AU, Zambia, ACMAD Hold Continental Dialogue To Boost Africa’s Preparedness For El Niño 2026/2027

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Stella Omona

The African Union Commission (AUC), in partnership with the Government of Zambia and the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), has convened a high-level continental dialogue aimed at strengthening Africa’s preparedness for the anticipated El Niño 2026/2027 weather phenomenon through enhanced and timely climate services.

The event, which opened on Monday in Lusaka, combines the Twenty-First African Continental Climate Outlook Forum (ACCOF-21) and the Continental Dialogue on Climate-Sector Nexus, under the theme: “Preparing Africa for El Niño 2026/2027: Strengthening Readiness to Anticipate and Manage Climate Shocks.”

According to a press release on Wednesday, the gathering brings together representatives of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), African Regional Climate Centres, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), climate experts, disaster management agencies, humanitarian organizations, sectoral stakeholders, and the media.

Speaking on behalf of Zambia’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Mr. Ranford Simumbwe stressed the urgent need to transform climate information into concrete action.

“Africa continues facing severe climate challenges, making climate information an essential resource for sustainable development.

However, climate information only creates value when it is translated into action. Today, we must take early action to protect Africa and our people,” he said.

Simumbwe noted that the forum presents a unique opportunity for Zambia and regional experts to deepen collaboration, share scientific knowledge, harmonize climate outlooks, establish working arrangements for continental climate-sector groups, and strengthen platforms linking climate information producers with end users.

The dialogue is being facilitated through the African Union’s Climate Services (ClimSA) Programme with financial support from the European Union. Its primary objective is to enhance continental coordination, climate service delivery, and preparedness ahead of the anticipated El Niño event expected to affect parts of Africa from 2026.

Director General of ACMAD, Dr. Ousmane Ndiaye, warned that Africa cannot afford to delay preparations in the face of growing climate risks.

“With the looming El Niño 2026/2027 and its potential impacts across Africa, we cannot afford to wait before acting. ACCOF-21 provides a critical platform to strengthen preparedness, enhance early warning systems, and translate climate information into timely action,” Ndiaye stated.

“Together, we aim to anticipate risks, protect lives and livelihoods, and build resilience across the continent. ACMAD remains committed to working closely with the African Union Commission, Regional Climate Centres, governments, humanitarian partners and development actors to ensure communities receive timely and actionable climate services, leaving no one behind.”

In opening remarks delivered on behalf of the African Union Commission, participants were urged to move beyond reactive responses to climate disasters and focus instead on anticipation, preparedness and coordinated early action.

Representing the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, Harsen Nyambe Nyambe, Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy at the AUC, emphasized the importance of collective action.

“As we gather for the Twenty-First African Continental Climate Outlook Forum, we do so with a shared commitment to prepare Africa for the anticipated El Niño 2026/2027 event,” he said.

“Climate shocks do not respect borders, sectors or communities. Our response must therefore be collective, coordinated and proactive. This gathering provides an opportunity to transform climate information into early action, strengthen preparedness across critical sectors, and ensure that timely forecasts translate into decisions that protect lives, livelihoods and sustainable development.”

Nyambe added that the continent is working towards building “a more climate-resilient Africa—one that anticipates risks, acts early and leaves no community behind.”
Organizers noted that recent El Niño events have caused widespread disruptions across Africa, including droughts, floods, food shortages, water scarcity, disease outbreaks and energy supply challenges. Vulnerable populations, particularly women, children, smallholder farmers, pastoralists and coastal communities, have borne the brunt of these impacts.

The Lusaka meeting is expected to produce practical outcomes, including coordinated continental climate outlooks, stronger collaboration between climate information providers and users, improved early warning communication systems, and enhanced preparedness plans across key sectors such as agriculture, food security, water resources, health, disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response.

Also addressing participants, Dr. Agnes Kijazi, Director of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Office for Africa, underscored the urgency of climate-informed decision-making.

“The increasing likelihood of El Niño conditions extending into 2026–2027 underscores the urgent need for Africa to strengthen preparedness, anticipatory action and climate-informed decision-making,

“Through the African Continental Climate Outlook Forum, countries are working together to translate climate science into practical early warning services that protect lives, livelihoods and economies.”

Kijazi reaffirmed WMO’s commitment to supporting the African Union Commission, Regional Climate Centres and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in delivering accurate, accessible and actionable climate information.

A key milestone of the forum will be advancing collaboration between climate information producers and sectoral users through the Continental Climate Sector Working Groups and User Interface Platforms. Organizers say these mechanisms will help ensure that weather and climate forecasts are converted into practical guidance for governments, institutions and communities.

The dialogue, which runs until June 19, is expected to generate recommendations to support African governments, institutions and communities in mitigating climate-related risks before they escalate into humanitarian and socio-economic crises.

The meeting also highlights Africa’s commitment to strengthening continental cooperation and ensuring that climate information reaches those who need it most in a timely, understandable and actionable manner.

The ClimSA Programme, a €22 million African Union flagship initiative funded through the European Union’s 11th European Development Fund, seeks to bridge climate information gaps across African, Caribbean and Pacific countries by promoting user-focused climate services in sectors including agriculture, health, energy, water and disaster risk reduction.

Through the programme, African Regional Climate Centres and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services are being strengthened to deliver science-based climate information that supports policy-making, development planning and climate resilience across the continent.