- Capacity Development
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Governance
- Observations
- Data Management
- Forecasting
- Service Delivery
- Early Warnings
Project background
The CREWS Initiative helps least developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) improve the delivery of hydrometeorological and climatological services and increase their capacity to produce and disseminate effective, multi-hazard, impact-based early warnings to protect people, property and livelihoods. (LDC: least developed country. SIDS: Small Island Developing States).
CREWS Central Africa will strengthen climate change adaptation and disaster risk management. It will involve:
- Improving the regional cooperation frameworks and capabilities for observation, data exchange, forecasting of climate and weather with a focus on hazards such as severe weather events, flooding and climate extremes (e.g drought);
- Supporting dissemination, emergency planning and response capacities in each of the beneficiary countries;
- Leveraging, supporting and guiding investments from the EU (SEWA - 2 mill USD), WB (in Chad, CAR , Rwanda-and DRC-10 mill USD).
Objective(s)
To enhance national early warning systems, with a multi-hazard, impact-based and seamless approach, based upon strong regional cooperation, in 11 Central African countries.
Outputs
Regional outputs:
Institutional and human capacities in regional and LDCs and SIDS national institutions to provide weather, hydrological, and warning services are increased through the following regional pillars and outputs:
Output 1 - Observation
Improved observation data standards and accessibility through WMO Information systems (WIS /WHOS) to ensure reliable forecasting and services production. This is done through a reinforced network of subregional WIGOS centers and in collaboration with River Basin Authorities. This will also contribute to the provision of regional guidance on instrumentation in collaboration with WIGOS centers and providers.
Output 2 - Severe weather forecasting
Strengthened national severe weather forecasting through enhanced regional guidance and tailored national capacity building on short-term meteorological conditions, and immediate satellite-based conditions (EUMETSAT Nowcasting SAF). This is driven by consolidated Specialized Regional Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) in Central Africa, alongside reinforced collaboration with other regional institutions (RSMC Dakar, RSMC Pretoria, etc), contributing to severe weather forecasting and early warning services development.
Output 3 - Agricultural monitoring and services
Coordinated operational production of agrometeorological services through the development of tailored national capacities and the maximization of synergies with programs (e.g., ClimSA) and tools (ClimStation, ClimWeb, MISVA) that support climate services in the region. This will ensure the development of agricultural products for drought management and planning, supported by regional centers and lessons learned in Africa and globally.
Output 4 - Hydrological monitoring and flood forecasting services
Hydrological variability bulletins and services are strengthened through integrated monitoring approaches using satellite altimetry and local observations, thanks to the development of tailored regional capacities and improved collaboration between national institutions and river basin organizations (CICOS, CLBT, ALT), supported by specialists from LEGOS, CNES, EUMETSAT H-SAF, among others.
Flood warning supported by developed regional flood forecasting systems (FANFAR) through the technical support of AGRHYMET and SMHI, and in collaboration with LCBC, LTA, CICOS, and NMHSs.
Output 5 - ECCA Hydromet Programme, Situation room and Warning services (UNDRR)
Improved regional collaboration and provided guidance for better governance of NMHSs as a follow-up to the recommendations of the HYDROMET action plan for Central Africa.
A situation room was established to ensure the monitoring and regional guidance of multi-hazard events, in coordination with regional entities and national institutions, along with improved communication mechanisms.
CREWS Central Africa will also contribute to the development of the Central Africa Climate Outlook Forum (PRESAC), acting in close coordination with the ClimSA programme to ensure efficient use of global producing centers’ outputs, objective seasonal forecasting, and integration of forecasting with a seamless approach supported by the Regional Training Center (RTC).
National outputs
Output 1 - NMHS EWS delivery improved, including the development of long-term service delivery strategies and development plans.
Output 2 - Information and Communication Technology, including common alerting protocol, strengthened.
Output 3 - Knowledge products and awareness programmes on early warnings developed.
Output 4 - Gender-sensitive training, capacity building programmes provided.
Achievements
Significant progress has been made toward enhancing hydrometeorological and early warning services in Central Africa. The Implementation Plans for improving these services have been revised and formally adopted by Member States, marking an important step toward coordinated regional action:
- In February 2026, the Central Africa NMHSs and the Regional entities (RSMC Dakar, RSMC Yaondé, CAPC-AC, ACMAD, AGRHYMET, CICOS, CBLT, ALT, CEEAC Monitoring Room) agreed on communication and collaboration mechanisms to support the development of warning services at the national level, supported by WMO and UNDRR.
- The consolidation of the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC)–Yaoundé is ongoing, with efforts focused on strengthening its operational capacity and initiating the provision of regional severe weather guidance for Central Africa.
- The development and adaptation of the regional FANFAR hydrological forecasting system for the ECCAS region has been launched in collaboration with AGRHYMET, SMHI, and other regional and national institutions. The system is designed to strengthen near real-time hydrological monitoring and flood forecasting capabilities across Central Africa. Its deployment will be accompanied by targeted capacity-building and training activities to ensure sustainable operation and regional ownership.
- In September 2024, the ECCAS) Situation Room became operational at the Central Africa Climate Application and Prediction Centre (CAPC-AC) in Douala, Cameroon. It is part of the continental AMHEWAS multi-hazard early warning and early action system.
- Sao Tome and Principe has developed its National Strategic Plan (NSP) and Operational Plan to guide the effective implementation of meteorological and hydrological services, ensuring alignment with national and regional priorities.
A series of capacity-building initiatives have been launched to strengthen technical competencies across National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and partner institutions:
- Training activities have been initiated, with staff from ANACIM and DGM Cameroon receiving on-site training supported by AEMET. These trainings are complemented by a Moodle e-learning platform, which is currently being enhanced to facilitate continuous professional development.
- Capacity-building sessions are currently underway on the application of satellite altimetry (in collaboration with LEGOS) and on the use of hydrological satellite products — namely precipitation and soil moisture — from the EUMETSAT Satellite Application Facility on Hydrology (H-SAF) for operational hydrometeorological monitoring. These activities are led by CICOS in collaboration with regional experts from MHSs and River Basin Organizations (RBOs). The training programme includes both in-person Training of Trainers sessions and online courses.
- To reinforce technical expertise, staff from METTELSAT and ISTA received specialized training in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), enhancing their capacity to generate more precise and reliable forecasts. This training has been conducted with the support of EAMAC (Reg Training Center, Vlab Center of Excellence).
- A training programme on agrometeorological services, leveraging the Climate ClimSA Station and the related data and tools developed by EY and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) under the EU-funded Intra-ACP ClimSA project, has been designed and is scheduled to start in 2026. Linkages Between the ClimSA station and the WMO/Climweb supported by NORCAP are foresee.
- Training activities on WMO information and observation systems have been conducted, including a WIGOS workshop (Abuja, May 2024) where Congo and Nigeria were designated as new RWCs to support Central Africa in monitoring observation network performance, and a WIS2 training (Casablanca, November 2024) where five IT and WIS focal points were trained on national WIS2 node implementation to enhance global data exchange and forecasting.
- Region:
- Region I: Africa
Implemented in
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