Conference Objectives
With the target outcome of formalizing RIMES direction until 2030, the RIMES 4th Ministerial Conference has the following objectives :
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The 4th Ministerial Conference brings together policymakers, scientists, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for disaster preparedness and climate resilience. This event will serve as a platform to strengthen partnerships for climate risk management, share best practices and innovative solutions, and enhance regional collaboration for disaster response.
With the target outcome of formalizing RIMES direction until 2030, has the following objectives:
- Identify pathways to deepen the World Bank-supported CARE Component 1 and SAHF in South Asia and replicate its best practices to Africa, Southwest Indian Ocean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific under the WHO-RIMES JSAP to contribute to the Early Warning for All Initiative
- Enhance cross-country collaborations to optimize regional resources and maximize impacts of collective but differentiated early warning systems (EWS)
- Map policy directions that are required for, and economic incentives from, strengthened national efforts at multi-hazard EWS
- Adopt priority institutional development interventions to enable RIMES to meet current and future demands of stakeholders
This Conference is hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka, and supported by the World Bank.
OVERVIEW OF AGENDA
The 4th Ministerial Conference is scheduled on 08-09 May 2025, with forerunner activities, as below:
4th session of the
sahf executive council meeting
TIME | AGENDA |
9:00 – 9:30 | Registration |
9:30 – 9:45 | Opening Remarks · Welcome address by SAHF EC Chair and Co-Chair · Overview of the session’s objectives and expected outcomes |
9:50 – 10:00 | Adoption of Agenda · Formal adoption of the session agenda · Confirmation of discussion flow and session objectives |
10:00 – 10:15 | Re-appointment of Chair and Co-Chair EC members will discuss and vote on the re-appointment or selection of new Co-Chairs |
10:15 – 10:45 | SAHF Progress and Next Steps Review of SAHF’s progress (2023-2025), impact of SAHF/CARE integration, key achievements, challenges and priority areas for going forward |
10:45 – 11:15 | Group Photo & Morning Refreshments |
11:15 – 11:45 | Observational Networks (OBN) Strategy and Roadmap |
11:45 – 12:15 | Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and Observational Networks (OBN) Roadmap · Presentation of the NWP Roadmap, developed in consultation with SAHF Working Group (WG) members, to strengthen regional forecasting capabilities and cross-border collaboration · Discussion and decision |
12:15 – 12:35 | Impact-based Forecasting (IBF) WG · Presentation of the IBF Workplan outlining key activities, timelines, and collaborative efforts for implementation in South Asia · Discussions on stakeholder coordination, data-sharing mechanisms, policy integration, and capacity-building needs. |
12:35 – 12:45 | Climate Services WG · Introduction of the ToR for Climate Services WG, highlighting its role in enhancing Climate Services in SA Region. · Discussions will focus on securing EC endorsement for the WG, integrating IBF within the broader Climate Services framework, and defining a roadmap for its operationalization. |
12:45 – 13:45 | Lunch Break |
13:45 – 14:15 | Hydrology Working Group |
14:15 – 15:15 | Maximizing the value of SAHF NMHSs Testing new approaches to long-term sustainability – an invitation to collaborate |
15:15 – 15:45 | Resources and funding to support the SAHF program · Overview of RAP, WISER AP and CREWS programs supporting SAHF · Potential funding, and technical support |
15:45 – 16:15 | Afternoon Refreshments |
16:15 – 17:15 | EC Resolutions · Review of key discussions and draft resolutions. · Agreement on SAHF’s strategic priorities and commitments for 2025-2027. · Approval of resolutions by EC members. |
17:15 – 17:30 | Closing Session |
17:30 – 18:00 | Reception |
RIMES Council Meeting /
Pre-Ministerial Conference Session
TIME | AGENDA |
08:30 – 09:00 | Registration |
09:00- 09:10 | Welcome Remarks M.r. D.P. Wickramasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation |
09:10-09:20 | Address · Professor Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, WMO · Ms. Amida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary, UNESCAP Chairman ‘s Address Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India and Chair, RIMES Council Vote of Thanks Eng. Ajith Gunasekara, Director General of the Irrigation Department, Sri Lanka |
09:20-09:30 | Secretariat Remarks and Adoption of Agenda Mr. Ali Shareef, Focal Point RIMES Secretariat Launch of CREWS South Asia Program WMO, World Bank and UNDRR (TBD) |
09:30-10:30 | Plenary Session: Strengthening National Early Warning Systems Through Regional Cooperation · Evolution of RIMES Program and Institutional Development Plan Framework · RIMES Portfolio of Services for Each Country’s Preferences as per Master Plan 2021-2025 · RIMES: Regional Approaches to Strengthen National Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems: SAHF and CARE Contributions |
10:30-11:30 | Group Sessions Group 1: Africa · Identifying and Addressing Gaps in Multi-Hazard Early Warning as per WMO and RIMES Joint Strategy and Action Plan (JSAP) · Facilitated by: WMO RAF Group 2: Asia-Pacific · Identifying and Addressing Gaps in Multi-Hazard Early Warning as per WMO and RIMES JSAP · Facilitated by: WMO RAP Group 3: Planning /Economy Ministries · Policy Incentive and Economic Rationale for Investing in Regional Multi-Hazard, Multi-Scale, and Multi-Purpose Regional Early Warning Systems to strengthen National Efforts · Facilitated by: UNESCAP |
11:30-11:45 | Tea Break |
11:45-12:30 | Group Presentations and Discussions |
12:30-13:30 | Lunch Break |
13:30-14:30 | Plenary Session Contribution to RIMES Programs: Development Partner Presentation with focus on relating Partner program to RIMES Program through RIMES Master Plan |
14:30-16:00 | Discussion and Finalization of Draft Declaration |
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
TIME | AGENDA |
08:30 – 09:00 | Registration |
09:00- 09:10 | Welcome Remarks Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Land and irrigation and Chair, RIMES Ministers Conference |
09:10-10:20 | Remarks · Dr. M. Ravichandran Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences RIMES Council Chair · Country Director, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka · The World Bank (TBD) · British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka (TBD) · WMO President |
| Address · Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare of Maldives and on behalf of RIMES Secretariat (Maldives). · Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India and Co-Chair RIMES Ministers Conference |
| Inaugural Adress Address by H.E. President of Sri Lanka |
| Vote of Thanks by Mr. A.R. Subbiah, Director General, RIMES |
10:20-10:30 | Group Photo |
10:30-10:45 | Tea Break |
10:45-11:00 | Session 1. Introductory Session Review of Agenda · Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Livestock, Irrigation · Minister, Ministry of Earth Sciences Government of India |
11:00-11:20 | Outcome Presentation of Day 1 · Presentation of Council Meeting · Key Takeaways: WMO RAF, WMO RAP and UNESCAP |
11:20-12:00 | Country Statements: Chair– Deputy Prime Minister Tonga Asia & Pacific: National and Regional Perspectives on Climate Information Early Warning Systems Africa: National and Regional Perspectives to on Climate Information Early Warning Systems |
12:00-13:00 | Lunch Break |
13:00 – 14.00
14.00 -15.00
15-00-17.00 | Country Statements: Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) KSA Planning /Economy Ministers: Discussions: Chairs (TBD) Financing Mechanisms to Strengthen National EWS through Regional Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems Discussion on Draft Ministerial Declaration: Chair WMO President · Introduction Draft Ministerial Declaration by Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare of Maldives and on behalf of RIMES Secretariat (Maldives) · Review and Discussions |
ministerial conference & cultural visit
TIME | AGENDA |
09:00-10:00 | Adoption of Ministerial Declaration Chair: Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Land and irrigation and Chair, RIMES Ministers Conference Co-Chair: Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India and Co-Chair RIMES Ministers Conference Closing Remarks by Chair and Co-Chair |
10:00-17:00 | Cultural Visit · Hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka · Optional Participation for Interested Delegates |
