Launched in 2009, the Global Framework for Climate Services is a global partnership of governments and organizations that produce and use climate information and services. GFCS aims to enable society to manage better the risk and opportunities arising from climate variability and change especially for those who are the most vulnerable to climate related hazards by developing and incorporating science-based climate information into planning, policy and practice.

GFCS Regional and National consultations for climate services are being organized in the SIDS regions to bring together practitioners and decision-makers from government institutions, universities and the private sector to identify appropriate mechanisms and networks to improve and sustain the development and flow of climate information for different users at Regional and National level. The GFCS Regional consultation for the Caribbean was held on 29-31 May 2013 in Port of Spain brought together regional stakeholders and discussed the challenges and opportunities related to implementing climate services in the region. Roughly 100 participants attended this meeting, representing various economic sectors. The participants collectively agreed on a common way forward, asking for national pilots to be initiated in Belize and the Dominican Republic, highlighting the need to promote climate research and the need to support the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) as a regional climate centre. As a follow-up, a national consultation for climate services was held in Belize on 30 October - 1 November 2013 that has developed a detailed action plan to enable climate services in the country.In anticipation of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, the upcoming Regional Consultation on Climate Services for SIDS (31 March - 4 April 2014, Rarotonga, Cook Islands), organized by WMO, SPREP and other partners, will represent a key opportunity to bring together the SIDS island countries together with collaborating Institutions and mechanisms in Pacific and cement the new SIDS partnership.For this purpose, a second meeting is also being organized in April to bring together the SIDS from the other regions.Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer:The GFCS has a three prong implementation approach with global, regional and national focus. The global level provides climate prediction products and maintains standards, while the regional focus is on promoting capacity development beyond single nations through regional climate centres (RCC) and the national level focuses on tailoring information products to meet user demands in support of climate-smart solutions. Through this approach countries in need will have access to the latest products, methodologies and tools they can adapt to generate tailored climate services. Capacity development will underpin all the activities of the GFCS as it is recognized to be limited particularly in SIDS.

The GFCS has a three prong implementation approach with global, regional and national focus. The global level provides climate prediction products and maintains standards, while the regional focus is on promoting capacity development beyond single nations through regional climate centres (RCC) and the national level focuses on tailoring information products to meet user demands in support of climate-smart solutions. Through this approach countries in need will have access to the latest products, methodologies and tools they can adapt to generate tailored climate services. Capacity development will underpin all the activities of the GFCS as it is recognized to be limited particularly in SIDS.

The GFCS-SIDS is a UN-led initiative with governments spearheaded by WMO to guide the development and application of science-based climate information and services in support of decision-making for SIDS. Close coordination will be ensured: - with international partners through the GFCS Office which is based at WMO headquarters in Geneva and; - with respective regional and country offices based in SIDS island states, meteorological offices, national institutions and sectors coordinated by WMO Permanent Representatives based in the regions.

International Organizations: World Meteorological Organization (WMO), United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank (WB), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) • Collaborating Institutions and mechanisms in the Caribbean: Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO), Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC). • Collaborating Institutions and mechanisms in Pacific: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), University of the South Pacific (USP), UNDP Pacific Centre, NOAA • Collaborating Institutions and mechanisms in the Indian Ocean: Indian Ocean Commission, The Regional Organizations (ROs) for Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean (ESA-IO)