IGAD to host talks on El Nino

The Inter-Government Authority on Development (IGAD) through their specialised institution IGAD Climate Predictions and Applications Centre (ICPAC) will next week host a regional consultative meeting on the impending El Niño rains.

The meeting, which falls under the ICPAC Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forums (GHACOFs) will be held in Naivasha on October 20 and 21, 2015 is expected to bring together climate scientists, communication experts, policy makers including Ministers of Finance and Ministers responsible for Disaster Risk Management from the Greater Horn of Africa.

Also expected to participate are Parliamentary committees on Agriculture and Infrastructure in the member States, climate experts and a wide range of user communities. There will also be representation from the National Red Cross/Red Crescent and the International Federation of Red Cross.

The organisers expect to use the forum to facilitate national and regional experts to create awareness and provide an update of the predicted El Nino event including preparedness at community level across the region.

The ICPAC Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forums (GHACOFs) are seasonal forums for the release of the climate outlook for the upcoming season to facilitate early action.

GHACOF contributes to the improvement of the quality of the seasonal rainfall outlook, biomass prediction and dissemination of climate information and prediction products for disaster risk management.