Stakeholders pose for a group photo during the launch of the Training Curriculum on Weather and Climate Information Services for Private Sector Stakeholders at the Institute for Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR) in Dagoretti Corner, Nairobi, on May 26, 2026. The event brought together representatives from the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Mercy Corps AgriFin, academia, private sector players, development partners, researchers, innovators and government agencies to strengthen collaboration in the use of weather and climate information for improved decision-making, resilience and sustainable economic growth.
By Peace Muthoka
Nairobi, May 26, 2026 — Kenya has launched a groundbreaking training curriculum aimed at helping businesses, farmers and private sector players better understand and use weather and climate information, marking a major step in strengthening climate resilience and improving economic decision-making.
The newly launched Training Curriculum on Weather and Climate Information Services for Private Sector Stakeholders was unveiled at the Institute for Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR) in Nairobi on Tuesday, with stakeholders describing it as a game changer in the country’s efforts to reduce climate-related losses.
Developed jointly by the Institute for Meteorological Training and Research and the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA), the programme seeks to equip private sector players with practical skills to interpret weather forecasts and climate information and apply them in day-to-day operations. The launch comes at a time when Kenya continues to experience erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, floods, pest outbreaks and changing planting seasons that have disrupted livelihoods and slowed economic progress.
For years, weather information was largely viewed as a scientific function reserved for meteorologists. However, changing climate patterns have forced governments, businesses and communities to rethink that perception. Increasingly, climate experts argue that weather and climate information has become a strategic economic tool that can no longer be ignored.
Speaking during the launch at the IMTR auditorium in Dagoretti Corner, Nairobi, Acting Director General of KMSA and Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Edward Maina Muriuki, described the curriculum as a major milestone in strengthening the country’s resilience to climate risks.
“It is said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Today, the journey that began in November 2025 has come to a fruitful and successful end with the launch of the Training Curriculum on Weather and Climate Information Services for Private Sector Stakeholders,” said Muriuki.
He noted that climate information is no longer a peripheral scientific function but a strategic national asset that supports policy formulation, investment planning, disaster risk reduction and socio-economic transformation.
According to Muriuki, the growing frequency of extreme weather events has exposed businesses and communities to increased uncertainty and vulnerability, making access to accurate and timely climate information more urgent than ever.
“Frequent extreme weather events, worsened by climate change, are exposing businesses and communities to increased vulnerability and uncertainty,” he said.
“These realities call for stronger institutional frameworks, enhanced climate literacy and improved access to timely, reliable and actionable weather and climate information.”
At the same time, he emphasized that the private sector — a major driver of innovation, employment and investment — must strengthen its ability to interpret and apply climate information in planning and operations.
He explained that businesses that understand climate risks are often better prepared to reduce losses, safeguard investments and maintain operations during weather-related disruptions.
“The curriculum promotes a culture of preparedness and resilience,” said Muriuki.
“Businesses that understand climate risks are better positioned to minimize losses, protect assets, ensure operational continuity and identify emerging opportunities within the economy.”
The curriculum specifically targets professionals working in agriculture, finance, insurance, energy and Information Communication Technology (ICT), sectors considered highly vulnerable to climate variability. Participants are expected to gain skills on how to interpret meteorological forecasts, strengthen risk management, improve early warning systems and apply climate data in operational decision-making.
Importantly, officials say the programme also seeks to bridge a long-standing gap between climate information producers and end users, particularly farmers who often struggle to access or understand scientific forecasts.
World Meteorological Organization Regional Coordination Office Director Isham Abader, who presided over the launch, stressed that engaging the private sector in climate services is no longer optional but necessary.
According to him, private companies play a dual role as both users and providers of weather and climate services.
“The private sector is very important for two reasons. Firstly, as a user of climate services because weather and climate information are integral to the work they do. Secondly, as a partner in supplying those services,” said Abader.
“They are often more flexible and innovative. We want to harness that innovation in climate service delivery while ensuring they understand how weather information affects economic activities and communities.”
Abader further said the curriculum reflects the implementation of the WMO’s newly introduced Guidelines for Public-Private Engagement (2024 Edition), which encourage stronger collaboration between governments, private companies, academia and civil society in producing and delivering climate services.
He praised Kenya for taking a leadership role in developing what he described as a pioneering curriculum on the continent.
“I think this is a pioneering curriculum in Africa and I must commend Kenya for bringing this initiative to the agricultural sector,” he said.
He further noted that Kenya plays a significant regional role in meteorological services, adding that the country hosts several specialized WMO centres, including the Regional Training Centre for English-speaking African countries.
“Kenya is important nationally, regionally and internationally. It plays a key role in meteorological, climatological and hydrological services,” he noted.
The initiative has also received strong backing from Mercy Corps AgriFin, which supported the curriculum through its Weather and Climate Services Programme funded by the Gates Foundation.
Mercy Corps AgriFin Program Director Sieka Gatabaki said a baseline study conducted before the programme revealed major gaps in how farmers access and understand weather information.
According to Gatabaki, although many farmers receive weather forecasts, only a small number clearly understand where the information comes from or how to effectively use it.
He revealed that while 79 percent of farmers surveyed reported receiving weather and climate information, only 25 percent could accurately identify the source of the information.
At the same time, 92 percent of farmers said forecasts from the Kenya Meteorological Department were accurate and useful in guiding farming decisions, including planting and farm management.
“What we found is that it is very important for public institutions to build stronger links with the private sector because this enables better dissemination of weather information to smallholder farmers,” said Gatabaki.
He explained that startups and private technology firms already working closely with farmers have become important channels for distributing climate information and improving agricultural planning.
“Private sector actors are already helping farmers plan better, improve productivity and manage risks through innovative solutions,” he said.
“By bringing together public institutions and private players, we believe we can improve the dissemination of weather information and strengthen resilience among smallholder farmers.”
Gatabaki further disclosed that nearly 40 percent of farming losses are linked to inadequate weather information, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen climate literacy among farmers and agricultural stakeholders.
“Knowing when to plant, understanding likely pest outbreaks and anticipating weather conditions can significantly improve farm management,” he said.
At the same time, he encouraged farmers to embrace digital technologies, saying smartphones and other digital tools are increasingly making weather information more accessible.
“We are in the digital age. Young people have access to tools, smartphones and even AI-supported information. These tools can help improve productivity and incomes in farms,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bernard Chanzu, Director of the Meteorological Training and Research Directorate, said the curriculum was informed by growing evidence that every economic sector is affected by weather and climate conditions.
“When we say private sector, we mean all sectors of the economy because all sectors rely on weather and climate information,” he said.
“There is no sector that can be left out.”
Chanzu explained that the curriculum emerged after research revealed that many farmers and end users struggled to interpret meteorological information due to low awareness, limited trust and inadequate understanding of forecasts.
As a result, IMTR partnered with private stakeholders, researchers and development partners to design a practical curriculum capable of building climate literacy among professionals and ordinary users.
“We realized that if we train private sector players, then trust, understanding and absorption of climate information services will improve,” he explained.
He added that the training is not intended to be a one-time programme but will become part of the institute’s long-term curriculum.
Kenya will first pilot the initiative locally before expanding it to other African countries through the WMO regional training framework.
“We are mandated to train for Africa. We are beginning with Kenya, but eventually we expect to expand across borders and support national meteorological services in the region,” he said.
Significantly, the programme is expected to improve communication between climate experts and grassroots farmers by empowering private organizations, agribusinesses, NGOs and farmer groups to interpret weather forecasts in ways that local communities can understand.
For smallholder farmers, many of whom struggle to interpret scientific weather reports, the move could prove transformative.
“When we train private organizations working directly with farmers, they can communicate this information in a language farmers understand,” said Chanzu.
“This will improve yields, reduce losses and strengthen resilience against climate shocks like droughts and floods.”
The launch attracted more than 70 participants, including government agencies, researchers, climate investors, innovators, development partners and agri-business entrepreneurs, reflecting growing recognition of climate information as a vital tool for economic resilience.
As Kenya grapples with increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, stakeholders expressed optimism that the new curriculum will help transform climate data into practical action, protect livelihoods and improve productivity.
