New collaboration to strengthen the preparedness against extreme weather in Moldova

SMHI has now commenced a collaboration with its sister agency in Moldova to strengthen the country’s meteorological and hydrological forecasting and warning systems. The official project launch took place in the capital Chișinău in November, attended by representatives from Sweden, Moldova and global organisations.

“This is a partnership where SMHI works closely with our sister agency SHS (Serviciul Hidrometeorologic de Stat) in Moldova to meet the institutional and societal needs for weather and climate information and warnings. Among other things, we will be working with data management, forecasting and disaster risk communication,” says SMHI’s Bode Gbobaniyi, project manager.

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The project is a collaboration gathering many actors and stakeholders.

Project launch with broad participation

The recent project launch meeting included a large group of participants from SMHI, Moldovan ministries and organizations, alongside representatives from the World Bank, UNDP, the EU and other stakeholders. Anna Wikman, project consultant at SMHI, shares her insights:

“The meeting was very successful and we look forward to working with our partners in Moldova during the coming years. It was clear that all participants present shared the desire to collaborate and work towards this cause together.”

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The project consists of six work packages run by representatives from both SMHI and SHS. Enlarge Image

She continues:

“During the meeting, we discussed our common plans moving forward, upcoming activities, and how the project can maximize its impact in terms of sustainability and safety for the Moldovan society. Moreover, it is important to consider the interaction with other organisations working with development in Moldova. To ensure this, a technical hydrometeorological coordination group will be established.”

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Translation between English and Romanian was an important part of the meeting logistics.
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The project launch was recognized by both radio and television in Moldova.

An increasing need in a changing climate

Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe. In addition to this, the SMHI-SHS collaboration takes place in the context of rapid climate change, which results in more frequent weather extremes.

“Moldova faces challenges such as floods, droughts, hailstorms and extreme heat. These are a threat to the well-being of the population, infrastructure, and the economically viable agricultural sector. To minimize damages, accurate forecasts and timely warnings are essential,” says Bode.

“Our ambition is that together we can lay the foundation for long-term development of Moldova’s meteorological and hydrological forecasting systems, and through that contribute to a more sustainable and secure future for the Moldovan society,” concludes Anna.

The partnership between SMHI and SHS runs from 2024 to 2029 and is funded by Sida, The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

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Director-generals of collaborating organisations. Håkan Wirtén of SMHI (left), Mihail Grigoraș of SHS (right) and Elena Mateescu of Romanian RMA. Elena Mateescu also holds the position as regional president of the World Meteorological Organisation in the area.

International Development Cooperation at SMHI

SMHI has a long history of collaborating with different countries worldwide, which face similar issues as Moldova. The overall aim is to contribute to national level capacity to handle and plan for the effects of weather, water and climate.

Learn more about international development cooperation at SMHI.