Greater Horn of Africa states endorse plan for unified climate action

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Regional climate experts and policymakers have endorsed a landmark draft action plan in Kampala, paving the way for a coordinated effort to strengthen climate resilience across the Greater Horn of Africa.

The draft Regional Framework for Climate Services (RFCS) Strategic and Action Plan is a groundbreaking initiative designed to bolster climate resilience and support evidence-based decision-making throughout the region.

The validation took place on June 27, 2025, at the close of a three-day high-level technical workshop held at Hotel Africana in Kampala.

Organised by IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), in partnership with the East African Community (EAC), the workshop marked a crucial step towards establishing a regional mechanism to coordinate and enhance the co-production, tailoring, delivery, and use of science-based weather, water, and climate services.

Presiding over the opening session on behalf of the IGAD head of mission to Uganda, Joselyn Bigirwa, Dr Titike Bahaga underscored the vulnerability of the region to climate shocks such as droughts, floods, and erratic rainfall, which continue to threaten development gains.

“Despite notable progress through policies like the IGAD Climate Change Strategy and Environment Policy, one critical ingredient has been missing—a comprehensive regional framework that ensures climate services are accessible, actionable, and beneficial across all sectors,” Bahaga said.

Dr Bahaga reaffirmed commitments made by regional Ministers of Finance during their October 2024 meeting in Nairobi. T

hese include investment in meteorological institutions, strengthening early warning systems, alignment with global frameworks, and mobilisation of climate finance through mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund and the Loss and Damage Fund.

“This framework is not just a technical document—it is a strategic tool to help us actualise our leaders’ declarations and enhance how climate services are delivered and utilised,” he added.

Representing Uganda, Dr Edith Namutebi, acting head of department for regional peace and security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, echoed these sentiments, noting that climate change is a transboundary threat that requires regional coordination and solidarity.

“Climate hazards do not respect national borders. The RFCS complements national efforts by enabling shared tools, expertise, and data across countries,” she said.

“Uganda, for instance, is finalising its National Framework for Climate Services with ICPAC’s support.”

She further noted that the RFCS aligns with broader continental and global policy frameworks, including the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the Paris Agreement, and the World Meteorological Organisation’s Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), thereby fostering cross-border collaboration in key sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, health, and disaster risk reduction.

Zablon W. Shilenje, technical coordinator for Services at the WMO regional office for Africa, highlighted the importance of ensuring that the RFCS is rooted in inclusive, well-structured processes.

“To be effective, we must assess climate service capacities, conduct broad consultations, and develop costed strategic action plans that align with national frameworks,” he said.

“Ultimately, this will strengthen delivery of early warning systems and support sustainable development.”

He added that the RFCS will also play a vital role in integrating meteorological and hydrological data into policymaking and planning, helping save lives, protect property, and improve regional adaptive capacity.

This workshop was the third step in a multi-phase process that includes stakeholder engagement, baseline assessments, and the formulation of strategic and action plans.

It aimed to finalise a validated RFCS reflecting regional consensus, incorporating implementation and sustainability recommendations, and clarifying stakeholder roles and responsibilities.

Participants included representatives from IGAD/ICPAC, EAC, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), sector-specific users of climate information, and development partners.

Once finalised within the next year, Shilenje noted, the RFCS will serve as the guiding institutional mechanism for regional collaboration on climate services, enabling the identification of shared user needs, co-production of climate products, and improved climate-informed decision-making.

Uganda and its regional partners reaffirmed their commitment to transforming fragmented climate service initiatives into a robust, unified regional system capable of anticipating, informing, and safeguarding development in an era of growing climate uncertainty.

“The work you embark on here today,” Dr Bahaga concluded, “will significantly contribute to shaping the future of climate resilience in our region for years to come.”