The Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) is pleased to announce the upcoming Automated Weather Station -WeNET Project Handover Ceremony and the launch of the WeMAST Phase II Stakeholders Training, to be held in Gaborone, Botswana, on 15 September 2025, with the training continuing through to 17 September 2025.
This dual event reflects SASSCAL’s continued commitment to strengthening national climate services and advancing regional capabilities in environmental monitoring and decision-making through innovative Earth Observation tools.
WeNET Project Handover: Strengthening National Climate Infrastructure
Through the WeNet project, SASSCAL has successfully refurbished 15 of the original 20 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) that were installed in Botswana under SASSCAL I (2012–2018). These refurbished stations will now be formally handed over to the Department of Meteorological Services (DMS) under the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MENT).
This ceremony will reaffirm the Government of Botswana’s custodianship of these critical infrastructure assets and celebrate the renewed capacity for local and regional climate data collection. The data will be transmitted via the SASSCAL WeatherNet Portal (https://sasscalweathernet.org) to support national forecasting, research, and climate resilience strategies.
WeMAST Phase II Training: Building Regional Expertise
Coinciding with the handover, SASSCAL will officially launch the WeMAST Phase II Stakeholders Training Workshop, part of the GMES & Africa Programme. The Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Service for Transboundary Basins in Southern Africa (WeMAST) has developed a state-of-the-art Geoportal for monitoring wetlands across the Okavango, Cuvelai, Limpopo, and Zambezi river basins.
The three-day training (15–17 September 2025) will:
- Introduce the new features and improvements of the WeMAST 2.0 Geoportal
- Build technical capacity in accessing and interpreting Earth Observation data using the geoportal, QGIS plugin, and mobile app
- Include a field visit and ground-truthing exercise at Bokaa Dam
- Promote regional cooperation and creation of a Community of Practice (CoP) for wetland monitoring
Key Event Highlights
- Unveiling of a commemorative plaque marking the AWS handover
- Official handover documentation between SASSCAL and DMS/MENT
- Visual showcase of the refurbished AWS infrastructure
- Demonstration of the WeMAST 2.0 Geoportal and associated tools
- Keynote addresses by government officials and SASSCAL leadership
Strategic Objectives
- Reaffirm SASSCAL’s support for national weather infrastructure and data continuity
- Enhance regional capacity to use Earth Observation technologies for wetland monitoring and climate resilience
- Promote collaboration between governments, academia, NGOs, and River Basin Organizations
- Support evidence-based policy and decision-making across the region
Stakeholders and Participants
The event will bring together approximately 60 stakeholders, including:
- Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MENT) and Department of Meteorological Services (DMS)
- University of Botswana
- SADC Secretariat
- River Basin Organisations
- Policy makers, traditional authorities, women and youth representatives
- 25–30 participants of the WeMAST training workshop
Training Information
- Venue: Gaborone, Botswana (final location TBC)
- Dates: 15–17 September 2025
- Mode: Classroom-based, with a field component
- Requirements: Participants should bring laptops capable of running GIS software
- Certification: Trainees will receive certificates of participation
About SASSCAL
SASSCAL is a joint initiative of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Germany, dedicated to addressing the challenges of climate change and land management in Southern Africa through research, capacity building, and technology development.
Issued by Prof. Nelago Indongo
SASSCAL Executive Director
Media Contact
SASSCAL WeMAST Communications
Email: [Sharon.kavhu@sasscal.com]
