This support will help the Regional Information for Society (RIfS) —a core project under the World Climate Research Programme— to launch a task team dedicated to rallying African researchers and practitioners, enabling thought leadership on climate information for society and addressing discrepancies between what climate models predict and what is observed on the continent.

The task team will connect existing research communities, linking meteorological and hydrological services, seasonal forecasting, regional commissions, climate services and downscaled model analysis. The task team 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.

RIfS aims to connect climate science with society’s information needs, especially for those shaping policy and leading mitigation and adaptation efforts. Through collaboration with experts and communities around the globe, RIfS intends to advance a shift from linear information delivery to a web of co‑creation that strengthens the usefulness and legitimacy of climate science.