The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Ms. Celeste Saulo, has reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to collaborating with Tanzania to enhance early warning systems, enabling timely and effective responses to natural disasters.
Ms. Saulo made the remarks during a side meeting at the 8th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction held on June 5, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Jim Yonazi, Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Policy, Parliament, and Coordination, accompanied by a government delegation.
The discussions focused on strategies to strengthen and expand early cooperation between WMO and Tanzania.
Ms. Saulo emphasized WMO’s readiness to support Tanzania by providing capacity-building programs, including training experts on the use of meteorological data and modern weather forecasting technology.
She highlighted the importance of leveraging this knowledge to improve early warning capabilities and disaster preparedness.
“We have a long-standing partnership with the Tanzania Meteorological Authority and are committed to strengthening disaster management frameworks. Tanzania’s efforts to build capacity, collaborate with neighboring countries, and implement projects that address shared priorities are commendable,” Ms. Saulo stated.
She praised Tanzania for its exemplary leadership in disaster management coordination, noting the country’s proactive establishment of early warning systems that facilitate timely information dissemination to mitigate disaster impacts.
Ms. Saulo further explained that effective early warning systems are crucial for developing integrated frameworks that provide timely alerts, reduce disaster-related damages, and support resilient communities.
Access to accurate and early information enables societies to prepare and minimize the consequences of impending hazards.
In response, Dr. Yonazi reiterated Tanzania’s dedication to deepening cooperation with the WMO to enhance disaster risk management.
He underscored the government’s commitment to building resilient communities and making the world a safer place to live.
Dr. Yonazi highlighted Tanzania’s achievements, including the establishment of the National Emergency Operation and Communication Center Situation Room within the National Centre for Emergency Operations and Communications.
This facility has significantly improved the country’s disaster response coordination and operational efficiency.
Both leaders agreed on the necessity of developing comprehensive and inclusive development strategies.
They stressed the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration to maximize disaster risk reduction efforts and deliver benefits to communities nationwide.
