In 2024, CIMA Research Foundation started collaborating with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in the framework of the project Technical Assistance to Burkina Faso for the implementation of hydrological component of HYDROMET Burkina Faso. The objective of this collaboration is to contribute to the strengthening of operational capacities for flood forecasting in Burkina Faso.
CIMA Research Foundation’s contribution
Since 2019, CIMA Research Foundation has been the lead technical partner of the Volta Flood and Drought Management (VFDM) project carried out by WMO in the Volta River Basin and dedicated to strengthening the flood and drought warning system in the six West African countries crossed by the Volta. As part of the project, we implemented a cross-border regional flood and drought monitoring and forecasting system called myDewetra-Voltalarm. Currently, concerning flood risk, the system covers one third of the territory of Burkina Faso: the aim of the collaboration begun in 2024 is to extend its area of implementation to the sub-basins of the Niger and Comoé rivers. The coverage of the system will thus be nationwide, allowing the hydrological service (Direction des Etudes et de l’Information sur l’Eau, DEIE) to make impact-based forecasts for flood risk for the whole Burkina Faso. It will also enable the evaluation of the system’s performance by comparing its results with field data and/or those of other systems in use . The system will also provide support for issuing warning bulletins, through a tool integrated into the system and tailored for the needs of the hydrological service, and it will be tested during the rainy season.
In addition to the implementation of the monitoring and forecasting system at national scale, CIMA Research Foundation will be responsible for developing and conducting training courses for DEIE and other institutions involved.
