Enhancing Climate Services for Smart Agriculture in Africa: Key Insights from ACCOF-18

PAFO attended the 18th edition of the Africa Continental Climate Outlook Forum (ACCOF-18), organized by the African Centre for Meteorological Applications and Development (ACMAD), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Climate Centre (RCC) for Africa, and the African Union Commission (AUC), was held in Accra, Ghana, from October 29 to November 1, 2024. This event was themed around “Improved Climate Services Delivery for Informed Decision Making in Africa” and featured significant discussions on enhancing climate resilience and supporting sectors heavily impacted by climate variability, notably smart agriculture.

ACCOF-18 was a crucial platform aimed at promoting the harmonization of climate data and forecasting across Africa; establishing a consensus climate outlook for the season from November 2024 to February 2025 and building capacity to deliver actionable climate services to sectors such as agriculture and water resources.

Key Highlights and Outcomes

The forum produced a continental climate forecast and adopted a roadmap for drought monitoring. Critical discussions emphasized building technical capacity and harmonizing climate data and services. PAFO’s presentation highlighted the role of climate data in smart agriculture, emphasizing the need for better access to information and support for African farmers to leverage climate insights for sustainable farming practices.

ACCOF-18 led to actionable steps, including a drafted Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PAFO and ACMAD to ensure PAFO members access to essential climate information. This partnership is expected to enhance climate resilience from regional to grassroots levels, empowering African farmers with necessary meteorological insights.