February 2023 Monthly Collaboration Meeting Report

Agency for International Development (USAID) and other organizations to provide early warning systems for famine and food insecurity. The network's Learning and Data Hub is responsible for coordinating information and coordination among the various teams. The February 2023 Collaboration Meeting was held virtually on February 16, 2023, and was attended by representatives from USAID, FEWS NET, the Learning and Data Hub, the Food, Nutrition, and Livelihood Security team, and the Science team, which includes the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the University of California, Santa Barbara Climate Hazards Center (CHC). The meeting focused on updates on collaboration activities, a presentation on the future of pastoralism in the Horn of Africa, and an overview of Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) version 3. The Early Warning team provided updates on the development process for the upcoming All FEWS NET meeting in May 2023. The Science team has been working on a pilot program to improve the reporting of rainfall data from gauge stations, which will help with both monitoring and forecasting activities. The team has also published a paper on multi-year dry periods in Southern Africa and is planning a Southern Africa trip to collect field data. The Hub has been working closely with the Science team to support data collection efforts, particularly using ODK forms. The Early Warning and Science teams have been tracking drought conditions and related food security in the eastern Horn of Africa. The Science and Early Warning teams have also been working on transitional work related to the publication of Seasonal Monitors. The Early Warning team has been collaborating with the Hub on website development issues, including testing reports, reviewing migrated content, and developing training materials. The team has also been working on the market price form, including development and refinement for Nigeria and South Sudan, along with associated training materials. The Hub has been working closely with the Early Warning team to navigate the updated website content management system (CMS) and fine-tune data visualizations. The Hub and the Science team have made plans for an in-person visit to the University of California, Santa Barbara Climate Hazards Center (CHC) in early March. The presentation on the future of pastoralism in the Horn of Africa highlighted the changing nature of pastoralism in the region, including implications for humanitarian and development assistance. The presentation noted that pastoralism is uniquely suited to the region's low and variable rainfall conditions, but that pastoralists are more vulnerable to food insecurity than other populations. Initial findings from the literature review described the adverse impacts of climate change on food security as a primary threat to pastoralists. The review noted that East Africa has experienced persistent declines in rainfall levels and is currently experiencing the longest and most severe drought on record. The presentation also highlighted the importance of food availability, access, utilization, and stability for achieving food security. The review noted that pastoralists are often unable to recover from shocks due to limited capacity and time, and that there is limited evidence of the effectiveness of current interventions in addressing food insecurity among pastoralists. The presentation concluded with recommendations based on the literature review's initial findings, including the need to upscale livelihood interventions and link early warning systems with early action. The review noted that pastoralism could become less viable in the Horn of Africa over the next 10-20 years if resilience and livelihood interventions are not increased. The CHIRPS3 overview highlighted the importance of accurate and timely climate data for early warning systems. The presentation noted that CHIRPS3 provides high-resolution, near-real-time precipitation data, which is essential for monitoring and forecasting activities. The presentation also highlighted the need for continued collaboration and coordination among the various teams to ensure the effective use of climate data in early warning systems.