WISER news and blogs

Contents

Newsletters

WISER programme newsletter - June 2023

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - February 2023

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - September 2022

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - July 2022

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - October 2021

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - July 2021

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - April 2021

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - January 2021

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - October 2020

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - July 2020

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - April 2020

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - January 2020

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - October 2019

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - July 2019

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - April 2019

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - January 2019

Read the latest issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

WISER programme newsletter - November 2018

Read the first issue of the WISER newsletter for the latest news from the whole programme. To subscribe to receive future issues directly, email us.

News and Blogs

Delivering transformative change to weather and climate information services in vulnerable African communities through WISER Africa - September 2023

The WISER Africa programme will aim to provide more than 400,000 farmers and urban and informal settlement dwellers with improved weather and climate information. Plans are also underway to support activities in the Sahel.

New UK projects announced to fight climate change in Africa - September 2023

UK Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell announces new projects worth £49 million while visiting Kenya for the first Africa Climate Summit.

Resurgence announces Launch of the DARAJA East Africa Scale Up Programme to Create Africa’s most Ambitious and Inclusive Urban Early Warning Initiative - June 2023

Resurgence announced the launch of the DARAJA  East Africa Scale Up Programmespanning cities in the East and Greater Horn of Africa, creating at a stroke Africa’s most ambitious and inclusive urban early warning initiative.

Scientists awarded £2 million to innovate severe weather warnings in Southern Africa - March 2023

An international team led by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and University of Leeds have been awarded £2 million to transform access to early weather warning systems for communities in South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique.

UK announces £5 million funding to expand the Met Office’s Weather and Climate Information Services activity in the MENA region - March 2022

Following the success of WISER in East Africa and in response to climate risks, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has asked the Met Office to expand the concept to the MENA region.

Extreme weather, climate variability, and climate change remain significant and growing threats to sustainable development across Middle East and North Africa. See the key risks identified in a recent Met Office report on climate risk for the MENA region, which considered current climate, and model projections to the 2050s coupled with their interaction with regional socio-economic vulnerabilities.

WISER MENA aims to deliver transformation in the generation and use of co-produced weather and climate services to support decision making at local, national, and regional levels, building resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Read further details on WISER MENA here in English and here in Arabic.

To find out more about WISER MENA, email [email protected]

WISER: reflections and observations from the UK Government - January 2022

Reflecting on the impact of WISER, Jane Marriott, British High Commissioner to Kenya, shares why the UK Government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) invests in the WISER programme, why it remains crucial that people on the ground in Africa have access to weather and climate information and why WISER proves to be not only a programme that has been value for money for the UK, but vital to lives and livelihoods.

Bridge the Gap - page 10 - April 2021

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0310

We need cash to adapt, Kenyan slum dwellers tell COP26 president - March 2021

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0309

Africa: A Key Component Of Climate Change Adaptation Urgently Needs A More Sustainable Approach – New ODI Report - January 2021

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0300

ENACTS Climate Services Initiative Ripples Across East Africa with WISER Support - November 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0299

A key component of climate change adaptation urgently needs a more sustainable approach – Study - January 2021

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0298

Film on pioneering weather service for African communities premieres globally - January 2021

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0297

Investing for sustainable climate services: Insights from the African experience - January 2021

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0296

NEWS: Weather and climate information services urgently need more sustainable approach - January 2021

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0294

DARAJA: Development of locally accurate weather forecasts - October 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0289

Meet Kenya’s new ‘weather forecasters’ in Nairobi slums - August 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0288

Weather warning and forecast service brings benefits to East African nations - December 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0287

Kenya: Slum Weather Data Project Wins Praises - December 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0286

Released: Impact results from Africa’s most inclusive city climate, weather & early warning service - December 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0283

The Story of DARAJA: Resurgence and KDI commission top African creative - November 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0273

Resurgence recognised for collaborative weather communication project - November 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0266

DARAJA study: Co-designing Weather and Climate Information Services - November 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0265

Resurgence wins at the British Expertise International Awards 2020 - October 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0264

Street Art inspires communities to take climate action in Kenya - October 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0263

DARAJA outcomes : African leaders highlight weather service achievements - September 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0262

A sustainable approach to weather and climate communication in challenging times - October 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0261

E Co. Lunch breaks: BBC Media Action – Building climate resilience through local communication - October 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0259

DARAJA: Development of locally accurate weather forecasts - October 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0258

Residents turn into entrepreneurs through improved weather services - September 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0256

How to prevent drowning - September 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0255

Participants laud first ever NECJOGHA virtual climate café - August 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0254

NECJOGHA organizes first international Virtual climate café - August 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0253

How Youth Activists Are Averting Weather Crises In Slums - August 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0251

Meet Kenya’s new ‘weather forecasters’ in Nairobi slums - August 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0250

DARAJA in the news - August 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0249

New UK support to tackle devastating locust swarms in East Africa - August 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0248

New UK support to tackle devastating locust swarms in Africa and Asia - July 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0246

Latest guidance shows how climate information services can reach more people - April 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0227

Strengthening the capacity of agriculture in Rwanda to adapt to a variable and changing climate - June 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0226

Kenya flooding: why trusted media is essential in a changing climate - June 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0225

Climate is on the menu in East Africa - March 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0208

Residents of East Africa's informal settlements can now access better climate information - February 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0207

UK supercomputer to combat Africa's worst locust outbreak in decades - March 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0201

Putting co-production into practice - the value of cross-learning - March 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0198

Co-production for the benefit of all - witnessing real progress in East Africa - March 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0196

Parts of River Rwizi have sunk by 3 metres – NEMA - July 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0185

Farmers advised to plant at onset of rains - July 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0184

Tanzania holds successful climate cafe - July 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0183

UNMA releases weather alerts for marine users - July 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0182

Doppler weather radar helps Rwanda smallholder farmers to reduce crop losses from floods - August 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0181

How Kigogo has benefitted from TMA’s severe weather forecasts - September 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0180

Making a difference – improving weather and climate services in East Africa - February 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0179

17 year old drowns on Lake Victoria - February 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0178

Connecting scientists and journalists to create engaging vital weather information - January 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0175

How are Ugandan farmers adapting to climate change? - January 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0174

Improving weather and climate information in informal urban settlements - December 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0169

Improved seasonal forecast for Eastern Africa - December 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0167

Latest news from ASPIRE - November 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0164

Solar-powered community radio aids farmers in South Sudan - October 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0153

Lifesaving storm warnings for Africa’s Lake Victoria - October 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0152

Boulder’s NCAR targets improved forecasting at Lake Victoria - October 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0151

Radio features on Gulf Radio (Kenya) and Radio Kwizera (Tanzania) - September 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0143

Weather Wise – improving forecast reports for local Kenyans - August 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0142

Whatever the weather: Radio helps people adapt to climate change - September 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0141

Creating a shared platform for forecasters, community, media and city governments - April 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0140

Helping national forecasters gain critical insights - April 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0139

Effective climate services involve more than meteorologists – to reach their full potential - September 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0137

News item: NOW LIVE: A Manual for co-production in African weather and climate services - September 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0136

News item: New manual on co-producing African weather and climate services - September 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0135

Expert clarifies on forecasting water spouts - July 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0121

HIGHWAY improves early warnings for Lake Victoria - news stories on WMO and PreventionWeb - July 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0119 and WISER0120

Co-production webinar news stories - PreventionWeb and CDKN - July 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0117 and WISER0118

Forging a common understanding: Q&A with Vera Bukachi - March 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0102

Blog post from the DARAJA project

Defining and Looking Beyond Weather and Climate Information Services (WCIS) for residents of informal settlements - January 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0093

Blog post from the DARAJA project

East African climate services connect with local communities - December 2018

This blog post published by CDKN highlights the impact of the WISER programme.

DARAJA in the news - December 2018

This article on the Thomson Reuters website is regarding the WISER DARAJA project.

East African climate services connect with local communities - December 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0088

Blog post published by CDKN.

Impacting lives and livelihoods by improving weather and climate services in East Africa - July 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0072

A blog post by WISER Met Office Technical Lead, Bill Leathes, in which he shares some of the impacts of the programme so far.

Building trust between users and producers makes for better climate services - July 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0069

A blog post has been written by Suzanne Carter of SouthSouthNorth on co-production, including how the TRANSFORM project is distilling lessons learnt within WISER as phase two of the programme gets underway.

Understanding the weather information needs of fishermen on Lake Victoria - June 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0061

A blog post has been written by Met Office International Development Manager Becky Venton about user engagement work as part of the HIGHWAY project.

Supporting the delivery of an early warning system through co-production and user engagement - April 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0058

A blog post has been written by Met Office International Development Manager Becky Venton about the use of co-production and user engagement by the MHEWS Tanzania project.

CARE International blog post - June 2017

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0038

A blog post has been written by CARE International on a Climate Services and Participatory Scenario Planning (PSP) Knowledge Exchange, Kenya & Ethiopia. Reports are also available on Impact assessments on climate information services for community-based adaptation to climate change for Ethiopia and Kenya.

Climate forecasts could help drought-hit herders make smarter moves - December 2016

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0039

This news item from the Thomson Reuters Foundation talks about the impact WISER could have on helping "400,000 households in East Africa access early warning weather and climate information and...make more informed decisions". Read the article here.

Increasing engagement and progress using blended learning techniques - November 2016

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0013

Met Office Senior Climate Science Training Consultant, Rebecca Griffiths, has written a blog about her experiences delivering an introduction to climatology course as part of a WISER project with the IMTR in Kenya. Read the full blog.

Climate information service co-development through user engagement - October 2016

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0012

A series of user engagement workshops took place as part of the SCIPEA project before & during the 44th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF44). For details of the workshops and the next steps for the SCIPEA project, read our blog.

Getting wise to an unpredictable climate - August 2016

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0032

"Rising temperatures, changing rainfall and prolonged drought, are increasing the vulnerability of people in Africa. Many livelihoods hang in the balance. But, with a new, large-scale project, the Met Office is helping change the outlook for some of the world's most vulnerable communities." 

Early warning of weather hazards can save lives and livelihoods - June 2016

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0001

Regional International Development Manager for Africa, Kathrin Hall, blogged in June about a workshop held as part of the MHEWS Tanzania project. Stakeholder engagement was at the heart of the Severe Weather Events - Effective Planning (SWEEP) workshop. Read the full blog.

Events

Triple Dividend of Resilience webinar slides - November 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0270

Stakeholder engagement climate forum report - February 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0206

W2SIP ICPAC/NECJOGHA Climate Communications Workshop GHACOF51, Entebbe - March 2020

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0172

Building back better - workshop Oct 2019 - November 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0159

Putting principles into practice in the co-production of weather and climate services - October 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0154

Tanzania national project inception workshop report - September 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0147

GHACOF 53 event report - August 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0146

Co-production webinar questions and answers - September 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0127

Co-production webinar presentation - September 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0126

Co-production webinar questions and answers - June 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0110

Co-production webinar presentation - June 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0109

Report on participation at East Africa – Peru – India Climate Capacity Building (EPICC) workshop - May 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0108

AMCOMET Conference 2019 event notes - March 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0091

GHACOF 51 event notes - March 2019

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0090

CCDA-VII event notes - October 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0083

Notes from the WISER event on co-production at the Climate Change and Development in Africa conference.

GHACOF 50 event notes - August 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0082

Notes from the WISER side event on gender and equity at the 50th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum.

DARAJA kick off workshop problems & successes - August 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0081

DARAJA kick off workshop - Dar es Salaam - August 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0080

DARAJA kick off workshop - Nairobi - July 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0079

ASPIRE presentation - April 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0070

Initial WISER TRANSFORM Stakeholder Consultative Workshop - June 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0068

GHACOF 48 meeting notes - March 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0059

Details of WISER involvement in the 48th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum.

Report on the AMDAR Kenya Knowledge Sharing Consultation Workshops - January 2018

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0060

Service development meeting notes - Kenya Red Cross - December 2016

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0025

SCIPEA Kenya Consortium Service Development Team meeting between Kenya Red Cross Society, Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) Institute of Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR) and the Met Office, November/December 2016.

Service development meeting notes - KenGen - December 2016

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0026

SCIPEA Kenya Consortium Service Development Team meeting between KenGen, Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) Institute of Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR) and the Met Office, November 2016.

Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) workshop - December 2016

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0011

An MEL workshop for the WISER programme was held in Nairobi in December, facilitated by LTS International. This provided an opportunity for key WISER stakeholders to come together and discuss the role of MEL in project and programme design and implementation. Read the meeting notes here.

Introduction to climatology review - presentation - November 2016

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0015

This presentation reviews the November 2016 pilot of the Basic Instruction Package for Meteorologists (BIP-M) climatology training course.

Climate service and communication on disaster risk reduction - presentation - November 2016

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0014

View the presentation produced by delegates on the pilot Basic Instruction Package for Meteorologists (BIP-M) climatology training course at the Institute of Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR) in Kenya.

WISER Consultative Meeting - October 2016

WISER knowledge reference number WISER0002

Key organisations involved in the WISER programme attended a meeting at the UNECA headquarters in Addis Ababa in October. An overview of the discussions can be viewed within the meeting notes

You may also be interested in the following websites:

African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) 

Building Resilience & Adaptation to Climate Extremes & Disaster (BRACED)

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

Future Climate for Africa (FCFA)