UNDP CIRDA Country Program Managers Workshop 25-27 August 2015 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

1. UNDP CIRDA Country Program Managers Workshop 25-27 August 2015Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Reports from Strengthening National Climate Information/ Early Warning System (CI/EWS) Projects Sierra Leone Mariatu SWARAY Programme Specialist Energy, Environment and Natural Resource Cluster UNDP Country Office

2. outline • Where we were • Where are we • Working against the odds • Linkages with other initiatives • Challenges • Required support from CIDRA • Future plans

3. Met/Hyro/Agro Structure

4. Where we were (baseline of the CIEWS) • All the stations were either totally or partially destroyed • Out of the 11 synoptic stations in the country ( Freetown, Lungi, Bo, Makeni, Bonthe, Njala, Kabala, Sefadu, Daru,Yele and Shenge), only four (4), Lungi, Bo, Bonthe and Makeni) are now operational but still below standard observation instruments and manpower • The eight agro met stations needs total rehabilitation especially those at Njala, Rokpur, Kabala, Daru and Tormabum • The 35 rainfall station are no more

5. Where are we? • First recorded case of Ebola in May 2014 • Public emergency was declared in July 2014 • Ban on ALL public gathering and restricted movement across the country • Lifted of restrictions in August 2015 • Fortunately, no new case for two weeks and official countdown started on the 24th August 2015

6. Working against the odds With a thin staff and four main stations, the Met department was able to provide most of its assigned responsibilities especially: • Aviation meteorological services for both domestic and international air transport& Data for the construction of the new airport • Provision of data and services for related disciplines such as Agriculture, Marine, Construction, Hydrology, Tourism, Media, Public etc. • Pre-installation assessment of proposed sites (hydro/met) • Development of majority of TORs • Digitisation of data • Training on calibration of AWS & use of local materials for repairs • Training of the district disaster management committees and operationalization of the national platform • Provision of TV weather

7. Working against the odds • Transformation of the MET service into an Agency for cost recovery (strategy devt pending cabinet approval) • Six forecasters are presently undergoing external training in Lagos and Nairobi • Two Meteorologists will start their MSc training in University of Reading –UK. • Due to the shortage of staff and in preparation for the new stations to be established, the Human Resources Management Office (HRMO) and the Public service Commission(PSC) had approved the appointment of twenty-five (25) observers and 5 Pupil Meteorologist. • Discussion with USL on the introduction of meteorology in the curriculum pending sentate approval

8. Linkages with ongoing initiatives • European Meteorological Satellite (EUMETSAT) reception station for our service together with the joint African Monitoring of the Environment for Sustainable Development (AMESD) of Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and other line ministries and organizations. The equipments are installed at Agricultural Ministry ( Planning Division) and at the MET Forecast office at Lungi • IFAD installation of weather stations

9. challenges • Ebola • Low retention of staff • Limited in-country PPP opportunities • Limited human technical capacities across the board • Weak coordination among MDAs

10. Country required support from theCIRDA team • PPP strategy – beyond the project timeframe (financial strategy) • Development of human technical capacity plan • South-south exchanges – best pactices and knowledge mgt & sharing • Procurement and techncial support

11. Way Forward • Proper implementation of the project & transformation the Met to become a reliable service provider