BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
MANZINI– Eswatini is strengthening its preparations for the 2026/27 rainfall season by bringing key sectors together to translate climate information into practical early action.
The Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, through the Eswatini Meteorological Service, convened the National Climate Outlook Forum (NACOF) under the theme, “From Climate Information to Early Action: Preparing Eswatini for the 2026/27 Rainfall Season.”
The forum brought together stakeholders from sectors that are likely to be affected by the coming rainfall season, with a focus on ensuring that climate information reaches decision-makers in time to support preparedness.
A key part of the discussions was an update on the prevailing El Niño conditions and their potential influence on the regional climate system. The update highlighted the importance of early preparation as the country looks ahead to the new rainfall season.
Stakeholders from Agriculture, Water, Disaster Risk Management, Health, Energy and Environment participated in discussions aimed at developing sector-specific preparedness measures and early-action messages.
The approach is intended to help different sectors make informed decisions based on available climate information, while strengthening the country’s ability to respond to potential climate-related risks.
For farmers, timely climate information can support decisions around planting and crop management, while water and disaster management authorities can use seasonal outlooks to strengthen planning for possible weather-related challenges.
The forum also reinforced the importance of early warning systems in reducing the impact of climate risks by ensuring that communities and institutions have sufficient time to prepare.
Through NACOF, the Ministry continues to promote the use of climate information as a practical tool for planning and decision-making, helping Eswatini move from simply responding to climate events to preparing for them in advance.
The continued collaboration between government departments, development partners and other stakeholders is expected to strengthen coordinated preparedness ahead of the 2026/27 rainfall season.
#Eswatini #ClimateAction #EarlyWarning #ClimateInformation #ClimateResilience #Meteorology #NACOF
(Courtesy Pic)
