Co–producing climate services for the health sector
During the last Clim-Health Africa workshop held in July 2023 in Gabon, the African Center of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) delightedly contributed and presented its progress on climate services for health and food security in Africa. Two climate products captured the interest of the assembly-in-session during the workshop.
The first notable product is the Meningitis Outbreaks Vigilance Maps which is produced with the sub-seasonal-to-seasonal forecasts and updated twice a week.
This is developed through a collaborative co-production process framework involving WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) and the Intercountry Support Team West Africa (IST WA) based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. These maps aid countries in the African Meningitis Belt in their efforts to combat meningitis. The collaboration demonstrates a proactive approach to utilizing climate information for public health preparedness.
The second noteworthy product presented is the Continental Rainfall Brief designed for policy and decision-makers. This powerful tool, generated monthly, is a result of consensus-building with Africa’s regional climate centers, achieved through online or physical briefings with experts. The brief for policy and decision makers provides impact-based seasonal climate forecasts along with advisories to support anticipatory actions in water supply and food security across Africa. It reflects a concerted effort to leverage climate data for informed decision-making at both regional and continental levels.
