TANZANIA CONDUCTS MONITORING FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY IN AFRICA (MESA) - SADC TRAINING

The Tanzania Meteorological Agency Director General Dr. Agnes Kijazi officiate a Tanzania Monitoring of Environment and Security in Africa (MESA) training for SADC region. During her official speech read by Acting Director General Dr. Pascal Waniha, she pointed out the relationship between meteorology and environment for our countries sustainable development. ‘I hope this training workshop will enhance our knowledge base and strengthen our long-term collaboration on issues related to Meteorology and Environment for sustainable development of our Country’. She said

She also thanks the sponsors for supporting the project as well as monitoring the implementation of the facilities provided and installed. ‘The European Union (EU) through Africa Union Commission (AUC) and SADC- has continued with their support to the Government of Tanzania in the four services which are Drought performed by the  Meteorological Agency (TMA),  Fire service in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism ( MNRT) , Agriculture service within the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives (MAFC) and Floods service hosted by the Disaster Management Department (DMD) at the Prime Ministers Office. With  this support , Tanzania Indian Ocean marine and the MESA-Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) to the Tanzania Fisheries and Research  Institute (TAFIRI). This EU-AUC  support through SADC is being implemented  through various initiatives, which include the support by European Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). These have been very useful to various governments  and private sectors,    Accurate forecast and early warning information prior to an event on environmental hazards is very important for preparedness’.  She added.

The 5 days national training workshop will take place from 7 to 11 September 2015 in Tanzania which consists of various environmental national stakeholders from MNRT, MAFC, TMA, TAFIRI, Tanzania Forest Research Institute (TAFORI), DMD,   Ardhi University and collaborating partners.  The training is being conducted by the national MESA-SADC Tanzania services Focal Points experts supported by technical Experts from Zimbabwe University, Namibia Polytechnic University and from Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The objective of the training is to ensure that products and information obtained through Earth Observation are well-packed understood for supporting the decision-makers in their various related activities.

RELEASED BY: MONICA MUTONI, COMMUNICATION OFFICER, TANZANIA METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY