FIRST MEETING OF PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE SOFF IMPLEMENTATION IN TANZANIA.

Morogoro, Tanzania; 16th October 2024.

The Project Steering Committee (PSC) of the Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF) Implementation in Tanzania held its first meeting on Wednesday, 16th October 2024 at Morena Hotel Morogoro, reviewing and approving tools and documents for efficient and effective implementation of the (SOFF) Project - investment phase in Tanzania in accordance with project objectives, budget and timeline

During the opening session, the acting Director General of Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), Permanent Representative of Tanzania with the world Meteorological  Organization (WMO) and the Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Dr. Ladislaus Chang'a thanked members of PSC for accepting to be part of the National Level SOFF - PSC, which will oversee the project Implementation in Tanzania, he also expressed his gratitude to the SOFF Secretariat and WMO for recommending Tanzania to be part of SOFF funding beneficiary.

''Your acceptance demonstrates your commitment to enhancing weather and climate data for resilience to support sustainable socio-economic development of the country, regional level and globally”. Emphasized Dr. Chang'a when addressing the members.

In addition, Dr. Chang'a said establishment of the SOFF project will address the data gap and international exchange of weather and climate data by providing technical and financial assistance to meet the Global Basic Observation Network (GBON) requirements.

Earlier on his remarks, the Resident Representative of United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) in the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Shigeki Komatsubara congratulated the TMA leadership and experts for their commitment to excellence that keep Tanzania at the forefront of climate adaptation and resilience effort.

He also emphasized that SOFF project will provide continuous operational and maintenance support for TMA and ensuring that Tanzania weather stations are effectively maintained long after the project has ended, Mr. Komatsubara insisted “UNDP is fully committed to this effort and stands ready to provide the necessary support to see this project through to its successful completion”.

On the other hand, the representative from United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Ms. Clara Makenya underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing various environmental challenges, including in strengthening climate actions. She emphasized the need for ensuring the project implementation aligns with international standards and best practice since UNEP serves as a global leader in environmental governance, advocating for sustainable development.

SOFF is a fundamental component of the Early Warning for All initiative, acting as a delivery mechanism that enables countries to meet GBON standards. In Tanzania, it represents a vital opportunity to enhance meteorological infrastructure. Spanning from July 2024 to December 2027, the project is set to invest approximately USD 9 million provided by the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund (UNMTPF).

KAMATI TENDAJI YA MRADI WA SOFF YAKUTANA KUIDHINISHA MPANGO KAZI WA UTEKELEZAJI WA MRADI TANZANIA.

 

Morogoro, Tanzania; 16 Oktoba 2024.

Kamati Tendaji ya Utekelezaji wa Mradi wa Mfuko wa Umoja wa Mataifa wa Kuimarisha Uangazi wa Hali ya Hewa (SOFF) imekutana kwa mara kwanza katika ukumbi wa hoteli ya Morena, Morogoro, tarehe 16 Oktoba 2024, ikiwa na lengo la kupitia na kuidhinisha nyaraka muhimu za kuanza rasmi utekelezaji wa Mradi huo nchini Tanzania.

Wakati wa ufunguzi wa kikao hicho, Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Mamlaka ya Hali ya Hewa Tanzania (TMA), Mwakilishi wa Kudumu wa Tanzania katika Shirika la Hali ya Hewa Duniani (WMO) na Makamu Mwenyekiti wa Jopo la Kimataifa la Sayansi ya Mabadiliko ya Hali ya Hewa na Tabianchi (IPCC), Dkt. Ladislaus Chang'a aliwashukuru wajumbe wa kamati tendaji kwa kukubali kuwa sehemu ya kusimamia utekelezaji wa Mradi wa SOFF Tanzania. Aidha, Dkt. Chang’a alitoa shukrani zake za dhati kwa Sekretarieti ya SOFF na WMO kwa kuichagua Tanzania kuwa miongoni mwa wanufaika wa ufadhili wa fedha za Mfuko huo takribani dola za kimarekani milioni 9.

"Uwepo wenu ni ushahidi tosha wa dhamira yenu ya kusaidia kuboresha huduma za hali ya hewa kwa nchi yetu, kikanda na Duniani kote, huduma ambazo zitaenda kusaidia shughuli mbalimbali za kijamii na kiuchumi”, alisema Dkt. Chang'a.

Aidha, Dkt. Chang'a aliongeza kuwa uanzishwaji wa mradi wa SOFF utasidia nchi kukabiliana na changamoto ya upatikanaji wa data za hali ya hewa na mfumo wa mawasiliano wa ubadilishanaji wa data hizo kimataifa kwa kuwezesha masuala ya muhimu ya kiufundi na kifedha.

Kwa upande wake, Mwakilishi Mkazi wa Shirika la Maendeleo la Umoja wa Mataifa (UNDP) nchini, Ndg. Shigeki Komatsubara alieleza jinsi anavyoridhishwa na uongozi mzuri na utendaji kazi wa TMA na wataalamu wake kwa ujumla, na kuifanya Tanzania kuwa mfano wa kuigwa katika bara la Afrika.

Aidha, alisisitiza kuwa mradi wa SOFF utatoa msaada endelevu wa uendeshaji na matengenezo na usimamizi kwa vituo vya hali ya hewa vitakavyojengwa kuwa katika hali nzuri na endelevu kwa muda mrefu kwa kuwa UNDP imejipanga kikamilifu katika kufikia malengo na mafanikio hayo.

Naye Mwakilishi kutoka Shirika la Mazingira la Umoja wa Mataifa (UNEP), Bi Clara Makenya aliendelea kusisitiza umuhimu mkubwa wa kuimarisha ushirikiano katika kukabiliana na changamoto za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na kuimarisha huduma za hali ya hewa. Bi Clara pia alifafanua jukumu la UNEP katika kufanikisha mradi huo, ikiwa ni pamoja na kusimamia viwango vya ubora katika utekelezaji wa mradi hususan eneo la mazingira kwa kuratibu na kutoa ushauri pale inapobidi kwa maendeleo endelevu ya nchi na dunia kwa ujumla.

TANZANIA YAWA MWENYEJI WA MKUTANO WA MAFUNZO YA MIFUMO YA UANGAZI WA HALI YA HEWA DUNIANI KWA NCHI ZA KANDA YA AFRIKA MASHARIKI NA KASKAZINI.

 

7 Oktoba, 2024, Dar es Salaam: 

Tanzania kupitia Mamlaka ya Hali ya Hewa Tanzania (TMA) kwa kushirikiana na Shirika la Hali ya Hewa Duniani (WMO) imekuwa Mwenyeji wa mkutano wa Mafunzo ya WMO kwa wataalamu wa hali ya hewa kutoka nchi Wanachama wa WMO Kanda ya Afrika Mashariki na Kaskazini. Lengo likiwa ni kuwajengea uwezo wataalamu wa Hali ya Hewa wanaofanya kazi katika vituo hivyo vya “WMO Regional WIGOS Centres (RWCs)”  vya kanda ya Afrika Mashariki na Kaskazini Afrika. 

Akifungua rasmi mafunzo hayo yanayofanyika katika Hoteli ya Four Points by Sheratons,kuanzia tarehe 7-11 Oktoba, 2024,  Mgeni rasmi na Mwenyekiti wa Bodi ya TMA, Mhe. Jaji Mshibe Ally Bakari alisema suala muhimu kwa Taasisi za Hali ya Hewa za Afrika ni kuimarisha upatikanaji wa taarifa za hali ya hewa zenye ubora kwa maendeleo ya kijamii na kiuchumi, hivyo mafunzo hayo yatasaidia kuboresha zaidi shughuli zinazofanywa, ikiwa ni pamoja na kuboresha mtandao wa kubadilishana data ili kuboresha zaidi utabiri wa matukio ya hali mbaya ya hewa katika nchi wanachama wa WMO.

Aidha, Jaji Mshibe aliishukuru Serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania kwa kuendelea kuwekeza katika uboreshaji wa miundo mbinu ya huduma za hali ya hewa. Jaji Mshibe aliwashukuru pia WMO na washirika wengine kwa jitihada zao za kuimarisha huduma za hali ya hewa barani Afrika, ikiwemo kuanzisha mfuko wa uwezeshaji wa huduma za uangazi wa hali ya hewa ambapo kupitia jitihada hizo, kiasi cha dola za kimarekani milioni 9 zimeidhinishwa kuboresha huduma za hali ya hewa nchini Tanzania.

Awali, Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa TMA na Mwakilishi wa kudumu wa WMO, ambaye pia ni Makamu Mwenyekiti wa Jopo la Kimataifa la Sayansi ya Mabadiliko ya Hali ya Hewa na Tabianchi, Dkt. Ladislaus Chang’a, alieleza umuhimu wa kuimairsha uangazi na kuongeza upataikanaji wa data kwa ajili ya kuimairsha utoaji wa tahadhari za matukio ya hali mbaya ya hewa na kukabiliana na changamoto ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. Aidha Dkt. Chang’a alieleza kuwa Tanzania kupitia TMA imejipanga kuendelea kushiriki katika kuongoza na kuwa kinara katika baadhi ya jitihada za kuimarisha huduma za hali ya hewa Barani Afrika. “ Tumejiandaa vyema kuwa mwenyeji wa Mkutano huu mkubwa wa Kikanda, na pia kama mwenyeji wa Kituo cha mfumo wa Kidunia wa  kufuatilia vituo vya uangazi wa hali ya hewa kwa nchi za Afrika Mashariki” alisema Dkt. Chang’a. TMA itawasilisha mada zenye kueleza uzoefu wake katika utekelezaji wa jukumu hilo. 

Kwa upande wake, Mwakilikishi kutoka WMO alisema kumekuwa na changamoto ya matukio mbalimbali ya Hali mbaya ya Hewa hivyo ushirikiano wetu utasaidia katka kutoa tahadhari za mapema juu ya matukio ya Hali mbaya ya Hewa na tahadhali za mapema”.Alisema, Abubakari Salih Babiker

Washiriki wa mkutano huo wametoka Taasisi za Hali ya Hewa za nchi za Tanzania, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Madagascar, Comoros, Sychelles, Mauritius, Morocco, Afrika Kusini na waalikwa kutoka Oman na Sekretarieti ya Shirika la Hali ya Hewa Duniani.