“Investment for Climate Information Services to include early warning systems and Disaster  to prevent natural hydrometeorology hazards becoming disasters; and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction following 2018/19 season’s cyclones/flooding and drought in Southern Africa”

Introduction

Climate change is unequivocal and one of the most visible consequences of climate change is an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events (IPCC, 2014). The frequency and magnitude of extreme events triggered by climate change has been increasing globally, leading to USD 1.5 trillion in economic damages from 2003 to 2013 (FAD, 20 15). These climate hazards have resulted in major disasters with losses of infrastructures, economy, natural resources and human lives and livelihoods. Reports also confinn the intensification and increasing frequency ofextreme events, with nearly 12,000 weather related disasters having been recorded between 1970 and 2014 affecting more than 22 million people every year. Storms and floods contribute 64 percent of these disasters.' However. the magnitude of the climate hazards and subsequent disasters are not uniformly distributed across the world. The highest death toll, losses and damages are concentrated in developing countries.

To be able to definitively ascribe cyclone Jdai to climate change would require a huge amount of modelling the climate system around the southern parts of the Indian Ocean. That amount of modelling has not been done for these parts, the resources simply are not made available. In  total, the 2018-19 Southwest Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclones Season set a new record of Ten Intense Tropical Cyclones, the largest number since the start of reliable satellite coverage in 1967, surpassing the 2006-07 season. According to most climate projections, extreme weather events will disproportionately affect the African continent. It is projccted that under 1.512.0 degrees wanning, Africa will warm faster than any other continent and attain 2.0 degrees warming by 2050.2 There is evidence that this will increase the intensity of extreme precipitation events over Southern Africa.

The IPCC further concludes that Africa will continue to experience increased temperature and variable rainfall with yield loses of staple crops. The formulation of actionable policies geared towards adaptation and mitigation of the impacts of 1.50C and 2°C warming on key sectors such as agriculture, water, energy and health sectors is thus inevitable. Clearly, the threat of floods and other weather extremes will only increase in the foreseeable future. Because the threat of floods will only be amplified with increasing climate variability, the best response strategy is one that improves the resilience of economics, infrastructure, ecosystems and societies to climate variability and change. Such a strategy is necessarily pivoted around an overall development approach which seeks to mitigate the risks posed by climate change and variability to the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Background

Cyclones Idai and Kenneth have left the three countries with devastating impacts. In Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, more than I 000 lost their lives. whilst hundreds of thousands remained in need of aid, following the devastating battering by Cyclone Idai. The World Bank estimates the affected countries will need over USS2 billion to recover. The following table presents a summary ofthe magnitude ofthe disaster according to government and UN officials.

In Mozambique, the World Bank estimates the direct economic losses from Cyclone Idai to range from USS656 million - US$773 million, covering damage to buildings, infrastructure and agriculture. These estimates do not capture indirect losses such as reduced productivity or business interruptions.

imbabwe has appealed for USS613 million in aid from local and foreign donors to cover food imports and assist with the humanitarian crisis. The government is seeking about S300 million in food aid whilst the rest would fund emergency shelters, logistics and telecommunications among other needs.

Documents

Concept Note

Information Note

Programme of work

Presentations

Day One

Assessment of Impacts of Cycones Desmond, Idai and Kenneth and the Drought in Southern Africa - Amos Makarau

Climate Information Services for Development Planning and Practice - Filipe Lúcio

Weather and Climate services for disaster risk management - Addre Kamga Foaouhoue

Weather Information and Climate Services in the SADC Region - Buruhani S. Nyenzi

Mozambique  presentations on impacts of cyclones Idai and Kenneth

Malawi 2019 Cyclone IDAI impacts and response

Impact of Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe - M.Sibanda

Cyclone IDAI Oxfam learning - OXFAM - Lynn Chiripamberi and Tafirenyika Mupfanochiya

Disaster Risk Management - Responding to Cyclone Idai

National Disaster Management, Malawi Gaps and Challenges - Stern Kita

Analysis of TROPICAL CYCLONE idai gaps & needs

Day Two

Weather and climate Information SERvices (WISER) Programme - Yosef Amha

WISER approach to provision of climate information services - John Mungai

Tools for Bridging the Gap Between Producers and Users of CIS - Ernest A. Afiesimama

Social and economic benefits of climate information services for disaster risk reduction - Bradwell J Garanganga

Rehabilitation of Critical Assets in Chimanimani & Chipinge Districts

CLEWs Towards policy coherence, institutional collaboration and technical capacity for integrated implementation of the SDGs

Day Three 

Malawi Presentation on Gaps Challenges and Roadmaps

Mozambique Presentation 1

Mozambique Presentation 2

Report Back Session Topic 1 CIS CAPACITY

Team Zimbabwe - Topic 2, 3 and 4

Team Zimbabwe - Topic 2 and 4 - What Should Be Done in DRR at National, Regional & International Levels