THE government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) yesterday launched the systematic observation financing facility (SOFF) project, aimed at enhancing meteorological infrastructure.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, officiating at the launch, said SOFF is an initiative of the United Nations multi-partner trust fund (UN-MPTF) established  by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the UNDP and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).

The initiative is intended to address the challenge of weather and climate data gaps in countries with the most severe shortfalls in meteorological observations, prioritizing the least developed countries (LDCs) and small islands developing states (SIDS).

He said the launched project represents a vital opportunity to enhance meteorological infrastructure in the country, in addressing the data gap and enabling wider international exchange of weather and climate data.

This effort is based on rendering technical and financial assistance to meet the global basic observation network (GBON) requirements, he stated, underlining that the project puts Tanzania ahead of several neighbouring states.

It is one among 27 African states to benefit from SOFF, whose implementation will strengthen efforts at resilience and a sustainable economy, he stated.

He applauded the UNDP, the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) and WMO for supporting the project, set to be implanted in three years at a total cost of $19.5m.

The government will contribute $4.9m and land for relevant construction work, he said, expressing gratitude to all partners who made the project idea a success.

The government will do everything to make the project sustainable after completion, he stated, while UNDP country representative Shigeki Komatsubara hailed the Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) for its commitment to excellence “that keeps Tanzania at the forefront of climate adaptation and resilience effort.”

Under the SOFF project TMA will obtain operational and maintenance support so that Tanzania weather stations are effectively maintained long after the project has ended, he declared.

 “UNDP is fully committed to this effort and stands ready to provide the necessary support to see this project through to its successful completion,” he stressed.

Clara Makenya, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) country representative, pointed at vital collaborative efforts relating to various components of the project, including in strengthening climate actions.

She emphasized the need for ensuring the project implementation aligns with international standards and best practice since UNEP serves as a global leader in environmental governance, advocating for sustainable development.

Dr Ladislaus Chang’a, the TMA acting director general, the country’s permanent WMO representative and alternate vice chairman at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), noted that the project will help transform TMA operations to digital meteorology.

This will enable the agency to cope with technological growth and artificial intelligence, he said, hinting that the project will improve meteorological accuracy now pegged at 89 percent.

The project is similarly expected to enhance weather and climate data for resilience to support sustainable socio-economic development, he added.