Posted by The Department Of Water Resources under the Ministry Of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters in collaboration with the European Union on Monday 14th November 2022, kick started a twelve days training workshop on data management and visualisation for fisheries staff and other institutions on techniques of data management using Geoclim tools on the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) and Climate Change Resilient Marine Zone for the Gambia.
Mr. Omar S. M Gibba Permanent Secretary MoFWR-NAMs told the participants that the objective of the workshop is to build institutional capacity in data management and visualisation in which the Department of Water Resources continues to play significant emphasis on observing, monitoring and predicting the weather, climate and water resources of the country. “I have been reliably informed that the Department of Water Resources has a long record of over 100 years of climate data in its achieve,” Said PS Gibba
PS Gibba stated that the Hydrological and Meteorological (Hydro-Met) observation systems constitute a crucial component for data acquisition and information generation necessary for meeting critical development goals. He indicated that in order to prepare for severe weather events and changes in climatic norms, the Gambia has identified the improvement of its hydro-met infrastructures as a priority need to define in the county’s national development plan.
“This will ultimately provide timely and reliable climate data, information services and reduce the negative impact of climate variability and change”, Mr. Gibba said.
PS Gibba added that the more effective delivery of climate related information to the public requires the involvement of a more participatory multidisciplinary approach that brings together research and development institutions appropriate as well as partners to increase yields and reduce the negative impact of climate change.