UK Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds has announced a £30 million (Ksh4.8 billion) uplift to the Weather and Climate Information Services (WISER) Africa programme, which includes up to Ksh660 million (£4 million) of new funding for WISER Kenya.
Kenya Meteorological Department, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Predictions and Applications Centre (ICPAC) and Kenya Red Cross, in partnership, the WISER programme will enhance early warning and early action before disaster strikes, reducing humanitarian need and supporting drought-affected communities.
This will go towards adaptation to climate hazards such as droughts, floods and storms, working with communities – particularly women and girls – to understand and respond to their needs.
In 2023, Kenya experienced the worst drought in 40 years, and this year, it experienced the most devastating floods which displaced more than 15,000 households.
Enhancing weather and climate forecasting is an essential part of enabling households, government and humanitarian actors to take anticipatory action, reducing the risk to life and livelihoods due to extreme weather events.
British High Commissioner to Kenya Neil Wigan, said: Weather and climate services help us all to prepare better. WISER has supported farmers and communities across Kenya – from Lake Victoria to Kibera – to anticipate and reduce the impact of severe weather.
Through this funding uplift, we look forward to working with Kenya Meteorological Department and other partners to enhance Early Warning Systems and support communities to prepare for climate shocks such as droughts and floods.
Senior Climate Scientist at ICPAC Philip Omondi Amingo, said: This funding will greatly enhance the capacity of leading early warning and humanitarian institutions in Kenya to develop triggers and early warnings ahead of predicted weather and climate hazards, reducing the impacts on communities before they fully unfold.
Previous phases of WISER delivered early warning services such as improved weather forecasts for Lake Victoria, which led to a 30% decrease in severe weather-related deaths and generated $44 million (Ksh5.6 billion) in economic benefits for Lake Victoria fishing communities.
Through the DARAJA project, WISER is supporting inclusive urban initiatives across East Africa through providing early warnings of extreme weather, particularly to marginalised communities based in informal settlements.
For example, the project has previously worked with local communities such as Kibera to co-design weather information using radio and SMS. This can help people to take action to protect themselves and their property.