Using co-production to improve the appropriate use of sub-seasonal forecasts in Africa

•New sub-seasonal forecast products are being co-produced with users in an operational forecasting testbed.•Direct access to real-time data allows the provision of bespoke forecasts.•Effective co-production is resource-intensive and requires capacity building of all groups.•Decision-makers should not be neglected in the evaluation process.•To continue new services individual knowledge needs to be translated into institutional knowledge.