The RANET programme introduces new information and communication technologies to strengthen collaboration in Meteorology between meteorological services in Africa on the one hand (using Internet) and on the other hand, bringing information to the rural communities through the wind-up and solar radios.
Consortiums of specialised institutions were built at sub-regional levels, in order to strengthen climate prediction for water resources management, health systems, and plague control and food security.
National Meteorological Services were trained in modern management, resource mobilisation and market development for cost effective public services for the year 2000.
A Foundation was built to support all the programmes related to climate information as a resource for sustainable development of Africa.
Finally, AMEDIS 2000 was developed to adapt information and communication technologies to the need of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of Africa.
Climate and weather play a vital role in many human activities such as agriculture, energy production, wildlife management, disaster mitigation, health, and a host of other areas. Technological and scientific advances in recent decades have not only provided us with a good understanding of the climate and weather but also a large variety of observations and forecasts that can help in our efforts to manage systems sensitive to meteorological events. Although such information cannot be considered a panacea for managing disasters or increasing productivity, it can often be of great value, particularly when attempting to mitigate losses.
Currently a limiting factor for some rural populations most in need of hydro-meteorological and environmental information is the inability to access information already produced by national, regional, and various international organisations. The RANET Project (Communication for Rural Communities Using Radio, Internet, New Information Technologies and Solar Energy) was designed specifically to address information access and support of rural communities, and it was originally conceived and started in the later part of 1997 by ACMAD (the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development, a WMO/UNECA Sponsored Institution) and partners from the University of Oklahoma, NOAA/NWS+OGP and USAID.
RANET is a co-operative effort of many national to international organisations that have come together to provide resources and technical expertise in order to improve access to climate and weather related information throughout Africa (Climate and Environmental Information: a Resource for Development and Poverty Reduction).
Activities of the RANET partnership have included:
Another key part of the RANET Project is its dedication to periodically reviewing its own efforts. By doing so, it will assess further needs of the rural communities while judging it own effectiveness. All of this work helps existing information reach communities most in need.
ACMAD remains the central co-ordinator and manager of RANET Initiative, however partners, contributors, and participants as the African Weather Services have included and/or still remain:
United Nations Development Program (UNDP); WMO; World Bank; USAID; UNECA; Drought Monitoring Centres in Africa; AGRHYMET/CILSS; ECOWAS; Universities of Oklahoma (UO), Georgia and Tufts; NOAA/OGP+NWS; Met. Services of UK, Spain and France; WorldSpace Foundation; Freeplay Foundation; Wantok Enterprises LTD (Canada); more than twenty African Countries; the Niger Ministry of Communication; Association for Peace (local association in Bankilare, Niger), NGO; farmers Platforms.
For more information on RANET and its activities, please consult: www.ranet2000.org or contact ACMAD (Email: [email protected], fax: 227.72.3637, Phone: 227 73.49.92, web: http://www.acmad.ne); World Space Foundation www.worldspace.org or the Freeplay Foundation www.freeplay.org.uk or www.freeplay.net
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