forum include OACPS, AUC, SADC, UN Agenise, IRENA, Privet Sectors, IGOs, Local Communities, IGAD, CIMH, WMO, EUMETSAT; EU Horizon Europe partners, representatives of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs); European Commission, the World Bank, IFIs and the Africa Development Bank AfDB), among others. 

For further information, please contact:

• Dr. Jolly Wasambo, ClimSA Programme Coordinator; Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE); African Union Commission; E-Mail: WasamboJ@Africa-union.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

• Mr Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communications Directorate; AU Commission Tel: 0911 630631; Email: molalett@africa-union.org
• Mr. Hailu Wudineh; Communication Officer and Technical Assistance AUC-ClimSA; African Union Commission; Email: forhailuwpro@gmail.com

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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