On 14 November 2017, the African Science Service Centres for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL and WASCAL), together with the Centre for Development Research of the University of Bonn (ZEF), hosted a World Café event with the topic “Climate research made in West and Southern Africa”. The event was sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the topical framework of the COP23 that took place in Bonn from 6 to 17 November.
SASSCAL and WASCAL colleagues in front of the Climate Planet at the COP23, in Bonn. Left to right: Peter Shisani (SASSCAL National Director South Africa), Dr Janet Adelegan (WASCAL Director of Capacity Development), Dr Jane Olwoch (SASSCAL Executive Director), Prof Jimmy Adegoke (WASCAL Executive Director), Harriet Baffoe (WASCAL), Dr Jörg Helmschrot (SASSCAL Director of Science and Technology / Capacity Development), Nii Commey (WASCAL), Sylvia Thompson (SASSCAL Open Access Data Centre)
The World Café was hosted in the awe-inspiring Climate Planet in Bonn. The exciting evening was introduced by Dr Christian Borgemeister, the Executive Director of ZEF. Dr Jane Olwoch, the Executive Director of SASSCAL, and Dr Jimmy Adegoke, the Executive Director of WASCAL, gave the audience an insight into the work of the two African Science Service Centres, while the BMBF representative, Mrs Vera Stärke, emphasised the importance of the Centres in dealing with the challenges posed by global change.
The introductory session was followed by informal group discussions on the following topics:
- How to build human and academic capacities in Africa? led by Janet Adelegan (WASCAL)
- How to share and disseminate knowledge in Africa? led by Sylvia Thompson (SASSCAL OADC)
- Research in Africa: What are the needs? led by Dr Jörg Helmschrot (SASSCAL)
- Climate services in Africa: How to produce and deliver them? led by Jimmy Adegoke (WASCAL)
Pertinent perspectives were added by the diverse audience that attended and supported the lively World Café event.
SASSCAL thanks the ZEF and WASCAL colleagues for co-hosting a successful and exciting event, the BMZ (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung) for making available the venue, and SASSCAL further extends a special thanks to the BMBF for its support.
