Consistent with the original proposal (dated April 14, 2005), the grant supported the participation in the above conference of a number of West African meteorologists, the majority of whom will be supporting the ARM Mobile Facility deployment in Niamey in various ways during 2006.The following seven individuals were fully funded (complete airfare, accommodation, registration, meals) to participate in the Conference –Yerima Ladan (Head, ASECNA Forecast Office, Niamey Airport); Dr. Ousmane Manga Adamou (University of Niamey); Abdou Adam Abdoul-Aziz Abebe (Forecasater, ASECNA Forecast Office, Niamey Airport); Hassane Abdou (Forecaster, ASECNA Forecast Office, Niamey Airport); Saley Diori (Forecaster, ASECNA Forecast Office, Niamey Airport); Alhassane Diallo (Meteorological Engineer, Burkina Faso Weather Service).The following three individuals were partly funded (for some of their airfare, accommodation, registration, meals) to participate in the Conference – Katiellou Lawan (International Relations, Niger Weather Service); Mamoutou Kouressy (Institute of Rural Economics, Niger Department of Agriculture); and Francis Dide (Benin Weather Service).I am confident that the participation of the above individuals in the Conference will facilitate both the smooth operation of the ARM Mobile Facility in Niamey during 2006 and the involvement of University of Niamey scientists in analysis of the data collected. We appreciate greatly this support from the ARM Program.
