By Alfred Zacharia
Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening early warning systems to mitigate climate risks as the country joins the global community in celebrating World Meteorological Day (WMD) 2025 under the theme "Closing the Early Warning Gap Together."
This year’s commemoration marks the 75th anniversary of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in advancing climate resilience.
“Tanzania has made substantial progress in improving weather and climate forecasting accuracy, now surpassing 88%, making our services more reliable and valuable in supporting socio-economic activities,” said Dr. Ladislaus Chang’a, Acting Director General of the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA).
He noted that under President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership, the government has modernized meteorological infrastructure to enhance accurate and timely early warning services, helping to save lives and protect property.
Recent investments include two new weather radars in Kigoma and Mbeya, calibration equipment for accurate data collection, lightning detection systems, and high-performance computing facilities.
These developments have significantly improved Tanzania’s ability to predict extreme weather events and minimize disaster risks.
“We understand that information must reach the last mile in a timely and cost-effective way,” said Dr. Chang’a.
He explained that TMA is leveraging multiple communication channels, including traditional media (television, radio, newspapers), digital platforms (social media, mobile applications, emails), and WhatsApp alerts, to ensure accessibility of early warning information.
Recognizing the role of media in shaping public understanding of climate risks, TMA has introduced awards for journalists covering meteorological issues.
“By recognizing excellence in journalism, we aim to encourage accurate and impactful coverage of weather and climate issues to help people make informed decisions,” said Dr. Chang’a.
“The future of meteorology is in leveraging technology,” he added.
He emphasized that Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, and Big Data Analytics are transforming weather prediction, making early warning services more precise and accessible, particularly for climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and aviation.
Tanzania is also playing a leading role in regional meteorology.
“We are not only strengthening our own services but also sharing expertise with our neighbors,”she said.
He revealed that TMA is providing technical support to Namibia, Burundi, and South Sudan in Numerical Weather Prediction, Severe Weather Forecasting, and the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).
He stressed that Tanzania aspires to become a regional hub for meteorological knowledge and innovation.
Tanzania’s early warning systems received a major boost with the launch of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Project in Dodoma.
“Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense,” said Prof. Makame Mbarawa, Minister of Transport, during the launch event.
“We must work together to ensure that early warning information reaches all Tanzanians in a timely and cost-effective manner,” he said.
Prof. Mbarawa acknowledged the Government of Denmark and WMO for their financial and technical support in implementing EW4All, an initiative by the United Nations to ensure that every person globally is protected by early warning systems by 2027.
“We are grateful for this partnership, which will help us enhance disaster preparedness,” he added.
“Timely warnings can mean the difference between life and death,” he insisted.
Aligned with Tanzania’s National Development Plan (2021-2026) and National Disaster Management Strategy (2022-2027), EW4All seeks to integrate early warning services into national and regional policies, ensuring that even the most vulnerable communities receive timely alerts to take necessary precautions against disasters.
“SOFF is a game-changer for Tanzania,” said Prof.
Mbarawa, referring to the $13.9 million Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), co-funded by the Tanzanian government and international partners.
He noted that these investments will strengthen real-time weather monitoring and enhance the country’s resilience against disasters.
SOFF investments include expanding the network of automated weather stations, improving climate modeling and forecasting capabilities, and enhancing the dissemination of early warnings to local communities.
“We need to ensure that every citizen, no matter where they are, has access to early warnings,” said Dr. Chang’a, adding that “Our aim is to bridge the information gap and build a climate-resilient Tanzania.”
Recognizing the importance of skilled meteorologists, TMA operates the National Meteorological Training Centre (NMTC) in Kigoma, accredited by the National Council for Technical Education (NACTE).
The institution offers specialized training in weather observation, remote sensing, and climate change studies.
“Building human capacity is just as important as investing in infrastructure,” said Dr. Chang’a.
He added that TMA also collaborates with the University of Dar es Salaam to support BSc and MSc programs in Meteorology and Climate Change, ensuring that Tanzania continues to develop experts in the field.
As World Meteorological Day 2025 is observed under the theme "Closing the Early Warning Gap Together," Tanzania’s advancements in meteorological services reflect a strong commitment to protecting lives and supporting sustainable development.
“TMA remains dedicated to enhancing early warning services,” said Dr. Chang’a, insisting that “By working closely with both local and international partners, we are ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against climate risks.”
With ongoing advancements in technology, infrastructure, and capacity-building, Tanzania is positioning itself as a leader in meteorological services across Africa, a crucial step toward achieving climate resilience and disaster preparedness for all.
