Germany, November 24, 2024
The West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) and the European Academic Network for Capacity Development in Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (NetCDA) have taken a significant step towards fostering climate change research in Africa. At a two-day annual meeting of NetCDA in the University of Würzburg, Germany, plans were outlined to create a robust academic network connecting Europe and Africa to tackle climate challenges.
The meeting, themed “Climate Change-Related Research and Capacity Development in Africa,” emphasized the importance of equipping Africa with skilled scientists, adequate resources, and a conducive research environment. The overarching goal is to enhance Africa’s contribution to sustainable climate change solutions, supported by collaboration with European scientists.
The meeting’s key objectives included; supporting doctoral students in WASCAL graduate schools to complete their research, discussing thematic research areas for WASCAL Batch 6 students, strengthening the German network of graduate schools, establishing a Europe-Africa academic network for climate research, integrating potential supervisors into host universities, addressing the specific needs of German and African partners, and promoting science communication and practical implementation.
Dr. Michael Thiel, Coordinator of the WASCAL Programme at the Earth Observation Research Cluster (EORC), University of Würzburg, in a welcome address presented three collaboration models: case-based supervision, focal point systems with German supervisors, and full-time research projects. These strategies aim to solidify the partnership between Europe and Africa.
Prof. Daouda Kone, WASCAL’s Capacity Building Director, praised the collaboration and encouraged ongoing efforts to combat climate change while improving livelihoods in West Africa. He underscored the importance of the upcoming Batch 6 doctoral research programme set to begin in 2025.
In an interview, Mr. Michael Kwame Gbordzoe from the Forum Africa Centre at the University of Würzburg, highlighted the value of the European-African academic network as a transformative tool for advancing sustainable scientific research in Africa.
Participants included representatives from institutions such as the University of Würzburg, WASCAL, BayFOR, DLR/PT, the UN office in Germany among others. The event also featured training sessions in science communication, grant writing, and practical approaches to implementing research findings.
About NetCDA and WASCAL
Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Germany, NetCDA is a consortium of nine German partners collaborating closely with WASCAL’s Graduate School Programmes (GSPs). Its mission is to strengthen academic education in climate change adaptation in Africa.
WASCAL, headquartered in Accra, Ghana, is a West African intergovernmental organization with 12 member countries. It focuses on climate change solutions through capacity building, research, innovation, environmental services, and promoting renewable energy and green hydrogen.
The meeting marked another milestone in the collaborative efforts to address climate change, demonstrating the power of partnerships between Europe and Africa in achieving global sustainability goals.
Project meeting NetCDA – Earth Observation News
