This support will convene a task force dedicated to rallying African researchers and practitioners, enabling thought leadership on climate information for society, addressing discrepancies between what climate models predict and what is observed on the continent.

The task force will connect existing research communities, linking meteorological and hydrological services, seasonal forecasting, regional commissions, climate services and downscaled model analysis. The task force will also produce syntheses on the aspects of climate literacy needs and the robustness of information for decision-making in African contexts, and guidance on developing context-aligned climate information. These efforts will strengthen coordination and increase capacity among actors that produce and utilize climate information, creating a new synthesis of knowledge across projects and providing guidance for new initiatives.

This support contributes to Regional Information for Society (RIfS), a core project under the World Climate Research Programme. RIfS is bridging the gap between science and society’s needs, seeking to reconcile and integrate multiple lines of climate information to produce context-relevant knowledge for decision makers.