By Mohamed Attia
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority has successfully hosted a workshop focused on air quality forecasting in Africa, collaborating with leading international meteorological Organisations, including the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and prestigious global universities.
The workshop saw participation from trainees representing 19 African countries, including Libya, Algeria, Gambia, Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon, Congo, Botswana, Chad, Comoros, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Uganda. Additionally, trainers from seven countries, including the United States, Spain, Côte d’Ivoire, Italy, and the United Kingdom, contributed to the event.
Hisham Tahanoun, head of the Egyptian Meteorological Authority, highlighted that the training programme is conducted in collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire, the University of Pretoria, Northeastern University, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. The aim is to enhance local capacities in Africa for air quality forecasting and prediction.
The hosting of this event aligns with directives from Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation, emphasising the importance of ongoing coordination and co-operation with all African nations to strengthen regional collaboration through training programmes and the exchange of technical expertise in various civil aviation activities, particularly in meteorology and climate change issues.
