Tanzania has made history by becoming the first city in Africa to host the Fourth World Meteorological Organization International Workshop on Operational Climate Prediction (OCP4), a major global meeting focused on improving weather forecasting and climate prediction to help countries better prepare for climate-related disasters.
The workshop, which is taking place from June 29 to July 3, 2026, is jointly organized by the Government of Tanzania and the World Meteorological Organization.
It has brought together leading climate and meteorological experts from more than 20 countries across the world.
The experts are meeting in Arusha to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and discuss how modern science and technology can improve the accuracy of weather forecasts and climate predictions.
The goal is to strengthen early warning systems that help communities respond faster and reduce risks from disasters.
Opening the workshop, the Minister of Transport, Prof. Makame Mbarawa, thanked the World Meteorological Organization for choosing Tanzania to host the important international event.
He said the decision shows growing global confidence in Tanzania’s efforts to improve weather services and respond to climate change.
Prof. Mbarawa said accurate weather forecasting is becoming more important as the world continues to experience extreme events such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, and strong storms.
He explained that reliable early warnings help protect lives, safeguard property, and support key sectors of the economy.
He added that the main purpose of the workshop is to improve how countries produce and use weather and climate information.
This, he said, will benefit sectors such as agriculture, transport, water supply, disaster management, and energy by helping leaders and communities make better and safer decisions.
The Minister also pointed out that the workshop is exploring the use of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve the speed and accuracy of weather forecasts.
He encouraged experts to focus on practical solutions that can be applied in real life to strengthen early warning systems.
He stressed that no country can deal with climate challenges alone, saying international cooperation and knowledge sharing are key to building stronger resilience against climate change impacts.
Prof. Mbarawa also highlighted Tanzania’s continued investment in improving meteorological services.
He said the government has upgraded weather monitoring systems through modern radar installations, strengthened the National Meteorological Centre, improved climate monitoring and verification systems, and expanded early warning communication tools to reach more people across the country.
The Arusha workshop is expected to produce practical recommendations that will help improve global climate prediction systems and strengthen preparedness against weather-related disasters.
