The Southern African Science Service Centre for Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) co-hosted a fruitful GMES and Africa Southern African Regional Workshop from the 4th to the 6th of September, 2024 in Mombasa Kenya.
The workshop which was attended by various institutions including SASSCAL’s technical partners: SADC WaterNet; the University of Botswana; University of Western Cape; and University of Zambia deliberated on the essence of Earth Observation in the attainment of the Africa Agenda 2063 the Africa we want.
Other attendees include policy makers; basin commissions; researchers and CSIR’s technical partners: Kenya Marine &Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI); Universite De Toliara; Universidade Ed Uardo Mondlane; National Sea Institute; Reef Conversation; Tanzania Fisheries research Institute; Hekima Ne Uhuru and Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA).
GMES and Africa Project Coordinator Dr Bachir Saley applauded SASSCAL and CSIR on co-hosting a successful workshop adding that the workshop was a great platform for cross fertilization which is one of the key pillars of GMES and Africa.
In-line to the attainment of the workshop theme: “Enabling Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth Using Earth Observation (EO) Technologies Towards Agenda 2063”; SASSCAL Executive Director-Dr Jane Olwoch reiterated the essence of prioritizing the funding of scientific research and innovation in pursuit of the ‘Africa We Want”.
“I believe it is time to give special attention to funding for science, research, innovation, and HCD to transform Africa into a hub of innovation, prosperity, and social upliftment,” said Dr Olwoch during her opening remarks which she delivered virtually.
Dr Olwoch noted with great concern the alarming rate at which Africa’s resources are diminishing due to climate change and other human-related activities, adding that such factors have a negative implication on the water resources.
“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 a distant problem, but the new norm that we experience, but must urgently address,” she said.
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.”
In this regards she applauded the African Union Commission for providing a platform for a network of African scientists from North to South, East to West through the GMES and Africa.
“The GMES & Africa network is our continent’s best and a recipe at our reach for innovation,” she said.
During the workshop, SASSCAL presented on its Wetland Monitoring and Assessment (WeMAST) Service showing the importance of wetlands in water purification and ecosystem health. With the use of graphs and mapographs, SASSCAL also exhibited its WeMAST geoportal tool; showing how it is used to access, validate and utilize EO data for wetland monitoring assessment; water quality monitoring; and basin vulnerability index.
Furthermore, SASSCAL also showcased its WeMAST Mobile app which was designed to allow the aspect of real time EO data access and validation as well as ground truthing where an assessment of EO data displayed on the WeMAST geoportal is verified on the ground. The WeMAST Mobile app has several advantages including its ability to allow users to collect data offline, easier for the users to comprehend and faster. SASSCAL presented on its community engagements through training and capacity building workshops on how to use access EO data using the WeMAST geoportal as well as the WeMAST Mobile App.
SASSCAL also showcased how its WeMAST tool has been used to assess the Basin Vulnerability Index of the four river basins that SASSCAL focuses on namely: Cuvelai; Limpopo; Okavango; and Zambezi. The exhibition showcased the essence of the Basin Vulnerability Index in wetlands management.
The workshop saw SASSCAL showcasing an overview of WeMAST’s outreach, communication, update and dissemination where the presentation highlighted the digital innovative tools introduced by SASSCAL consortium to boost visibility of WeMAST product and services. The innovations including digital strategies such as podcasts, digital story -telling and video dialogues which are being used by SASSCAL to disseminate information on WeMAST products and services. The strategies have been impactful as exhibited by the increase of traffic on SASSCAL digital and social media platforms. Furthermore, the presentation echoed on how SASSCAL’s digital storytelling and video dialogues have been showcasing the project’s impact, featuring testimonies from stakeholders on how WeMAST has transformed their activities and initiatives.
Prior to the GMES and Africa Southern African regional workshop, SASSCAL enabled three students from the University of Western Cape and the University of Zambia to participate in the GMES and Africa Southern Region Student Exchange program in Mombasa, Kenya. The program saw students exchanging knowledge and being capacitated with advanced knowledge in the field of: environmental monitoring; natural resource management; disaster management; climate change research; biodiversity conservation; wildlife tracking; and earth observation tools and techniques.
During the sessions, the students were presented with tasks and one of the students sponsored by SASSCAL from the University of Western Cape- Thandelike Dube, came out 1st and she was celebrated, and awarded with a certificate.
