The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will host a series of high-level meetings in Lusaka, Zambia, from September 1 to 11, 2025, aimed at strengthening regional collaboration on climate services, disaster preparedness, and early warning systems.
The events, organised in partnership with the Government of Zambia and supported by the European Union through the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) Programme, include the 31st Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-31), the Climate Experts Meeting (CEM), and a validation workshop for the SADC Multi-Hazard Early Warning System.
Themed “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together within the SADC Region”—aligned with the 2025 World Meteorological Day theme—the forum will provide a platform for technical dialogue, scientific exchange, and innovative approaches to managing weather- and climate-related risks.
According to SADC, the CEM, which runs from September 1 to 7, will bring together climate experts from across the region to produce the annual seasonal outlook. This critical forecast offers early guidance on rainfall and temperature patterns, enabling countries to prepare for agricultural planning, water management, disaster risk reduction, energy generation, and public health responses.
On September 8, stakeholders will convene a hybrid workshop to validate the draft framework, design, and tools of the SADC Multi-Hazard Early Warning System. The aim is to ensure the system is practical, harmonised, and regionally owned, thereby boosting the region’s ability to deliver timely, coordinated responses to climate and disaster risks.
The SARCOF-31 Forum itself will take place from September 8 to 11, bringing together climate scientists, government officials, NGOs, socio-economic actors, development partners, and the media. Discussions will centre on improving climate services for poverty reduction, food security, and resilience-building in line with the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030 and the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS).
By convening these meetings, SADC seeks to strengthen early warning capacities, foster cooperation, and enhance preparedness for climate challenges across southern Africa.
