The 23rd Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum-Mombasa

GHACOF 23 FORUM ANNOUNCEMENT

THE TWENTY THIRD GREATER HORN OF AFRICA CLIMATE OUTLOOK FORUM (GHACOF 23)

VENUE: Mombassa, Kenya DATE: 25 - 27 February 2009

INTRODUCTION

The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) in collaboration with other partners are organizing the Twenty Third Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF 23) to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 25 to 27 February 2009. The forum will be held within the framework of the USAID/OFDA supported project on “Climate Prediction and Applications for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA)” that is coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The forum will bring together climate scientists involved in seasonal climate prediction, the user community and decision-makers. Due to the prevailing climate challenges in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) region, the theme of the forum will be “The role of seasonal climate prediction in integrated disaster risk management for sustainable development in GHA”.

The main objectives of the forum are to develop regional consensus climate outlook for the March to May 2009 rainfall season and to formulate mitigation strategies for various sectors. In addition, the forum will review experiences and lessons learned from the use of the consensus outlook provided at the Twenty Second Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF22) held in Nairobi, Kenya from 28 to 29 August 2008.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants will include climate scientists from the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) within the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA), universities, research institutions as well as regional and international organizations engaged in climate modeling, prediction and applications. Users of climate information from various socio-economic sectors such as Agriculture, Livestock, Food security, Water resources, Hydropower generation, Health, Conflict early warning and Disaster management as well as various regional, intergovernmental, Non-Governmental organizations and development partners are also expected to attend the forum.

USERS SPECIFIC PARALLEL WORKSHOPS

Several users specific parallel workshops will be held to take advantage of GHACOF 23 to share lessons and experiences from various countries and sectors from the previous GHACOFs; and also to develop strategies on how to optimize the use of GHACOF 23 products for sector specific climate risk reduction. The parallel forums addressing sector specific applications of seasonal climate prediction products will include Malaria Outlook, Water resources, Conflict Early Warning, Food Security Outlook, Disaster management , Media, Cost-Benefit and socio-economic forums.

WORKING LANGUAGE

English will be the working language for the forum.

CO-OPERATING INSTITUTIONS

The cooperating Institutions include Institut Géographique du Burundi; Météorologie Nationale de Djibouti; Eritrea Meteorological Service; National Meteorological Services Agency of Ethiopia; Kenya Meteorological Department; Rwanda Meteorological Services; Somalia Meteorological Services; Sudan Meteorological Authority; Tanzania Meteorological Agency; Uganda Department of Meteorology; IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC); SADC/Drought Monitoring Centre; African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD); International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI); World Meteorological Organization (WMO); European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF); NOAA/National Centers for Environmental Prediction; the United Kingdom Meteorological Office; University of Nairobi; USAID/Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance; United Nations / International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN / ISDR); FEWS-NET and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) among others.

SPONSORSHIP

Participating Organizations are expected to sponsor their nominees. However, needy participants may requests for consideration in case we get some resources from our development partners.

REGISTRATION

Those interested in attending the forum are kindly requested to fill the appended registration form and return it to us as soon as possible.

REGISTRATION FORM

THE TWENTY THIRD GREATER HORN OF AFRICA CLIMATE OUTLOOK FORUM (GHACOF 23)

Mombassa, Kenya: 25 – 27 February 2009

1. Personal Details
Name: ……………………………………………………………………………….…………
Country: .………………………………………………………………………………………
Organization: .……………………………………………………………..…………….…….
Address: .………………………………………………………………………………..……..
Telephone: ………………………………………………………………………….…………
Telefax: .……………………………………………………………………………..…………
E-mail: ……………………………………………………………………………..…………..
Date of Arrival: ...……………………….………….…. Flight Number: ……………………
Date of Departure: ………………….…………………. Flight Number: ………….…………

2. Would you like to make a presentation at the forum?
Yes No
If yes give the title of your presentation ………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Accommodation (Would you like ICPAC to assist you with hotel booking) …………….
Yes No

4. Contact address:
P. O. Box 10304, 00100,
NAIROBI
Kenya
Tel: +254- 020- 3514426
Fax: +254- 020- 3878343
Email: director@icpac.net