Report – Capacity Needs Assessment of AGRHYMET

Climate variability and associated droughts and floods are major causes of poverty and resource depletion in Africa. They are serious threat to economic growth, and their impact is particularly evident in the West African region. The Sahelian drought and famine of the early 1970s serves as reminder of the cumulative effects and impacts of desertification and drought. As the economies of West African countries in particular, are predominantly rain-fed agricultural, future economic development across the region has a high level of dependency upon climate variability and
change.
Climate is a factor, amongst many, that limits the development and that requires full consideration in planning. Climate science-informed policy and practice are critical inputs for effective climate risk management for sustainable development. Yet, the use of climate information in the region’s development planning has been very limited and West Africa remains the most vulnerable to climate variability and climate change. The main obstacles include limited financial and human resources, infrastructure, and technical expertise required to provide adequate climate services, lack of appropriate climate information system, lack of understanding and capacity to use climate information.