EUMETSAT User Forum in Africa

The data, products and services generated from EUMETSAT’s satellites make a significant contribution to weather forecasting and the monitoring of the global climate, and are provided free to all African countries.

To ensure optimal use of EUMETSAT data and products, EUMETSAT organises a biennial User Forum for African users. The forum is organised in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service of the host country, together with relevant governmental institutions and ministries who also act as hosts. Representatives from the African National Meteorological Services, the African Regional Economic Communities, the African Union Commission, the European Commission, industry and other interested institutions attend the Forum.

The purpose of the Forum is to reinforce the well established dialogue between EUMETSAT and the African user community to optimise the use of EUMETSAT satellite data throughout the continent. The Forum also provides the opportunity to identify actions and initiatives that could be taken by EUMETSAT to meet the requirements of its African partners. The current and future focus of the Forum is on the long-term sustainability of the outcomes of the Preparation for the use of MSG in Africa ( ) programme and its successor, the African Monitoring of the Environment for Sustainable Development ( ) project.

Sessions are held on EUMETSAT products and services, the Satellite Application Facilities and dissemination information. Sessions are also held to interchange views and discuss with users how EUMETSAT could best promote the use of meteorological satellite data in Africa. The programme normally includes a thematic session on, for example, hydrology, climate, the mitigation of natural disasters and other relevant topics.

The 10th EUMETSAT User Forum in Africa was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 1-5 October 2012. The next User Forum in Africa will take place from 8-12 September 2014, the location will be announced in the coming months.

Previous EUMETSAT User Fora in Africa have been hosted in the following countries:

Forum	Year	Location	Report	Cover
10th	2012	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
9th	2010	Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
8th	2008	Accra, Ghana
7th	2006	Maputo, Mozambique
6th	2004	Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
5th	2002	Dakar, Senegal
4th	2000	Kampala, Uganda
3rd	1998	Rabat, Morocco
2nd	1996	Harare, Zimbabwe
1st	1995	Niamey, Niger