This theme represents the core of UNU-INRA's mandate in Africa. The heart of it is formed by 2 projects: (1) The Training component of the SPC funded GLOWA Project Phase III, and (2) A collaborative programme between the International Foundation for Science (IFS), based in Stockholm, Sweden, and UNU Centre in Tokyo, where UNU-INRA is the implementing agency on behalf of UNU Centre.
1. GLOWA Volta Project
The GLOWA Volta Project is an interdisciplinary project supporting sustainable water resource management in the Volta Basin. Main aim is the development of a Decision Support System (DSS) that will help the authorities in Ghana, Burkina Faso and the other riparian countries to optimize water allocation within the basin. The central objective of the GLOWA Volta Project (GVP) is the analysis of the physical and socio-economic determinants of the hydrological cycle in the Volta Basin in the face of global change. Based on this, the project aims at the establishment of a scientifically sound Decision Support System (DSS) for water resource management that has been adequately tested. Therefore, GVP will be judged as successful if the DSS and attending infrastructure, data and institutional protocols are adopted, used and maintained in the Volta Basin following formal project completion. The replication of the GVP DSS approach in other basins in the West African region would provide another clear measure of success. Effective use of the DSS will require 1) successful transfer of the modeling infrastructure (models, databases, hydroclimatic observatory); 2) a cadre of competent regional scientists willing and able to work with stakeholders in ongoing DSS application and development; and 3) a network of motivated and capable institutional partners that can work both locally and across jurisdictional boundaries. Certain of these prerequisites are addressed in other subprojects; specifically, transfer of the hydro-meteorological observatory and the transfer of IT infrastructure to the KACE. This subproject focuses on the establishment of the consortium that will assume responsibility for coordinating a wide range of GVP activities post-project completion (May 2009) and which will play a leading role in organizing the training and out-scaling activities. UNU-INRA plays a leading role in this consortium.
UNU-INRA acts at various official levels, including middle management dealing with natural resources. ZEF and UNU-INRA already work closely together under a MoU signed between the Rectors of UNU and the University of Bonn. It is proposed that ZEF and UNU-INRA, together with the KACE, IWMI, and the Dreyer Foundation, work together as the core international members of the consortium. The consortium, inclusive of national partners, has located its secretariat at UNU-INRA in Accra. In addition, UNU-INRA has taken the lead in organizing the necessary workshops for stakeholder consultation and short term training to familiarize potential users within all riparian states of the use of the DSS.
Recent activities of UNU-INRA and the GVP have included the following:
The Director of UNU-INRA participated in two regional GLOWA conferences, one in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and one in Accra, Ghana, in preparation of Phase III of the GLOWA project, and in two GLOWA planning workshops both held at ZEF, Bonn, Germany. In addition, several planning meetings were held with GLOWA staff in Bonn, Germany; Dano, Bobo Dioulasso and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; and Navrongo, Tamale, Kumasi and Accra, Ghana.
From May 31st to June 1st, 2007, UNU-INRA organized a GLOWA Volta Project (GVP) Stakeholders Workshop on "Stakeholders' Capacity Needs Assessment" in the Noguchi Memorial Institute, Legon, Accra, Ghana. Some 60 participants drawn from different stakeholder research and development institutions, including civil society groups, discussed topics related to stakeholders' needs in the water sector. Topics included: climate and meteorology, water demand and allocation; hydrology, water supply & water availability; water politics, policy, law and supply financing, etc. The main objective was to share GVP's outputs and scientific tools with stakeholders in the water sector within the Volta Basin in order to assess their needs for capacity development. A report on the workshop is available in digital form.
From September 12th to 13th, 2007 UNU-INRA organized a GVP Stakeholders Workshop on "Stakeholders' Capacity Needs Assessment" in the premises of the Institut International d'Ingénierie, de l'Eau et de l'Environnement (2iE) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. This workshop was conducted in French and was organized in close consultation with the Directorate General of Water Resources (DGRE) of the Ministry of Agriculture, and The Volta Basin Authority (VBA), Ouagadougou. The workshop was attended by 50 participants from institutions and organizations in the fields of water, meteorology/climate, soils, agriculture, and others. Topics discussed were similar to those in the Accra Workshop. A report on the workshop is available in digital form (in French).
Participants in the GVP Data Collection workshop in Accra from Sept 26th to 28th, 2007
From September 26th to 28th, 2007 UNU-INRA organized a GVP Training Workshop on "Data Management and Applications of GIS and Remote Sensing in Natural Resources Management" in the premises of the Centre for African Wetlands of the University of Ghana at Legon, Accra, Ghana. This workshop dealt with (2) meteorological, and hydrological data collection, storage, processing and analysis, (2) techniques for dealing with missing data, (3) Remote Sensing and spatial information projects in Ghana, presented by staff of the Centre for RS and GIS (CERSGIS) of the University of Ghana at Legon, and (4) Remote Sensing and GIS applications in the GVP, presented by Dr Tobias Landmann of the University of Würzburg and the German Space Agency (DLR), Germany. The workshop was attended by some 40 persons (see picture).
From December 12th to 14th, 2007, UNU-INRA organized a workshop (in French) on data collection and RS/GIS in Ouagadougou, at the premises of DGRE, Ministry of Agriculture.
Participants of the training workshop on the use of MM5 and WASIH-ETH in Accra in Jan, 2008.
Most recently, in January and February 2008, UNU-INRA organized two workshops in Accra and Ouagadougou on the use of models in climate change, in particular the use of MM5 (regional weather/climate model) and WASIM-ETH (hydrology/water balance model). In all, UNU-INRA intends to organize about 10 stakeholder and training workshops (E/F), between mid 2007 and the end of 2009.
For more information about the GLOWA Volta Project, please visit http://www.glowa-volta.de
2. Collaborative programme between UNU-INRA and the International Foundation for Science (IFS)
The International Foundation for Science has a research grants programme for scientists in developing countries. UNU has collaborated with IFS in a jointly funded research grants programme for Sub-Sahara Africa. IFS is now contemplating the establishment of an office (or "hub") in SubSahara Africa to support its programme activities in Africa. UNU-INRA is one of the locations being considered for this "hub". In this connection, Prof. Erik Thulstrup, a consultant for IFS, visited UNU-INRA to discuss collaboration between IFS and UNU-INRA. The Director UNU-INRA has participated in the IFS Scientific Advisory Committee meeting, 17-19 May 07, Hohenheim, Germany, and has visited IFS, Stockholm, Sweden, from 21-22 May 07 to further discuss collaboration between IFS and UNU-INRA with the director and staff of IFS.
IFS has an impressive track record in administering a research grants scheme, which is aimed at supporting young and promising scientists in developing countries and at strengthening their scientific capabilities. UNU Centre in Tokyo has financially supported IFS for many years at a level of 50 k$ per year. This contribution was matched by IFS and the resulting 100 k$ per year were used for supporting young African scientists, in addition to the regular activities of IFS in and for Africa. UNU-INRA is involved in the execution of this joint UNU-IFS programme, acting on behalf of UNU and in close consultation with UNU Centre. The emphasis during 2007 was on developing a support mechanism in Africa to help African scientists develop skills in project writing, designing (and managing) project budgets, literature review, problem identification, data analysis, advanced analytical techniques, scientific paper writing, scientific presentations, etcetera.
3. Promofs2007 and IT2007 (Cameroon)
The training course Promofs2007 "Promotion des femmes scientifiques: Formation professionelle en Traitement et Analyse de Donées avec des Outils ACCESS at SPSS" (women in science: training in data processing and analysis using ACCESS and SPSS) was organized jointly by UNESCO and the OU-Cameroon from 23-27 July 2007 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This training course was attended by 15 women scientist from different governmental, academic and non-governmental organizations and institutions in Cameroon.
The biannual international training course IT2007 "Outils Informatiques Appliqués a la Gestion des Ressources Renouvelables" (Computer Applications to the Analysis & Management of Natural Resources) was organized by the OU-Cameroon from 20 August - 07 September in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This training course was attended by 15 participants from Cameroon, Benin, Chad en Senegal. This course was organized in 4 modules: (1) Basic tools, (2) GIS, GPS and RS, (3) Cartography and Spatial Analysis, and (4) Project.
4. Environmental Management and Policy Studies course at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
UNU-INRA supported the further development of an Environmental Management and Policy Studies course at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana (Prof. Emmanuel Frempong), as part of its efforts to Strengthen Postgraduate Programmes in African Universities. Thirteen students are currently enrolled in the UNU-INRA supported Environmental Management and Policy Studies Programme developed as a compliment to the pure science-based MSc. Degree in Biological Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, Ghana. A total of eight post-graduate students (3 PhD, 3 MPhiL and 2 MSc.) attached to the on-going research projects are at various stages in data collection and analysis, and preparation of theses on various topics.
Other activities under this theme include the design of training courses in the field of NRM and the environment, organizing national and regional workshops for training and awareness, co-sponsoring scientific conferences that are of relevance to African scientists, and other ventures. The overall objective is to strengthen African capacities, that is, strengthen existing structures and organizations, rather than create competing structures or organizations, with a view of increasing the contribution of African scientists and science to achieving sustainable management of Africa's natural resources, and thus contributing to the sustained as well as sustainable development of the continent. At the same time it is realized that UNU-INRA's contribution to this can only be modest and therefore UNU-INRA seeks to work in close collaboration with its African and international partners to achieve these objectives.
