HydroSOS Caribbean Implementation Plan Workshops
Background
Following the end of the HydroSOS pilot phase, approved in Cg-EXT (2021), the way forward is to start implementing and operationalizing HydroSOS globally through regional implementation plans led by Regional Association (RAs). In Regional Association IV (RA IV), an initial HydroSOS Implementation Plan has been drafted for Central America (available in Spanish here). A similar exercise is now required for the Caribbean region, as requested by several Members during Cg-19 in May 2023 and during previous RA IV Hydrological Advisers Fora. Therefore, the HydroSOS Caribbean Implementation Plan Workshops aim to convene key NMHS experts, national institutions related to hydrological activities or water management and Regional Centers, to kick-start the development of a HydroSOS Caribbean Implementation Plan, based on National HydroSOS implementation plans, and develop an implementation roadmap for submission to potential funders, including HydroSOS activities to be covered under the project CREWS Caribbean 2.0, and facilitate partnerships towards the implementation of HydroSOS in the Caribbean.
Objectives
- Identify key needs and gaps, as well as opportunities and challenges to know the status and outlook of water resources
- Develop national HydroSOS Regional Implementation Plans
- Develop a HydroSOS Regional Implementation Plan, including:
- a roadmap and milestones to achieve full HydroSOS implementation in the Caribbean countries
- the identification of demonstration areas (ie basins, aquifers, islands, etc.)
- Develop an implementation plan for priority activities to be addressed by CREWS Caribbean 2.0 project;
- Identify partnerships and linkages with existing activities relevant to the implementation of the system, as well as needed resources.
1st Virtual Session (19 Sep 2023)
National HydroSOS Focal points (for hydrology, meteorology/climate, and IT/data systems) were identified by 13 Caribbean countries. These focal points met virtually to learn about HydroSOS, current practices in monitoring and reporting for groundwater, and the next steps towards the development of a HydroSOS Caribbean Implementation Plan.
Full presentation: here
2nd & 3rd Virtual Sessions (10 and 17 Oct 2023)
The National HydroSOS Focal points presented their general capacities and current activities performed related to hydrological status and outlooks. They also learned about examples of similar activities in Dominican Republic and El Salvador.
Presentations: GEOGloWS, Dominican Republic, El Salvador
Country presentations: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago
1st Face-to-face Workshop
The HydroSOS hydrological focal points from thirteen countries in the Caribbean will convene from 31 October to 2 November 2023 in Christ Church, Barbados to discuss and draft a HydroSOS Caribbean Implementation Plan.
All meetings have been provided with English-Spanish interpretation.
Agenda and presentations
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Time (ECT)Eastern Caribbean Time |
Item |
Speaker |
Moderator |
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Day 1 (31 October) |
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8:00 – 8:30 |
Registration and group Assignation |
Barbados |
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8:30 – 9:00 |
Opening remarks (including objectives) + Group photo
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Hwirin Kim (WMO H/HWR) José Alberto Zúñiga Mora (RHA IV) Jamie Paul (Barbados Water Resources Authority) Sabu Best (PR Barbados) David Farrell (Director CIMH)
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Shawn Boyce (CIMH) |
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9:00 – 9:15 [interp.] |
Presentation of the agenda and Introduction of participants |
Silvana Alcoz (WMO)
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Hwirin Kim (WMO) |
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9:15 – 9:30 [interp.] |
Overview of HydroSOS and outcomes of HydroSOS Caribbean 1st , 2nd , and 3rd virtual workshops |
Silvana Alcoz, Roberto Silva (WMO)
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9:30- 9:45 [interp.] |
Ongoing hydrological activities at CIMH relevant to HydroSOS (with Q&A)
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Shawn Boyce, CIMH
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Coffee/Tea available during the meeting |
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STATUS ASSESSMENTS |
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9:45 – 10:30 [interp.] |
Regional and global level presentations regarding status assessments (with Q&A)
Q&A (15 mins) |
Arnaud Sterckx, IGRAC
Jeff Karn, Environment Canada |
Moderator: Dominique Bérod (WMO)
Note takers: WMO Secretariat
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10:30 – 12:00 [interp.] |
Discussion on common needs and gaps in the region (status assessments)
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Rapporteurs from break-out groups
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Moderators: to be selected Note taker: Each group selects rapporteur
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12:00 – 13:30 |
Lunch Break |
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13:30 – 14:30 [interp.] |
Discussion on common priorities in the region (status assessments)
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Rapporteurs from break-out groups
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Moderators: to be selected Note taker: Each group selects rapporteur
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Coffee/Tea break available during the meeting |
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14:30 – 15:15 [interp.] |
Reporting back from groups
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Rapporteurs from break-out groups
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Moderator: José Alberto Zúñiga (RHA-RAIV)
Note taker: Josh Hall (UKCEH) |
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15:15 – 16:30 [interp.] |
Drafting status assessments section of HydroSOS Caribbean Implementation Plan |
Plenary |
Moderator: José Alberto Zúñiga (RHA-RAIV)
Note taker: WMO Secretariat |
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Day 2 (1 November) |
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9:00 – 9:15 [interp.] |
Recap of Day 1 |
Dominique Bérod (WMO)
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9:15 – 9:30 [interp.] |
HydroSOS experiences in Central America |
José Alberto Zúñiga (RHA-RAIV)
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OUTLOOKS |
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9:30 – 10:30 [interp.] |
UKCEH – Hydrological Outlooks – Main issues to be considered when developing the HydroSOS implementation plan (15 min)
CIMH – CARICOF available products and challenges for inputs to hydrology (15 min)
Experiences from the Central America Climate and Hydrological Outlook Forum (15 mins)
Q&A (15 min) |
Katie Facer-Childs (UKCEH)
Cédric Van Meerbeeck (CIMH)
Roberto Cerón (MARN) |
Moderator: Hwirin Kim (WMO)
Note takers: WMO Secretariat
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10:30 – 11:15 [interp.] |
Discussion on common needs and gaps in the region (outlook)
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Rapporteurs from break-out groups
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Moderators: to be selected Note taker: Each group selects rapporteur
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Coffee/Tea break available during the meeting |
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11:15 – 12:00 [interp.] |
Discussion on common priorities in the region (outlooks)
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Rapporteurs from break-out groups
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Moderators: to be selected Note taker: Each group selects rapporteur
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12:00 – 13:30 |
Lunch |
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13:30 – 14:15 [interp.] |
Reporting back from groups
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Rapporteurs from break-out groups
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Moderator: José Alberto Zuñiga (RHA-RAIV)
Note taker: Josh Hall (UKCEH) |
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14:15 – 15:00 [interp.] |
Q&A
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Moderator: José Alberto Zuñiga (RHA-RAIV) |
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Coffee/Tea available during the meeting |
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15:00 – 16:30 [interp.] |
Drafting outlook section of HydroSOS Caribbean Implementation Plan |
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Moderator: José Alberto Zuñiga (RHA-RAIV)
Note taker: WMO Secretariat |
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Day 3 (2 November) |
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9:00 – 9:15 [interp.] |
Recap of Day 2 |
Hwirin Kim (WMO) |
Federico Gomez (WMO) |
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9:15 – 9:45 [interp.] |
Overview of CREWS Caribbean 2.0 Implementation matrix and workplan to be completed |
Stephanie Gallasch (WMO) & Roberto Silva (WMO)
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9:45 – 11:00 [interp.] |
Discussion on priority activities that could be included in CREWS Caribbean 2.0 taking into consideration available budget and time frame
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Plenary |
Moderators: to be selected Note taker: Each group selects rapporteur
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Coffee/Tea break available during the meeting |
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11:00 – 12:00 [interp.] |
Discussion and selection of pilot basins to be included in CREWS Caribbean 2.0 Considerations to select demonstration basin(s) for HydroSOS implementation |
Plenary
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Moderators: to be selected Note taker: Each group selects rapporteur
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12:00 – 13:30 |
Lunch break |
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13:30 – 15:00
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Visit to CIMH and groundwater station |
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15:00 – 16:00 [interp.] |
Cont. Discussion and selection of pilot basins to be included in CREWS Caribbean 2.0 Considerations to select demonstration basin(s) for HydroSOS implementation
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Plenary
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Moderator: Federico Gomez (WMO)
Note taker: WMO Secretariat |
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16:00-16:45 [interp.] |
Next steps and responsibilities |
Plenary |
Jose Alberto Zúñiga Mora (RA IV HA) |
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16:45 - 17:00 [interp.] |
Closing
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Dominique Berod (WMO H/ESM) José Alberto Zúñiga Mora (RHA IV) Shawn Boyce (CIMH)
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Link to Concept note and agenda.
Photo of the 1st virtual session
