by Asaminew Teshome

As part of ACACIA’s commitment to co-production and inclusive climate services, extended peer communities have been established in both Madagascar and Ethiopia. These communities bring together stakeholders from across sectors—such as water, agriculture, disaster management, and meteorology—to guide project activities and ensure that research and interventions are rooted in local realities.

In Ethiopia, the first peer community workshop was held during the National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF) in May 2025. NCOFs are typically held ahead of the major rainy seasons; the May forum takes place before the Kiremt season, which runs from June to September. This season is central to ACACIA’s work in Ethiopia, as the project aims to co-develop improved ways of forecasting heavy rainfall during Kiremt.

A capacity-building workshop for the peer community was organised last weekend by the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI). Participants were drawn from the water, disaster risk management, and meteorological sectors.

The workshop was officially opened by Mr. Fetene Teshome, Director General of EMI. In his remarks, he highlighted that climate change and extreme weather events are increasingly affecting socio-economic activities both globally and nationally. He stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships and producing more downscaled weather and climate information, especially for flood-prone areas like the Awash Basin.

Several presentations were delivered and discussed during the workshop, with a focus on bridging science and practice and promoting community-centred climate services. Capacity-building efforts in the Awash Basin are helping to close the gap between complex meteorological data and everyday decision-making. By training local leaders, cooperatives, and youth groups to interpret seasonal forecasts and use mobile-based weather alerts, these initiatives foster both ownership and collaboration.

This approach not only improves responses to climate risks but also strengthens trust between communities and EMI through the ACACIA project.