The Department of Meteorological Services (DMS), in collaboration with the Department of National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), is advancing the implementation of Impact-Based Forecasting (IBF). This initiative is expected to strengthen early warning systems and resilience to climate and weather-related hazards, including floods, droughts, heat/cold waves, and severe storms.
To map a way forward, the departments hosted a three-day Sub-National Multi-Stakeholder Co-production workshop on IBF in Maun this week. The workshop aimed to bring discussions directly to local communities, validate national forecasting products, and ensure early-warning systems are inclusive and people-centred.
DMS Chief Meteorologist Charles Molongwane stated that Botswana continues to experience increasing climate variability and weather-related hazards, including droughts, floods, heatwaves, severe storms, and strong winds. While the department provides regular weather forecasts, climate outlooks, and severe weather warnings, challenges remain in translating this information into timely, understandable, and actionable early warnings that support effective preparedness and response by institutions and communities.
To address these gaps, the NDMO and DMS are implementing a national co-production process under the ActionFirst™ in Africa initiative, which is a co-designed project by the UK Met Office and global partners. This process aligns with Botswana’s disaster risk reduction and climate resilience priorities, contributing to global commitments under the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) service delivery principles.
Molongwane explained that DMS and NDMO have jointly developed preliminary IBF matrices that link forecast thresholds with anticipated impacts and recommended early actions. Furthermore, a draft national warning communication template based on the “5Ws” framework (What, Where, When, Who, and What action to take) will be developed to improve the clarity, consistency, and actionability of warning messages disseminated to stakeholders and communities. This initiative seeks to ensure forecasting products are jointly designed by forecast producers, disaster managers, sector agencies, communities, and other end-users.
Botswana Government Communication Information System (BGCIS) Deputy Permanent Secretary Tuduetso Mokgosi noted that the North West District supports livelihoods through tourism, agriculture, fishing, and livestock production, but remains highly vulnerable to natural hazards like flooding, storms, drought, wildland fires, and disease outbreaks. Mokgosi explained that the workshop brings stakeholders together to refine and contextualize the draft impact tables, warning matrices, and early action protocols previously developed by technical experts. Tailoring these tools to the realities of the North West District ensures that early warnings translate into timely, practical action that protects lives, livelihoods, and the environment.
