| Sumario: | This report summarizes the discussions, analysis and interactions during IRI postdoctoral
research scientist Asher Siebert’s one-week stay in Rwanda in late August 2016 as part of the
CCAFS-Rwanda project. The overall aim of this project is help farmers in Rwanda to be
better adapted to climate variability and any climate change they may face, and, in doing so,
to help improve food security and agricultural outcomes. Seasonal forecasting and
downscaling methods were discussed, and a particular national forecast made with the
Climate Predictability Tool (CPT) and was shared, along with downscaled results in
probability of exceedance format. In country meteorology participants were trained in CPT.
Further discussions addressed longer-term collaborative work on both climatology and further
seasonal prediction work, particularly with regard to El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). Discussions with experts at CIAT and the Rwanda
Agriculture Board also addressed the prospect of using the Water Requirement Satisfaction
Index (WRSI) as a monitoring and climate/agriculture risk management tool in the future.
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