African Climate and Environment Center - Future African Savannas (AFAS)

Ziegenherde mit Ziegenführer in Kenia

AFAS is being funded since May 2021 within the DAAD-programme Global Centres for Climate and Environment with means of the Federal Foreign Office. 

The project initiative stems from the urgent need to develop sound and robust evidence-based and science-backed strategies to preserve and protect the fragile environments of the West and East African savannas against the combined threats of extensive and diverse land use and rapid climate change. The mainly virtual operating Center will conduct research, science communication and action in regard to (i) a more secure natural resource base that would create a less vulnerable basis for livelihoods, economic growth and climate resilience, (ii) improved investments in locally acceptable nature-based solutions with opportunities for inclusive economic growth, and (iii) maximising the positive contributions of other sectors to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. It thereby aims to address societal needs and business opportunities and to develop both social-ecological resilience and human capacities to overcome the barriers to the implementation of innovative approaches on climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation and to produce scientific outcomes that are relevant to policy and practice and implementable for the public and private sectors.

Measures:

  • Development of a joint virtual/hybrid Master programme on managing science-policy, science-practice and policy-practice interfaces 
  • Research and capacity development for the implementation of concepts and technologies as drivers of transformative change 
  • Scholarships for master’s and PhD students, as well as support of postdocs
  • Development of a virtual learning management system
  • Networking activities to strengthen interfaces between science, policy, business and civil society
  • Internship programme with government institutions, NGOs, international organisations and the private sector

 

Back to: Global Centres for Climate and Environment as well as for Health and Pandemic Prevention

DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst - German Academic Exchange Service