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A special 3-day symposium for weather, water and climate professionals
12:00pm - 6:00pm (CET) (UTC+2)
13th, 15th & 16th October 2020
Panel discussions and live Q&As with global experts
Expert global speakers from government, industry, academia, IGOs and NGOs
Expert-led roundtable discussions for small groups
One-on-one meetings and networking time
The Purpose
HydrometAFRICA will bring together key actors in the ARWE value chain to develop a common understanding of their respective capability, capacity, roles and responsibilities in relation to one another, and help to shape future resilient weather and climate services in partnership.
There is an opportunity to uncover funding, partnership and operational models that will enable the efficient and sustainable development of weather and climate infrastructure and services in Africa, and create mutual benefit starting from a position of trust.
The goal of HydrometAFRICA is to support the creation of better weather services through capacity building, knowledge sharing and Public-Private Engagement (PPE) towards long-lasting partnerships.
The development of capacity in the African Regional Weather Enterprise (ARWE) is essential to protecting lives and livelihoods across the African continent. HydrometAFRICA is designed to provide a platform for constructive work towards the end goal of building effective and resilient weather enterprise from infrastructure to the last mile.
The Attendees
Varysian’s virtual HydrometAFRICA event will host participants from government, IGOs, NGOs, Development Partners and experts from the private sector and academia. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and engage with a wide variety of professionals from the African Regional Weather Enterprise and Global Partner organisations.
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Director Generals of NMHS & technical staff
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Civil Aviation Authorities
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Other Relevant Public Sector Bodies and Government Ministries
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Project and Programme Leaders from African and Global NGOs and IGOs
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Leaders from Academic Institutions and Research Centres
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Senior Operations, Risk and Safety Executives from Private Sector Verticals: Mining and Process Industries, Transport, Logistics and Infrastructure, Energy and Renewables, Agriculture, Insurance, Aviation, Disaster Management and Public Safety, Business Continuity/Environmental Health and Safety
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Industry Bodies and Associations
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Big Data Companies
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Weather and Climate Product and Service Providers
The Event
HydrometAFRICA is a content-driven and networking-focused virtual event that will provide key topics for discussion, delivered using multiple immediate and intimate formats, including panel discussions, roundtables, one-on-one meetings, Workshops and special strategy sessions.
Using our world-leading virtual event delivery platform supported by the Varysian Network for year-round engagement, HydrometAFRICA is a unique opportunity to position your organisation at the heart of the development of one of the highest-growth hydromet markets in the world.
"Thanks again for a revolutionary and dynamic symposium with riveting themes, presentations and atmosphere."
John Smith, CEO, Civil Aviation Authority, Turks & Caicos
“My first virtual conference. The platform is much better than I had expected. The world has just become smaller and more accessible.”
James Logan, OneRain (AEM group)
"The system worked smoothly: video and audio quality were excellent.
Groundbreaking – well done!"
Andrew White, Comptus
HOW IT WORKS
KEY TOPICS
Education and training
Climate change risk mitigation
Climate finance
Disaster risk reduction
Public Private Partnerships
Economic impact of weather services
Women and climate change
Business continuity
Agrometeorology
NHMS capacity building
Orientation day
Monday 12th October
Pre-Conference Workshop
Tuesday 13th October
DAY 1
Tuesday 13th October
ALL TIMES ARE IN CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME (CET) (UTC+2)
12:00-16:00
The HydrometAFRICA virtual event platform will be open all day on Monday for you to log in, explore the features and familiarise yourself with the site.
For a guided tour of the platform, join us for a special presentation + Q&A session at 15:00 CET on Monday.
8:00-8:20 Presentation
Explaining the OCP global vision for engagement between the public, private and academic sectors - WMO Dimitar Ivanov
8:20-8:40 Presentation
Why is it essential for all actors in the African Regional Weather Enterprise to engage with one another in an unprecedented manner? - WMO Amos Makarau
8:40-9:00 Presentation
Maximising the impact of climate funding on lives, livelihoods and prosperity - World Bank Stefan Von Grunigen
9:00-9:15 Refreshment Break
9:15-10:00 Quickfire Panel
Agreeing common goals. What is needed from other key stakeholders to lay the foundation for the provision of resilient, sustainable weather and climate services?
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A willingness to engage from a position of trust and a mutually agreed baseline
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Harmonizing business models and terminology
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Support of public good, not in contradiction to a business case
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Supporting the common goal of true partnership
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The route of sustainable modernization and creation of jobs
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Understanding impediments to the provision of services in partnership
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Identifying mutual benefit and recognising dependencies
10:00-11:00 Panel
What are the key objectives of the Symposium?
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Engagement between private sector verticals and service providers to establish need, opportunities and mutual benefit.
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Attribution of roles and responsibilities for collaborative provision of service in line with need and areas of mutual interest
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Developing an understanding of key enablers of successful partnerships
12:00-12:15 Opening Address
Why a Joined-up Approach to Weather Services Maturity and Resilience is Essential to Climate Change Resilience, Livelihoods and Prosperity in Africa
12:15-13:30 Industry Sector Engagement Roundtables
How can Weather and Climate Services Better meet the Requirements of our Industry?
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How can met service providers better understand the development needs of industry?
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The need for maturity of services to meet growing needs of region and acceleration of capacity building
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Perception of need - busting misconceptions with an empirical approach
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How can we join up our approach to consider the bigger regional picture?
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Understanding the reality of impact on lives and livelihoods
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Creation of jobs from provision of services - involving people and generating income and capacity development
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Aviation
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Energy and Renewables
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Agriculture
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Disaster Management and Insurance
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Climate Services
13:30-14:00 Meet the Technology Provider Networking Session
Join representatives of leading global technology providers at their exhibition stands and on dedicated tables in the networking lounge to discover cutting edge solutions and get to know the people behind them.
14:00-14:30 Product Demos and one to one meetings
14:30-15:00 Technical Presentations
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Baron - DRR
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WFP & University of Reading - PICSA
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AEM Case Studies, Jim Anderson
15:00-15:15 Refreshment Break
15:15-15:45 Presentations
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Anni Karttunen, Vaisala
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Benjamin Larroquette, UNDP
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Roelof Bruintjes, ARC
15:45-16:00 Refreshment Break
16:00-16:45 Panel Discussion
Engagement between private sector verticals and service providers to establish need, opportunities and mutual benefit
16:45-17:00 - Closing Comments
DAY 2
Thursday 15th October
12:00-12:15 Opening Address
Better Together - Why it is Essential to Break down Siloed Approaches to the Provision of Weather Services
12:15-13:30 Roundtables
What additional capacity, capability and know-how does our organisation need to deliver excellence to the beneficiaries of weather and climate services?
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Clear mandate to deliver service
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Adequate funding
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Technical capacity
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Understanding of wider value chain
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How activity relates to development
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Impact on society and livelihoods
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Identifying mutual interest and efficiencies
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Disaster Risk Reduction/Early Warning Systems
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Data Sharing & Data Policy
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Data Collection & Management
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Data Integration & Emerging Technology
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Downscaling to the Last Mile & Dissemination Systems
13:30-14:00 Meet the Technology Provider Networking Session
Join representatives of leading global technology providers at their exhibition stands and on dedicated tables in the networking lounge to discover cutting edge solutions and get to know the people behind them.
14:00-14:30 Product Demos and one to one meetings
14:30-15:00 Presentations
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John McHenry, Baron
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Filipe Lucio GFCS
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Guillermo Navarro
15:00-15:15 Refreshment Break
15:15-15:45 Presentations
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Daouda Konate, SODEXAM/WMO
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Professor Sani Abubakar Mashi, NiMET
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Linia Gopo, Zimbabwe MSD
15:45-16:00 Refreshment Break
16:00-16:45 Panel Discussion
Attribution of roles and responsibilities for collaborative provision of service in line with need and areas of mutual interest
16:45-17:00 - Closing Comments
DAY 3
Friday 16th October
12:00-12:15 Opening Address
Public-Private Engagement, Funding and Partnership Models
12:15-12:45 Presentations
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Fireside Chat - John Harding and Jack Hayes
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PRs explain experience in PPE
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GFCS Filipe Lucio
12:45-14:00 Roundtables
How can we improve the processes and practices essential to effective service delivery?
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Access to opportunities
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What approaches have been successful and why
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Understanding legal frameworks
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Impediments to success/challenges
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Project Funding Models & Climate Finance
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Partnership Models
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Sustainable Operations & Maintenance of Equipment
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Training & Leadership
14:00-14:30 - Meet the Technology Provider Networking Session
Join representatives of leading global technology providers at their exhibition stands and on dedicated tables in the networking lounge to discover cutting edge solutions and get to know the people behind them.
14:30-16:30 - WMO & World Bank Workshop
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Developing an understanding of Key Enablers of Successful Partnerships
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Establishing Rules of Engagement for Project Collaborations
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Making co-investment a reality
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Working Groups with Roundtable Leaders - Applying the principles to real-world opportunities
COMMERCIAL ENQUIRIES

SEAN FIGURA
COMMERCIAL MANAGER
+441223 926828
SPEAKER ENQUIRIES

ALEX MATTHEWS
HEAD OF CONTENT
GENERAL ENQUIRIES

LIAM SMITH
PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER