WASCAL – Page 46

WASCAL DEEPENS TIES WITH BURKINA FASO

WASCAL has expressed its deepest gratitude to the Government and people of Burkina Faso for the tremendous support it has given the institution over the past years. WASCAL also congratulated the country for its up-to-date payment of their country contribution.

This was contained in the speech of the Board Chair of WASCAL, Mr. Peter Dery when they paid a courtesy call on His Excellency S.E.M Pingrenoma Zagré, the Burkina Faso Ambassador to Ghana.

Dr. Moumini Savadogo, the Executive Director of WASCAL also thanked the people of Burkina Faso and called on the ambassador to leverage on his mandate to project the great bilateral relationship between their country and WASCAL, and also the success stories of WASCAL amongst his counterparts. He also used the opportunity to brief the ambassador on the proposed commencement of the construction of the Competence Centre building scheduled for this year.

His Excellency Zagré was pleased to welcome the delegation and pledged his support for the growth of WASCAL in the West African Region.

The WASCAL Competence Centre which houses all the Scientists is based in Burkina Faso. The Government of Burkina Faso has also offered a vast land to WASCAL for the commencement of a Climate Change Centre of Excellence. The multi-purpose edifice, when completed will serve as the hub and point of reference for climate change research Africa. Plans are also far advanced for WASCAL to begin its new Masters Programme in Informatics for Climate Change at the University of Ouaga 1-Prof. Joseph Ki-Zerbo

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L’UL décerne son 1er diplôme «Docteur Honoris Causa» à l’Allemand Wilfried Kraus, directeur adjoint du Département “Développement Durable, Climat et Energie”, au ministère Fédéral allemand de l’Education et de la Recherche

Lomé, le 08 février 2018. Auditorium de l`UL. L’Université de Lomé décerne son 1er diplôme «Docteur Honoris Causa» à l’Allemand Wilfried Kraus, directeur adjoint du Département “Développement Durable, Climat et Energie”, au ministère Fédéral allemand de l’Education et de la Recherche. La cérémonie officielle de remise du diplôme s’est déroulée à l’auditorium de l’UL en présence de nombreuses personnalités parmi lesquelles l’ambassadeur de lé République Fédérale d’Allemagne au Togo, le président de l’UL et de plusieurs enseignants-chercheurs des universités publiques du Togo. Cette distinction est une marque de reconnaissance de l`UL à l’un des acteurs-clé de la coopération germano-togolaise à travers le programme WASCAL (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use), section Afrique de l’Ouest.

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BMBF TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING WASCAL FOR THE NEXT DECADE

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.

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UNIVERSITY OF LOME CONFERS HONORIS CAUSA ON DR. WILFRIED KRAUS OF BMBF

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.

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WASCAL APPOINTS DR. MOUMINI SAVADOGO AS SUBSTANTIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

WASCAL, a climate change service, research and capacity building organization operating within the West African sub-region, has appointed Dr. Moumini Savadogo as the new substantive Executive Director effective 1st January 2018. He takes over from Prof. Jimmy Adegoke who was the Interim Executive Director for nine months.

Dr. Savadogo joins WASCAL with very rich experience of more than 25 years as a Scientist and Project & Programme Manager in Environment and Sustainable Development in Africa, including 15 years at senior management level. He will lead the overall administrative and strategic directions of the organization. He is also responsible for overseeing the efficient and effective day-to-day operations of WASCAL.

Dr. Savadogo has a PhD in Animal Sciences/Sustainable Land Use in crop/livestock systems, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. He also has expertise in Programme development and management (Fundraising, Implementation, Procurement, Monitoring and Evaluation, Budget Management, Human Resources Management and Reporting) and negotiations.

Until his appointment as WASCAL Executive Director, Dr. Savadogo worked as Head of Burkina Faso office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and natural resources (IUCN) West and Central Africa Program (PACO). He also worked as Scientist for the national Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA), the Joint Sahelian Progamme of Wageningen University and the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, the Regional coordinator of the W-Arly-Pendjari Programme development (Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger), as well as consultant for several international and national organizations.

He has an excellent knowledge of national and regional policies and strategies on energy, agriculture, ecosystem management, poverty reduction and sustainable development, climate change as well as international agreements on environment. The new Executive Director possesses rich working experience in several West African countries and very familiar with multicultural and multidisciplinary team work.

WASCAL welcomes him to the big family and wishes him all the best in his undertakings as the head of the organization.

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DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS CENTER FOR AFRICA VISITS WASCAL

The Director General of the Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa (SDGCA), Dr. Belay Begashaw has paid a one day working visit to WASCAL in Accra, to familiarize himself with the operations of the organization.

Interacting with the Interim Executive Director of WASCAL, Prof Jimmy Adegoke and Capacity Building Director, Prof Janet Adelegan, the two entities exchanged ideas on possible future bilateral relationship regard to climate change. He commended the role WASCAL is playing in the building of capacities of young West African Scientists to tackle the issues of climate change within the sub-region. He, however, proposed that in future, WASCAL looks at the bigger picture of extending its arms to cover the entire continent.

Talking about SDGCA, Dr. Begashaw explained that it is an international organization that supports governments, civil society, businesses, and academic institutions in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa, and that they build upon Africa’s existing successes by bringing together people, ideas, and innovation to collectively reach a more sustainable future.

The purpose of the Center is to provide technical support, neutral advice and expertise as input to national governments, private sector, civil society, academic institutions to accelerate the implementation of the SDG agenda across Africa.

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BMBF READY TO FUND 4TH BATCH OF GRADUATE STUDIES PROGRAMME OF WASCAL

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has pledged its continuous support to fund the fourth batch of students of the Graduate Studies Programme of WASCAL.

This was made known by Prof. René Haak of BMBF at a -2 day workshop held in Accra to review the sustainability of the WASCAL Graduate School Programme.

The successful workshop brought together Directors of the various Graduate School Programme as well as their Vice Chancellors. Representatives from the various German Partner Institutions and WASCAL’s sister organization, SASSCAL also attended the workshop.

Participants expressed their gratitude to the German Government for their continuous support for the West African region, with particular mentions of Mr. Wilfried Kraus and Prof René Haak and of BMBF.

Representatives from proposed Graduate Schools in Cape Verde and Burkina Faso were also in attendance. Resolutions for the reforms were made and a committee, tasked to finalize document for onward adoption and implementation.

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“CLIMATE RESEARCH RESULTS MUST BE PRACTICAL”- PROF. RENE HAAK OF BMBF

Prof. René Haak, Head of Division “Global Change” at the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has emphasized that results provided by climate research must not remain abstract but must be processed comprehensibly and transformed into practical applications.

This was contained in his speech at a side event dubbed “World Café- Climate Research made in West and Southern Africa”, co-organized by the West Africa Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) and the Southern Africa Regional Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Use (SASSCAL) with support from their German partners, The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, (ZEF) at the just ended UNFCCC 23rd Conference of Parties (COP23) in Bonn, Germany.

Prof. Haak, therefore, entreated SASSCAL and WASCAL to ensure a plan in place to build relevant capacities in this context.

He further recounted the efforts of the German Government in ensuring the smooth and sustainable operations of both centres, but challenged them to own the centres as a way of reciprocating the efforts.

“My Ministry, The German Research and Education Ministry is committed to providing SASSCAL and WASCAL with the necessary funds for consolidation. But the African partners must own their respective centres since they were African centres and not German centres.

He, however, requested the African partner countries to reciprocate the efforts by the German Government by fulfilling their financial commitment contributions to allow for sustainability.

“In return that our African partner countries pay their financial contributions to giving the centres a long-term perspective: by involving them in regional cooperation structures such as ECOWAS, by linking them up with national research institutions and programmes and, of course, by providing own funding for their operation.”

Chronicling the inception of the two organizations, Prof. Haak recalled a fruitful collaboration that had been nurtured over the years between Germany and the two centres.

“We began establishing these two centres in 2010 together with our African partners. Basically, both centres aim to strengthen research and promote the establishment of research capacities and infrastructures in the partner countries as well as enable them to draw up their own strategies and priorities for dealing with climate change and its impact.” He said.

“BMBF has given support financially but has also mobilized German researchers to enter into a partnership with their African colleagues to design those strategies and priorities. We are proud of the work done so far and encourage WASCAL and SASSCAL to double their efforts to find creative ways to sustain the funding mechanisms by being excellent, relevant and innovative in their orientation. “ Prof. Haak stated.

The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) of Ghana, Honourable Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng also stated on behalf of the African partner countries that climate change was real in West Africa, especially in Ghana where nine of the ten rivers had been polluted as a result of illegal mining, also known as “Galamsey”. He, however, indicated that the establishment of WASCAL and the services it offers West Africa were very relevant.

World Café’ also witnessed a discussion session where the hundreds of participants moved to four tables to discuss issues pertaining to Climate Change in Africa.

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WASCAL CO-ORGANIZE WORLD CAFÉ AT COP 23 IN GERMANY

WASCAL, in partnership with its Southern African counterparts, SASSCAL and German partners Center for Development Research(ZEF), held a side event dubbed “World Café, Climate research made in West and Southern Africa” inside the Climate Planet at the just ended COP 23 held in Bonn, Germany under the auspices of the Government of Fiji.

The event was attended by dignitaries from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (BMBF), funders of both WASCAL and SASSCAL, the Honourable Minister of Environment, Science and Technology of Ghana as well as the executive management of the three outfits.

WASCAL was amongst the hundreds of organizations across the world that participated in this year’s COP 23. The World Café was to create a platform to tell the success stories of WASCAL and SASSCAL, engage global stakeholders attending the Conference of Parties (COP 23) organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Some of the topics discussed included: How to build human and academic capacities in Africa; How to share and disseminate knowledge in Africa Research in Africa and Climate services in Africa: How to produce and deliver them.

The annual conference is the largest gathering of climate change stakeholders across the world. The United Nations Climate Change Conferences are yearly conferences held in the framework of the UNFCCC. They serve as the formal meeting of the UNFCCC Parties (Conference of the Parties, COP) to assess progress in dealing with climate change, and beginning in the mid-1990s, to negotiate the Kyoto Protocol to establish legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

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TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR ABDOURAHAMANE KONARÉ

With deep sorrow, we announce the demise of our Board Member and 1st Vice Chair, Professor Abdourahamane Konaré, who passed away in the early hours of Thursday, 26th October 2017 after a long and gallant battle against the illness that eventually took him away from us. A good heart has stopped beating; a gentle soul is gone.

Until his untimely death, Professor Konaré served our noble organization with uncommon diligence and complete dedication. He was a founding member of the Task Force that was commissioned to bring about WASCAL and was a member of the inaugural Governing Board representing the Government of Côte d’Ivoire. His tenure was renewed after 3 years of great service to WASCAL and he was elected 1st Vice Chairman of the current Board in 2015.

We have lost one of the few true giants in the African community of climate scientists. We are, however, thankful that Professor Konaré leaves a legacy of scholarly contributions that will outlive him and continue to enrich the careers of the next generation of climate scientists in our region through his relentless and ultimately successful effort to bring High Performance Computing (HPC) capability to West Africa. Sadly, he will not be here with us to witness the official opening of the new HPC Center in Abidjan by His Excellency, Alassane Ouattara, President of Côte d’Ivoire scheduled for 4th December 2017. The official opening of this facility is intended to kick off the 2017 WASCAL Week, which, again thanks to Professor Konaré, we are co-organizing with the Government of Côte d’Ivoire.

On behalf of the Governing Board, our sponsor BMBF, and the Executive Management, we extend our deepest condolences to the family that he left behind, all his friends and colleagues from Côte d’Ivoire and entire WASCAL family. Prof Konaré’s untimely departure leaves us in grief and heartbroken. He will forever remain in our hearts.

Rest in Peace, Prof Abdourahamane Konaré, our Board 1st Vice Chair, our colleague, our friend, our mentor and our hero.

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HOMMAGE AU PROFESSEUR ABDOURAHAMANE KONARÉ

C’est avec une profonde tristesse que nous annonçons le décès du premier vice-président de notre membre du Conseil d’administration, le professeur Abdourahamane Konaré, décédé, le jeudi 26 octobre 2017, suite d’une longue et vaillante lutte contre la maladie qui finalement l’a emporté loin de nous. Un bon cœur a cessé de battre ; une âme douce a disparu.

Le professeur Konaré a servi notre noble organisation avec une diligence inhabituel et un dévouement total, jusqu’à sa mort subite. Il a été l’un des membres fondateurs du groupe de travail qui était chargé de créer WASCAL et aussi un membre du premier conseil d’administration représentant le gouvernement de la Côte d’Ivoire. Son mandat a été renouvelé après 3 années de bonnes prestations à WASCAL et il a été élu présentement, en 2015 comme 1er vice-président du Conseil.

Nous avons perdu l’un des rares véritables géants de la communauté africaine des climatologues. Nous sommes toutefois reconnaissants que le professeur Konaré à laisser un héritage de contributions scientifiques qui lui survivront et enrichiront les parcours professionnels de la prochaine génération de climatologues dans notre région grâce à ses efforts incessants et fructueux pour apporter la capacité Informatique de Haute Performance (HPC) à l’Afrique de l’Ouest. Malheureusement, il ne sera pas parmi nous à l’ouverture officielle du nouveau Centre HPC d’Abidjan par Son Excellence Alassane Ouattara, Président de la Côte d’Ivoire, prévue pour le 4 décembre 2017. L’ouverture officielle du Centre est prévue pour marquer le coup d’envoi) de la semaine de WASCAL 2017, qui, encore une fois grâce à Konaré, que nous collaborons avec le gouvernement de la Côte d’Ivoire.

Au nom du Conseil d’Administration, de nos partenaire de BMBF et de la Direction Exécutive de WASCAL, nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille qu’il a quitté subitement , à tous ses amis et collègues de Côte d’Ivoire et à toute la famille entière de WASCAL. Le départ prématuré du professeur Konaré nous laisse dans le chagrin et le cœur brisé. Il restera pour toujours dans nos cœurs.

Repose en paix, Prof Abdourahamane Konaré, notre 1er vice-président, notre collègue, notre ami, notre mentor et notre héros.

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Ghana to Benefit from New Regional Weather Stations

The stations would be an improvement of the sub-region’s 150 operational Synoptic Weather Stations since according to the World Meteorological Organisation, West Africa needs 2000 of the stations to help close meteorological data gaps in West Africa.WASCAL has signed a Memoranda of Understanding agreement with the Ghana Meteorological Services Department and this Ghana one of the first beneficiaries of the new weather stations.

Professor Jimmy Adegoke, the Executive Director of WASCAL, said this on Thursday at the opening session of its 11th board meeting in Accra.He said WASCAL was determined to establish a fully operational climate services programme by 2021 to provide relevant climate services for West African governments, regional economic bodies, basin authorities and other stakeholders for decision making.

Prof Adegoke said WASCAL received one million euro from the African Development Bank to build a world-class Climate Change Competence Centre in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso.The Centre would serve as West Africa’s foremost Climate Research Center and regional hub for climate services, multi-purpose conferences, capacity building in climate change and other related activities.

Prof Adegoke said since WASCAL establishment in 2013, it has graduated 152 students whilst 106 students were currently in the WASCAL Graduate Studies Programmes located in the 10 member countries.He said plans were far advanced to commence a new Masters Programme in Informatics for Climate Change in Burkina Faso in 2018.

“The vision of WASCAL is to become one of Africa’s leading institutions in the provision of climate services to protect and improve livelihoods across West Africa through capacity building, research and climate services”, he said.Prof Kwabena Frempong-Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, said the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that global temperatures could rise another 1-2 °C by 2050 and 2-5 °C by 2100 depending on the additional quantity of greenhouse gases humans emit into the atmosphere over the coming decades.

He said the fight against climate change was mainly attributed to man-made activities, resulting in the adverse impact on livelihoods and commended WASCAL for its role to address the situation.Prof Frimpong-Boateng said the country would collaborate with WASCAL and ensure that any support needed are provided and urged member countries to deliberate on the sustainability of WASCAL.

Mr Christoph Retzlaff, the German Ambassador to Ghana, said the approach to climate change involves a concerted effort and that German research policy is oriented towards international cooperation.He said research on climate change and adaptive land use are key priorities for guaranteeing the livelihood of mankind, hence the need for more support to address the concern.

WASCAL was established in 2013 after an agreement was signed between Germany and ten West African countries to address the growing challenge of climate change.The countries are Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote de Ivoire, the Gambia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo.