The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration on climate-resilient water management, disaster risk reduction, and early warning systems, as climate-driven extremes intensify worldwide.
The agreement establishes a long-term framework that combines WMO’s global leadership in weather, climate and hydrological services with IWMI’s applied research and field-level expertise in water management, creating a powerful bridge between global data systems and on-the-ground decision-making.
The partnership comes as countries face more frequent and severe floods, droughts, heatwaves, and water scarcity, with water risks increasingly shaping food security, energy systems, urban resilience, and economic stability.
Turning Climate Intelligence into Action
Under the MoU, WMO and IWMI will collaborate across three strategic priorities:
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Integrating climate and water data to strengthen early warning systems and anticipatory action
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Advancing emerging technologies and artificial intelligence to improve forecasting, risk analysis, and decision support
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Embedding socio-economic research into climate and weather services to ensure warnings translate into effective action on the ground
“With increasing extreme weather, water and climate-related events worldwide, this collaboration is critical to helping countries become better prepared,” said Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of WMO. “By advancing the Early Warnings for All initiative and leveraging emerging technologies, this partnership will strengthen services that save lives and livelihoods.”
Mark Smith, Director General of IWMI, said the agreement would accelerate practical solutions where climate impacts are being felt most acutely. “Through this MoU, IWMI will work closely with WMO to strengthen preparedness for floods, droughts and water scarcity by leveraging early warning systems, innovative technologies, and applied research,” he said.
Focus on National Systems and High-Risk Regions
Through joint activities, the two organisations will support National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), water resource authorities, and agriculture and irrigation agencies to improve drought and flood preparedness and promote climate-resilient water governance—with a particular focus on Asia and Africa, where climate vulnerability and water stress intersect.
The partnership also aligns with major global frameworks and programmes, including:
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Early Warnings for All
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Associated Programme on Flood Management
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Integrated Drought Management Programme
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HydroSOS (Hydrological Status and Outlook System)
From Agreement to Implementation
WMO and IWMI will now develop a joint implementation plan spanning national, regional, and local levels, aimed at delivering concrete, tailored, and sustainable tools that improve risk-informed decision-making across sectors.
The MoU also prioritises capacity building, knowledge exchange, and joint project development, ensuring that innovations in climate and water science translate into operational systems that governments and communities can rely on.
Why It Matters
As climate change reshapes the global water cycle, experts warn that fragmented climate and water data systems are no longer fit for purpose. The WMO–IWMI partnership signals a shift toward integrated, technology-enabled climate services—linking forecasts, water management, and social context to reduce losses and build resilience.
For governments, development partners, and climate-tech innovators, the agreement creates new opportunities to scale early warning systems, deploy AI-driven tools, and close the gap between climate intelligence and action—before extreme events become humanitarian disasters.