ADDIS ABABA – World Meteorology Organization (WMO) has chosen Addis Ababa to open its regional office due to the fact that it is the continent’s diplomatic hub, announced the National Meteorology Agency (NMA).
WMO has recently signed an agreement with the government of Ethiopia to open its new Regional Office for Africa in Addis Ababa in order to strengthen relations with key institutions like the African Union and to improve support for Members on the African continent.
As to the location of the Regional Office for Africa on the continent will be a strong channel of support from the WMO to strengthen early warning systems that incorporate climate management into development policies and strategies, which enhances socioeconomic development for the well-being of the people in Africa.
WMO also has sub-regional offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Abuja (Nigeria). Fetene Teshale, NMA DirectorGeneral said the Regional Office for Africa and Least Developed Countries is currently based in Geneva and will be relocated to Addis Ababa next month. The Regional Office is responsible for 54 National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in Africa.
Fetene also told the Amharic Daily Addis Zemen that the Regional Office was located in Burundi until it was located to Geneva due to the civil war in that country. Fetene added that 10 African countries including Ethiopia have shown interest to be the seat for the Regional Office, Ethiopia has got the upper hand as it is the diplomatic hub of the continent and due to its relative stability.
The Director further explained that the new regional office would strengthen WMO’s presence in the continent and strengthen partnerships with key institutions including the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa as part of WMO’s wider strategy to deepen relations with international and development partners. The office will be situated in the new headquarters of Ethiopia’s National Meteorological Agency.
The Ethiopian Herald, February 7/2019
BY LAKACHEW ATINAFU
