LocationsNordic Development Fund (NDF) Managing Director Visits Malawi Weather Observation Sites, Highlights Urgent Need for Investment in Climate Data
May 14, 2026
NDF Managing Director Ms. Satu Santala, fourth left, UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Fenella Frost, centre, and Iceland Ambassador Mr. Davíð Bjarnason, fourth right, with officials during the SOFF Malawi weather observation site visit.
Ms. Satu Santala, Managing Director of the Nordic Development Fund and Chair of the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), visited key weather observation sites in Malawi to see first-hand how investments in climate and weather data can strengthen forecasting, early warning, and climate resilience.
Ms. Santala visited the Kasungu Weather Station and the former Upper-air observation site in Lumbadzi, accompanied by the UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Fenella Frost, and the Ambassador of Iceland to Malawi, Mr. Davíð Bjarnason. The visit formed part of a mission to appreciate progress under the SOFF Malawi project, implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS).
The SOFF Malawi project is supporting the country to close critical gaps in weather and climate observation systems. These gaps undermine the reliability of forecasts, early warning systems, climate services, and aviation safety, as well as Malawi’s contribution to regional and global weather data systems. Through the project, Malawi is receiving targeted support to strengthen its meteorological infrastructure and human capacity, including surface and upper-air observations, data management, and ICT systems.
Speaking after the visit, Ms. Santala said the field mission had been highly informative and had shown both the commitment of Malawi’s weather teams and the scale of investment required.
Ms. Satu Santala, left, appreciates a Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder, an instrument used to measure sunshine duration, during a visit to Malawi’s weather observation sites under the SOFF Malawi project.
“I have seen how the team is struggling to produce the weather observations that are required using equipment that is not up to date. The need for investment in this sector is tremendous in Malawi.”Ms. Satu Santala, Managing Director of the Nordic Development Fund and Chair of the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF)
She noted that the planned investments under SOFF are well justified and well designed, particularly in strengthening ground-based observation capacity and reintroducing upper-air observations in Malawi for the first time in more than 10 years.
“This will make a real difference to the reliability of weather forecasting in Malawi,” Ms. Santala said.
Upper-air observations are critical for understanding atmospheric conditions beyond surface level. According to Dr. Lucy Mtilamtila, Director of the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Malawi has not conducted upper-air observations for more than a decade. This means the country can currently only monitor the atmosphere up to about 10 metres, which has affected forecasting capacity.
Dr. Mtilamtila welcomed the SOFF investment, saying it offers an opportunity to revive a critical part of Malawi’s weather observation system.
“I am really excited because there is a possibility that we will be able to revive the upper-air observations that stopped a long time ago,” she said.
She added that the programme could support Malawi with upper-air observation equipment and gas generation capacity, which is needed to launch weather balloons used in atmospheric monitoring.
Ms. Satu Santala and officials appreciate a sub power station supporting weather observation operations during a visit under the SOFF Malawi project.
Mr. Davíð Bjarnason, the Ambassador of Iceland to Malawi described the visit as extremely informative, saying it provided a valuable opportunity to understand the current state of Malawi’s weather observation systems and the importance of the SOFF investment.
“Today has been extremely informative for me. It was very valuable to learn more and to see the current situation first-hand. It was also useful to see how the SOFF project, supported by the Nordic Development Fund and Iceland, among others, is contributing to this work,” he said.
Mr. Bjarnason added that the work already done, including peer support from Iceland and Norway, has provided a strong foundation for moving into the implementation phase, which will include installing new equipment and improving weather measurements.
“It is great to see the current situation now, and I am even more looking forward to coming back once the new equipment has been installed,” he said.
Through SOFF, Malawi is expected to upgrade and rehabilitate selected meteorological stations, including Kasungu, and install an automatic upper-air station. The project will also support training, calibration, data management, ICT systems and sustained compliance with the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) standards.
For Ms. Santala, the expectation is clear: SOFF should help Malawi generate better-quality weather data, improve forecast reliability, and ensure that people are warned in good time during extreme weather events. She also emphasized that weather observations are not only national assets, but part of global collaboration.
“Weather travels across borders. Having the capacity to make observations will allow Malawi to contribute to international cooperation and also benefit more from it,” she said.
UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Fenella Forst said the visit underscored the importance of investing in climate information systems as a foundation for resilience, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development.
As Malawi continues to face floods, droughts, severe storms and erratic rainfall, reliable weather and climate information is essential for protecting lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and economic activity.
The SOFF Malawi project is financed through a grant of USD 3.84 million and implemented by UNDP, with the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services as the main beneficiary. The Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the Icelandic Meteorological Office are providing peer advisory support.
By strengthening weather observations, improving forecasting systems, and restoring upper-air measurement capacity, SOFF is helping Malawi build a stronger foundation for early warning and climate resilience.
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