SPS-Blue Nile Project Kick-off: A Successful Start in Addis Ababa

From 6th to 10th November 2023, the SPS-Blue Nile project commenced with a well-attended in-person meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Building on the GRoW-SaWaM  project's foundation, this event marked the beginning of a concerted effort to develop an advanced meteorological-hydrological forecasting system for the Blue Nile Basin stretching across Ethiopia and Sudan. The innovation in question involves adopting a seamless approach that integrates forecast horizons, spanning from days to several months. This system will not only predict but also help mitigate floods, heatwaves and droughts, enhancing disaster preparedness and sustainable water management in a region highly impacted by climate change.

The meeting provided a rare opportunity to convene Ethiopian, Sudanese, and regional stakeholders in person, offering ample space for collaboration and dialogue. There was significant interest in methods such as AI-driven forecasts, hydrological and sedimentological modelling, and cloud-based services that are integral components of the SPS Blue Nile forecasting system developed by German researchers. Throughout the five-day event, German and African partners extensively explored the integration of these innovative methods with the existing local knowledge, forecasting practices and solutions in the Blue Nile Basin.

The meeting was attended by German project partners Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), University of Potsdam (UP), and adelphi, along with scientists, government officials, and climate and water management experts from Sudan and Ethiopia and the region. The participation of key regional partners such as the Hydraulic Research Center (HRC) from Sudan, along with Hawassa University (HU), the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and members from ICPAC (IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre) highlighted the meeting's significance for regional water management and addressing extreme weather challenges in the Blue Nile Basin.

On Thursday and Friday, the project team visited various relevant organisations, including the Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office (ENTRO), the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the Ethiopian Meteorology Institute (EMI), and Addis Ababa University (AAU). These meetings proved instrumental in gathering valuable insights on existing seasonal forecasting initiatives, fostering potential partnerships, and identifying possible end users for the SPS Blue Nile's forecast results. The project partners could also come up with a concrete action plan for a training focused on the SPS Blue Nile system and tools, in which these organisations can participate.

To learn more about the project, please visit here.