Photo: Denis Onyodi: IFRC/DRK/Climate Centre
Strengthening cities and infrastructure for a changing climate
With the escalating effects of climate change, especially in the most vulnerable regions of the world, it is critical to continue strengthening the resilience and building adaptive capacity of cities and human settlements. Climate risks require investments in robust infrastructure, services and adaptive planning for safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
In 2024, we continued to support the climate- and disaster-resilience and adaptability of cities and human settlements, with a focus on reducing climate vulnerability, especially for women and girls.
Our co-financing contributed to delivering 884 climate solutions, ranging from adaptation plans to climate-resilient services and infrastructure, benefitting 21.8 million people, 59% of them women. This section presents an example of our co-financing for improved climate and weather information services in the most vulnerable countries to protect lives and livelihoods. Detailed results and projections per indicator for this results area are provided in the datasheet.
Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF)
Unlocking financing for early warnings
As climate change intensifies, extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods and storms become more frequent and disastrous. By investing in early warning systems, timely and reliable warnings for climate shocks and hazards can be ensured, which can save lives and reduce economic losses.
Early warning systems are crucial, and to be effective, they need data to build upon systematic observations, the backbone of weather and climate forecasting. Without high-quality observational data, warnings cannot be precise. Yet, the current state of systematic observations in vulnerable regions is inadequate: According to WMO, in least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS), only 8% of the needed observations, mandated by international agreements, are exchanged from surface land stations.
“The situation is drastic: In 39 fragile and conflict-affected states, home to almost 1.5 billion people, there are only 7 weather stations reporting to international standards. This is an area where we need to invest, if we want to adapt to climate change,” says Markus Repnik, Director of the SOFF Secretariat.
“We need weather data across the globe, and today’s lack of data creates major gaps in forecasting, leaving many communities and countries exposed,” he continues.
The Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF) was established to strengthen the quality and exchange of climate and weather information services in vulnerable countries, closing these major data gaps by providing long-term, grant-based finance. The setup required to bolster early warning systems is expensive, and many LDCs and SIDS are not able to carry the associated costs for infrastructure investment.
That’s why SOFF works with speed and scale: It takes on average less than 4 months for a country to receive support to get the initial funding approved. Since its launch, the facility has provided support to over 60 countries, including Tanzania.
We need weather data across the globe, and today’s lack of data creates major gaps in forecasting, leaving many communities and countries exposed.
-Markus Repnik, Director of the SOFF Secretariat
SOFF has a strong Nordic footprint
SOFF has a strong Nordic footprint. NDF was SOFF’s anchor donor, which paved the way for other financiers to join forces in this initiative. Now, SOFF has total pledges of USD 107 million, of which NDF has contributed USD 16 million. Together with SOFF and its partners, we are continuously working towards mobilising more financing for climate solutions and promoting Nordic values, such as gender equality and inclusion in SOFF’s operations. The Nordic countries, together with NDF, have invested and pledged in total USD 45 million, which is more than 40% of SOFF’s total funding.
The Nordic countries, together with NDF, have invested and pledged in total USD 45 million, which is more than 40% of SOFF’s total funding.
Photo: J Sirlin/Adobe Stock
Early warning and early action saving lives in Tanzania
In addition to providing financing, SOFF aims to cultivate climate partnerships across borders. By facilitating a peer-to-peer system that works with advanced meteorological services to build capacities in countries and support long-term partnerships. The Nordic meteorological services are an important partner for SOFF and provide technical support for countries.
In Tanzania, the national meteorological service, Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA), collaborates closely with national stakeholders, but also with the Nordic countries, especially with the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI), facilitated by SOFF.
“The partnership with the DMI is growing and becoming very instrumental in enhancing the provision of national climate services in Tanzania. Weather does not know geographical boundaries, which is why this partnership contributes in many ways, by sharing experiences and knowledge in weather and climate services,” says Ladislaus Chang’a, the Director of TMA.
The partnership extends to sharing knowledge within SOFF’s framework and beyond. For example, the Danish meteorological experts visit Tanzania regularly, and provide appropriate technical support to the national weather services. “Last year, we needed support with a technical issue with our computer clusters. Our experts, together with Danish experts, found solutions to these technical problems we have been experiencing. These are valuable collaborations,” says Mr Chang’a.
Tanzania is observing an increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, causing fatalities and destruction of critical infrastructure and properties. In 2024, the country was hit by Cyclone Hidaya—its first-ever cyclone—which claimed hundreds of lives, destroyed homes, and severely impacted health centers and schools. Although early warnings were issued, the scale of the impact revealed critical gaps in preparedness and response.
When early warnings about El Niño event in 2024 were issued several months ahead by TMA, the Government had time to act. They rolled out a contingency plan, mobilised resources and prepared communities for potential impacts. Because of these early warnings, lives were saved, and the worst impacts of the disaster were reduced.
“This is the bottom line, why we need to continue enhancing early warning systems. We need to strengthen our observation systems to build our resilience. Early warnings equal early action,” says Mr Chang’a.
Weather does not know geographical boundaries, which is why this partnership contributes in many ways, by sharing experiences and knowledge in weather and climate services.”
-Ladislaus Chang’a, Director of TMA
Photo: Whit Comberd/Adobe Stock
Spotlight on gender
Promoting gender equality in climate services
According to the UN, women and girls are amongst the hardest hit by extreme weather events, often finding themselves at a greater risk due to timely and relevant early warning information. Unequal access to technology, communication, and services means that they often miss out on critical updates. This is particularly common for women, girls and other marginalised groups living in rural and isolated areas.
TMA recognises this and aims to prioritise the inclusion of women and girls in their national and international coordination across different levels. To reinforce this, they promote capacity-building for women and girls, by organising seminars and lectures across the country, for instance, educational workshops in girls’ secondary schools to promote their participation in working in climate services.
Many years ago, I gave a workshop on climate change in a girls’ school in Dodoma and promoted a career in meteorology. Five years later, I got a call from a meteorology student in the University of Dar es Salaam, calling to tell me that she was inspired by our workshop, and is studying to join the field. Now, she is working in climate services in Swaziland, saving lives by providing early warnings.”
- Ladislaus Chang’a, Director of Tanzania Meteorological Agency
NDF CO-FINANCING
EUR 16 million
PROJECT PERIOD
2022-2025
PARTNERS
UN Environment, UN Development Programme, World Meteorological Organization
MAIN RESULTS (SOFF)
- Close to EUR 100 million climate finance mobilised.
- Global platform established to support the quality and exchange of climate and weather information services in vulnerable countries.
- 61 countries approved for support to strengthen the weather data essential for early warnings systems.
Sources:
UNDRR (2022) WMO GBON Gap Analysis (2023) World Bank (2024)