To enable the Gambia to monitor and respond to weather-related events, Vice President Mohammed B.S Jallow has received an Open Hardware Automatic Weather Station – CADORNA configuration – to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) from the Director of the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Coordinating Center (NCCRM), Ms. Binta Singhateh, and Environment and Climate Change Analyst (NCCRM), Mr. Momodou Senghore.

The CADORNA configuration was generously donated by the International Centre for Environmental Monitoring (CIMA) Research Foundation in Italy. This advanced weather station had already been installed in Jambanjelly, WCR, and its donation was a result of a collaborative effort between NCCRM and its development partners during the COP28.

During the handover ceremony, the Director of NCCRM explained that the idea for this initiative was conceived during COP28, and the weather station represented a tangible outcome of their visit. Under the new arrangement, the DWR would take charge of operating and managing the weather station.

The data collected by the station would be processed and utilized through the MyDewetra platform, not only by the DWR but also by the NCCRM and other stakeholders such as the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Disaster Management Agency, and the National Environment Agency.

Vice President Jallow expressed his appreciation for the collaboration between NCCRM and its partners during COP28. He emphasized the significance of this initiative for The Gambia’s environmental monitoring and disaster response capabilities. This successful handover marked a crucial step towards enhancing The Gambia’s capacity to monitor and respond to weather-related events, ensuring the nation is better prepared for environmental challenges.

As the ceremony concluded, there was a sense of optimism in the air. The installation of this advanced weather station represented not only a technological advancement but also a symbol of international cooperation and a commitment to safeguarding The Gambia’s environment and its people from the impacts of climate change.