Email Address: Password:

Project Objectives

• Identification of the strengths and weaknesses in current climate prediction tools from a water resource management perspective
• Assessment of the potential for improvement, or improved use, of climate prediction tools through incorporation of newly-gained local and international knowledge of climate variability.
• Identification of crucial knowledge gaps
• Demonstration of use of improved climate prediction tools for water resource management and transfer of knowledge
• Identification of longer-term research, capacity-building and/or educational initiatives which would enable water resource managers to derive maximum benefit from climate modelling and prediction tools

Project Components

Stage 1: Climate Inventory
The first stage will comprise an inventory and assessment of climate information and its use in the water sector. The inventory will focus on:

1. reviewing the current availability and use of information about climate variability
2. assessing the efficiency of existing information dissemination networks involving climate information and water resource management.

The current inventory in MS Excel format may be download here.

Stage 2: Case Study
The case study will explore how information about climate variability might be best disseminated and utilised. It will focus on the type of climate information water resource managers presently use to make planning decisions, including,

• the source of the data
• how the data is manipulated/presented
• the way it is used

Interviews with a range of water resource managers and other stakeholders will enable more details about the use of available information to be ascertained. Stakeholder network analysis will enable networks of information transfer to be clearly mapped.

Stage 3: Development and implementation of climate information resources
In order to build an appropriate system for the dissemination of climate variability information to water resource managers, it is first necessary to establish how information about climate variability is perceived and how it might be best used.
A series of workshops will be held with managers from different user groups, including DWAF water managers, farmers and municipal water managers. The workshops have four aims:

1. to determine the knowledge and perceptions managers have of climate variability and climate change
2. to identify the strengths and weaknesses in current forecast tools
3. to examine the type of climate variability information managers think would be relevant at an annual and longer-term scale
4. to enable water resource managers to consider how forecast and climate change information could be better integrated into decision making processes

The workshops will be used to develop an educational toolkit for translating climate information into decisions for water resource managers. It will also have basic information that appeals to a wide audience that could be used for planning, educational purposes or policy. The toolkit could include training materials such as briefing notes, resource books, websites and a CD ROM. This will draw on recent developments in knowledge of climate variability in South Africa, as well as techniques for interpreting data and examples of where information has and has not been useful. This material will support existing Water Research Commission funded Global Forecasting Centre for Southern Africa (http://www.gfcsa.net).

The toolkit will be used as the basis for developing a pilot system of climate variability information delivery. The information system will entail the dissemination of specific climate data and products, either through the web or email, depending on what emerges from earlier results. The system intends to have feedback systems, so that managers' requirements are constantly communicated to climate information producers.

Expected Products

1. Inventory of climate information dissemination and use Target group: Climatologists and water resource managers
   Application: An inventory of the type of climate variability information that is available and currently disseminated will help to establish gaps and opportunities in the current system. This will enable future targeting of climate information so that the information reaches those who require it.
   
   
2. Climate variability information training toolkit Target group: Water resource managers (to use) for training other stakeholders
   Application: Products that facilitate improved understanding of information about climate variability. These documents (that will include brochures, briefing notes, webpages and CD ROM) will help to guide water resource managers through a process of educating other stakeholders (such as farmers and local authorities) about climate variability information and its potential applications and limitations.
   
   
3. Climate variability information dissemination system Target group: Climatologists, water resource managers and policy makers/funders
   Application: The case study climate variability information dissemination system will enable advanced information transfer techniques to be tested and evaluated. This will provide the pilot for improving wider information dissemination networks and feedback procedures relating to climate variability information and water resource management across South Africa.

Please email the webmaster if you have any problems with this site.
Template design by studio7designs | copyright C4W | Admin access