WASCAL has signed a financing agreement with KfW for the construction of the new Competence Centre in Ouagadougou. The signing ceremony took place at the premises of the Competence Centre in Ouagadougou.
The signing of this contract was a historical moment, for it is an important prerequisite for the construction of the building. The Financing Agreement, amounting to € 7 million Euros is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
The agreement was signed by the Executive Director on behalf of WASCAL, and Mrs. Verena Le Chuiton on behalf of KfW.
The Executive Director of WASCAL Dr. Moumini Savadogo indicated that the ceremony was the results of a long process of relationship building.
“The construction of the Competence Centre is proof of a strong commitment, testimony of a sustainable cooperation between Germany and Africa in the fight against the harmful effects of climate change and in the promotion of renewable energy. It symbolizes the will of the Federal Republic of Germany and the West African countries to build a solid and sustainable partnership ”he said.
Mr. Nils Wortmann, the chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Burkina Faso, expressed delight about the successful path WASCAL was charting together with BMBF.
“I am very happy to participate in this event because it represents a joint regional solution for a global problem. The construction of the WASCAL’s Competence Centre will in no small way enhances the existing efforts of the German Government engagement in the joint combat against climate change”. He added
In his closing remarks, Prof. Kehinde Ogunjobi, Director of Research, extended his appreciation to the BMBF, under the leadership of Dr. Karsten Hess for his continuous support. He also acknowledged the unflinching support of KfW, and the Embassy of Germany in Burkina Faso.
The new Competence Centre building will be built on a surface area of three hectares donated by the government of Burkina Faso.
The Competence Centre is the scientific arm of WASCAL. As a specialized regional climate centre, it delivers climate and environmental services to WASCAL member countries and other stakeholders in five thematic areas, namely, sustainable agriculture and climate smart landscapes, land use and land degradation, rural-urban and cross-border migration, risk and vulnerability to climate extremes, and renewable energy. The goal of the centre is to become a nationally, regionally, and internationally recognized Climate and Environmental Services Centre (CESC) for West Africa, by improving the livelihoods of present and future generations under the predicted Climate Change and Climate Variability conditions and impacts in the region.
