The climate of the Greater Horn of Africa is shaped by interactions at local and global scales, including the El Niño Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole. The region is highly exposed to climate-related risks due to variable and erratic rainfall combined with increasing temperatures, leading to more frequent and intense droughts and floods, as seen in the 2019 floods that struck the Horn of Africa. The economy relies heavily on rain-fed agriculture, which is sensitive to weather extremes, resulting in crop failures, livestock deaths, and land degradation. As global temperatures rise by 1.5°C, these climate impacts are expected to increase, leading to economic challenges, food insecurity, and livelihood losses.

In Ethiopia, WMO intends to strengthen the capacities of the end users to demand, understand and utilize climate and impact based early warning information and echnical assistance to develop hydromet systems including, observation, data management and archiving, data analysis, forecasting in support of hydromet investment projects. In Somalia, WMO aims to improve staff training and develop public hydromet services for farming and pastoralist communities, as well as support technical design of minimum basic observing, data management, forecasting and service delivery systems. In Sudan, the focus is on strengthening national capabilities. WMO also intends to promote gender inclusivity and address the needs of vulnerable groups throughout the entire EW-EA value chain in the region.