19TH REGIONAL FORUM ON SEASONAL CLIMATE PREDICTION IN CENTRAL AFRICA (PRESAC-19)

Rising temperatures, heavy rainfall, and rising sea levels, with their corollaries in terms of flooding, drought, coastal erosion, and landslides, are manifesting themselves in different ways in the region, with definite repercussions on the way of life of populations, particularly the most vulnerable. To better manage these different risks, it is necessary to promote the scientific knowledge required for decision-making, while at the same time strengthening operational systems for risk prevention and management. The Regional Forum on Seasonal Climate Forecasts in Central Africa (PRESAC) is a platform contributing to enhance resilience to hydro-climatic disasters in the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) region.
At the Central African level, this initiative is aligned with the ECCAS Medium-Term Indicative Plan (2021- 2025), key regional agricultural and environmental policies and strategies, including: (i) the ECCAS Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy, (ii) the ECCAS Regional Common Agricultural Policy to 2040 and the Regional Agricultural Investment, Food Security and Nutrition Program (2024-2028). This platform will serve to build capacity and enhance the expertise of stakeholders (regional and national) to better characterize, interpret, analyze, forecast and communicate effectively on hydro-climatic risks.
Comprising climate experts, media players and sectors sensitive to climate impacts, the forum will analyze national, regional and global climate information, and to produce and exchange seasonal forecasts in the ECCAS region and elsewhere. Through exchanges and interactions with users and sectoral players, the forum explores the possible uses of information derived from hydro-climatic forecasts, and assesses the possible implications for socio-economic sectors such as agriculture, integrated water resource management, health and disaster risk reduction.

Since its inception, PRESAC has provided the region with an authentic and reliable source of high-quality climate information. This information is developed on the basis of regional and local needs, while taking into account available capacities. Over the years, user interest has grown, with more active and numerous participation in forum sessions. This user participation has enabled the process to evolve, ensuring the sustainability and refinement of climate services for decision-makers and policy-makers.
Under the High Patronage of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Cameroon, the African Union Commission (AUC) and ECCAS through its specialized institution, the Climate Application and Prediction Centre (CAPC-AC), and in collaboration with the African Centre for Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), with the support of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and other partners, are organizing the nineteenth Central African Seasonal Climate Prediction Forum (PRESAC-19).

PRESAC-19 scheduled from September 09 to 13, 2024 in Douala, Cameroon, will have as its theme: “Development of Services for Climate Risk Resilience of Central African Socio-Economic Sectors”.
This edition of PRESAC is organized with the financial support of the 11th European Development Fund through the Climate Services and Related Applications Program (ClimSA), as part of the collaborative agreement with the AUC to implement the ClimSA program in Africa. This forum is part of the preparatory activities for the demonstration phase of the institutional and operational capacities to fulfill the mandatory functions of a Regional Climate Centre (RCC) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) by the CAPC-AC. It contributes to the implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services by developing, disseminating and facilitating the use of climate forecasting products. The edition will provide the opportunity to integrate for the first time the production of Hydro-Climatic information, which will bring together national and regional experts in Climate and Hydrology in order to enhance co-generation of the regional forecast of Hydro-Climatic character in Central Africa.