The importance of climate services, i.e. providing targeted, tailored, and timely weather and climate information, has gained
momentum, but requires improved understanding of user needs. This article identifies the opportunities and barriers to the use of
climate services for planning in Malawi, to identify the types of information that can better inform future adaptation decisions in
sub-Saharan Africa. From policy analysis, stakeholder interviews, and a national workshop utilizing serious games, it is determined
that only 5–10 day and seasonal forecasts are currently being used in government decision making. Impediments to
greater integration of climate services include spatial and temporal scale, accessibility, timing, credibility and the mismatch in
timeframes between planning cycles (1–5 years) and climate projections (over 20 years). Information that could more usefully
inform planning decisions includes rainfall distribution within a season, forecasts with 2–3 week lead times, likely timing and
location of extreme events in the short term (1–5 years), and projections (e.g. rainfall and temperature change) in the medium
term (6–20 years). Development of a national set of scenarios would also make climate information more accessible to decision
makers, and capacity building around such scenarios would enable its improved use in short- to medium-term planning.
Improved climate science and its integration with impact models offer exciting opportunities for integrated climate-resilient
planning across sub-Saharan Africa. Accrual of positive impacts requires enhanced national capacity to interpret climate information
and implement communication strategies across sectors.
Policy relevance
For climate services to achieve their goal of improving adaptation decision making, it is necessary to understand the decision
making process and how and when various types of weather and climate information can be incorporated. Through a case study
of public sector planning in Malawi, this article highlights relevant planning and policy-making processes. The current use of
weather and climate information and needs, over various timescales – sub-annual to short term (1–5 years) to medium term (6–
20 years) – is outlined. If climate scientists working with boundary organizations are able to address these issues in a more
targeted, sector-facing manner they will improve the uptake of climate services and the likelihood of climate-resilient decisions
across sub-Saharan Africa.
Keywords: adaptation; adaptation policy; decision making; science communication; science–policy interface; serious games