Linking Earth Observation and Precipitation In-Situ Data in the Sirba River Basin in West Africa
Floods have caused substantial loss of life and economic damages in West Africa, with a marked increase of extremes over the past decades. These flood events are largely driven by frequent extreme local rainfall. The sparse meteorological stations in Burkina Faso contain data gaps that limit effective monitoring of rainfall. This study fills the gap […]
A streamlined flood-specific evaluation framework: Assessing African riverine early warning systems
Intense hydrological events are rising across Africa, increasing flood risks. Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) are internationally acknowledged as fundamental tools for risk reduction and management. Their effectiveness depends on the integrated and balanced development of all essential components -risk knowledge, monitoring and forecasting, dissemination and communication, preparedness and response-yet their integration across operational systems […]
Slapis Sahel Co-producing Competence
Building operational forecasting capacity through long-term institutional collaboration Early warning systems are based on weather forecasts, numerical models, data platforms and technological innovation. Yet experience shows that technology alone is not enough. The effectiveness and sustainability of early warning services ultimately depend on the ability of institutions to operate, assess, adapt and maintain forecasting systems […]
Dataset on Flood Risk Along the Niger River Upstream of Niamey
Knowledge of river flood risk in semiarid rural areas is often based on outdated, low-resolution geoinformation. Consequently, identification of exposed settlements, assets and risk-reduction measures remains challenging. This dataset provides up-to-date, fine-grained information for a rural area spanning 931 km2 that is exposed to flooding from the Niger River and the Karma Wadi. The dataset includes […]
Mapping precipitation extremes for pluvial flood risk management in the Sirba river basin, Burkina Faso
Sahelian Africa is increasingly exposed to extreme hydrological events. Both fluvial and pluvial floods are becoming more severe and frequent, posing significant new threats to the livelihoods of local communities. To enhance resilience to floods, the development of effective operational tools for assessing risk and supporting decision-making is crucial. When it comes to pluvial floods, […]
From training to transformation: co-producing sustainable early warning competence in West Africa
Operational numerical weather prediction in Sub-Saharan Africa remains fragile despite increasing availability of models and data. A key limiting factor is the limited operational and institutional capacity of National Meteorological Services to operate, assess, adapt, and sustain forecasting chains within routine operations for early warning systems. Short-term, tool-oriented training initiatives often fail to address this […]
Building Local Capacity through Cascading Agrometeorological Training in Niger A scalable model from the PRIMESA initiative
Within the framework of the PRIMESA initiative, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), a structured multi-scale training program is being
implemented in Niger to enhance the use of agrometeorological information for climate-resilient agriculture. In collaboration with the National Directorate of
Meteorology (DMN) and the Ministry of Agriculture of Niger, this training scheme builds on lessons learned from the earlier ANADIA project and aims to reach farmers through a cascading training model.
The program begins at the national level, where international experts train technical staff from the DMN and the Ministry of Agriculture on key topics such as the use
of low-cost rain gauges (pluviomètres paysans), seasonal forecasts, and 10-day agrometeorological bulletins to support decision-making in agronomic crop
management. These national trainers then deliver training at the regional level to agricultural extension officers, who subsequently work directly with farmers in the
field.
The approach combines in-person sessions, practical demonstrations, printed and digital materials, and communication via rural radio and WhatsApp groups during
the growing season. Preliminary evidence shows that trained farmers not only better understand weather and climate information but also apply it more effectively
leading to improved yields.
This experience underscores the importance of co-developing training content with local actors and creating robust, multi-level partnerships to ensure that
meteorological information is not only disseminated but understood and used effectively at the community level. The model developed in Niger offers a replicable
approach for other regions facing similar challenges in agricultural adaptation and training dissemination.
From Training to Transformation: Co-Developing Forecasting Capacities for Early Warning in West Africa
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the operational implementation of regional Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models remains a significant challenge due to limited financial and technical resources, insufficient understanding of tropical weather systems, and the inadequate performance of global models in simulating rainfall over the region. Although recent developments—such as cloud computing and convection-permitting models—offer new opportunities, forecasting intense rainfall events, often linked to mesoscale convective systems, continues to be a major limitation for effective early warning systems.
Within the framework of the SLAPIS Sahel project, a development cooperation initiative, the Regional Training Center in Italy designed and implemented a blended and integrated training programme aimed at enhancing the capacities of the National Meteorological Services (NMSs) of Niger and Burkina Faso. The objective was to enable local forecasters, modelers, and IT personnel to operationalize regional NWP chains in support of hydrometeorological early warning systems.
Slapis Sahel Numerical Weather Prediction
SLAPIS SAHELProject Numerical Weather Predictionin SLAPIS Sahel One of the key objectives of the SLAPIS Sahel project is to strengthen national capacities in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) as a support for hydrological early warning, particularly for flash floods and flooding events along the Sirba River and the Niger River. The national meteorological agencies of Niger […]
DEM Generation from Multi-View Satellite Images in Sub-Sahel Region
Floods are causing a significant loss of human lives and valuable resources in West Africa. In particular, Niger and Burkina Faso were highly affected areas in past years. In order to predict flood, an accurate Digital elevation model (DEM) is required for flood mapping. At the studied area in Niger, up to this date, the […]
