2018-05-14 – 22:00h to 2018-05-26 – 17:20h
–
1. The West African
Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL)
is an inter- governmental organization dealing with training,
capacity building and research to devise tools and services that
will help reduce risks from natural disasters (e.g. droughts, floods)
and strengthen the resilience of socio-ecological landscapes across
West Africa. To fulfil its mission, WASCAL has (i) established a
strong network of Graduate School Programs (GSP) in 10 ECOWAS member
states (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Mali,
Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo) in collaboration with their public
universities; (ii) rolled out a first-class research program from 2013
to 2017 which established field laboratories, on-site ecological and
agronomic field experiments and hydro-meteorological stations for
standard climate measurements in the Sudanian savanna belt (Benin,
Burkina Faso, Ghana).
The
outputs of these initiatives were expected to provide insights into
social and environmental drivers of climate change and climate
variability (CC&CV) along with pathways to strengthening the
adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers and improve their
livelihoods. Recently, WASCAL has re-focused its research program to
make it more development- and impact-oriented by addressing the main
challenges faced by policy-makers, stakeholders, smallholders
(end-users) in connection with CC&CV and generate quick wins in
terms of climate and environmental services provision within the next
few years.
In order to transition towards the new strategic plan,
a scientific gathering seems necessary to take stock of the
achievements and interact with key stakeholders prior to deploying the
new program. Therefore, the WASCAL Science Symposium (WASS) aims to
showcase WASCAL achievements and launch the new research program termed
as WASCAL Research Action Plan 2018-2021.
2. Expected outputs
The expected outputs of the symposium include the following:
• A catalogue of the major achievements of WASCAL and their contribution to delivering climate and environmental services (CES)
• A report on the state-of-the art of CES implemented in West Africa to combat the devastating impacts of CC&CV
• Official launch of WASCAL Research and Action Plan (WRAP) 2.0 call for proposals
•
Reinforcement of WASCAL ties with policy makers, ECOWAS, Africa Union
and other key stakeholders active in Climate Service domain.
3.Target audience
• West African doctoral and postdoctoral researchers with less than 10 years’ experience
• Scientists and stakeholders working in any area of climate change and climate service provision
•Policy makers
• Donors
• Civil society.
4. Call for abstracts
Potential
participants are encouraged to submit abstracts for
consideration. They will have the opportunity to present results of
their research activities in an oral or poster session. Twenty-five (25)
participants will be chosen for oral presentations (20 min +
discussion) while the others will participate in the poster session.
• Deadline: Abstracts may be submitted until May 26, 2018 and must include (in English):
– a letter of motivation (max. 300 words, Microsoft word format)
– abstract of presentation (max 500 words, Microsoft word format), including preference for oral or poster session
• Applicants will be informed about the acceptance or rejection of their abstract by May 31st.
Complete applications may be submitted to the following addresses: forkuor.g@wascal.org;
neya.o@wascal.org.
5. Symposium programme in a nutshell
Tuesday, 19/06 Wednesday, 20/06 Thursday, 21/06
High
Profille Forum Oral and poster session Plenary session on
climate services
——————————————————————————————————-
Opening Session Opening ceremony Recap of day 2
Plenary session 1 Parallel session 1 Plenary session 1
Plenary session 2 Parallel session 2 Plenary session 2
Plenary session 3 Parallel session 3 Plenary session 3
Plenary session 4 Parallel session 4 Plenary session 4
Plenary session 5 Poster session Plenary session 5
6. Symposium details
High Profile Forum: “Achieving sustainable development under a changing and variable climate in West Africa”
• Climate Change and its potential impact on key developement sectors of West Africa
• Climate Change as a threat to the development of West African States
• Climate Change and food security in West Africa: demand for integrated Climate Services
•
Impacts of climate change on cocoa production in Ghana:
mitigating adverse effects through agroforestry-based options
• Mainstreaming climate services into African Union development plan through effective science-policy dialogue
Parallel poster and oral sessions
• Theme 1: Agriculture and Food security
• Theme 2: Climate Monitoring and Disaster Risk Reduction
• Theme 3: Water Resources Management
• Theme 4: Renewable Energy
• Theme 5: Resilient Socio-Ecological Landscapes
Plenary sessions on WASCAL
• WASCAL in a nutshell
• Achievements of the Capacity Building Program
• Achievements of the first research Program
• The new Resarch Program: WASCAL Reaecrh and Action Plan 2018-2021 (WRAP 2.0)
Plenary sessions on climate services
• Delivering on Climate Services‘ promises in West Africa: what is the current situation?
• Effectiveness of Climate Smart Agriculture in improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers
• Pathways towards setting up tailored-climate service delivery systems in West Africa
• Strategies to scale up demand-driven climate services in West Africa
• West Africa under the global warming scenario: what solutions from the Paris Agreement?