NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya has launched a landmark national training curriculum aimed at strengthening private sector preparedness and resilience against growing climate risks, in a major step toward integrating weather and climate intelligence into economic planning and business decision-making.

The Curriculum on Weather and Climate Information Services for Private Sector Stakeholders was officially unveiled on Tuesday at the Institute for Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR) Auditorium in Nairobi.

The programme was developed by the Institute for Meteorological Training and Research in collaboration with the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority (KMSA), with support from a broad coalition of public institutions, academia, development partners, and private sector actors.

The initiative emerged from a multi-stakeholder engagement process launched in November 2025 involving Mercy Corps AgriFin, the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), universities, and industry representatives.

The curriculum is designed to strengthen the use of weather and climate information in economic planning, risk management, investment decisions, and business continuity planning as climate-related disruptions continue to intensify across the country.

Speaking during the launch, Edward Maina Muriuki, Acting Director General of KMSA and Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the World Meteorological Organization, described climate information as a critical national resource for sustainable development and economic stability.

“Climate and weather information is no longer a peripheral scientific service. It is a strategic national asset,” Muriuki said.

“Businesses that understand and apply climate risk information are better positioned to minimize losses, protect assets, ensure continuity, and identify new opportunities within an increasingly volatile environment.”

The programme specifically targets climate-sensitive sectors that form the backbone of Kenya’s economy, including agriculture, finance and insurance, energy, ICT, transport, and agribusiness.

These sectors continue to face increasing disruptions caused by floods, prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures linked to climate change.

Under the training framework, professionals will be equipped with practical skills to interpret weather forecasts and climate data generated by KMSA and convert them into localized advisories that support enterprise-level and community-based decision-making.

Officials said the curriculum also represents a new model of Public-Private Engagement in climate services, reflecting growing recognition that climate resilience cannot be achieved by government institutions alone.

Bernard Chanzu, Director of the Meteorological Training and Research Directorate at IMTR, said resilience building depends not only on access to climate data but also on the institutional capacity to turn information into practical action.

“This curriculum demonstrates that strengthening climate services is not only about improving access to climate data, but also about building the leadership and institutional capacity needed to transform information into meaningful action,” Chanzu stated.

The launch ceremony was presided over by Dr. Ishaam Abader from the World Meteorological Organization Regional Coordination Office, who praised Kenya for aligning the initiative with the WMO Guidelines for Public-Private Engagement (2024 edition).

Dr. Abader emphasized the important role of the private sector in supporting innovation, financing, and technical advancement in climate resilience efforts.

“The private sector is a significant source of financial support, technical knowledge, and innovative solutions that might otherwise be difficult for governments to explore alone,” he said.

“This initiative reflects a people-first approach that ensures climate information is not only generated but effectively applied to reduce societal risk.”

The curriculum was developed through a broad co-creation process involving regulators, universities including the University of Nairobi, climate experts, and private sector stakeholders to ensure relevance and practical application.

Mercy Corps AgriFin Programme Director Sieka Gatabaki noted that the initiative could serve as a model for regional expansion across Africa.

“While public institutions play a central role in generating climate data, private sector actors remain essential in supporting localization, usability, and last-mile delivery for farming communities,” Gatabaki said.

“This initiative provides a foundation for scalable digital climate solutions that can improve productivity and resilience across Africa.”

The launch attracted more than 70 participants, including government officials, climate investors, agritech innovators, development partners, and representatives from the private sector.

KMSA and IMTR have since called on institutions and stakeholders to support integration of the curriculum into training and professional development frameworks as Kenya strengthens its national climate resilience agenda.