Climate services

WFP has invested in strengthening climate services in Mozambique to reduce the impact of floods and cyclones by ensuring timely, life-saving information reaches vulnerable communities. In partnership with the Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia de Moçambique and the National Institute of Disaster Risk Management, WFP has helped improve early-warning systems – strengthening SMS dissemination, cyclone tracking and coordination with district authorities. These efforts, tested during recent cyclones, significantly contributed to disaster preparedness and saving lives. 

As Tropical Storm Franklin approached Haiti in August 2023, WFP, in collaboration with the Directorate General of Civil Protection, activated an anticipatory action plan that included SMS alerts in Haitian Creole to 84,000 registered people. In November 2023, early-warning messages reached 550,000 people across five departments ahead of heavy rains.  This allowed communities to improve preparedness for floods and cyclones. The messages underscored the importance of securing valuables and legal documents, stocking up on medicines and drinkable water; and evacuating flood-prone areas. Early warning has since become a key component in Haiti, helping to build resilience and reduce the impact of extreme weather events. In October 2025, both the readiness and activation triggers were met for Hurricane Melissa. Early warning messages reached 2.3 million people, and over 9,500 households received $100 USD each to support their preparedness efforts. The early-warning messages were sent via mobile phones, and the cash was sent via e-money.

In 2023/24 season, Zimbabwe faced a severe El Niño-induced drought, resulting in widespread crop failure and water shortages. Through WFP's Anticipatory Action Programme, early-warning messages were sent to over 147,000 people in Hwange, Binga, Chiredzi and Masvingo districts. Climate advisories in local languages allowed farmers to understand early warnings and prioritize resource allocation based on early warnings.  Through a Participatory Climate Services for Agriculture Radio Programme, community radio journalists played a key role in broadcasting early-warning messages, ensuring that vital information reached vulnerable populations through trusted and accessible channels.

WFP helps the Government provide better climate information to smallholder farmers. Working with the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, and local partners, WFP introduced Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) to over 6,500 farmers. This uses weather data and seasonal forecasts to guide planting and harvesting. The approach is used in four regions as part of Haiti’s school meals programme, helping align food production with climate patterns. WFP supports Haiti’s Hydrometeorology Unit through technical assistance to improve climate data analysis and the production of weather bulletins tailored to smallholder farmers. It also helps share weather information using two tools, Rapid Pro: weather alerts sent by SMS directly to farmers, and Farm2Go: a digital platform used to share weather information to support agricultural decision-making.

WFP supports the Zimbabwe Meteorological Services Department in developing locally tailored climate forecasts, including advisories in local languages spanning ten days.  Through the Green Climate Fund and Anticipatory Action programmes, WFP has supported the development of systems for delivering climate services and disseminating early warnings via community radio stations, mobile WhatsApp platforms, and direct engagement through extension workers. . The Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture approach has been implemented in five districts, equipping extension officers and lead farmers with the knowledge to guide communities in making climate-informed decisions. Additionally, WFP has strengthened local disaster risk committees to enhance preparedness for vulnerable populations.