Cameroon Meteorological Services Strengthens to Deliver User-Centred Climate Products and Life-Saving Early Warnings.

The African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the African Union Commission (AUC), and Cameroon’s Department of National Meteorology (DMN), held a high-level side event during the Joint ClimSA and SEWA Forum with a focus was implement the climate services value chain in Cameroon and operationalize the regional User Interface Platform (UIP).

The event convened distinguished representatives, including the WMO Regional Director for Africa, a delegate from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), officials from the AUC, directors of national meteorological services from across the ECCAS region, and end-users from various sectors.

This platform provided an opportunity to share Cameroon’s experiences in developing user-driven climate services, particularly in support of the agriculture and disaster risk reduction (DRR) sectors. Key discussions highlighted how practical collaboration and technical support under the ClimSA programme are bridging the gap between climate information providers and users.

In his opening address, the Director General of ACMAD underscored the critical need for cooperation to ensure climate services are accessible, reliable, and relevant. He reaffirmed ACMAD’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of African meteorological services to deliver actionable information.

The Director of Cameroon’s Meteorological Department praised the impact of ClimSA’s support, noting that it has enabled his team to co-design and produce customized climate information products in collaboration with stakeholders.

“Thanks to ClimSA, we now produce user-centred products co-designed with our key partners,” he said.

This transformation has directly benefited the urban community of Douala and local industries, such as the latex production sector, which have reported better preparedness for extreme weather events, reducing losses and improving operational planning.

A dedicated session at the event showcased the socio-economic benefits of timely climate information, particularly how enhanced early warning services are helping communities build resilience and make informed decisions.

The session concluded with a unified call to action: to scale up such collaborative frameworks and expand the reach of climate services throughout Africa, reinforcing resilience and sustainable development across the continent.

The Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications Programme (ClimSA) is a flagship initiative funded by the European Union to improve the generation, provision, and use of climate services across African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries.

The African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) provides continental support for weather and climate monitoring. It promotes the co-production of climate services that enhance decision-making in African communities.

For more information: contact@acmad.org