ACTION

COUNTRIES IN ACTION

Every country is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all path to closing observation gaps. Progress can take many forms, from new stations and stronger data systems to trained people, engaged communities and new partnerships. Delivering data justice also means putting countries in the lead, with the resources and technical support to build and sustain their own observing systems.

These are some of the ways SOFF countries are turning plans into action.

Bhutan: Keeping more stations running

In Bhutan, some of the places where weather observations are most needed are also among the hardest to reach.

In 2026, technicians travelled to more than 20 sites, including remote high-altitude and snow stations. They repaired equipment, restored a station that had stopped operating and improved data transmission.

SOFF also supported the optimization of automatic weather stations that were previously installed with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. All five stations are sharing data now.

In Tsirang, construction began on the country’s first upper-air station, which will measure conditions high above the ground.

These efforts are helping lay the groundwork for broader investments in climate information and early warning systems. A proposed USD 22 million Green Climate Fund (GCF) project, being developed with UNEP, aims to address further gaps in monitoring, technology and connectivity, building on and scaling up SOFF’s work in Bhutan.

Photo: Damphu Automatic Weather Station, Bhutan National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology

Cabo Verde: Data, every hour

Scattered across the Atlantic, Cabo Verde has highly variable rainfall and limited freshwater. Its weather observations matter locally and help describe conditions across a vast ocean.

At stations in Sal and Praia, measurements were already being taken. The challenge was getting them into the global system. Until recently, observations were manually uploaded every six hours. In 2026, Cabo Verde’s meteorological team connected the stations directly to the international exchange of weather data. Now, Sal and Praia stations are sharing data every hour.

SOFF's work is part of broader efforts to strengthen climate information and early warning systems in Cabo Verde. With support from CREWS, the country developed its national Early Warnings for All roadmap, setting out priorities across the early warning value chain. UNEP, that is also the Implementing Entity for the SOFF Cabo Verde project, has submitted a Green Climate Fund (GCF) concept note to support the roadmap's implementation, with the proposed investment expected to scale up SOFF investments.

Madagascar: Powering weather observations

Madagascar is highly exposed to extreme weather, from tropical cyclones and floods to severe droughts. Reliable weather information is critical, but producing it also depends on something basic: keeping the power on.

Power disruptions interrupt the systems needed to collect, transmit and manage weather data.

In March 2026, Madagascar inaugurated a new solar power system at its Hydrometeorological Forecasting Operations Centre, providing continuous electricity for these essential operations and helping keep meteorological data flowing even when the wider electricity supply is disrupted.

Mozambique: Communities at the centre

A new weather station was coming to Changalane, in Mozambique’s Maputo Province. But before the equipment arrived, the conversation started.

In June 2026, Mozambique’s National Institute of Meteorology met with the community to explain what was being built and why. Schoolchildren learned how an automatic weather station works, while a community meeting in Ronga, the local language, explained weather balloons and what to do if one is found after returning to Earth.

Local ownership also has a practical purpose: helping protect weather equipment from theft, vandalism and accidental damage so observations can keep flowing.

Rwanda: The first balloon rises

In Rwanda, agriculture employs more than two-thirds of the population and contributes about a quarter of GDP. Reliable forecasts matter for decisions made every season, from planting and harvesting to preparing for heavy rainfall.

With SOFF support, Rwanda had already strengthened its surface observing network. But an important part of the picture was still missing: knowing what is happening higher in the atmosphere.

In 2026, Rwanda inaugurated its first automatic upper-air station in Huye  — also the first new upper-air station inaugurated through SOFF support worldwide. In a region where upper-air observations are extremely scarce, the Huye station helps fill a major gap in the global observing network.

Twice a day, weather balloons measure temperature, humidity, pressure and winds high in the atmosphere. By sharing these measurements internationally, Rwanda can help improve weather forecasts not only for its own population, but also for neighbouring countries and the world.

Around 35 Meteo Rwanda specialists have also been trained to operate, maintain and use the new systems.

Solomon Islands: Making the way for new observations

The Solomon Islands stretch across hundreds of islands in the Pacific, making building and maintaining a weather observing network particularly challenging.

In some places, preparation faced another challenge: unexploded ordnance left from the Second World War. Before new weather infrastructure could be built, specialist teams assessed and cleared planned sites to make the ground safe.

In 2026, equipment for six new automatic weather stations arrived in the country, while designs were completed for three new upper-air stations.

Across the vast Pacific, weather observations remain sparse. Each new station helps fill an important gap, providing data for forecasts at home while contributing to the global observing system.