WASCAL PRESENTS 60 AUTOMATIC HYDROLOGICAL SENSORS TO WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES WITH SUPPORT FROM GERMANY

WASCAL has held a Science Policy Dialogue to discuss the state of art of the  German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) funded Hydrometeorological equipment  and to commission the sixty (60) Automatic Hydrological sensor facilities to the seven beneficiary river basins and national hydrological agencies in  the  West African sub- region.  .

The event was attended  by key global players within the Climate Change and Environmental Services space, as well as partners of WASCAL, principally from BMBF, WASCAL Ministerial Council Members, West African Ministers responsible for Water Resources, Environment and Agriculture, governing board members, amongst other partners  and was held at the institution’s Competence Centre in Ouagadougou, with other participants joining virtually.

The Policy Dialogue was also meant to discuss sustainability strategies for the transboundary measurement equipment.

In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of WASCAL, Dr. Moumini Savadogo, spelt out the infrastructural vision of the institution.

“As an organization, part of our vision is to strengthen the infrastructural capacity and bridge the hydroclimatic data gaps in West Africa. That is why I am delighted to announce that with funding from BMBF, WASCAL has acquired (60) Automatic Hydrological Sensors (AHS) which will be of tremendous benefit to all our members-countries. For us, this presents the opportune time as an institution to formidably establish a transboundary hydrological observations network in addition to our transboundary climate observatory network.” He said

Dr. Savadogo also thanked the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for their support.

“Let me show appreciation to the BMBF for their conspicuous contribution in the success of all this. Our partnership continues to grow every now and then, and we look forward to more wins together as we work together with the overall aim of combating climate change and improving the livelihoods of the people of West Africa”

Director of Research at the WASCAL Competence Centre, Professor Kehinde Ogunjobi also stated that

“Achieving sustainable development and climate adaptation is in increasing demand as far as weather, climate, and water information to help protect lives and livelihoods from hydrometeorological hazards are concerned. That is why today WASCAL is committed to providing unique solutions to these concerns”.

Speaking on behalf of BMBF, Prof. Rene Haak stated the increasing commitment of the BMBF to the cause of WASCAL in the combating of Climate Change and improving livelihoods.

His Excellency Minister Mr. Yahouza Sadissou, Chairman of WASCAL Ministerial Council reiterated his commitment to working together with his colleague West African ministers to ensure sustainability of WASCAL through the country contributions and policy decisions by WASCAL

While presenting the equipment to the Executive Director of Volta river basin, the Minister of Higher Education, Burkina Faso represented by Prof Nicholas Barro stated that the equipment represents targeted effort by the German Federal Ministry of Education BMBF in support of West African research and capacity building in favour of climate resilience and water resource management.