20th December 2025
By Peace Ahovi
WASCAL reinforced its role as a leading climate science and innovation institution during the COP30 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil. Through strategic dialogues, side events, and the unveiling of its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, WASCAL presented a bold roadmap to strengthen climate research, renewable energy innovation, and capacity development across West Africa.
At a dedicated side event, Prof. Emmanuel Wendsongré Ramdé, the Executive Director of WASCAL, introduced the institution’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, outlining priorities aimed at advancing climate science, strengthening institutional effectiveness, and supporting member states in building climate resilience and sustainable development pathways.
The Strategic Plan is structured around six key objectives, including enhancing institutional efficiency, strengthening resource mobilization, expanding research and development on climate change and sustainable energy, leveraging data and digital technologies for improved climate services, expanding capacity-building programmes for member states, and strengthening communication and partnerships.
Throughout COP30, WASCAL also participated in several high-level discussions that highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing climate science and service delivery. During the session on “Advances in Climate Research and Service Delivery in West Africa,” experts examined how stronger partnerships, improved data-sharing frameworks, and coordinated capacity-building initiatives can enhance climate services and support evidence-based decision-making across the region.
WASCAL’s visibility at the global climate conference was further strengthened during the “Science for Action Evening”, organized by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR). In a joint presentation with Nelago Indongo of Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL), Prof. Ramdé highlighted the WASCAL-SASSCAL partnership as a successful model of regional scientific cooperation to support climate research and innovation in Africa.
The conference also provided a platform for WASCAL to showcase its work in advancing the region’s clean energy transition. Through dedicated sessions on enabling frameworks and capacity development for green hydrogen, the institution presented findings from its H2Atlas initiative, demonstrating West Africa’s significant potential in solar and wind resources that support large-scale green hydrogen production.
Prof. Ramdé emphasized that strengthening skills, innovation, and partnerships will be essential for positioning West Africa as a competitive actor in the global clean energy landscape. Complementing this vision, Dr. Bruno Korgo, WASCAL’s Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen Regional Coordinator, highlighted ongoing efforts to develop regional expertise through the International Master’s Programme in Energy and Green Hydrogen (IMP-EGH) and support the implementation of the ECOWAS Green Hydrogen Policy and Strategic Framework.
By aligning its strategic vision with operational planning, WASCAL is entering a new phase of scientific execution and policy relevance. With its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan now in motion, the institution continues to invite international donors, research partners, and development actors to collaborate in translating climate ambition into measurable impact for West Africa and beyond.
