The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Somalia actively participated in the regional launch of the “WISER Action First” program in Naivasha, Kenya—a pivotal initiative aimed at enhancing climate resilience and disaster preparedness across Eastern Africa.

Backed by a $40 million investment from the United Kingdom, the Weather and Climate Information Services for Africa (WISER) initiative focuses on improving early warning systems and climate services that are critical to saving lives and livelihoods.

The launch brought together high-level delegates from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Somalia, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), national meteorological agencies, and disaster management authorities from across the region.

Dr. Guleid Artan, WMO Representative for Somalia and Special Envoy to the Minister of Environment, emphasized the importance of timely, accessible, and actionable climate data to support vulnerable communities.

He underscored that robust communication of climate risks can significantly mitigate the impacts of natural disasters, particularly in fragile settings like Somalia.

This regional partnership marks a significant step forward in building sustainable and collaborative climate services tailored to Eastern Africa’s unique challenges.

The WISER Action First program is expected to empower local institutions, strengthen multi-agency coordination, and ensure that climate-related information reaches the people who need it most—on time and in a language they understand.