OMM
WMO
WMO’S PROGRAMME ON NATURAL
DISASTER MITIGATION WITH SPECIAL
REFERENCE TO AFRICA
by
Yinka R. Adebayo, Ph.D
Senior Strategic Planning Officer
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Geneva, Switzerland
OMM
Natural Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation Programme
WMO
WMO Bulletin
OMM
Evolution of natural disasters and
their impacts
WMO
3000
2500
No of reported disasters
2000
No reported killed
(thousands
)
1500
No reported affected
(millions)
1000
Damage(billions US$
)
500
0
1970s
Sources: IFRC World Disaster Reports
1980s
1990s
OMM
Global distribution of natural hazards
(1993-2002)
WMO
Windstorms
28%
Avalanches and
landslides
6%
Earthquakes
8%
Volcanic
eruptions
2%
Forest/scrub
fires
5%
Droughts and
famines
9%
Extreme
Temperatures
5%
Floods
37%
OMM
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
Programme
WMO
Fourteenth WMO Congress (May 2003)
•Recognized the significant role WMO and NMHSs play in
international disaster reduction activities concerning
mitigation of, and preparedness for, natural disasters of
meteorological or hydrological origin
•Decided to initiate a new WMO major programme on
Natural Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (building on all
relevant WMO Programmes and activities) as a crosscutting
programme to enhance international cooperation and
collaboration in the field of natural disaster activities
OMM
Objectives - Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation Programme
WMO
•Enhancement of the internal coordination
• Enhancement of the assistance to Members
• Enhancement of the international cooperation
• Enhancement of the WMO image
OMM
Objectives - Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation Programme
Enhancement of Internal Coordination
WMO
To ensure integration of relevant activities being carried out
under the various WMO Programmes in the area of disaster
risk reduction , namely through:
•Strengthening the coordination of relevant activities and
projects within WMO scientific and technical programmes
and making fuller useof pertinent achievements made within
these programmes
• Preparation of an integrated planning and reporting
documents concerning the WMO activities in the disaster risk
reduction area
OMM
Objectives - Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation Programme
Enhancement of the Assistance to Members
WMO
To develop an effective and efficient mechanism to provide, in
an integrated fashion, the WMO response to the
requirements and needs of Members and international
community concerning disaster reduction in light of related
developments
To
encourage
and
assist
Members
in
developing/enhancing NMHSs contribution to national
disaster preparedness programmes in a more fully integrated
manner, especially in coordination with national civil
defence/disaster coordination offices
OMM
Objectives - Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation Programme
Enhancement of International Cooperation
WMO
To ensure that activities and results of relevant WMO
Programmes are fully used in the process of the WMO’s
participation in the International Strategy for Disaster
Reduction (ISDR) and in other international and regional
activities
OMM
Objectives - Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation Programme
Enhancement of WMO image
WMO
To enhance WMO’s role and recognition as one of the
leading international organizations dealing with disaster
reduction, in particular through:
• active participation in high-level global fora and related
activities
• liaison with appropriate proper public information
activities
OMM
Natural Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation Programme
STATUS
WMO
•Establishment of the infrastructure
• Preparation for an integrated plan
•Experts Group Meeting
• Preparing the Second World Conference on Disaster
Reduction
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WMO’s Technical Assistance
WMO
During the Decade period (1990’s)
US $200 million in support of national and regional development
projects- (US$ 16.79, 25.31 and 18.79 mil for 2000, 2001 and 2002
respectively)
 Tropical Cyclone Warning System
for the South-West Indian Ocean Region

Comprehensive Risk Assessment

System for Technology Exchange for Natural Disasters (STEND)
to identify and facilitate the transfer of technology for use in reducing
the impact of natural disasters, etc.
WMO
• Tropical Cyclone Programme
• Public Weather Services Programme
• Technical Co-operation Programme
OMM
Technical Cooperation Projects
List of Ongoing Projects
Country/Region
Project Indicator
Project Title
Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)
WMO
ESA UNDP
Kenya
KEN/001/008 (sppd)
(2000-2002)
Factoring of climate monitoring and early warning
for disaster preparedness & management in
Kenya
ESA Trust Fund
SADC
SADC-HYCOS
SADC-HYCOS
Eastern Africa
USAID/DMCN FIT
(1999-2002)
Regional Climate forecasting for the Greater Horn
of Africa
Eastern Africa
USAID/RESDO DMC FIT
(2002-2003)
Climate Monitoring,
Preparedness
SADC Project N AAA.6.02
(1998-2002)
Strengthening the capabilities of the Southern
African
Development
Community
(SADC)
Drought Monitoring Centre in Harare
SADC
RAFK0698 (2000-2002)
Meteorological & Hydrological contributions to
natural disaster preparedness & management in
Southern Africa
Kenya
KEN/USAID/FIT
(2001/2002)
Improving
meteorological
observations
through utilization of HAM radio operators in
Kenya
SADC
Prediction
and
Disaster
OMM
Technical Cooperation Projects
List of Ongoing Projects Cont…
WMO
Country/Region
Project Indicator
Project Title
Central and Western Africa (CWA)
CWA Trust Fund
Chad
CHD/FIT/SUISSE
Application of agrometeorological information and
advice to agricultural production in Chad
Mali
MLI/FIT/SUISSE
Extension of the operational meteorological
assistance to the rural communities in Mali
SHL/FIT/ITA (Early Warning
Phase II)
Early warning and agricultural yield forecasting,
Phase II (refer to: http://p-case.iata.fi.cnr.it/ap3a)
CILSS
OMM
WMO Activities in Support of NEPAD
WMO

Establishment of a WMO programme on natural disaster reduction and risk
management

Support the capacities of NMHSs and regional institutions in order to
contribute in natural disasters and risk management

Support development and implementation of the strategic Plan on the World
Weather Watch (WWW) basic systems in Africa
– Three project proposals ready seeking for funding

Support various activities through various programmes

The WMO Regional Association I at its 13th Session in November 2002
– Noted that the implementation of NEPAD objectives in various sectors
required weather and climate information and products
– It requested the WMO Secretary General to take necessary measures to
support NEPAD initiatives by ensuring that all WMO programmes and
planned activities support NEPAD objectives and projects.
OMM
WMO’s Specific Actions in Support of
NEPAD’s Action Plan
WMO
Implemented through providing support and building capacities of
national and regional institutions for provision and effective use
of weather information on the following sectors:

Poverty Alleviation
– enhancing natural disaster
mitigation programmes
preparedness,
prevention
and
– provision of timely and skillful tailored weather and climate
information and services in support of income-earning

Health
– supportof health programmes on communicable tropical-related
diseases including malaria and respiratory problems.
OMM
WMO’S Specific Actions Cont….
WMO

Agriculture and Food Security
– provision of seasonal climate outlooks and agrometeorological
warnings

Information and Communication Technology
– assist NMHSs to keep up-to-date with technological development in
planning and implementing new Basic Meteorological Systems.

Energy
– support national and regional efforts for the development of solar
and wind energy and hydropower generation programmes

Transport
– contribute to capacity building for providing transport operations
with skillful weather and climate products.
OMM
WMO’S Specific Actions Cont….
WMO 
Water and Sanitation
–

assist with improved continuous assessment and management of
water resources and for responding to threats of floods and droughts
Combating Desertification
–
continue with its active participation and support in the United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
– assist NMHSs and other national, regional and other relevant
continental institutions in capacity building for the provision and use
of weather and climate information to improve preparedness

Coastal Management,
Governance
Global Warming and Environmental
– continue to support for the continuation of IPCC and involvement of
NMHSs in climate change studies, environmental monitoring and
public awareness raising
– ensure international conventions,
instruments are scientifically based
protocols
and
other
legal
OMM
The WMO’s Climate Information and
Prediction Services (CLIPS) Project
WMO
Will contribution to NEPAD’s objectives through:

Enhancing the capacities and capabilities of all in Africa NMHSs to
provide climate information and forecast to users

Encouraging use of climate information and prediction products by
end-users of various social economical sector

This will be achieved through the following four main activities of
CLIPS;
– Assisting NMHSs through Training workshops and seminars
– Support Development of methodologies and infrastructure in response
to user needs
– Carrying out joint activities with research programmes
– Establishment of closer interaction with potential users
OMM
Capacity Building
WMO
•
Focal Points: CLIPS National Focal Points have been nominated
for whole WMO RA I.
•
Training Workshops
•
CLIPS Curriculum
•
Climate Outlook Forums (COFs) through DMCs
OMM
Training Workshops
WMO
2003
25 Aug - 3 Oct
Fifth Training Workshop on Climate Prediction and
Applications - Circum - Indian Ocean
Oklahoma,
USA
2002
29 Jul - 9 Aug
CLIPS Training Workshop for Eastern and
Southern African Countries
Nairobi,
Kenya
27 May - 5 July
Fourth Training Workshop on Climate Prediction
and Applications - Tropical Pacific Islands and Rim
Nations
Oklahoma,
USA
2001
17 - 27 April
CLIPS Training Workshop for West, Central and
North Africa
Niamey,
Niger
OMM
Climate Outlook Forums
WMO
2002-2003
March 2003
Climate Outlook Forum for Greater Horn of
Africa
September
Climate Outlook Forum for Central Africa
4 - 6 September
26 - 28 August
May
14 - 18 April
18 - 21 February
Climate Outlook Forum for SADC
Countries
10th Climate Outlook Forum for the
Greater Horn of Africa
Seasonal Forecasting Forum PRESA-West
Seasonal Forecasting Forum PRESANOR
01
9th Climate Outlook Forum for the
Greather Horn of Africa
Entebbe,
Uganda
Brazzaville,
Congo
Harare,
Zimbabwe
Nairobi,
Kenya
Niamey, Niger
Algiers,
Algeria
Eldoret,
Kenya
OMM
Summary
WMO
WMO’s activities in support of NEPAD’s objectives focus on :

the development and coordination of regional and
national programmes/projects to improve facilities,
human resources and operational capacities of NMHSs
and relevant sub-regional and regional institutions in the
region.