WASCAL reaffirmed its leadership in climate science, capacity development, and regional cooperation during COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where it actively engaged policymakers, partners, and experts in high-level strategic dialogues. A key highlight was the session on “Advances in Climate Research and Service Delivery in West Africa,” which convened invited experts alongside WASCAL’s Executive Director, Prof. Emmanuel Wendsongré Ramdé, to examine how deeper collaboration can strengthen climate science and improve climate service delivery across the region.
Discussions emphasized the urgency of fostering institutional complementarity, enhancing data-sharing frameworks, and coordinating capacity-building initiatives to reduce duplication and maximize the impact of climate services. Participants also underscored the importance of accessible financing mechanisms to stimulate local innovation, support community resilience, and ensure scientific evidence effectively informs national planning and decision-making processes.
Speaking on the panel, Prof. Ramdé stressed that “enhancing regional cooperation and aligning research efforts with the priorities of member states is essential to advancing climate resilience across West Africa.” He highlighted that strong partnerships, sustained investment in technical expertise, and harmonized approaches remain vital to expanding climate services and supporting evidence-based policies that deliver tangible benefits to communities.
WASCAL’s visibility at COP30 was further enhanced during the “Science for Action Evening,” organised by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), where Prof. Ramdé delivered a joint presentation with Prof. Nelago Indongo of SASSCAL on international cooperation in climate change research. Their presentation highlighted the WASCAL–SASSCAL model as a long-standing and effective example of regional scientific collaboration.
The dialogue highlighted the pivotal role of international cooperation in enhancing regional climate institutions by expanding access to technical expertise, promoting harmonized research methodologies, mobilizing resources, and strengthening institutional capacity. Key areas identified for continued investment include diversifying funding, increasing the uptake of research in policymaking, improving infrastructure sustainability, and facilitating the transfer of specialized skills.
The WASCAL–SASSCAL experience demonstrated the value of partnerships that connect regional expertise with global scientific networks, promoting inclusion in climate research and reinforcing evidence-based decision-making. Their shared insights emphasized success factors, existing challenges, and emerging opportunities for advancing collaboration-driven climate research.
Through its engagements at COP30, WASCAL reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to advancing climate science, empowering the next generation of climate experts, and supporting governments in building resilient communities across West Africa.