The Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany, (BMBF) and WASCAL have organized a one-day stakeholders workshop to share views, experiences and ideas on how renewable energies can be used to contribute to the development and implementation of sustainable energy solutions in Ghana by means of research.

The workshop which brought together various expertise from within the energy sector in Ghana was to establish bilateral engagement with Ghana will help in identifying a successful way of carrying out the project.

In his address, the Head of Division 722: Basic Energy Research, of the BMBF, Dr. Christoph Rövekamp indicate that the essence of the workshop was to deepen and intensify BMBF’s research cooperation with Ghana in the area of renewable energy.
“Our intention is to identify local needs in a practice-based approach right from the start. Contributing your knowledge is essential to our cooperation. Our efforts would not have a lasting effect without your involvement”
Dr. Rövekamp then emphasized that the overall outcome of the the workshop, was to help delve into solutions that will bring about sustainable energy supply in the country.

“Ultimately, we would like to launch one or more joint pilot projects in Ghana which will achieve a genuine impact with regard to a sustainable energy supply. And different technology options are thinkable. The development of sound business models for clean energy constitutes an important factor for success. Electricity must be affordable” He added.

Honorable Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation in his key note address cited hands-on ways of generating renewable energies in Ghana, and assured participants that the Government of Ghana will be monitoring the progress of the workshops and project because of its interest in it.

Dr. Mouhamadou Bamba Sylla, senior scientist in climate modeling and climate change currently leading the research cluster climate change and climate variability at the WASCAL Competence Centre has been selected as an author in connection with the preparation of the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report 6 (AR6).

By this appointment, he will be one of the lead authors for the chapter 12 “Climate Change information for regional impact and for risk assessment” of the Working Group 1 (WG1) contribution due in 2021. Together with his co-authors, they will work on integrating both quantitative and qualitative climate change information from multiple lines of evidence on changing hazards for the present day, the near-term and the long-term.

According to Dr. Sylla, working with IPCC is both exciting and challenging. “In fact, the task of Lead Authors is a demanding one. It comes with astute commitment. The workload during the period from the second half of 2018 to 2021 will be in the order of several months and can be particularly heavy during certain periods. At the same time, it is a big honour to be selected to contribute to one of the most comprehensive scientific documents in history” He said.

The IPCC was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and endorsed by UN assembly. The role of the IPCC is to comprehensively and objectively assess y the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to understanding climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. Every 5 to 7 years, IPCC releases an assessment report written by hundreds of scientists in a very collaborative and collegial way. This report constitutes the current state of knowledge on climate change and informs international policy and negotiations on climate-related issues.

Working Group 1 (WG1) deals with The Physical Science Basis. Each of the chapters is led by a group of Lead Authors and Coordinating Lead Authors that are world-leading climate scientists who represent a broad range of opinion, expertise, gender, and geographical representation. They come from academia, research facilities, industry, government, and non-governmental organizations.

The new political developments on climate-related goals (i.e. the Paris Agreement, the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction accord) that forge the context of the next AR6, all the collaboration with expert scientists from all over the planet working towards a common goal as well as the cross-cultural experiences that will be encountered during the process make it an exciting appointment.

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The Scientific Advisory Committee of WASCAL (SAC) has held its 9th scientific meeting in Hamburg, Germany to deliberate on scientific issues regarding the organization.

The two-day advisory meeting generated key pieces of advice to the Governing Board meant to move the organization forward in terms of effectiveness, efficiency impacts.

Significant amongst them included the implementation of WASCAL Research Agenda Programme for the next 4 years (WRAP2.0), more synergy between the Research Department and the Capacity Building Department to ensure harmonization and successful development of products and for PhD projects within the WASCAL framework. Also, there was the need for improved visibility of the research findings and the appointment of new members of the scientific committee and their terms of office.

The Scientific Advisory Committee is dedicated to providing first class scientific advice to the Governing Body of the organisation. They also provide understanding and counsel on strategic decisions on relevant scientific activities that WASCAL is engaged in.

The Executive Director of WASCAL, Dr. Moumini Savadogo has charged graduands of WASCAL’s Masters Programme at the Universite Abdou Moumouni de Niamey to develop a resilient spirit of entrepreneurship, think outside the box and never wait for an employer before moving into action.

He also asked them not to be dissuaded into deserting their certificates on their shelves to take on a different profession.

He made this remark in a speech read on his behalf at the graduation ceremony of the second batch of Masters students in Climate Change and Energy from theUniversité Abdou Moumouni De Niamey, Niger

Dr Savadogo further challenged them to live up to expectation and reciprocate the efforts of German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

“ The whole of West Africa is looking up to you to provide them with empirical solutions that can help mitigate or adapt to the rising negative effects of climate change that has unbridled this sub-Region. One of the best ways we can reciprocate the efforts of BMBF is to maximize the opportunities at your disposal to make positive impact in the fight against climate change in West Africa.” He said.

The Director of Climate Change and Energy programme, Dr. Rabani Adamou also congratulated the graduands and admonished them to go out there and surmount the challenges with head high and confidence, in order to make WASCAL proud.

The graduands presented findings and results of their various projects works to the entire invited guests at the event, before they were presented with their certificates. In all ten(10) students from various countries within West Africa graduated.The event was graced by the Nigerien Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Niger, The vice chancellor of the University of Abdou Moumini and other university dignitaries.

West Africa’s high vulnerability to climate change is exacerbated by endemic poverty, economic and institutional weakness, and limited access to infrastructure, technology and energy. The main objective of The MRP Climate Change And Energy programme is, therefore to train a new generation of interdisciplinary professionals capable of proposing adapted solutions to face the climate change and energy crisis.

The curriculum focuses on topics such as climate change and global warming, knowledge of the impacts of climate change, vulnerability of natural systems and the built environment, and methods for adaptation as well as energy production, delivery, and consumption for both, traditional systems and sustainable energy alternatives with special emphasis on energy efficiency, energy management and local available renewable energy.

WASCAL is dedicated to becoming one of Africa’s leading institutions in the provision of climate services, including capacity building, in and for West Africa.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, BMBF, has pledged to continue supporting WASCAL for the next decade, and has challenged the organization to intensify its innovative strategies to attract more partnerships for its sustainability, while overseeing the financial contributions of member countries as a way of getting countries to own and drive WASCAL as a West African organization.

This was contained in the remarks of Dr. Wilfried Kraus of BMBF in an interaction with the management, staff, students and alumni of WASCAL at its headquarters in Accra. Dr Kraus had earlier on been decorated with the honoris causa award by the University of Lome, Togo for his outstanding support and quality leadership in championing the cause of climate change in West Africa.

Dr. Kraus also assured of his Ministry’s intended increase in the number of student intake in subsequent admissions by the Capacity Building Programme. He further admonished alumni to continue striving hard to use their expertise from the Capacity Programmes for the benefit of their respective countries and West Africa as a whole.

He also tasked the Executive Management to ensure that the remaining five ECOWAS countries be brought on board to complete the vison of WASCAL. He said they should develop creative ideas in the areas Climate Change and Sustainable Land Use, and Renewable Energy Options.

Prof. Renee Haak, responsible for the implementation of WASCAL at BMBF challenged the alumni to continuously develop their creative engagements and build strong networks to develop relevant research projects for future considerations.

The students and alumni also had their turns to share their WASCAL success stories. Amongst the recommendations they shared included the need for WASCAL to integrate an entrepreneurship module in its course for self -empowerment and climate change job creation through the scientific and research knowledge acquired from the WASCAL Graduate Programmes.

The University of Lome, Togo has conferred the Honoris Causa Award on Dr. Wilfried Kraus of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (BMBF) for his outstanding contribution towards combating climate change in West Africa.

On this occasion, the entire WASCAL community and its numerous stakeholders wish to congratulate Dr. Kraus for this meritorious award.

WASCAL also wishes to extend a hand of gratitude to the entire BMBF team, for their tremendous support in ensuring WASCAL remains committed in becoming one of Africa’s leading institutions in the provision of climate services in and for West Africa.