Strong Stakeholder Support for the Implementation of the Seychelles Multi-hazard Impact-based Advice Service (SeyMAS)
On 15 July 2026, the Seychelles Meteorological Authority (SMA) brought together 57 participants from key national institutions and partner organisations for a stakeholders meeting on the implementation of the Seychelles Multi-hazard Impact-based Advice Service (SeyMAS).
Held at the Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa, the meeting provided an important platform for stakeholders to discuss how SeyMAS could strengthen early warning, preparedness and informed decision-making across Seychelles. The programme included an overview of SMA’s forecasting process, how SeyMAS would look like, an open stakeholder discussion and deliberations on the way forward.
The strong attendance reflected the wide national interest in the initiative. Representatives came from institutions involved in disaster risk management, emergency response, infrastructure, health, education, transport, utilities, aviation, maritime services, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, communications and environmental management.
SeyMAS is intended to bring together meteorological hazard information and the operational and sector-specific knowledge of stakeholders. This collaborative approach will help ensure that forecasts and warnings go beyond describing expected weather conditions by also communicating their possible impacts, the areas and sectors that may be affected, and the actions that decision-makers may need to consider.
During the discussions, participants welcomed the proposed service and recognised its potential to improve coordination, information-sharing and early action among institutions. There was broad agreement that SeyMAS is a valuable initiative and that its implementation should be taken forward through continued cooperation between SMA and all relevant partners.
The meeting also highlighted the value of international cooperation, particularly the contribution of GeoSphere Austria, whose experience with the Austra Multi-hazard Impact-based Advice Service (AMAS) provided useful lessons for Seychelles. Participants acknowledged that while these experiences could help guide the development process, SeyMAS should be designed specifically for the Seychelles context, taking into account the country’s institutional arrangements, geography, resources and operational requirements.
Stakeholders further emphasised that SeyMAS should build upon existing forecasting systems, institutional relationships and SMA’s weekly weather briefings rather than creating a separate process. The service should be practical, efficient and sustainable, while adding value to the arrangements already in place for communicating weather information and supporting national decision-making.
As part of the next steps, SMA will continue engaging partner institutions to define how meteorological information will be shared, how stakeholders will contribute to the development of impact-based advice, and how the service will support operational decisions. The approach will also need to be tested and refined as SeyMAS develops.
Participants expressed their readiness to remain actively involved and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the effective and sustainable implementation of SeyMAS. Through this collective effort, the service is expected to help protect lives and livelihoods, safeguard infrastructure and essential services, support economic activities and strengthen the resilience of communities to weather- and climate-related hazards.