SOFF regional workshop strengthens collaboration in South Asia to close major weather and climate data gaps
From 24-26 September 2024, the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) and the National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology of Bhutan co-hosted a South Asia regional workshop in Thimphu, Bhutan. The workshop brought together participants from South Asian countries, SOFF operational partners, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and multilateral and bilateral partners. Together, they discussed how to close the region’s significant Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) weather and climate data gaps and translate this data into effective climate action.
Addressing Critical Data Gaps in South Asia
South Asia, home to two billion people, has been significantly impacted by climate-related disasters. According to the World Bank, nearly 750 million people have been affected by natural disasters in the past two decades. Protecting people and property based on better weather and climate data is therefore a priority. Yet, the region is significantly lagging behind in the generation of the internationally mandated GBON data. Today, there is only one surface weather station in the whole region that reports according to the internationally agreed standards.
Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General and SOFF Steering Committee co-chair, provided a global perspective, “Many of the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change lack basic weather observations, crucial for monitoring and predicting climate patterns. This gap doesn’t just affect local forecasts but impacts our global ability to respond to climate challenges. That’s why I am thrilled to see South Asian countries leading the charge in implementing SOFF.”
SOFF Supports the Region in New Ways
SOFF opened its doors for business in 2022 and already supports 60 countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal. SOFF has already approved 10 million US Dollars for South Asia, of which more than 5 million for Bhutan. The workshop marked the occasion to launch Bhutan’s SOFF investment support operation. With SOFF support, Bhutan will install a new surface weather station as well as a new a new upper air station.
Karma Tshering, Secretary of Bhutan’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources emphasized the country’s commitment to comply with its GBON obligation and emphasized that “This workshop marks a crucial step in our collective efforts to enhance weather and climate data collection across South Asia. By working together, we can build resilience against climate-related disasters and improve early warning systems for our communities.”
SOFF is providing support in new ways. It acknowledges that basic weather and climate data represent a global public good, hence supports countries with long-term, open ended grant financing including for operation and maintenance of the national observing system. It not only supports countries with money, it also provides long-term hands-on technical assistance by advanced national meteorological services, peer-to-peer.
Abdulla Wahid, WMO Permanent Representative for Maldives, stated “As one of the first countries to receive SOFF investment funding, we welcome that SOFF not only supports us with investments, but stays with us in the long run. This support is crucial for small island nations like ours so that we can lay the foundation for better climate change adaptation plans and improving our early warning systems.”
Harri Pietarila from the Finnish Meteorological Institute acting as SOFF peer advisor for Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal, noted, “Our role is to provide technical expertise and support to ensure that the investments made through SOFF translate into sustainable improvements in weather observation capabilities.”
Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Partnerships
SOFF as a new specialized UN climate fund exclusively focuses on supporting countries in achieving GBON compliance. At the same time it strives to support countries in mobilizing complementary resources from development and climate finance partners.
Jochem Zoetelief Head of the Climate Early Warning and Capacity Building Unit at UNEP, SOFF co-founder and SOFF implementing entity for Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives, highlighted the facility’s connection role with the multilateral climate funds. “SOFF’s targeted support is helping to bridge the data gap in South Asia. But better data need to translate into better action. Therefore, we are also supporting Maldives in mobilizing complementary resources from the Green Climate Fund.“
Melanie Simone Kappes, Disaster Risk Management Specialist at the World Bank, emphasized the opportunity for close collaboration between SOFF and the South Asia Hydromet Forum, a regional collaboration platform. “SOFF addresses the region’s critical GBON data gap. The South Asia Hydromet Forum plays a complementary role, including through envisioned stepped-up regional support from the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems initiative CREWS.”
Looking Ahead
The SOFF Regional Workshop marked an important milestone in the region’s efforts to improve weather and climate data collection in South Asia, paving the way for more resilient and climate-adaptive communities across the region.
One key takeaway was the importance of effective partnerships with government leadership to prevent fragmentation. The workshop also highlighted the need to strengthen gender inclusivity in National Meteorological and Hydrological Services by promoting flexible hiring practices, enhancing workplace environments, and actively involving more women in management and technical roles. Engaging the private sector in SOFF implementation emerged as another vital area.
With Bhutan and Maldives having already moved to the SOFF investment phase and Nepal and Bangladesh preparing their investment funding requests, SOFF is expected to scale up its investments in the region – in collaboration with its development and climate finance partners – for the benefit of the region, for the benefit of all citizens across the globe.
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