Mohammed urges WASCAL to key into INDC, change agenda

The West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) has been urged to key into Nigeria’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) as it begins the process of preparing a Research Agenda on Climate Change for the sub-region for the period spanning 2016 to 2020.
Environment Minister, Mrs Amina J. Mohammed, who made the disclosure on Thursday (January 21, 2016) in Abuja at the opening of a daylong stakeholders’ workshop on the WASCAL Research Agenda 2016, stressed that the agenda would not only bridge the gap between educational institutions and the government, but also with the industries.

While suggesting that outcome of the consultations should be communicated to her office for onward communication to Mr President, she disclosed that, as stated in the INDC, Nigeria aims to reduce emissions by 20% below BAU (business as usual) by 2030, rising to 45% with support from the international community.

“This has provided the needed national roadmap for sustainable development at all levels and in all key stakeholder constituencies,” the minister stated, even as she lamented that Nigeria is one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world.

Her words: “By 2050, it could cost between six percent and 30 percent of its GDP. Nigerians are already profoundly aware of the damage caused by climate change impacts. The 2012 floods that killed several people and displaced more that 2.1 million are stack realities. These impacts are threatening the livelihoods of everyday Nigerians as well as aggravate regional conflicts such as depletion of the Lake Chad in the North East and the associated collapse of economic and institutional fabric, which has proved a breeding ground for terrorism.”

According to her, the current administration has come with a Change Agenda that is committed to an economic transformation which places inclusive, green growth at its heart.

Wascal : des propositions pour réduire les effets du changement climatique

Pour relever le défi, il est nécessaire, pour le Centre Ouest-africain, de service scientifique sur le changement et l’utilisation adaptée des terres (Wascal), de développer des capacités scientifiques et organisationnelles, d’identifier les questions prioritaires liées au changement climatique, ainsi que les capacités et les besoins de recherche au plan national.

Lors de la conférence de Paris de 2015 sur le climat, la communauté internationale a pris des engagements forts pour réduire le réchauffement climatique.

L’Afrique de l’Ouest est l’une des régions du monde vulnérable aux impacts des changements climatiques.

Chaque pays devait y contribuer et adopter une politique adéquate d’utilisation des terres et le Burkina Faso, pays sahélien, est fortement préoccupé par ces problèmes.

D’où la tenue de cette journée de consultations nationales, qui a réuni tous les acteurs du domaine, le vendredi 22 janvier 2016, à Ouagadougou.

WASCAL forum to kick-start sub-continental climate research agenda

The West Africa Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) is in the process of preparing a Research Agenda on Climate Change for the West African region for the period spanning 2016 to 2020.
In the bid to properly fulfill its mission as a regional service centre on climate change and ensure that the needs of all West Africa countries are fully embedded in the research agenda, WASCAL will on Thursday (January 21, 2015) in Abuja hold a national stakeholders’ consultation.

The daylong dialogue, scheduled to hold at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, will involve interactions among stakeholders on water resources, agriculture, environmental policy management, climate-science, the media and civil society. Environment Minister, Amina Mohammed, will formally open the roundtable.
ALSO READ: When Amina Mohammed visited impacted sites in Lagos

The dialogue is being organised by the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State, Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna in Niger State, and Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja.

Futa logoFutminna logo
The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State, Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna in Niger State, and Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja are joint organisers of the Dialogue

The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State, Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna in Niger State, and Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja are joint organisers of the Dialogue

“The stakeholders will brainstorm and come up with outcomes and strategies that would contribute to policy direction on climate change for sustainable national development,” said Professor Kehinde Ogunjobi, Director, WASCAL’s Graduate Studies Programme (GSP) in West Africa Climate System at FUTA in Ondo State.
ALSO READ: Fresh funds emerge for developing country climate action

According to him, WASCAL is a regional centre for capacity building in climate change across West Africa. He added that WASCAL is also designed to help tackle challenges of climate change thereby enhancing resilience of human and environmental system to climate change and variability. The WASCAL programme is being funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

His words: “It is a great privilege that Nigeria is the only West African country having two WASCAL programmes – one at the Federal University of Technology, Akure for Ph.D and at the Federal University of Technology, Minna for M.Sc degree.”

Countries under the WASCAL programme include Nigeria, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, The Gambia and Ghana.
ALSO READ: States urged to emulate Akwa Ibom State’s climate initiatives

Effects of climate change devastating – Prof. Otoo-Ellis

The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. William Otoo-Ellis, has reminded countries in Africa about the devastating impact of climate change on the socio-economic lives of their people.
He mentioned food insecurity following decline in crop yields of between five and 25 per cent and a projected revenue drop from 17 to 32 per cent as some of the effects of climate change that could occur on the continent.

Prof. Otoo-Ellis, who is a food scientist, further indicated that climate change would also have a serious impact on land use for both livestock and crop farming if the activities that precipitated the change were not stopped.
Ghana News Headlines

For latest news in Ghana, visit Graphic Online news headlines page Ghana news page

He was addressing the first stakeholder consultation workshop on climate change organised by the KNUST branch of the West Africa Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) in Kumasi last Wednesday.

The objectives of WASCAL include building the capacities of members to manage natural resources and developing and coordinating research agenda for the entire sub-region.
Currently, 10 WASCAL centres have been created in Africa where it is shaping policies to deal with the growing menace.

Attention

The vice-chancellor noted that in spite of education on the effects of climate change, the sector was not being given the necessary attention in the country’s sectoral development policies and strategies.

He described the situation as worrying, to the extent that if it was not checked, it could create a bleak future for member countries.
For instance, he said, the length of the maturing period for most crops could drop below 90 days in the Sahel region.

“Climate change poses a real challenge to natural and human systems in sub-Saharan Africa,” Prof. Otoo-Ellis emphasised.

Failure

A Nigerian scientist, Prof. Jerome Omotosho, said governments in the sub-region were partly to blame for the destruction of the environment because of price hikes on petroleum products such as liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene which were basic necessities.

He said such decisions made African governments hypocritical in that while they preached on the need to curb environmental degradation, their actions did not reflect their thoughts.

“The continuous increase in the prices of petroleum products will invariably compel our rural folks to go back to the bush and fell more trees. Our governments must have a change in policy direction and tackle climate change realistically,” he urged.

A five-member committee to represent Ghana at the regional consultative meeting is to be announced next month.

Effects of climate change devastating – Prof. Otoo-Ellis

The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. William Otoo-Ellis, has reminded countries in Africa about the devastating impact of climate change on the socio-economic lives of their people.
He mentioned food insecurity following decline in crop yields of between five and 25 per cent and a projected revenue drop from 17 to 32 per cent as some of the effects of climate change that could occur on the continent.

Prof. Otoo-Ellis, who is a food scientist, further indicated that climate change would also have a serious impact on land use for both livestock and crop farming if the activities that precipitated the change were not stopped.
Ghana News Headlines

For latest news in Ghana, visit Graphic Online news headlines page Ghana news page

He was addressing the first stakeholder consultation workshop on climate change organised by the KNUST branch of the West Africa Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) in Kumasi last Wednesday.

The objectives of WASCAL include building the capacities of members to manage natural resources and developing and coordinating research agenda for the entire sub-region.
Currently, 10 WASCAL centres have been created in Africa where it is shaping policies to deal with the growing menace.

Attention

The vice-chancellor noted that in spite of education on the effects of climate change, the sector was not being given the necessary attention in the country’s sectoral development policies and strategies.

He described the situation as worrying, to the extent that if it was not checked, it could create a bleak future for member countries.
For instance, he said, the length of the maturing period for most crops could drop below 90 days in the Sahel region.

“Climate change poses a real challenge to natural and human systems in sub-Saharan Africa,” Prof. Otoo-Ellis emphasised.

Failure

A Nigerian scientist, Prof. Jerome Omotosho, said governments in the sub-region were partly to blame for the destruction of the environment because of price hikes on petroleum products such as liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene which were basic necessities.

He said such decisions made African governments hypocritical in that while they preached on the need to curb environmental degradation, their actions did not reflect their thoughts.

“The continuous increase in the prices of petroleum products will invariably compel our rural folks to go back to the bush and fell more trees. Our governments must have a change in policy direction and tackle climate change realistically,” he urged.

A five-member committee to represent Ghana at the regional consultative meeting is to be announced next month.

Climate change, a real threat to Africa’s development – Prof. Omotosho

Governments across Africa have been asked not to underestimate the enormous threat posed to the continent’s development by climate change.

Professor Jerome Omotosho of the Department of Meteorology and Climate Science School, Federal University of Technology, Nigeria, said they needed to act with some urgency and commitment, to implement the various international protocols signed.

The inaction and lukewarm attitude would have to stop, he stated at a day’s workshop on climate change held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

It brought together environmentalists, agricultural research scientists, technocrats and graduate students.

“Climate data availability for climate change impact research”, “Overview of climate change dynamics in West Africa” and “Climate change activities in Ghana” were among topics treated.

Prof Omotosho called for substantial increase in budgetary allocations to tackle activities that were polluting and degrading the environment.

“We should invest in programmes relating to climate change in order to build a comprehensive regional preparedness agenda for progress”, he added.

Prof. Omotosho made reference to the noticeable shrink of the Lake Chad and the negative impact this was having on agricultural production, hydro-power generation and other socio-economic activities in Niger, Nigeria and Chad and said that must be a wake up call.

“Most people in this region whose livelihood is dependent on the water body are becoming more vulnerable.”

He noted that climate change was also badly affecting rain-fed agricultural production.

Prof William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, said the goal was to build the capacity of the participants to spearhead the fight against the phenomenon.

Prof Samuel Odai, Director of the KNUST WASCAL Climate Change and Land Use Research Centre, said it was determined to provide expert training required to efficiently deal with climate change issues in the West African sub-region.

Source: GNA

Climate change, a real threat to Africa’s development – Prof. Omotosho

Governments across Africa have been asked not to underestimate the enormous threat posed to the continent’s development by climate change.

Professor Jerome Omotosho of the Department of Meteorology and Climate Science School, Federal University of Technology, Nigeria, said they needed to act with some urgency and commitment, to implement the various international protocols signed.

The inaction and lukewarm attitude would have to stop, he stated at a day’s workshop on climate change held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

It brought together environmentalists, agricultural research scientists, technocrats and graduate students.

“Climate data availability for climate change impact research”, “Overview of climate change dynamics in West Africa” and “Climate change activities in Ghana” were among topics treated.

Prof Omotosho called for substantial increase in budgetary allocations to tackle activities that were polluting and degrading the environment.

“We should invest in programmes relating to climate change in order to build a comprehensive regional preparedness agenda for progress”, he added.

Prof. Omotosho made reference to the noticeable shrink of the Lake Chad and the negative impact this was having on agricultural production, hydro-power generation and other socio-economic activities in Niger, Nigeria and Chad and said that must be a wake up call.

“Most people in this region whose livelihood is dependent on the water body are becoming more vulnerable.”

He noted that climate change was also badly affecting rain-fed agricultural production.

Prof William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, said the goal was to build the capacity of the participants to spearhead the fight against the phenomenon.

Prof Samuel Odai, Director of the KNUST WASCAL Climate Change and Land Use Research Centre, said it was determined to provide expert training required to efficiently deal with climate change issues in the West African sub-region.

Source: GNA

KUNST – WASCAL PhD Scholarships in Climate Change & Land Use 2016

We are glad to inform the general public that WASCAL, KUNST Scholarships Programme PhD in Climate Change & Land Use application is in progress.
“West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use” (WASCAL)
The WASCAL Graduate Research Programme in Climate Change and Land Use (GRP-CCLU) is pleased to announce that up to 10 fully-funded (tuition, stipend, research and travel grants) scholarships are available for applicants from the following ten West African Countries to study for PhD in Climate Change and Land Use at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana:

Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia, Cote d’Ivoire, Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo, Mali and Senegal.
Background of the Programme

This is a German-government sponsored PhD programme aimed at providing state-of-the-art training for professionals in Climate Change and Land Use. The programme is strongly multidisciplinary and jointly organised by twelve institutions from eleven countries (i.e. the ten West African Countries listed above and Germany). Participants will acquire knowledge on the causes of climate change, the implications of climate change on land use for the West African sub-region, and the policy and management practices that may be put in place to mitigate and adapt to the impact of the changing climate on land use.

The variation in climate conditions compounded by poor land management practices are threats to development of the region. The region, which is generally poor, is yet to effectively develop geographic information system and remote sensing technologies for land administration. These, when developed are expected to make available useful data and information for effective land use management.

The West African sub-region is faced with the following challenges, which may hinder the bid towards effective land use management:

Limited opportunities for land use and geo-scientists to improve their capacity at the graduate level.
Lack of electronic science infrastructure for land use education and training.
Gaps between climate and land use research findings and implementation.
Lack of awareness about the value of climate and land use information among decision makers.

Read more HERE
Responsibilities of Participants

The PhD participant’s tasks will be to;

Attend all classes for the required modules in the course work phase and pass all examinations.
Develop a comprehensive research proposal with detailed literature review and methodology.
Must pass a comprehensive exam after the first year as KNUST School of Graduate Studies requirement.
Undertake diligently the selected research topic within the context of this programme.
Timely feedback and submission of reports and assignments is cardinal.
The international nature of the programme will demand good working relations between people of different cultures, so participants must show maturity in working in groups.
The participant is expected to publish at least 2 papers from his/her research findings in a reputable international peer-reviewed journal before qualifying to graduate.

The selected candidate will be enrolled in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, and will attend all lectures at Kumasi but will have the opportunity to visit any of the partner universities for research and discussions when necessary.
Financial Matters

All scholarship-holding PhD fellows will receive a stipend of €500.00 per month (but will receive €250.00 during pre-course English language preparations) to cover accommodation and other expenses for the months spent in Ghana. Approved travel costs, costs for fieldwork, etc., will be reimbursed. The disbursement of scholarship funds will be connected to the successful delivery of research work deliverables to be agreed upon between the project coordinator, the supervisor and the PhD fellow at the onset of the research work.

Field research will be sponsored after a successful course work and defends of PhD proposal. The PhD fellow will travel to Germany once during the course of the PhD fellowship period to participate in PhD level courses and joint supervision. The trip will be 3 – 6 months in duration. Airfare will be paid for by the project and a monthly stipend of about €1000.00 (to cater for lodging and personal expenses) will also be provided for each month spent in Germany.
Employment Opportunities

Participants graduating from this multidisciplinary and multinational programme will gain skills as scientific officers, managers of natural resources or academics expected to find employment in conservation agencies and bodies, land and forestry agencies, research institutions, nature reserves, overseas aid programmes, international NGOs, environmental protection agencies, departments of agriculture, water resources or soil, and universities.
Entry Requirements

In conformity with the entry requirement of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the successful candidate will have a minimum of:

Second Class (Upper Division) in their first degree.
Good Masters degree in Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering (Soil and Water Engineering option), Civil Engineering (Water Resources/Hydrology option), Geomatic Engineering, Natural Resources (Silviculture and Forestry, and Watershed management), Mathematics, Geography, Land Economy, Atmospheric Physics, Climatology, and other relevant disciplines, with an average of at least 60%. Submit academic transcripts.
Candidates from Francophone countries must have an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language (TOEFL or British Council, IELTS) with above average score. Otherwise they will undertake a four-month intensive English training and preparatory courses.
Evidence of current and previous employments.
Experience with modelling and GIS would be an advantage but not a prerequisite.
Full time availability from February1, 2016 – for a period of forty-three months.
Demonstrate adequate intellectual capacity, maturity and effective decision making and problem solving potentials.
Provide 2 referees, one of whom must be the supervisor at the Master’s level.
Submit both soft and hard copies of a short concept note (max. 3 pages outlining the justification, objectives, methodology and expected outcomes of the a research idea
Submit both soft and hard copies of a letter of motivation (max. two pages) with the heading “WASCAL GRP-CCLU PhD” outlining the following:
Why you want to study Climate Change and Land Use at the PhD level
What is your current occupation or job
Why you are well-suited to study this programme
How your admission into the PhD Climate Change and Land Use Programme will fit into your professional vision.
How your home country stands to benefit after your training
You may also add other relevant information and/or experience you feel is necessary to support your application.

In addition, the candidate must have the ability to travel to Germany for a period of 3 – 6 months for PhD course training and supervisory workshops.
How to Apply for KUNST – WASCAL PhD Scholarships in Climate Change & Land Use

Download and Completes Application Form

Interested candidates are to apply completes the application form by accessing the KNUST APPLICATION via

Ghanaian Applicants: Are to complete the attached pdf application forms

Foreign Applicants: admissions.knust.edu.gh/pgadmissionsnew/foreign.php

All Applicants must complete the attached pdf referee form
Carefully read the IMPORTANT NOTES on the Application Form
Complete application form and scanned recent passport-size picture
The deadline for receiving completed application forms and all necessary documents at the GRP CCLU is January 08, 2016.
Submit the signed application form and other information by email to the Secretary at wascalknust@gmail.com ; wascal.cclu@knust.edu.gh and copy intern.w@wascal.org ; weto.s@wascal.org

KNUST in collaboration with the GRP CCLU Board will short list candidates and select one candidate for each country. There may be the need for a selection interview in/or near Kumasi OR via telephone. The date of the interview will be communicated after short listing. The selection interview is mandatory to support the final selection of candidates. Successful candidates will then submit hardcopy of the application package.
Application Supporting Document

Completed application form
Detailed CV
Two letters of reference (one from a supervisor at the Master’s level)
Short concept note (three pages)
Motivation letter (two pages)
Official transcript for BSc and MSc degrees
Official certificate for BSc and MSc degrees
Two recent passport photographs
Proof of English proficiency

Please Note Following:

Application deadline: January 08, 2016.
Send supporting documents in a single zip file
Supporting documents in French must have an official English translated version in addition
Ineligible, incomplete or late applications will not be processed
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted by February 15, 2016 for an interview or to provide additional details

MyEduGist Team

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