WMO develops capacities in climatological services in the Democratic Republic of Congo

As part of the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems initiative’s Democratic Republic of the Congo (CREWS DRC) project, which closed in June 2023, an assessment was conducted to identify METTELSAT’s gaps and needs in delivering services. The assessment highlighted multiple challenges related to climate data processing and quality control, climate monitoring, seasonal forecasting, climate change analysis, and the development of climate products and services for users. It also identified the need for enhanced capabilities in generating climate scenarios, analyzing extreme events, and supporting climate-sensitive sectors through tailored climate information. Following the assessment, a 5-year training programme was established to support the development of staff capacities over time.

As part of CREWS support to DRC (see CREWS ASW DRC), CREWS provided a five-day climatology training for METTELSAT staff. The training aimed at strengthening the technical and operational capacities required to provide effective climate services. It was held in Kinshasa from 12-16 October 2026 and delivered by the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD). 

As a first step ahead of the five-day training, participants attended online sessions designed to establish a common understanding of the fundamental concepts and tools of climatology. The virtual sessions covered climate systems, climate variability, climate change, climate data sources, and quality control procedures. Participants were also introduced to climate analysis techniques and practical tools used for climate data processing and interpretation. 

These sessions served as a critical foundation for the practical and more advanced in-person training that followed, ensuring that trainees could fully engage in the foreseen hands-on exercises, case studies and operational applications. The in-person training aimed to strengthen participants' ability to collect, manage, analyse and interpret climate information while improving the production and dissemination of climate services. Emphasis was placed on climate data quality control, homogenization of climate records, statistical analysis, climate indices, trend analysis, climate monitoring and the preparation of climate products and bulletins.

Participants enhanced their understanding of how climate information can support decision-making in key sectors such as agriculture, water resources management, energy, disaster risk reduction and food security. The training reinforced the importance of climate services in helping governments, communities and development actors to anticipate and manage climate-related risks, and contributed to broader efforts to enhance early warning services in the DRC. 

Through this phased capacity-development approach, WMO, CREWS and ACMAD are supporting METTELSAT in building a stronger and more sustainable climatological service. Climate information and seasonal outlooks complement weather and hydrological forecasts by providing longer-term perspectives on developing risks, allowing sectors and communities to prepare for climate variability and extremes before impacts occur. Therefore, improved climatological services strengthen the overall effectiveness of multi-hazard early warning systems and contribute to reducing vulnerability to climate-related hazards. 

The strengthened capacities are expected to also improve the production of climate products and services, support national climate adaptation efforts and contribute to protecting lives, livelihoods and sustainable development in the DRC. As part of the 5-year capacity-development programme, trainings on digital transformation, Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and maintenance of observing networks have also been delivered in the DRC, while trainings focusing on hydrology and agrometeorology are in the pipeline.