The 30th Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-30) was concluded in Madagascar, focusing on seasonal rainfall forecasting and strategies to mitigate climate variability.
The three-day forum, held in Antananarivo from January 28 to 30, brought together experts and policymakers from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to enhance preparedness for extreme weather events.
With seasonal forecasting playing a crucial role in disaster management, the forum emphasized improving the accuracy and accessibility of climate predictions. These forecasts are vital for guiding decisions in key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, which are often disrupted by severe weather patterns.
Madagascar, a country frequently affected by cyclones, hosted the forum amid the recent devastation caused by Cyclones Chido and Dikeledi in December 2024 and January 2025.
The economic and humanitarian toll of such disasters highlighted the urgency of building resilience and improving response strategies across the region.
The SARCOF-30 meeting reinforced the need for collaborative efforts among SADC member states to strengthen climate resilience, ensuring that early warnings translate into effective actions that safeguard communities and economic activities.
