By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
Zambia has secured an Investment Phase funding grant of US$ 3.6 million from the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), aimed at modernizing the country’s weather observation infrastructure.
The funding follows the approval by the 13th Systematic Observations Financing Facility Steering Committee under Decision 13.3.
The funds will be utilized to procure and install state-of-the-art weather observation stations, as well as to build capacity and sustainably manage the observation infrastructure that the Zambian Government has established in all the districts and catchment areas.
The project will be implemented with the support of the World Food Programme (WFP) as the Implementing Entity, and technical guidance from the United Kingdom (UK Met Office) acting as the Peer Advisor.
The initiative will effectively close existing data gaps and bring Zambia into full compliance with the internationally mandated Global Basic Observing Network (GBON).
Minister of Green Economy and Environment Mike Mposha said the approval is a transformative step for the country’s climate adaptation strategy.
“The financing marks a major milestone in the Government’s efforts to strengthen the nation’s climate resilience and is the culmination of a rigorous readiness and preparatory phase that began in 2023 at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai,” he said.
He noted that the investment is a testament to the Government’s unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and livelihoods of the Zambian people.
“By upgrading our meteorological infrastructure to world-class standards, we are enhancing our ability to provide accurate, location-specific early warning systems. This is directly aligned with our national development goals to safeguard agriculture, energy, and infrastructure against the growing impact of climate change,” Mr. Mposha stated.
The Minister stressed that the success of the funding bid is the result of extensive technical preparation and international collaboration.
“The modernized infrastructure will not only serve domestic needs but will also allow Zambia to contribute vital data to global weather prediction models, improving forecast accuracy worldwide,” he stressed.
“Furthermore, this SOFF investment unlocks synergies with other financing mechanisms, such as the African Development Bank’s Climate Action Window (CAW), ensuring a sustainable and comprehensive approach to climate data management.”
He assured the nation that deployment of the infrastructure and capacity-building programs will commence immediately following the disbursement of funds, ensuring that Zambia’s meteorological services are equipped to meet future challenges.
