CEO’S REMARK ON BEHALF OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT FUND OF NAMIBIA (EIF)
ON THE OCCASION OF THE HANDOVER CEREMONY FOR THE AUTOMATED WEATHER STATIONS IN WINDHOEK, KHOMAS REGION.
FUNDED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT FUND OF NAMIBIA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANY (MTC) UNDER THE IREMA PROJECT, ENTITLED “IMPROVING RANGELNAD AND ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS UNDER CONDITIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SESFONTEIN, FRANSFONTEIN, AND WARMQUELLE AREAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA.”
19th APRIL 2023
MINISTRY OF WORKS AND TRANSPORT,
2ND FLOOR,
WINDHOEK,
KHOMAS REGION
Director of Ceremonies.
Mrs. Esther N. Kaapanda, Executive Director, Ministry of Works and Transport,
Mr. Jonas Sheelongo, Deputy Executive Director, Department of Transport, Ministry of Works and Transport,
Mr. Frans Uirab, Deputy Director Namibia Meteorological Services, Ministry of Works and Transport,
Mr. Tim Ekandjo, Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer, MTC,
Project Management Unit of the IREMA Project,
Staff Members of the Ministry of Works and Transport and Namibia Meteorological Services
Staff Members of MTC,
Staff Members of EIF,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen.
I am honoured and delighted to be here with you today to mark the handover of four (4) Automated Weather Stations (AWS) that have been procured by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) in partnership with the Mobile Telecommunication Company (MTC) through the IREMA project, at a total cost of N$ 800,000.00 (Eight Hundred Thousand Namibian Dollars). These weather stations will be installed at the IREMA project sites in Warmquelle, Kamanjab, and Erwee in the Kunene Region. The Fransfontein site has already been installed in November 2022, and the Meteorological Services have been including data from this site in their daily weather bulletin. The Ministry of Works and Transport, specifically the Meteorological Services of Namibia, will be the custodian of these highly technical Automated Weather Stations (AWS) and play a pivotal role in their management.
The official handover of these Automated Weather Stations (AWS) reinforces Namibia's unwavering commitment to implementing early warning systems as a crucial means of alerting our communities to climate changes and enabling them to respond effectively. Early warning information empowers communities to take timely action in the face of potential disasters such as droughts and floods. It serves as a safety net, allowing communities to proactively plan for disasters, thereby saving lives, preserving jobs, protecting ecosystems, and safeguarding critical infrastructure.
I am equally pleased to share with you that, to this end, that the Fund through the IREMA Project which is implemented in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, has finalized the consultancy work that developed an EWS tailored for Kunene region to the tune of N$950,000.
Director of ceremonies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The IREMA project was initiated as a response to the persistent droughts and dry spells that have plagued the Kunene Region. These recurrent drought events have had devastating effects on the region's primary source of livelihood, which is livestock farming. Moreover, the communities' reliance on nature-based livelihoods makes them highly vulnerable to climate change, impacting not only their income but also their food security.
To mitigate these risks, the development of an Early Warning System (EWS) is crucial. The EWS will utilize an integrated communication system to help communities prepare for hazardous climate-related events. It will consist of four key components: (i) hazard detection, monitoring, and forecasting; (ii) analysis of risks and incorporation of risk information in emergency planning and warning; (iii) timely and authoritative dissemination of warnings; and (iv) community planning and preparedness. These components will work together to alert communities at risk of imminent disasters, enabling them to take proactive actions to minimize the impacts.
The implementation of an Early Warning System (EWS) through the installation of Automated Weather Stations (AWS) in the Kunene Region is in alignment with the Namibian government's comprehensive efforts, as outlined in the National Disaster Risk Management Policy of 2009, the Disaster Risk Management Act No. 10 of 2012, the Disaster Risk Management Regulations of Namibia, and the National Strategy for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation. This integration of the EWS into existing policies and strategies underscores the government's commitment to effectively manage and reduce disaster risks, enhance climate resilience, and safeguard the well-being of vulnerable communities in Namibia.
It is worth noting that a successful EWS saves lives and jobs, ecosystem and infrastructures and supports long-term sustainability. In fact, early warning systems can also assist in planning, saving money in the long run and protecting economies. Thus, EWS supports people’s livelihoods is a dignified way!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Despite the progress made, we still need to mobilize more resources and prioritise investment in adaptation and early warning early action. This system will not only help decision makers in making informed decisions but lead to increased availability and access to early warning information as stipulated in Sendai Framework, on “substantially increasing the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems, and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.”.
Howard Schultz once said “Success is best when it is shared”.
Let me take this opportunity to thank our project partners who equally share in the success of this event: the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform; the Ministry of Works and Transport (the division of Meteorological Services of Namibia) and Mobile Telecommunication Company (MTC) for heeding to the call; that we need collective efforts as we build Namibia’s climate resilience, build collaborative climate information services and invite more partners to join the alliance for collective action on adaptation.
As I conclude, I wish to reiterate that the sustainability of this project is dependent on the inputs from the stakeholders that directly interface with the hazards as well as continued financial and technical support from the project partners to ensure mitigation of the adverse effects culminating from climate shocks through timely dissemination of accurate climate information to our communities.
I thank you all for your kind attention.
