Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

What Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services does

The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) is the official national meteorological authority of Malawi, operating under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change. Established as an autonomous department in 1983 and renamed to its current form in 2009, DCCMS delivers authoritative weather forecasts, seasonal climate outlooks, agrometeorological bulletins, air quality bulletins, and early warnings to the Malawian public, the aviation sector, agriculture and food security stakeholders, disaster risk management agencies, and the health sector. It is led by Director Dr. Lucy Mtilatila, who also serves as Malawi's Permanent Representative with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

DCCMS's product portfolio spans daily, weekly, and five-day weather forecasts; 10-day agrometeorological bulletins; seasonal climate outlooks and district-level downscaled seasonal forecasts for all 28 districts; the annual State of Malawi Climate report; risk climate maps; long-horizon CMIP6-based climate projections for the eight Agricultural Development Divisions; weekly air quality bulletins; and ICAO-compliant aviation meteorological services for Kamuzu International Airport and Chileka International Airport. Distribution is multi-channel and free of charge: official website (metmalawi.gov.mw), the Zanyengo Android application, MapViewer interactive platform, MBC national television, local radio, Facebook, WhatsApp, and a quarterly Zanyengo e-newsletter.

The underlying technology stack includes a national observation network of over 100 Automatic Weather Stations and 21 conventional synoptic stations, the ClimSA satellite reception system ingesting MSG data, GIS-based MapViewer, Wis2Box data transmission, WDQMS reports, and CAP-standardized weather alerts. The department is staffed by approximately 165 professionals across engineering and communications, climate change and research, and forecasting and observation divisions. DCCMS is wholly funded through Malawi government budget allocations and supplemented by technical and financial partnerships with WMO, MET Norway, the World Bank, UNDP, NORCAP, ICAO, and FAO; it holds no private ownership, has no commercial revenue stream, and provides all services free to end users.

Name

Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Legal name

Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Website

https://metmalawi.gov.mw

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DCCMS is Malawi's official government meteorological department, delivering authoritative weather forecasts, seasonal climate outlooks, agrometeorological bulletins, and early warnings to citizens, aviation, agriculture, disaster risk management, and public health sectors free of charge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Blantyre

HQ country

Malawi

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a government department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, DCCMS is primarily funded through government budget allocations. Services are provided free of charge to the public.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DCCMS is the official national meteorological authority of Malawi, delivering weather forecasts, climate outlooks, agrometeorological advisories, and early warnings to the public and key sectors including aviation, agriculture, disaster risk management, water resources, and health. The department operates a network of over 100 Automatic Weather Stations and 21 synoptic stations, a ClimSA satellite reception system, and distributes information through its website, Zanyengo mobile app, MBC television, local radio, and social media channels. All services are provided free of charge and funded through Malawi's national government budget.

Product overview

The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) of Malawi operates a comprehensive suite of weather and climate products organized around forecasting, climate analysis, and early warning services. The core offerings include Daily Weather Forecast, Weekly Weather Update, and Five Day Weather Forecast for short-term planning, combined with Seasonal Climate Outlook and District Downscaled Seasonal Forecasts for medium-term agricultural and disaster preparedness planning. Climate intelligence is provided through State of Malawi Climate annual reports, Risk Climate Maps, and Climate Projections for Agricultural Development Divisions. DCCMS also provides specialized products including 10-Day Weather and Agrometeorological Bulletins for farmers, Weekly Air Quality Bulletins for health monitoring, and a network of over 100 weather stations. Digital access is enabled through the Zanyengo mobile app, MapViewer interactive platform, and CAP Alerts early warning system. The portfolio operates under WMO standards and supports sectors including agriculture, aviation, water resources, health, and disaster risk management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zanyengo: Mobile weather application providing weather forecasts and alerts to citizens
• Climweb

Products and services

• Daily Weather Forecast Comprehensive 24-hour rainfall forecast for Malawi with predictions for temperature, thunderstorm details, wind direction and speed, sunrise/sunset times, and total rainfall amounts, issued for the general public and planning use.
• Weekly Weather Update Weekly weather forecast providing citizens with reliable and up-to-date weather predictions for planning agricultural, economic, and daily activities.
• Five Day Weather Forecast Five-day weather forecast providing detailed information on temperature, rainfall, and wind patterns across Malawi for planning daily activities, agriculture, and disaster preparedness.
• 10 Day EPA Weather Bulletin District and Extension Planning Area (EPA)-specific 10-day weather bulletins translating forecasts into practical information for farmers and agricultural extension officers.
• State of Malawi Climate Annual publication analyzing weather and climate conditions including temperature, rainfall, extreme weather events, and their socio-economic impacts.
• Seasonal Climate Outlook Forecasts on weather patterns over upcoming seasons detailing expected deviations in temperature, precipitation, and other climatic variables from historical averages.
• Risk Climate Maps Assessment and visualization of climate-related risks including temperature changes, precipitation patterns, dry spells, and drought frequencies for targeted interventions.
• District Downscaled Seasonal Forecast 2024-2025 Localized downscaled seasonal forecast tailored for districts across Malawi for the 2024-2025 rainfall season, offering insights into expected rainfall patterns for communities, farmers, and decision-makers.
• District Downscaled Seasonal Forecast 2025-2026 Localized climate outlook for the 2025-2026 rainfall season with district-level insights on anticipated rainfall patterns, onset and cessation dates.
• Climate Projections for the Eight Agricultural Development Divisions in Malawi Climate change projections using CMIP6 Global Climate Models for Malawi for the 2040s, 2060s, and 2080s covering temperature, precipitation, and extreme climate events for the eight Agricultural Development Divisions.
• Weekly Air Quality Bulletin Weekly update on air quality across Malawi summarizing key observations on major air pollutants, highlighting areas of concern, and offering guidance on health impacts.
• 10-Day Weather and Agrometeorological Bulletin Comprehensive resource providing detailed weather forecasts, agrometeorological analyses, and climate insights for farmers, policymakers, and the general public during the rainy season (October-April).
• Zanyengo Mobile App Mobile application for accessing weather updates, forecasts, and alerts directly to users' devices, available as a free Android app on the Google Play Store.
• MapViewer Interactive mapping platform providing visualization of weather data including rainfall, temperature, satellite imagery, floods, agromet data, and weather alerts.
• Weather Monitoring Station Network National infrastructure of over 100 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) and 21 conventional synoptic stations strategically positioned for continuous weather monitoring and data collection across Malawi.
• Data Requests Service Service for requesting specific meteorological and climate data including rainfall, temperature, wind, and vegetation indices for research and planning purposes.
• CAP Alerts (Common Alerting Protocol) Standardized alert system for issuing weather warnings including heavy rainfall, flash floods, drought, heat waves, and Mwera winds, distributed via RSS/XML feed.
• Satellite Images Live satellite imagery layers including Natural Colour RGB, precipitation rate, fog/low clouds detection, and rapidly developing thunderstorms, supported by the ClimSA satellite reception system.
• Zanyengo E-Newsletter Quarterly electronic newsletter providing updates on climate resilience activities, forecasts, and departmental news for subscribers.

Quantifiable outcome

• District-level seasonal forecasts provided for all 28 districts in Malawi
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP collaborates with DCCMS on climate change initiatives and sustainable development programs, supporting capacity building and climate resilience projects.
• NORCAP (Norwegian Refugee Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNORCAP provides expertise and capacity support to DCCMS for improving climate services and emergency response capabilities in Malawi.
• World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMO is the international governing body for meteorology. DCCMS serves as Malawi's Permanent Representative with WMO, ensuring alignment with international standards and participation in global weather monitoring networks.
• Meteorologisk institutt (Norwegian Meteorological Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMET Norway collaborates with DCCMS on climate services capacity building, including training programs and technical cooperation to enhance weather forecasting capabilities.
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICAO sets international standards for aviation meteorology. DCCMS provides aviation weather services compliant with ICAO requirements for Kamuzu International Airport and Chileka International Airport.
• MET NorwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMET Norway continues collaboration with DCCMS on climate services capacity building, following a landmark partnership to strengthen meteorological services in Malawi.
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO partners with DCCMS to enhance agrometeorological services and food security initiatives in Malawi through climate information integration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA): Tanzania's national meteorological authority offering weather and climate services. Highly comparable to DCCMS as a neighboring SADC member state with similar agricultural dependency, climate vulnerability, and institutional mandate structure.
• Mozambique National Meteorological Institute (INAM): Mozambique's national meteorological service providing weather forecasts and climate services. Comparable to DCCMS as a neighboring SADC country with similar cyclone exposure, agricultural economy, and Portuguese/English linguistic context.
• Kenya Meteorological Department: Kenya's national meteorological authority providing weather forecasts, climate services, and early warnings. Direct peer to DCCMS as a fellow East African national meteorological service operating under similar ICAO and WMO frameworks with comparable service portfolios and target users.
• Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA): Uganda's national meteorological authority providing weather forecasts, climate data, and early warnings. Direct peer to DCCMS as a fellow East African national meteorological service with similar mandate and operating context.
• Zimbabwe Meteorological Services Department: Zimbabwe's national meteorological department providing weather and climate services. Direct peer to DCCMS as a fellow Southern African national meteorological service with comparable scope and resource constraints.

Broad incumbents

• South African Weather Service (SAWS): South Africa's national meteorological service providing weather, climate, and air quality services. Comparable as a fellow African national weather service but significantly larger scale and broader mandate than DCCMS.
• UK Met Office: United Kingdom's national meteorological service providing comprehensive weather and climate services. Comparable as a national meteorological authority but operates at far greater scale and complexity than DCCMS.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): United States federal agency for weather, ocean, and climate science and services. Comparable as a national provider of meteorological and climate services but operates at vastly greater scale and budget than DCCMS.

Others

• ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts): Intergovernmental organization producing global numerical weather predictions. Comparable to DCCMS's forecasting function but operates at supranational scale, providing upstream model data that DCCMS and similar national services consume.

Regional players

• Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway): Norway's national meteorological service and an active partner of DCCMS. Comparable as a national meteorological authority but operating in a vastly different geographic and economic context; included for its role as a capacity-building partner to DCCMS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjh67eji2U4iWSOEnNu91Zg
• Facebookfacebook.com/MetMalawiDCCMS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/department-of-climate-change-and-meteorological-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services