SOFF Action Report 2025 - Systematic Observations Financing Facility

The report highlights the progress of the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) and its partners in closing the basic weather and climate data gap. It demonstrates the importance of this work and outlines the path forward through innovative finance solutions such as a new Impact Bond.

In Brief

About the impact of SOFF

Together for impact
SOFF in numbers
Champions' voices

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Together for impact

Reliable surface observations remain the invisible ingredient of every forecast, early warning and climate response, yet in many developing countries these systems are critically under-resourced. The consequences are global – weakening resilience, threatening economies and putting lives at risk.

The Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) was established in 2022 by WMO, UNDP and UNEP at the request of 193 governments to help developing countries meet the requirements of the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON). Its innovative operational model embodies the COP30 Mutirão principle – countries and partners working together to deliver a global public good.

Remarkably quickly, the Facility has already started providing results-based grants and technical support to over 60 countries. SOFF’s track record has demonstrated proof of concept – delivering with speed and low cost.

Yet urgent needs remain, and demand is rapidly growing. To deliver and sustain results, more countries, businesses and partners will need to join the SOFF coalition, bringing resources and expertise to close the weather and climate data gap for the long term.

Now is the moment to scale up – transforming a proven model into global impact that powers stronger early warning systems, saves lives, protects livelihoods and safeguards economies through better data.

A new climate fund

3.5years in operation

IN DEMAND

101countries have requested
support

149countries eligible for
SOFF support

Responsive

countries programmed for support

countries in Readiness phase

Investment phase requests approved

USD

116

MILLION

country funding approved

Operational

8stations already starting to share data

Inclusive

70+partners

Potential impact

increase in weather and
climate data sharing

USD

BILLION

in direct annual
benefits

USD

160

BILLION

annual benefits across
critical sectors

“Closing the basic weather and climate data gap is one of the fastest actions we can take for global resilience.”

Prof. Celeste Saulo

Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and SOFF Steering Committee co-chair

“Belgium calls on governments, philanthropies, development banks, and the private sector to join this collective effort — to enlarge the SOFF funders’ base. Together, we can close the weather and climate data gap.”

Ambassador Willem Van de Voorde

Special Envoy for Climate & Environment of Belgium and SOFF Steering Committee co-chair

1. Science makes the case

In 2025, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) provided the strongest evidence to date that closing basic weather and climate data gaps significantly improves the accuracy of forecasts.

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Scientific proof

The ECMWF SOFF Impact Experiments showed that adding surface and upper-air observations in data-scarce regions reduces forecast uncertainty by more than 30 percent in Africa and by up to 20 percent in the Pacific Islands. Upper air observations in the tropics proved especially powerful, with measurable improvements seen within just 12 hours. The conclusion is clear: more data means better forecasts — with benefits felt far beyond national borders.

A dangerous global gap

Yet the regions where these gains matter most remain critically under-observed. In Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, only nine percent of required surface stations and 13 percent of upper-air stations are reporting as agreed internationally. The 39 fragile and conflict-affected states together have only seven reporting surface stations. By contrast, Germany alone has more compliant stations than the entire African continent. These blind spots put resilience, livelihoods and economies everywhere at risk.

Satellites cannot do it alone

Satellites now provide around 85 percent of the data feeding into forecasting models and are indispensable. But they are not self-sufficient. Satellite depend on surface observations for calibration and validation. And ECMWF experiments confirm that surface observations have outsized contributions to forecast skill, with their removal increasing forecast errors significantly. Modest investments in ground-based stations in underserved regions yield outsized global returns.

From science to sustained solutions

Closing the weather and climate data gap requires more than building infrastructure — it demands a sustainable system. This is what the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) provides. Its three-phase model ensures lasting results:

Readiness: assessing gaps and preparing GBON compliance plans
Investment: grants to build or rehabilitate networks; and build human and institutional capacity
Compliance: long-term, results-based support to keep data flowing

This operational model transforms science into action, ensuring that every country can contribute to, and benefit from, stronger global forecasting. ECMWF provides the evidence. SOFF provides the mechanism. Together, they make the case: closing basic the weather and climate data gap is one of the most cost-effective global investments in resilience.

Why can’t satellites work alone

Satellites have revolutionized weather prediction. They provide continuous global coverage and account for the vast majority of data in modern forecasting models. But relying on satellites alone is not enough.

They cannot measure everything — for example, conditions close to the ground where people live, farm and build. Nor can they fully replace direct observations of the atmosphere needed to understand local extremes. Without complementary surface and upper-air data, even the most advanced satellite programs fall short.

The lesson is clear: satellites are powerful, but they are only one part of the system. Balanced with ground-based observations, they deliver reliable, actionable forecasts. Without that balance, the world’s forecasting system is incomplete.

Why modest investments make a big difference

Basic weather and climate observations are a rare example of local action with global impact. Building or rehabilitating a handful of surface stations or upper air systems in under-resourced regions costs only a fraction of a single satellite program. Yet the benefits spread far beyond borders, strengthening early warnings and protecting economies worldwide.

The ECMWF SOFF Impact Experiments confirmed this multiplier effect. When new ground-based observations are added in Africa and the Pacific, forecast skill improves across whole regions within hours — and those improvements extended globally.

Why AI needs better data

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are beginning to transform forecasting. From short-term nowcasting to medium-range outlooks, AI models can capture patterns and deliver results faster than traditional methods. But like any model, they are only as strong as the data they rely on.

The ECMWF SOFF Impact Experiments showed that adding surface observations in data-scarce regions significantly improves forecast accuracy. The same principle applies to AI: without reliable ground-based data, outputs risk being biased or incomplete.

SOFF strengthens the quality and quantity of surface-based observations, ensuring they are shared internationally through the WMO Information System. These “ground truths” are essential for training and validating AI models. With better data, AI can predict extreme events more precisely, support earlier warnings and help forecasters everywhere make smarter use of new technologies. Closing the observation gap is not only about improving today’s forecasts — it is also about unlocking the full potential of tomorrow’s innovations.

2. Action

Growing Portfolio

With over 100 countries requesting support, SOFF’s portfolio has been expanding quickly. Since the first approved Investment Phase funding requests in November 2023, new stations have begun reporting into WMO systems. More and more are being installed and upgraded, putting countries on track toward full compliance with the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON).

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Readiness: building the foundation

As of October 2025, 61 countries have entered the Readiness Phase, actively supported by 20 advanced meteorological services as Peer Advisors and nine UN organizations and multilateral development banks as Implementing Entities. Most countries have already assessed its national observation gap against WMO’s June 2023 global baseline and developed a contribution plan to close it sustainably. At the same time, the Country Hydromet Diagnostics tool was applied to assess the capability of national services to observe, forecast and deliver weather and climate information to users.

Investment: moving to delivery

Momentum is accelerating. Eighteen countries have advanced to the Investment Phase. Work is under way to install new stations, rehabilitate existing ones and strengthen national capacities. Crucially, data from SOFF-supported stations are already flowing into WMO monitoring systems, demonstrating proof of concept for SOFF’s results-based approach.

A growing global impact

These early results show strong national ownership and a collective commitment to the global public good of reliable weather and climate data. As the portfolio expands, SOFF is demonstrating that its model can deliver sustained progress — building stronger national services, closing critical data gaps, and reinforcing the foundation of global forecasting.

Countries in Action

Click below to explore highlights: How SOFF makes the difference in some of the supported countries.

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Bhutan

Mozambique

Cabo Verde

Tanzania

Rwanda

Kiribati

Amazon

Caribbean

Bhutan: The value of local data

Imagine guiding a plane into Paro, Bhutan’s only international airport, set in a valley surrounded by 5 000-metre peaks. Operations are limited to daylight and clear conditions, and small changes in wind or cloud can halt a landing. For many years, decisions relied mainly on global weather data rather than measurements taken over Bhutan. This will change through an upper-air station combined with reliable surface observations. The aim is simple: give pilots, farmers and communities dependable local information.

Upper air, better decisions

Bhutan is taking weather observation to new heights. With SOFF support, the country is setting up its first upper-air station in Damphu, the main town of Tsirang District. This milestone will, for the first time, provide home-grown upper-air data on wind, temperature, and humidity above Bhutan’s complex mountain terrain. At its heart, the new station will release large weather balloons carrying small sensor packages that drift high into the atmosphere, transmitting real-time data back to Earth as they rise through the skies.

These data will give aviation services a clearer picture of changing weather conditions, supporting safer flight operations and informing plans for a new international airport. Beyond the skies, the data will strengthen Bhutan’s key economic sectors, agriculture and hydropower, the backbones of its economy.

Building for the Future

This investment builds on previous SOFF Readiness phase that ensures Bhutan is aligned with international data-exchange standards. With UNEP as Implementing Entity and the Finnish Meteorological Institute as Peer Advisor, the National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) has strengthened SmartMet—a forecaster’s workspace that pulls weather models and local observations into one place so meteorologists can review, adjust and publish forecasts and warnings quickly. The impact is practical: faster, clearer guidance for the public and for sectors such as farming, disaster management and transport, and more consistent information across web, radio and other channels. Upgraded weather stations and targeted training—with about 40% women participating in consultations—are building the skills to run and maintain the system over the long term.

SOFF at work in Bhutan

Bhutan completed SOFF’s Readiness phase in February 2024 and entered the investment phase in May 2024. It has secured USD 4.6 million in approved funding — USD 4.2 million through UNEP as Implementing Entity and USD 0.4 million for technical support from the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

Cabo Verde: From Inclusion to Empowerment

In Cabo Verde, better forecasts are not only about technology — they are also about people. By putting gender equality and civil society engagement at the center, the country is showing how inclusive approaches can turn investments into lasting resilience.

Innovating with a “triple sensor approach”

With support from SOFF, Cabo Verde’s National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics (INMG) is piloting a “triple sensor approach” that blends citizen data from schools and health posts with automatic station readings and satellite outputs. Training at least 30 civil society organizations to run low-cost stations will extend coverage to underserved areas and link weather monitoring directly to public health.

Gender sensitivity at the core

Cabo Verde is also building on INMG’s strong gender balance to introduce mentorship, recruitment quotas and partnerships with women’s groups. The aim is empowerment: ensuring women and Civil Society Organisations are long-term partners in observation and decision-making.

SOFF at work in Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde completed the Readiness Phase in 2023 and advanced to the Investment Phase in 2024, which runs until 2029. The programme is backed by USD 3.9 million, channelled through UNEP as Implementing Entity, with the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute providing technical support as Peer Advisor. By late 2025, implementation was focused on installing new GBON-compliant stations, piloting triple sensor sites, and embedding inclusive practices in national systems — setting Cabo Verde firmly on the path to compliance and long-term resilience.

Tanzania: Forecasting Beyond Borders

East Africa faces some of the world’s most complex and interconnected weather patterns affecting communities across borders. When storms erupt over Lake Victoria, they threaten not only Tanzanian fishers but also those in Kenya and Uganda. Floods along the coast and droughts in the interior add to the risks. For years, limited data has held back reliable regional forecasts. Now, Tanzania’s investments are starting to change that — with benefits reaching far beyond its borders.

Strengthening a regional lifeline

With support from the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) is upgrading its observing network to meet internationally recognized standards. New and rehabilitated stations are getting ready to deliver higher-quality data into WMO’s global system. These observations will help sharpen early warnings for farmers in the interior, protect livelihoods along the coast, and improve safety on Lake Victoria, one of the world’s deadliest inland waters. By strengthening Tanzania’s network, forecasts will also improve across East Africa, where weather systems are tightly linked.

National leadership driving results

What makes Tanzania stand out is the strength of its the country’s commitment. The government, led by the Prime Minister at the official launch of SOFF’s Investment Phase, has aligned the programme with national climate strategies and contributed infrastructure support. A national Project Technical Coordination Committee guides implementation under TMA, ensuring oversight and ownership. This leadership is helping to translate SOFF resources into sustained national capacity that also delivers global benefits.

SOFF at work in Tanzania

Tanzania completed the Readiness Phase in 2023 and advanced to the Investment Phase in 2024, which runs until 2029. The programme is supported by over USD 9 million from SOFF and close to USD 5 million from the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) serves as the Implementing Entity and the United Kingdom Met Office (UK Met Office) intervenes as Peer Advisor. By mid-2025, procurement for new GBON-compliant surface and upper-air stations was underway, alongside training to strengthen TMA’s technical capacity. With these investments, Tanzania is progressing steadily, ensuring its data power safer forecasts at home and across the wider region.

Rwanda: Data That Power Water Security

In Rwanda, the rhythm of life depends on water. Farmers watch the skies to know when to plant, hydropower plants rely on steady river flows, and families depend on safe drinking water. Yet changing rainfall patterns, driven by climate change, make that rhythm harder to predict. Better data are now helping Rwanda turn uncertainty into action.

From silence to signals

Until recently, Rwanda relied on just five weather stations to feed data into the global system — and only the one at Kigali International Airport reported according to international standards. The others operated just 12 hours a day, leaving critical blind spots when storms or droughts struck. With SOFF support, three of these stations have now been fully upgraded with modern sensors, automated loggers, and real-time transmission through the WMO Information System. For the first time, Rwanda’s surface network will meet GBON standards, providing continuous, high-quality data on rainfall, wind, humidity, and temperature.

Turning data into resilience

Upgraded infrastructure is only part of the story. Staff at the Rwanda Meteorology Agency (Meteo Rwanda) are being trained to maintain and operate the stations, ensuring that progress is sustainable. These improvements are already strengthening local forecasts, helping farmers prepare for rains and enabling hydropower operators to better manage river flows. Rwanda is also part of the Water at the Heart of Climate Action initiative, linking stronger observations to better water management and regional climate resilience. By connecting data to water security, the country is showing how climate adaptation can start with observations.

SOFF at work in Rwanda

Rwanda entered the SOFF Investment Phase in 2024 with USD 3.5 million in grant finance. Of this, USD 3.1 million is channelled through UNDP as Implementing Entity, with USD 0.4 million for technical support from the Finnish Meteorological Institute as Peer Advisor. By late 2025, all three upgraded GBON-compliant stations were reporting data globally, and preparations were underway for Rwanda’s first upper-air station, with test launches expected early 2026.

Kiribati: Tiny Nation, Global Impact

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the island nation of Kiribati sits just a few meters above sea level. For its 120,000 people, climate change is not a distant threat but a daily reality — rising seas, stronger storms, and saltwater seeping into crops and drinking water. Yet the data that could help forecast and manage these risks has long been scarce.

A balloon that moves the world

Kiribati lies in one of the most under-observed regions of the planet. With limited means to cover a vast stretch of ocean, every observation carries outsized weight. By contrast, Singapore, a small country with high GDP, has 4.3 million times more economic means (resources compared to requirements) to generate and internationally exchange the mandatory GBON basic weather and climate data compared to Kiribati, a country with a large surface area to be observed and relatively low GDP. The imbalance is stark. And it matters: the ECMWF SOFF Impact Experiments showed that adding surface and upper-air observations in the Pacific would reduce forecast uncertainty by up to 20%. A single weather balloon launched over Kiribati would not only sharpen its own forecasts but would create benefits across the globe. Small investments in places like Kiribati deliver global dividends.

From gaps to gains

In Kiribati, SOFF’s funding contribution is helping to making a big difference. With UNEP as Implementing Entity and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology as Peer Advisor, Kiribati is upgrading one upper-air station and five surface stations and will be building nine new surface stations and two new upper-air stations within five years. The programme actively engages civil society organizations and promotes gender sensitivity, ensuring the benefits reach all communities.

SOFF at work in Kiribati

Kiribati entered the SOFF Investment Phase in 2024 with USD 11.2 million in approved funding. Preparations are underway to bringing the first new stations online. Reinforced by collaboration with the Weather Ready Pacific Programme, these investments will strengthen resilience at home while powering sharper forecasts worldwide.

Caribbean: Forecasting Together, Stronger

In the Caribbean, turquoise waters and lush islands mask a harsher reality: some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations. Hurricanes can erase years of development overnight, floods and droughts threaten food and water security, and sea-level rise endangers coastal communities. When Hurricane Maria struck Dominica in 2017, damages equaled 200 percent of GDP — proof that better forecasts are not a luxury but a necessity. No single island can close the weather and climate data gap alone — but working together, the region can.

Designing resilience at scale

In 2025, the WMO Regional Association endorsed a regional blueprint for 15 upper-air stations in the Caribbean, a milestone that gives small island states a shared and sustainable path to GBON compliance. Momentum grew at the SOFF Caribbean regional workshop in Kingston, Jamaica, co-hosted with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative, where countries identified options for regional efficiency gains, including related to procurement, calibration and training. By acting together, they are stretching resources further and avoiding fragmented solutions.

Belize leads the way

Belize is the first Caribbean nation to enter the SOFF Investment Phase. Its National Meteorological and Hydrological Service is sustaining a GBON-compliant upper-air station and upgrading a surface station. It is already feeding data into global forecasting systems, sharpening hurricane tracking across the basin. For Belizeans, that means earlier warnings, more time to prepare, and fewer lives at risk when the next storm approaches.

SOFF at work in the Caribbean

By late 2025, USD four million had been approved for Caribbean operations. Belize is already implementing its Investment Phase, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as Implementing Entity and the United Kingdom Met Office (UK Met Office) as Peer Advisor. Within the other fifteen countries, five are already in the pipeline for their Investment funding while the rest are finalizing their national GBON weather and climate data contribution plans to submit Investment requests. With support from Caribbean Meteorological Organization, Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, IDB and CREWS, the region is turning shared vulnerability into shared resilience — and building a model that other small island states can replicate.

Amazon: Data for the World’s Lungs

The Amazon is often called the lungs of the world, regulating rainfall far beyond South America and storing immense amounts of carbon. But the forest itself is under siege — not only from deforestation but from wildfires supercharged by climate change. Protecting it now requires more than conservation policies. It requires basic weather and climate data that can help predict fire danger and guide early action.

From forests to forecasts

Satellite images reveal fires across the Amazon, but without ground-based measurements of heat, wind, drought, and rainfall, risk levels cannot be verified. As the Tropical Forest Facility (TFF) is being announced at COP30 for global forest protection, SOFF contributes to the scientific foundation. By enabling some of the most resource-scarce Amazonian countries to share essential observations compliant with the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON), SOFF will strength the data foundation for fire danger forecasting and disaster prevention.

Guyana steps forward

In Guyana, one of the Amazon’s most forest-rich nations, SOFF investments will help upgrade weather stations that track rainfall, wind, and temperature — data that can mean the difference between a fire contained and a fire out of control. By strengthening its observation system, Guyana is also contributing to better forecasts across the entire Amazon basin and beyond.

SOFF at work in the Amazon

SOFF is already engaging with Ecuador, Guyana, and Suriname with close to close to USD 600 thousand in Readiness support, delivered with Peer Advisors from Switzerland, Argentina, Austria, and the Netherlands and Implementing Entities UNDP and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Guyana is in the pipeline to enter the Investment Phase, with USD 1.9 million planned to improve six surface stations and install one upper-air station. Next in line is Suriname with USD 2.7 million for upgrading five of its surface stations and one upper air station to meet GBON standards in a sustained manner.

Mozambique: Turning Vulnerability into Strength

In Mozambique, the weather is never far from disaster. Cyclones Idai and Kenneth in 2019 left more than 600 people dead and caused losses of USD 3 billion. When Cyclone Freddy hit in 2023, damages were far smaller — still devastating, but a reminder that early warnings and preparedness can turn vulnerability into resilience.

From broken stations to live warnings

That is why Mozambique is moving fast with SOFF. Backed by USD 7.9 million, the National Institute of Meteorology is bringing old weather stations back to life and connecting them to the global system. Many of these stations were first built under the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience but had fallen silent.

Fixing the basics, building the future

It is a simple but powerful recipe: repair what exists, sustain it, and expand strategically. SOFF is financing six new surface stations, 15 upgrades and four upper-air stations, delivered with the World Food Programme as Implementing Entity and the South African Weather Service as Peer Advisor. Other partners — including the World Bank and Nordic Development Fund — are helping extend the impact.

SOFF at work in Mozambique

Mozambique completed the Readiness Phase in 2023 and advanced to the Investment Phase in 2024, which runs until 2029. Of the total USD 7.9 million allocation, USD 7.5 million is channeled through the World Food Programme as Implementing Entity, and USD 0.4 million supports technical guidance from the South African Weather Service as Peer Advisor. As of late 2025, five stations are already feeding data into the World Meteorological Organization’s Global Observing System, with more coming online soon — making Mozambique one of the first countries to contribute to GBON compliance through SOFF investments.

3. Engaged Community

At COP30, world leaders are calling for whole-of-society climate action, a global Mutirão. SOFF is a showcase of what this means. Its community brings together countries, advanced meteorological services as Peer Advisors, United Nations agencies and multilateral development banks as Implementing Entities, WMO as technical authority, and partners from civil society and the private sector.

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Peer support that builds trust

So far, 20 National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) are actively engaged as Peer Advisors. They provide hands-on technical and institutional support, drawing on decades of operational experience. This collaboration is not one way. Through South–South cooperation, countries that once faced similar challenges now guide others. For example, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) is advising countries in West Africa on station compliance with internationally agreed standards. Across SOFF regional workshops, NMHS leaders stress that Peer Advisors are more than technical experts — they are trusted allies who walk with them step by step.

Implementing partners that multiply impact

SOFF currently works through nine Implementing Entities — UN agencies and multilateral development banks — that channel finance and manage SOFF’s investment grants in close collaboration with countries and peer advisors. They act as the operational bridge between SOFF funding and national implementation, ensuring GBON upgrades are integrated into wider development and resilience programmes rather than stand-alone projects.

In Samoa, for example, SOFF’s USD six million investment will be fully embedded in the World Bank’s PREPARE–Samoa project. By pooling resources and aligning operations, SOFF and its partners make systematic observations the backbone of multi-hazard early warning systems.

Linking to the Global Climate Agenda

SOFF is working closely with other international initiatives to overcome fragmentation and amplify results. At COP28, it signed a collaboration framework with the Adaptation Fund, the Green Climate Fund, the Climate Investment Funds, the Global Environment Facility and the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative. This joint action recognizes that systematic observations are the foundation of all climate resilience. SOFF also underpins the United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, ensuring that better data feed directly into life-saving alerts. In the Maldives, for instance, SOFF’s USD 4.9 million investment is unlocking a USD 25 million from the Green Climate Fund, linking data to early action.

SOFF Community of Practice in Numbers

Countries

61countries already benefitting from SOFF support

Operational Partners

50+agencies

Partnerships agreements

SOFF + Climate funds – signed at COP 29

SOFF × Weather Ready Pacific Programme (WRP) – signed at COP 29

SOFF × African Development Bank Climate Action Window (CAW) – signed at COP 29

Technical Webinars

500+participants

Events

7regional and global workshops

Experts Joining Forces

SOFF’s Community of Practice keeps the spirit of collaboration alive beyond workshops and country visits.

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Through regular webinars on WMO Information System implementation, calibration and private-sector engagement, partners from every region come together to share expertise, exchange questions and troubleshoot challenges in real time.

This solidarity is reinforced by the SOFF Moodle platform, developed with WMO’s Education and Training Office. It provides an open, interactive space where practitioners co-create solutions and build collective knowledge — turning peer support into a dynamic, ongoing process.

Insights from the Experts

Members of the SOFF Community of Practice share their thoughts on the role of SOFF and the difference they are making.

Foundation for Early Warnings

The United Nations Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative aims to ensure everyone is protected by life-saving alerts by 2027. SOFF is recognized as both a foundation for and delivery vehicle of this effort.

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By investing in GBON-compliant stations, SOFF is closing the critical data gaps that underpin forecasting and early warning systems. In 2024–2025, SOFF support has been rolled out in more than 60 countries, with 20 country meteorological services engaged as Peer Advisors to guide implementation.

SOFF also strengthens coordination with key partners, including the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative, to align investments and avoid fragmentation. In practice, SOFF delivers the observation infrastructure, while CREWS and others build operational and communication systems. This layered approach ensures that systematic observations are directly linked to the delivery of early warnings, making EW4All implementation more effective.

Partnering to close Africa’s data gap

SOFF’s work is embedded in multi-partner initiatives to improve weather observations in Africa and enhance countries’ resilience.

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In 2024, SOFF formalized a partnership with the African Development Bank through its Climate Action Window, following a decision of the SOFF Steering Committee.

This collaboration combines SOFF’s long-term, grant-based finance and technical assistance with AfDB’s climate resources to accelerate Africa’s adaptation actions. By working together, SOFF and AfDB aim to secure timely financing that delivers accurate early warnings for the continent’s most vulnerable countries.

SOFF is also advancing the Water at the Heart of Climate Action initiative across Africa. In Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda, SOFF funds the generation and exchange of basic weather and climate data helping disaster management authorities provide timely and reliable warnings. These efforts place water security — one of the most climate-sensitive sectors — at the center of resilience building, ensuring decisions on floods and droughts are informed by accurate data.

4. Far-Reaching Impacts

Closing the basic weather and climate observation gap in the 77 Least Developed Countries and Small Developing States would generate a ten-fold increase in the data shared through the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON). This would be a game-changer — feeding the world’s forecasting models with richer, higher-quality information and multiplying benefits for all.

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The value of better forecasts

The economic case is clear. A joint World Bank and WMO study estimated that high-quality and timely weather forecasts could unlock USD 160 billion per year in benefits across weather-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, transport, water and energy. This figure is conservative: it excludes non-financial benefits such as lives saved, avoided losses and improvements to well-being. The full value, especially for developing countries, is far greater.

Benefits that far outweigh costs

According to the World Bank, meeting GBON standards could bring more than USD 5 billion in direct benefits every year. The benefit–cost ratio exceeds 25, meaning that every dollar invested in strengthening global observations returns more than 25 times its value. Few other investments match this scale of return.

Beyond economics

While the financial benefits alone are compelling, the impacts of better data go further. Accurate and timely forecasts underpin disaster risk reduction, food security, health protection, water management and energy planning. They reduce the human and economic costs of extreme weather, build resilience to climate change, and help societies adapt to mounting global pressures. For the world’s most vulnerable countries, stronger observations mean stronger protection — and greater opportunity to thrive.

Natural disasters

Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more destructive, and, crucially, more unpredictable. The speed with which storms, floods and fires now intensify is exposing the limits of today’s forecasting systems.

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Escalating extremes

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025, climate-related hazards and extreme-weather events are now among the top global threats in both likelihood and impacts. In 2024, hurricane winds were stronger than ever before. The wildfire season started earlier and ended later than ever, spanning almost the entire year. Rainfall in many countries brought a year’s worth of water in days or even hours, flooding entire neighborhoods. What was unique about these events was how quickly they grew in intensity. This new behavior of storms is increasingly seen as a result of ongoing climate change (EOS Data Analytics). Hurricane Erin, a Category 5 storm that formed over Cape Verde in August 2025, evolved into the most rapidly intensifying hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic before September 1. Within just 15 hours, the storm exploded from Category 1 to Category 5, with sustained winds above 160 mph.

Forecasts that failed

According to Munich Re, worldwide natural disasters in 2024 caused USD 320 billion in losses (up from USD 268 billion in 2023, adjusted for inflation). Weather catastrophes accounted for 93 per cent of these losses. Poor or late forecasts contribute to such outcomes. In October 2023, Hurricane Otis turned from a modest tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane within 24 hours. It devastated Acapulco, Mexico and the surrounding area. Forecast models failed to predict this rapid intensification due to limited data availability in the Eastern Pacific. Experts described it as “one of the biggest and most consequential forecast-model misses of recent years.” Without accurate forecasts, Otis struck almost without warning, causing an estimated USD 12 billion in damage and at least 52 fatalities.

The case for better data

To reduce these losses, it is paramount to improve early warnings through stronger observation systems. Additional surface and upper-air data reduce forecast error, and smaller errors increase forecast lead time — both critical to early warning.

Heat

Extreme heat is now one of the deadliest and fastest-growing climate risks. Temperatures are reaching record highs across continents, exposing billions of people and workers to dangerous conditions. Without better data and stronger early warning systems, the toll on lives, livelihoods and economies will continue to rise.

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Escalating impacts

In July 2024, the global daily average temperature reached 17.16°C, surpassing the 2023 record, while July 2025 ranked among the three warmest on record. The UN Secretary-General has warned of a global “extreme heat epidemic,” with temperatures exceeding 50°C across multiple continents. Extreme heat already causes more than 500,000 deaths each year — around 30 times more than tropical cyclones — while driving economic losses and widening inequalities. Africa experienced one of its hottest years in 2024, with up to 118 million people projected to be at risk by 2030 without adaptation.

Human and economic costs

Heatwaves are a growing threat to health, work and productivity. Over 70 percent of the global workforce (2.4 billion people) are regularly exposed to high heat levels. In Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, more than three-quarters of workers face dangerous conditions. In Mali, late March 2024 brought temperatures of 48.5°C, causing over 100 deaths in just a few days.

The case for better data

Solutions exist. Heat action plans, worker protections and targeted response measures can save lives — but they depend on accurate and timely warnings. Improved observations feed the heat-health warning systems that guide shifts in work schedules, cooling measures and protective equipment. According to the UN Secretary-General’s Call to Action on Extreme Heat, scaling up such systems in 57 countries could save almost 100,000 lives every year. As WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett underlined: “Every single death from extreme heat is preventable.”

Wildfires

Wildfires are spreading faster, burning longer, and causing greater damage than ever before. The global area affected is expanding, and smoke from these fires is now a major health hazard across continents. Accurate forecasts are vital to anticipate conditions, reduce risks and protect lives.

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Escalating destruction

By mid-2025, wildfires had burned more than 100 million hectares worldwide, with major impacts in Africa, Europe and North America. The year brought an extended and intensified season, from January fires in California to record-breaking outbreaks across Europe and widespread fires in South Korea and Canada. These events have caused heavy loss of life, destruction of property, and severe damage to ecosystems. In California alone, fires caused an estimated USD 53 billion in losses.

Smoke and health impacts

Wildfires also have profound environmental and health consequences. They release billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and create massive smoke plumes that travel hundreds of miles. The fine particulates carried in this smoke can cause serious harm to lungs and hearts, particularly in children, older adults and people with pre-existing conditions.

The case for better data

Weather forecasts are one of the most effective tools for reducing wildfire risk. They predict dangerous conditions such as high temperatures, low humidity, strong winds and dry lightning — all triggers for extreme fire behavior. Timely forecasts enable early warnings, community evacuations and resource planning. During an active fire, accurate weather data supports tactical decisions, keeping firefighters safe and improving containment. Expanding surface observations strengthens these forecasts and makes them more reliable, turning data into a frontline defense against wildfire disasters.

Agriculture

Agriculture is one of the sectors most dependent on weather and climate data. Reliable forecasts help farmers protect crops, manage risks and invest with confidence. For a sector valued at more than USD 4 trillion globally, better data means stronger resilience, higher productivity and improved food security worldwide.

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Unlocking value

Farmers adapt practices and investment decisions based on the information they receive. Evidence shows that investments in improved farmer-centred forecasts deliver benefit–cost ratios as high as 100:1. The impact is particularly important in Africa, where half of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Country examples

The benefits are measurable. In Senegal, climate model simulations show that providing farmers with forecasts of a drier-than-average rainy season could increase their incomes by up to 13.8 percent. In Peru, better frost warnings create benefits of USD 100 million over 10 years, equivalent to USD 30–50 per household. In Ethiopia, a modest improvement in forecast accuracy reduced the probability of farmers reporting crop losses by four per cent. In Nigeria, farmers were willing to pay USD 39 million per year for improved forecasts.

The case for better data

Agriculture depends on forecasts that are only as good as the data behind them. Basic surface and upper-air observations provide the inputs needed to predict rainfall, drought, frost and heat. Strengthening these observation systems ensures that farmers — particularly in vulnerable regions — can make better decisions, safeguard harvests and support global food security.

Insurance

The insurance industry is under mounting pressure as climate-related losses climb year after year. Extreme weather events are driving record claims, making accurate forecasts essential for both insurers and policyholders to reduce risks and costs.

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Escalating losses

In 2024, insured losses reached USD 140 billion, driven by powerful hurricanes, severe thunderstorms and floods. In 2025, unprecedented wildfires in California and major thunderstorms in the United States contributed to USD 80–100 billion in global insured losses in just six months — the second costliest half-year on record after 2011.

Encouraging pre-emptive action

More precise forecasts allow insurers to act before disasters strike. With hyperlocal weather data, they can send targeted alerts to policyholders, prompting evacuations or protective measures. One company’s analysis found that if just one in ten cars were moved before a hailstorm, insurers could avoid millions of dollars in claims.

The case for better data

Insurance depends on accurate risk modelling, which in turn relies on reliable weather and climate observations. Better data improves forecasts, reduces fraud, lowers the number and severity of claims, and enables proactive risk management. Strengthening observation systems is therefore not only a climate resilience measure, but also a way to stabilize markets and protect policyholders worldwide.

Migration

Climate change is becoming an increasingly important driver of human mobility, alongside conflict and economic pressures. Rising sea levels, prolonged droughts and more frequent extreme weather events are already reshaping where people can live, with projections pointing to dramatic increases in climate-related migration in the coming decades.

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A growing challenge

The number of refugees and forcibly displaced people has nearly doubled in the past decade. While most move within their own countries, cross-border migration is also rising. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that climate change could displace up to 1 billion people in the next 30 years, with other studies projecting 1.2 billion by 2050 and 1.4 billion by 2060. Today, less than 1 per cent of the planet is considered borderline uninhabitable; by 2070, this could increase to 19 per cent.

Risks and pressures

Climate migration can be a “threat multiplier,” worsening existing risks such as crop failure, disease and social instability. Some of the most vulnerable regions, particularly in developing countries, are projected to face major changes in temperature, precipitation patterns and sea levels. Responding to this challenge requires adaptation in affected areas, assistance for those who must leave, and support for receiving communities.

The case for better data

Improved climate and weather forecasts are essential to anticipate and plan for migration flows. Accurate data can help individuals understand risks and make proactive decisions about relocation or adaptation. For governments and humanitarian organizations, forecasts can identify hotspots of displacement risk, inform policy, guide resource allocation and enable targeted aid before crises escalate. Strengthening basic observation systems is therefore not only about better forecasts — it is about managing one of the most profound human challenges of this century.

5. Scaling up with Innovative Finance

SOFF is combining direct donor contributions with innovative finance to scale delivery. At COP30, it is introducing the Systematic Observation Impact Bond — a pioneering instrument that will mobilize upfront capital and accelerate action to close the basic weather and climate data gap.

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The scale of the data gap

Nearly 90 per cent of the basic weather and climate data required from the 77 Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States is missing. These countries — at the core of the SOFF mandate — operate barely one in ten of the stations mandated under the internationally agreed GBON standard. Among the required stations, about a quarter will need to be newly built, highlighting the scale of investment required to close the gap and sustain the global flow of essential weather and climate data.

Closing the funding gap

Closing the weather and climate data gap in these countries requires about USD 500 million for observation infrastructure and human capacity, plus estimated USD 50 million per year to sustain operations in the long-term. Progress is under way: more than USD 100 million has already been allocated, enabling the first 18 countries to enter the Investment Phase. Yet around USD 200 million is urgently needed by 2026 to support 30 more countries moving to investment. Mobilizing these resources would allow SOFF to act at scale and turn readiness into results.

Innovative finance for urgent action

Delivery with speed is critical. Innovative finance instruments can shorten significantly the time between decision and impact. SOFF’s new Systematic Observation Impact Bond will front-load resources so that networks and capacities can be strengthened without delay. It aims to mobilize USD 200 million from investors backed by public and private donors to close the most urgent data gaps— with positive ripple effects across early warning systems and climate-sensitive industries.

A tangible solution at COP30

The Systematic Observation Impact Bond is part of the COP30 Action Agenda, showing that closing the weather and climate data gap is about implementation — a direct response to the Global Stocktake. It represents a tangible solution to a clearly defined problem: financing the observations that underpin global forecasting. It also reflects the principle of climate justice: financing climate resilience begins with financing data justice. Linking funding to measurable outcomes — new GBON-compliant data flowing into WMO systems — makes this instrument transparent and accountable.

A call to investors and partners

To address this challenge with the required urgency, investors, bilateral donors, philanthropies and businesses are invited to join this effort. Together, these resources will help close the funding gap, accelerate implementation and strengthen the forecasts that protect lives and economies.

SHARE. JOIN. INVEST.

The Systematic Observation Impact Bond—a pioneering finance instrument—will help close the weather and climate data gap in 30 countries. It aims to mobilize USD 200 million by the end of 2026 to enable a five-fold increase in internationally shared weather and climate data.

Visit the Impact Bond webpage to learn more