Technology driving innovations for locally tailored tools, real-time data transmission, and interoperable systems for climate resilience and disaster response
In Rwanda, the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) -funded deployment of upgraded surface weather stations and an upper-air observation site in Huye District is bolstering national capability to generate and exchange meteorological data in compliance with Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) requirements. Integrated with Water at the Heart of Climate Action (WHCA), this effort strengthens regional forecasting and Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) capabilities. Rwanda's success also lies in extensive capacity-building led by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and Finnish experts, and in sustaining the advances made through these initiatives thanks to allocations within national budgets and favourable policy.
In Chad, SOFF investments have rehabilitated and expanded the country's meteorological network to GBON-compliant operations, including 34 stations - 2 of which are upper-air - and satellite data transmission systems for remote areas. Technical support from GeoSphere Austria and coordination with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have improved both infrastructure and human resource capacity. These advances are directly improving forecasts for floods, droughts, locust invasions, and agricultural planning while enhancing anticipatory humanitarian action.
The Philippines demonstrates how decentralised and community-embedded technologies can make MHEWS more inclusive. The national Strengthening Resilience through Early Action and Impact Mitigation-Early Warning System (STREAM-EWS) initiative in Mindanao deployed calibrated flood sensors and telemetered weather stations across 12 municipalities. Aligned with existing Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration standards relating to observations, this infrastructure bridges gaps in local river basin monitoring, enhances forecast accuracy, and improves coordination among municipalities for evacuations and emergency actions. In San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, where traditional river monitoring involved manual inspection, the STREAM-EWS system now automatically triggers SMS alerts based on water-level thresholds, directly notifying local government units and communities in real time. The project's human-centred design extended beyond hardware: local officials and communities received training and conducted simulation exercises that improved real-time decision-making and strengthened preparedness. For budget-constrained Local Government Units (LGU), affordable and maintainable technologies combined with capacity-building activities has made the system sustainable with the ability to adapt it if required to meet changes in local needs.
The Maldives Meteorological Service received support from SOFF to enhance technical, human and institutional capacity for weather and climate data provision with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) leading implementation. In collaboration with the Maldives Meteorological Services (MMS) and the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES), UNEP aims to close critical data gaps, aligning with the GBON. While this work is focused on Pillar 2, UNEP is exploring how to expand efforts across the full MHEWS value chain, covering marine observations, technical training, impact-based forecasting, and enhanced stakeholder collaboration and communication, especially with vulnerable groups.
Common success indicators across the case studies include increased GBON-compliant station functionality, real-time data generation and sharing through national and international platforms, enhanced forecast accuracy and lead time, qualitative feedback from communities and authorities on improved disaster response, and institutionalised capacity-building that include gender-inclusive training programs.
Learning points from across the case studies include highlighting that technology must be adaptable to local contexts, especially where fiscal and connectivity constraints exist and that real-time monitoring tools save lives only when paired with robust dissemination systems and local training.