Policy Brief: How to Improve Forecast Dissemination in the Blue Nile River Basin

Goal: This policy paper explores the ways how climate and weather forecasts are communicated across the Blue Nile River Basin shared by Ethiopia and Sudan, and how governments, global and regional organisations as well as development partners can support existing systems and practices. 

Focus: It concentrates on the main beneficiaries of forecasts in the Blue Nile: Agriculture, dam operators and rural communities and seeks to find solutions that foster a cross-border approach and create mutual benefits for Ethiopia and Sudan. While focusing on forecast dissemination, this paper also addresses forecast development, as both depend on similar conditions for success.

Methods: Based on workshops and interviews—conducted as part of the project SPS Blue Nile—and contributions from local scientists and practitioners, this policy paper examines governance systems, infrastructure, capacity and resources for communicating forecasts, and provides concrete actions for overcoming current challenges and leveraging major opportunities.