Regional Climate Outlook Forums
Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs) are multi-national and multi-institutional collaborative platforms focused on a well-defined region, that are regularly convened to produce consensus-based, user-relevant seasonal climate outlook products for the upcoming season in real time in order to support climate-related risk management in climate-sensitive sectors of critical socioeconomic significance for the region in question, and thereby contribute to sustainable development at regional and national scale.
RCOFs pioneered in Africa, in the late 1990s by WMO, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), regional institutions and other international organizations as a spontaneous response to the widely felt need for regional cooperation in developing climate prediction. Over the past more than 25 years RCOFs have evolved and spread around the world.
RCOFs bring together national, regional and international climate experts, on an operational basis, to produce regional climate outlooks based on the available inputs related to climate predictions from multiple sources. By bringing together countries with common and shared climate interests, the RCOFs strive to ensure consistency in the access to, and analysis/interpretation of, climate information of regional importance. Through interaction with users in the key socio-economic sectors of each region, extension agencies and policymakers, the RCOFs also assess the likely implications of the outlooks on the most pertinent socio-economic sectors in the given region and explore the ways these outlooks could be used by them.
Currently the core concept and objectives of RCOFs remain unchanged - the delivery of consensus-based, user-relevant climate outlook products in real time through regional cooperation and partnership - however, the implementation has been tailored to meet the local conditions. The RCOF process, typically includes the following components:
- Meetings of the regional and international climate experts to develop a consensus for the regional climate outlook, typically in a probabilistic form, for the key season(s) of regional interest;
- Sessions involving both climate scientists and representatives from the user sectors, for the identification of impacts and implications and the formulation of response strategies;
- Training workshop on seasonal climate prediction to strengthen the capacity of the national and regional operational climate scientists (could be detached from the RCOF session);
- Special outreach sessions involving media experts, to develop effective communications strategies.
RCOFs also review impediments to the use of climate information as well as experiences and successes in the use of the past climate products issued by them in order to enhance sector-specific applications. RCOFs are generally followed by National Climate Outlook Forums (NCOFs) or other similar national activities to develop detailed national-scale climate outlooks and risk information, including warnings and advisories for communication to decision-makers and the public.
RCOFs have facilitated regional cooperation and networking and have demonstrated the benefits of sharing climate information and experience. Close interaction between the providers and users of climate information and predictions has raised user awareness about the climate information products and enhanced feedback from the users to climate scientists, catalyzing the development of many user-specific products.
RCOF Users
In many regions, the users that benefit from the RCOFs also contribute to their organization and to the session content, thus ensuring their potential to meet user needs. Typically, RCOFs attract practitioners and decision-makers from sectors/areas such as:
- Agriculture and food security
- Water resource
- Energy
- Public health
- Disaster risk reduction
- Outreach and communication
Other sectors such as tourism, transportation, urban planning, etc. are also increasingly getting involved.
Regional Climate Outlook Forums worldwide
- Africa
Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF)
The Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF), covering Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, is coordinated by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC) in Nairobi, Kenya, which is a designated WMO Regional Climate Centre (RCC).
PRÉvisions climatiques Saisonnières en Afrique Soudano-Sahélienne (PRESASS)
The RCOF for Sudano-Sahelian Africa (known by its French acronym: PRESASS) is coordinated by the RCC Africa, hosted by African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD) in Niamey, Niger, which is a designated WMO RCC, and by RCC-ECOWAS (in demonstrated phase) hosted by Agriculture, Hydrology, Meteorology Regional Centre (AGRHYMET). PRESASS covers 17 countries in West and Central Africa, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo.
Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF)
The Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) is coordinated by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Drought Monitoring Centre (DMC) in Gaborone, Botswana. It covers all SADC Member States: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe in conjunction with other partners.
Southwest Indian Ocean Countries Climate Outlook Forum (SWIOCOF)
The Southwest Indian Ocean Countries Climate Outlook Forum (SWIOCOF) is coordinated by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) It covers Seychelles, Mauritius, Comoros, Madagascar, La Réunion, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania.
PRÉvisions climatiques Saisonnières en Afrique du Nord (PRESANORD)
The RCOF for Northern Africa (known by its French acronym: PRESANORD) is coordinated by the North African RCC-Network. It covers five countries in North Africa, namely Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.
PRÉvisions climatiques Saisonnières en Afrique, pays du Golfe de Guinée (PRESAGG)
The RCOF for the Gulf of Guinea Countries (known by its French acronym: PRESAGG) is coordinated by ACMAD. It covers the Coastal Atlantic region of West and Central Africa including Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea (Conakry), Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra-Leone and Togo.
PRÉvisions climatiques Saisonnières en Afrique centrale (PRESAC)
The RCOF for Central Africa (known by its French acronym: PRESAC) is coordinated by the ACMAD. It covers Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe.
- Asia
East Asia winter Climate Outlook Forum (EASCOF)
The East Asia winter Climate Outlook Forum (EASCOF), formally recognized in 2012 by WMO Regional Association II, produces summary seasonal predictions and outlooks for the coming winter monsoon for China, Japan, Korea and Mongolia.
Forum on Regional Climate Monitoring, Assessment and Prediction for Regional Association II (FOCRAII)
The Forum on Regional Climate Monitoring, Assessment and Prediction for Regional Association II (FOCRAII) covers all the countries in Asia, most being Members of WMO Regional Association II. FOCRAII activities are coordinated by a designated RCC Beijing hosted by Beijing Climate Centre (BCC) of China Meteorological Administration (CMA). 
South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF)
The South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF) was established in 2009 and is coordinated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) through RCC Pune, a designated WMO RCC. It produces seasonal outlook for summer monsoon season and covers the countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
- South America
Southeast of South America Climate Outlook Forum (SSACOF)
The Southeast of South America Climate Outlook Forum (SSACOF) covers Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It is coordinated by each of the participant countries by rotation and the RCC-Network for Southern South America, a designated WMO RCC-Network.
Western Coast of South America Climate Outlook Forum (WCSACOF)
The Western Coast of South America Climate Outlook Forum (WCSACOF) is coordinated by Centro Internacional para la Investigación del Fenómeno de El Niño (CIIFEN, International Research Centre on El Niño) in Guayaquil, Ecuador, which is a designated WMO RCC. IT covers Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú and Venezuela.
- North America, Central America and the Caribbean
Central American Climate Outlook Forum (CACOF)
The Central American Climate Outlook Forum (CACOF) reviews and discusses oceanic and atmospheric conditions, the latest forecasts of global models and their implications in the patterns of rainfall and temperature in Central America as well as at the national level. The Meteorological and Hydrological Services then develop consensus seasonal climate outlooks. The participating countries are Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF)
The Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) was officially launched in 2012, under the coordination of the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) in Barbados. The participating countries are Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Panama, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.
- South-West Pacific
Association of Southeast Asian Nations Climate Outlook Forum (ASEANCOF)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Climate Outlook Forum (ASEANCOF), coordinated by the Centre for Climate Research Singapore (CCRS) since its launch in 2013, is now hosted on rotation by each participating country: Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Pacific Islands Climate Outlook Forum (PICOF)
The Pacific Islands Climate Outlook Forum (PICOF) is coordinated by the Pacific RCC-Network, which is in demonstration phase for designation as WMO RCC-Network. The countries participating in PICOF are Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
A complementary activity
The Pacific Islands: The Island Climate Update (ICU)
The Island Climate Update (ICU) is a multi-national and multi-organizational monthly climate bulletin, to assist Pacific Island Countries (PICs) in making informed planning and management decisions relating to climate sensitive sectors through the provision of timely and accurate seasonal forecasts. It is published monthly by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in New Zealand and is funded by the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID). The participating countries/islands are American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, the French Territory of New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Island, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and the French Territory of Wallis and Futuna.
- Europe
Mediterranean Climate Outlook Forum (MedCOF)
The Mediterranean Climate Outlook Forum (MedCOF) launched in 2013 and its first session was held Serbia in November 2013 and online session was conducted in April-May 2014. Coordinated by the Meteorological Service of Spain (known by its Spanish acronym AEMET), it covers the entire Mediterranean region, cutting across the two WMO Regional Associations (RA I and RA VI). It brings together the countries involved in Southeast European Climate Outlook Forum (SEECOF) and North African Climate Outlook Forum (PRESANORD) as well as France, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Mauritania, Portugal, Spain and Syria. Aimed at developing consensus based seasonal outlook for the Mediterranean region, the Mediterranean Climate Outlook Forum also strengthens the capabilities in seasonal forecasting and promotes inter-regional cooperation and partnership.
North Eurasian Climate Outlook Forum (NEACOF)
The North Eurasia Climate Outlook Forum (NEACOF) has provided since 2011 consensus-based seasonal climate information to support sustainable development efforts in the Commonwealth Independent States (CIS) region: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. It is coordinated by the North Eurasia Climate Centre (NEACC).
Southeastern Europe Climate Outlook Forum (SEECOF)
The Southeastern Europe Climate Outlook Forum (SEECOF) is the very first regional climate outlook forum in Europe, launched in Croatia in 2008. The participating countries are Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Türkiye.
