DCCMS GROOMS WEATHER OBSERVERS

The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) recently conducted a refresher training session for weather observers from selected districts of Malawi, namely Karonga, Salima, Neno, Machinga, Zomba, Phalombe, and Chikwawa. The training, held from 4th to 5th February 2025, aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of participants in meteorological observation techniques, data management, and reporting procedures.

20 weather observers participated in the training which was considered as a crucial step in improving the quality of weather data, which is essential for climate services, disaster risk reduction, and agricultural planning.

Participants taking a group photo.

The training session was sponsored by DAI Global UK under the Climate Just Communities (CJC) Malawi project, which is part of a flagship program funded by the Scottish Government’s Climate Justice Fund. This program supports locally led community projects, aiming to address climate change issues with an approach based on distributive, procedural, and transformative justice. By emphasizing local participation, the program ensures that its solutions are both relevant and sustainable.

Clement Boyce, who is Deputy Director responsible for Climate, Climate Change, and Research at DCCMS, expressed his satisfaction with the active participation of the participants. He noted, "I am impressed with the level of participation and contributions from the participants. This training will significantly improve our service delivery at DCCMS, particularly in weather forecasting, severe weather monitoring, and climate change research. He emphasized the importance of accurate weather observations and data management because they inform many aspects such as weather and climate forecasting, decision making in various sectors such as Agriculture, Early warning, water resources management, research and many others. As such there is need to do their work diligently to avoid misleading the nation. "

One of the participants, Samuel Mwiba, shared his gratitude for the training, saying, "This training has shaped me well in my role. I now understand the importance of accuracy in weather observation, which is crucial for providing reliable data for weather forecasting and climate monitoring."

“The training is an eye opener”, Mwiba

The refresher training is a critical step in the DCCMS’s efforts to strengthen its meteorological services and enhance the reliability of climate data, contributing to sustainable development, disaster resilience, and informed decision-making.