SASSCAL on increased funding for science, research and innovation

By Sharon Kavhu

Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) Executive Director Dr Jane Olwoch has urged Africa to prioritise funding for science, research, innovation, and human capacity development to transform Africa into a hub of innovation, prosperity, and social upliftment

In her virtual opening remarks at the 4th edition of the GMES and Africa Southern African Regional Workshop in Mombasa Kenya on Wednesday, Dr Olwoch noted that the revelation comes at a time where the effects on climate change are diminishing resources in Africa.

“As we gather here today, our resources are diminishing at an alarming rate due to climate change and other natural or human-related activities. Most of these factors impact particularly our water resources,” she said.

“When our rivers and lakes shrink, they take oxygen with them, damaging biological diversity. Africa’s agricultural production has declined over the years, leading many nations to become importers of basic food such as grains and beans.

This is not the Africa we know , yet not a distant problem, but the new norm that we experience, but must urgently address.”

She said the African Union through the GMES and Africa, has provided SASSCAL an opportunity to be part of the
key players that are contributing in the transformation of Africa into a hub of innovation, prosperity, and social upliftment through the use of Earth Observation

“The African Union, through the GME& Africa, has provided us with such an opportunity by creating this network of African scientists from North to South, East to West. This network also represents different disciplines, the private and diverse cultural orientation—Francophone and Anglophone,” she added.
“The GMES & Africa network is our continent’s best and a recipe at our reach for innovation.”

The Executive Director also highlighted that it is Africa which is responsible for changing the narrative that Africa is a poor continent.

She added, “The only solution within our reach is to manage our resources better. We need research that provides up-to-date information and young scientists and engineers to develop practical solutions for Africa.  Only then can we change the narrative that Africa is a poor continent.”

She noted that the power of collaboration can never be reemphasized, especially now as the world remains paralyzed by complex environmental and socioeconomic challenges. She added that there are many opportunities for African scientists to work together and develop solutions relevant to African unique challenges.

The 4th edition of the GMES and Africa Southern African Regional Workshop in Mombasa Kenya is being held under the theme:
“Enabling Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth Using Earth Observation Technologies Towards Agenda 2063.”

The workshop which is being hosted by SASSCAL and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is being attended by Dr Bachir Saley from the African Union  among otherregional partners and stakeholders from southern Africa as well as international delegates from Europe and Africa.

This includes the member countries’ policymakers, members from the Southern African Development Community countries, public and private sector stakeholders, technical implementers, basin commissions, researchers and other stakeholders whose activities are related to coastal areas, rivers, wetlands and their ecosystems.

During the first session of the meeting SASSCAL also presented on its WeMAST project’s phase II; the workshop objectives; and introductory session. SASSCAL will also showcase new products and services produced after the enhancement of the geoportal produced in phase I.

SASSCAL’s project, WeMAST focuses on wetlands in four transboundary river basins in southern Africa, with special emphasizes on the CUVELAI, the OKAVANGO, the LIMPOPO, and the ZAMBEZI River Basins.

The project’s technical partners are: University of Botswana, Midlands State University (Zimbabwe), Remote Sensing Centre of Zambia, University of Zambia, University of Western Cape, SADC-WaterNet, and the University of Namibia.