Section 12, The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Act , 2017

(1) The object for which the Agency is established is toserve as the sole authority for the provision of meteorological and climatological services throughout Sierra Leone. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) the Agency shall have responsibility to– (a) advise Government on all aspects of meteorology, climatology,climate change and other climate related issues; (b) develop Government policy in the field of meteorology, climatology, climate change and other climate related issues; 6 7 Committees of Board. Functions of Board. Remuneration of members. Filling of Vacancies. Immunity of members of Board etc. Functions No. 8 Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Act 2017 No. 8 Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Act 2017 (c) issue weather information and forecasts for the safe operation of air-crafts, ocean going vessels, oil rigs and all other socio-econo mic activities that require meteorological or climatology services; (d) promote the use of meteorology in agriculture, food monitoring and in the monitoring of flood, drought, desertification and other related activities; (e) establish, organise and manage both surface and upper air observational station networks throughout Sierra Leone as approved by the Board; (f) collect, process, store and disseminate meteorological and climatological information both nationally and internationally in accordance with rules and practices and procedures established under the Conventions of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Maritime Organization (IMO), and other relevant conventions of the United Nations system such as the Framework Convention on Climate Change ( U N F C C C ) , a n d Convention to combat Desertification, Drought etc; (g) monitor the meteorological and climatological components of environmental impact assessment, pollution, degradation and other concentrations; (h) ensure that uniform standards of observation and data collection of all meteorological phenomena throughout Sierra Leone are in line with standard World Meteorological Organization principles; (i) undertake research in the field of agrometeorology, hydro-meteorology, marine meteorology and other related areas of meteorology, climatology and climate change related issues; (j) keep in an appropriate and safe archive all meteorological, climatological, climate change data and information for use on future planning, research and implementation of projects as may become necessary; (k) provide meteorological information, advice and warnings for agriculture, civil and military aviation, surface and marine transport, operational hydrology and management of energy and water resources, in order to mitigate the effects of natural disasters such as floods, storms, droughts and disease outbreak; (l) provide meteorological service for search and rescue operations during disaster and relief operations as well as during national emergencies; (m) participate in training and applied research in meteorology and climatology and other related fields in co-operation with other relevant institutions; 8 9 No. 8 Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Act 2017 No. 8 Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency Act 2017 (n) participate on behalf of Sierra Leone in the activities of relevant international organizations to which it belongs, including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), World Weather Watch (WWW), Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), Inter- Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), African Center of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), United Nations Environment Program ( UNEP) and any other relevant organisations (o) regulate and issue licences for weather stations; and (p) any other functions which the Ministry, in consultation with the Board, may assign from time to time.