{
  "id": 11173909,
  "title": "Investing in climate, hydrological services is essential-WMO",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/investing-in-climate-hydrological-services-is-essential-wmo",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-01T10:34:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/wmo-says-reliable-weather-forecasts-will-save-lives/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) emphasises the importance of investing in weather, hydrological and climate services as a means of safeguarding lives, sustaining livelihoods and bolstering economies. Dr Joshua Ngaina, Project Officer at the WMO Representative Office for Eastern and Southern Africa, stresses that as Kenya anticipates increased rainfall from October to December, timely warnings and precise weather forecasts are vital for protecting people and economic activities.\n\nAn early flood alert provides communities the opportunity to prepare, while accurate forecasts assist farmers in planning, water managers in optimizing supplies, and transportation and energy providers in minimizing disruptions. Dr Ngaina, who addressed the National Expert Elicitation Workshop on the Socioeconomic Cost-Benefit Analysis of Weather, Hydrological and Climate Services held in Nairobi County, asserts that \"better and accurate climate information supports sounder decisions, diminishes losses and aids in more efficient investments.\"\n\nDr Ngaina urges the media to report effectively on early warning information, stating that precise coverage empowers both governments and individuals to make informed decisions regarding forthcoming weather patterns. The Project Officer also notes that findings on socio-economic benefits will aid the newly established Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA) and its partners in securing resources. According to Dr Ngaina, \"each sector can utilize this evidence to advocate for increased funding for hydrometeorological services and their implementation in their respective fields.\"\n\nKMSA Acting Director Edward Muriuki highlights that weather, water and climate information only holds value when it informs decisions within exposed sectors and communities. Muriuki notes that Kenya's economy and development are heavily reliant on climate-sensitive sectors. \"Robust and timely weather, hydrological and climate information can enable institutions to anticipate risks, prepare accordingly, and make better decisions,\" he explains.\n\nThe workshop, organized under the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems for East Africa (CREWS-EA) project, gathered technical experts and representatives from critical weather and climate-sensitive sectors to present evidence and professional opinions on estimating the socio-economic value of hydrometeorological investments. The assessment, conducted within the framework of WMO HydroHub and CREWS East Africa, aims to cover six East African nations: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan.\n\nThe workshop seeks to quantify the value of weather, hydrological and climate services, offering governments and financing partners evidence of returns from hydrometeorological investments, and enhancing national services' capacity to demonstrate the social and economic value created. Participants analyzed Kenya's hydrometeorological service chain, encompassing monitoring, observation, forecasting, modelling, dissemination, communication, user interpretation, and ultimately, socioeconomic outcomes.",
  "summary": "The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) says investment in weather, hydrological and climate services is essential to protecting lives, supporting livelihoods and strengthening economies. The Project Officer, in the office of the WMO Representative Office for Eastern and Southern Africa, Dr Joshua Ngaina, says that as the country readies itself for the enhanced rainfall during the […] The…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}