CONSULTANCY: Supporting the development of operational hydroclimatic monitoring services in Central Africa - SSA-2026-TCU-DPPD-20

In 2024, the Central Africa region was severely impacted by major flooding events in the Congo River Basin surrounding areas. Regional and national institutions lacked timely hydrological information, such as water level, forecasts and trend analyses, to support preparedness and emergency response. At the same time, the Laboratory of Geophysical and Oceanographic Studies in Space (LEGOS) had been publishing, since December 2023, regular monitoring bulletins based on satellite altimetry data showing exceptional increase of water levels for key water bodies across the Central African region, especially around Congo River Basin countries. However, this information remained largely inaccessible to operational institutions, highlighting a significant gap between research and operations and the need to bring both communities closer together to accelerate the development of operational services. 

In response to these events, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in coordination with the Commission Internationale du Bassin du Congo-Oubangui-Sangha (CICOS), developed a training plan and has delivered, since 2025, a series of workshops on the use of Earth Observation (EO) data for operational hydrometeorological monitoring, targeting the hydrological community of the Central Africa countries. These workshops trained participants on the use of Satellite radar altimetry data with the support of LEGOS, and in the use of EO-derived precipitation and soil moisture products with the support of the EUMETSAT Hydrology SAF (H-SAF) for hydrometeorological analysis for operational applications.  

The second step of this training plan is the operationalization of hydroclimatic monitoring services through structured analysis and debriefing sessions between regional centres, river basin organizations (RBOs), National Meteorological et Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and water resources entities in Central Africa, and the consolidation of digital platform to support it. This will be done considering synergies with the development of the regional FANFAR riverine flood forecasting system in Central Africa, under implementation by the technical partners AGRHYMET Regional Centre and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), as part of the CREWS Central Africa project. 

This consultancy aims to collaborate with the CICOS and the Central African Climatological Application and Forecasting Centre (CAPC-AC) in coordinating and implementing operational services on hydroclimatic monitoring, with focus on related variability and impacts across Central Africa. Building on EO (satellite and ground) data and user needs identification to develop required information, it will support capacity development and mentoring of regional specialists in the region. 

Under the supervision of the WMO CREWS Central Africa technical coordinator in collaboration with the CICOS and CAPC-AC focal points, the consultant will perform the following duties: