Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) has donated four Automated Weather Stations and one Automated Rain Station to the Namibia Meteorological Service Centre.
The stations, valued at a total cost of N$ 800,000, will serve as Early Warning Weather systems and are earmarked for the Kunene region – in Sesfontein, Fransfontein, and Warmquelle areas, respectively.
The donation, which demonstrates MTC’s ESG commitment, particularly the socio-environmental sustainability element, was effected in partnership with Environmental Investment Fund (EIF), Green Climate Fund, IREMA Project, and the Ministry of Works and Transport.
“Namibia is susceptible to natural disasters, particularly flood and drought. Hence the need to use the latest technology to accelerate our resilience, innovation, and adaptation against recurring and other possible climate calamities. These Early Warning Weather stations will thus be instrumental, especially to farmers in the Kunene region. We must design and employ smart interventions and transitions from traditional ways of farming to more innovative smart ways that accommodate technology-driven solutions,” said MTC’s Executive, Tim Ekandjo, highlighting that the country needs to leverage technology to mitigate climate change effects.
Pauline Mugore of EIF said Namibia’s commitment to implementing early warning systems is a crucial means of alerting our communities to climate changes and enabling them to respond effectively.
“Early warning information empowers communities to take timely action in the face of potential disasters such as droughts and floods. It serves as a safety net, allowing communities to proactively plan for disasters, thereby saving lives,” she said.
The Meteorological Services of Namibia will be the custodian managing the highly technical Automated Weather Stations donated.
The Early Warning System will be instrumental specifically in helping to address adaptation needs of smallholder farmers through access to accurate and up-to-date information on climate to enhance adaptation responses; alerting the people of an imminent disaster; hazard detection; monitoring and forecasting; analyzing risks and incorporation of risk information in emergency planning and warnings; disseminating timely and “authoritative” warnings; and community planning and preparedness.
While thanking MTC for the donation, Acting Executive Director in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Joyce Mukubi said, “In order to achieve the development of Early Warning System, there is a need for meteorological equipment to enable the Namibia Meteorological Service to provide weather and climate information well in advance to communities for preparation and planning purposes.
