African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD)

What African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) does

ACMAD is the continental weather and climate watch institution for Africa, established in 1985 under UNECA resolution 540 and co-founded with the World Meteorological Organization. It serves the 55 African Union member states through their National Meteorological Services (NMHSs), providing products that no single national agency can produce independently, including the Continental Multi-Hazard Outlook, tropical cyclone track and intensity forecasts, impact-based flood outlooks (developed with OCHA for West and Central Africa), the Africa Drought Monitoring and Advisory System (ADMAS), and seasonal climate predictions coordinated through Regional Climate Outlook Forums (PRESASS, PRESAC, PRESANORD, SWIOCOF, GHACOF, SARCOF). The product suite spans nowcasting, long-range forecasting, climate monitoring, disaster risk management, and a Climate and Health Desk linking climate conditions to health outcomes (including weekly meningitis bulletins).

Technically, ACMAD operates on a multi-model ensemble architecture that ingests global producing centre outputs (ECMWF, NOAA, IRI) alongside in-situ and satellite-derived observations (GSMAP precipitation), and applies statistical seasonal forecasting techniques (analogue years, composites, persistence, trend analysis). It publishes operational weather products (GFS meteograms, RM3 model outputs, Rapid Developing Thunderstorm detection) and exposes data through online portals (sgbd.acmad.org, rcc.acmad.org, climserviceshub.acmad.org). It has no public API, no proprietary AI model, and no disclosed software patents.

ACMAD is an intergovernmental institution, not a commercial entity. Funding flows from AU member-state assessed contributions via UNECA, institutional support from WMO, and donor-funded project grants including the EU's Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) programme and the USAID/Norwegian Refugee Council-funded CSIRS Sahel project. Go-to-market is event-driven: delivery happens through Regional Climate Outlook Forums, training workshops, online platforms, and direct technical support to NMHSs, with the most recent leadership transition (Dr. Ousmane Ndiaye as Director General, December 16, 2024) and a published 2025-2027 Strategic Plan signalling organisational renewal.

Name

African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD)

Legal name

African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD)

Website

https://acmad.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ACMAD is the AU/UNECA/WMO continental climate watch centre for Africa, serving 55 member-state National Meteorological Services with multi-hazard early warnings, seasonal forecasts, and disaster risk products funded by member contributions and donor grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Meteorological and Climate Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Risk Management (BPADALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian Coordination & Disaster Risk Reduction IGOs (BPADAAAE), Natural Disaster, Weather & Disruption Risk Monitoring (THACAEAI), Humanitarian Coordination, Information Management & Needs Assessment (BPADADAL)

Keywords

• Climate monitoring services
• Weather forecasting systems
• Early warning systems
• Meteorological applications
• Disaster risk management

Headquarters

HQ city

Niamey

HQ country

Niger

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Intergovernmental Contributions: Core funding from African Union member states through assessed contributions and institutional support from UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
2. Project Grants: Implementation of donor-funded climate service projects including ClimSA (EU-funded), CSIRS (USAID/Norwegian Refugee Council-funded), and other capacity development programs
3. Technical Services to Member States: Provision of climate data, forecasts, and technical support to National Meteorological Services across 55 AU member states

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACMAD is Africa's continental weather and climate watch centre, providing multi-hazard early warnings, seasonal climate outlooks, climate monitoring, tropical cyclone forecasts, and disaster risk management services to the National Meteorological Services of all 55 African Union member states. It operates the Continental Multi-Hazard Advisory Centre, runs Regional Climate Outlook Forums, and delivers capacity building through training programmes.

Product overview

ACMAD operates as a continental weather and climate watch center providing a comprehensive suite of climate services for sustainable development across Africa. The organization offers a platform of integrated services including the Climate and Health Desk, Nowcasting, Long Range Forecasting, Climate Monitoring, and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) services. Key products include the Continental Multi-Hazard Advisory Centre, Regional Climate Outlook Forums (PRESASS, PRESAC, PRESANORD, SWIOCOF, GHACOF, SARCOF), Flooding Outlooks, and Tropical Cyclone Forecasting. ACMAD also provides operational weather products (GFS, RM3 models, RDT thunderstorm detection) and supports capacity development through its On-the-Job Training Programme. The center serves as the African Regional Climate Centre (RCC) coordinating climate data services, monitoring, long-range forecasting, and training across the continent.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Climate and Health Desk A specialized service desk that links climate conditions with health outcomes across Africa, advancing climate-informed health services and early warning systems for climate-sensitive health risks. Targeted at health ministries and organizations addressing climate-related health risks.
• Nowcasting Service Short-term weather forecasting service providing real-time weather advisories and updates for immediate decision-making to National Meteorological Services and disaster risk management agencies.
• Long Range Forecasting Extended climate prediction service generating seasonal and multi-month climate outlooks using multi-model ensemble forecasting systems for various African regions, supporting agriculture and water resource planning.
• Climate Monitoring Continuous monitoring service tracking climate conditions across Africa including drought monitoring, dekadal climate bulletins, and monthly climate assessments for NMHSs and regional partners.
• DRM Service (Disaster Risk Management) Disaster risk management advisory service providing early warning products, risk assessments, and support for disaster preparedness and response across African countries.
• Flooding Outlook Early warning product developed in collaboration with OCHA's Regional Office for West and Central Africa, providing impact-based flood forecasts for the active rainy season in West and Central Africa regions.
• CUIP Service Climate services unit providing specialized climate information products for various user sectors including agriculture, water resources, and energy.
• Continental Multi-Hazard Advisory Centre Pan-African hazard monitoring and advisory center providing multi-hazard outlooks covering floods, droughts, extreme temperatures, and other climate-related hazards across the continent.
• Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs) Consensus-based climate forecasting forums including PRESASS (West Africa/Sahel), PRESAC (Central Africa), PRESANORD (North Africa), SWIOCOF (Southwest Indian Ocean), GHACOF (Greater Horn of Africa), and SARCOF (Southern Africa) that generate regional seasonal climate predictions.
• Tropical Cyclone Forecasting Specialized forecasting service for tropical cyclones using ECMWF ensemble models, providing track and intensity forecasts for the African tropical cyclone season.
• Weekly Meningitis Bulletin Weekly bulletin monitoring climate conditions relevant to meningitis outbreaks across Africa, supporting health ministries and epidemiological surveillance agencies.
• On-the-Job Training Programme Capacity building program designed to address skill gaps within member states through hands-on training and secondment opportunities for meteorological and climate professionals.
• Operational Weather Products (GFS, RM3, RDT) Operational weather forecasting products including GFS 0-10 day meteograms, RM3 model outputs at 24/48/72 hour intervals, and Rapid Developing Thunderstorm (RDT) detection for NMHSs.

Quantifiable outcome

• ARC has signed 37 policies protecting 54 million people with US$544 million coverage since 2014 using ACMAD climate data
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• World Meteorological Organization (WMO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024WMO co-founded ACMAD in 1985 and continues as key institutional partner. WMO provides global framework for climate services and designates ACMAD as Regional Climate Centre. Collaboration includes GPC-LRF designation and support for Early Warnings for All initiative.
• Pan-African Farmers' Organization (PAFO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024MoU signed at AU CAADP Summit in Kampala, Uganda to reach the last miles of climate services value chain. Partnership aims to deliver climate services directly to farmers across Africa.
• African Risk Capacity (ARC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2019MoU signed at COP25 in Madrid to work together in providing AU member states with reliable weather/climate data services and climate risk insurance. Partnership aims to enable ARC to disburse payments for drought-affected countries earlier using ACMAD advisories and outlooks.
• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNECA established ACMAD in 1985 through resolution 540 and provides institutional support as the host organization under its aegis. ACMAD operates as an intergovernmental institution under UNECA's auspices.
• NOAAmajorTechnology or IntegrationListed as partner on RCC Africa website, providing global climate data and forecasting inputs to ACMAD's continental services.
• International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI)majorTechnology or IntegrationListed as partner providing climate prediction expertise and tools for seasonal forecasting across Africa.
• AGRHYMET Regional CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Climate Centre for West Africa and Sahel, collaborating with ACMAD on PRESASS forums and climate outlooks for the Sahelian and Sudanian zones.
• OCHA Regional Office for West and Central AfricamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Flooding Outlook product for impact-based forecasting to support anticipatory action during rainy seasons in West and Central Africa.
• African Union Commission (AUC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACMAD was endorsed by AU Ministers as the technical arm of AUC on Weather and Climate matters. AUC provides governance oversight through the Board of Governors and supports continental coordination.
• UNDP Sahel Resilience ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint mission with UNDRR, AICS, and WMO to explore enhancement of early warning systems in Niger under the Sahel Resilience Project.
• Joint Research Centre (JRC)majorTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on drought monitoring workshop and Africa Drought Monitoring and Advisory System (ADMAS) development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WMO Regional Climate Centre network: World Meteorological Organization oversees the global RCC network that includes ACMAD. Comparable as the parent framework and global coordinator for climate services, and as convener of standards ACMAD must meet.
• ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts): Global producing centre supplying ensemble model data that ACMAD's tropical cyclone and long-range forecasts depend on. A global incumbent providing upstream inputs and comparable long-range forecasting capability at greater scale.
• NOAA Climate Prediction Center: US government climate forecasting centre producing continental and global seasonal outlooks. A broad incumbent providing upstream inputs to ACMAD and serving as a methodological peer in long-range prediction.
• UK Met Office: National meteorological service operating global long-range and nowcasting products. Broad incumbent providing partnership inputs and competing globally for donor-funded climate-services projects across Africa.

Direct peers

• SADC Climate Services Centre (CSC): Regional Climate Centre for Southern Africa producing SARCOF seasonal outlooks and climate services for SADC member states. Direct peer as a sub-regional RCC with overlapping climate outlook forums.
• AGRHYMET Regional Centre: Regional Climate Centre for West Africa and Sahel providing climate, hydrological, and agricultural monitoring services to CILSS member states. Directly comparable as a sub-regional peer serving overlapping NMHSs and co-producing PRESASS outlooks with ACMAD.
• ICPAC (IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre): Climate centre for the Greater Horn of Africa serving IGAD member states with seasonal outlooks (GHACOF) and multi-hazard products. Directly comparable mandate and product portfolio at the sub-regional level.
• IRI (International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University): Climate research and prediction institute supporting seasonal forecasting and capacity building across Africa. Direct peer in methods, products, and the climate-services-for-development niche ACMAD occupies.

Regional players

• ASECNA: Intergovernmental African air-navigation agency that also operates meteorological services for member states across francophone Africa. Regional peer providing overlapping weather services to NMHSs and aviators.

Emerging players

• African Risk Capacity (ARC): AU-affiliated parametric insurance pool whose drought products depend on ACMAD climate data. Adjacent emerging player — a partnership counterpart rather than direct competitor, but increasingly relevant as climate-finance actors enter the data-services space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACMAD_org
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@acmad_afr/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/african-centre-of-meteorological-applications-for-development-acmad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD)