RAI WIGOS IMPLEMENTATION Situation Report as at 16 February 2015 Amos Makarau Chair of the RAI WIGOS Implementation Task Team

: Gathering information Communication and Outreach at sub-regional level - Inception workshop in Kenya 8-12 Sep sub-regional workshops * 5-7 June 2013(Southern Africa) * Nov 2013 (West Africa) * Nov 2013 (North Africa) * 29 April- 2 May 2014 (Central Africa) * 2-5 June 2014 (East Africa) - Terminal RAI workshop in Zimbabwe Nov 2014

Outputs from the workshops 5 RAI Sub-regional WIGOS/ WIS Implementation activities; Sub-regional problems, challenges and priorities; Sub-regional strategic goals of strengthening observing NMSs capabilities; Road Maps for Implementing WIGOS at the sub-regional level; and Terms of Reference for the sub-regional RA- I/TT-WIGOS and National Focal Points for WIGOS (and WIS).

Selected notable findings from this outreach (1) telecommunications still a problem (e.g., RTHs not performing as expected); intra-regional communication and collaboration among NMSs lacking; proliferation of automatic weather stations in their countries, including by organizations other than NMSs; there are many observing systems, hence data, in almost all the countries which are outside the control of the NMSs:

Selected notable findings (2) political strife in some countries; need for capacity development, particularly on instrumentation and maintenance; data management, quality control and data rescue vital; cost of maintenance of equipment like upper air consumables is still very high; Guides on WIGOS and WIS at national level, including governance needed; Many NHSs are still unaware of the Minamata Convention on mercury and its implications on them (AMCOMET Issue)

Recommendations/ Requests: Workshops (AWSs, Data management and rescue, WIS) – WIGOS and WIS offices and RAI Strategies to assist those countries in civil strife (Libya, Mali, Central Africa Republic, South Sudan) – WMO WMO and ASECNA should hold discussions on WIGOS and WIS related activities (QMS, telecommunications, capacity development, maintenance of upper air stations, including purchasing of consumables) - WMO The two GISCs (Pretoria and Casablanca) should become operational as soon as possible; - WMO, South Africa and Morocco National pilot/ demonstration projects – WIGOS Office and RAI

Recommendations/ Requests: AMDAR programme to be prioritised WIGOS guides/ regulations on observations, metadata, AWSs - ICG -IGOS development of guides for national WIGOS implementation – WIGOS Office and RA I Task Team Attendant capacity development preferably at sub-regional levels – WMO Regional Offices and WIGOS Office Establishment of WIGOS sub-regional Office (s)? - RA I and WMO

From 2019 Onwards Implementation of WIGOS in RAI at national levels (PR responsibility to coordinate) Regional Instrument Calibration Centres, incl marine, fully capacitated (WMO, RECs) Sub-Regional WIGOS office (s) in place (M&E, Help Desk, Cap Dev, etc) AMDAR Programme expanded Implementation of ISO 9015 for aviation (AMCOMET issue)

Enablers for successful WIGOS Implementation on RA I Partnerships at national level are vital (e.g., data and product sharing, siting of observing platforms) Win-win concept to be at the forefront (highlighting benefits as well as opportunity costs e.g. costs, optimisation containment, reliability of observations) Building Trust among all partners Success stories / demonstration projects

Issues to consider Compliance with Minamata Agreement on the banning of mercury (CIMO, RAI, WIGOS ) Calibration certificates recommended for each sensor when purchasing AWSs All stations to be added to the synoptic network should comply with WMO requirements and be given station identifiers Collaboration and consultations are critical, including across political boundaries (benefits include sharing of expertise, cost implications, data and information for, among others, early warning, monitoring of evolution of systems.

Recommendations to WMO Congress WIGOS and WIS implementation in RA I should go hand in hand WIGOS, QMS and capacity development to remain among top priorities for ICG-WIGOS to continue Regional WIGOS offices needed WMO Secretariat to operate as one in supporting WIGOS Implementation

Thank You