WASA Programme Kick-Off Conference

Sep 25, 2024, 1:00 PM → Sep 27, 2024, 6:00 PM Africa/Johannesburg

Wallenberg Conference Centre at STIAS

Joerg Helmschrot (Karslruhe Institute for Technology), Nico Elema (AUDA-NEPAD Southern African Network of Water Centres of Excellence (SANWATCE))

WASA is a collaborative German-African research programme to contribute new solutions for the sustainable improvement of water security in Africa. The WASA programme was developed in a joint consultation process with African and German experts from science and practice, including AMCOW and water ministries from Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa. The German contribution is led by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

The Kick-Off Conference aims to formally start the programme by presenting details on the individual research projects to all participants and funders. Supported by the Networking and Transfer Project WASANet, the event further provides a platform to the projects including stakeholders to engage and network and to identify cross-cutting topics aiming to improve cross-sectoral water security.

Agenda_WASA Kickoff_Stellenbosch.pdf

Wednesday, September 25

Internal Project Meetings (Optional)

1 WASA Icebreaker/Reception

Thursday, September 26

2 Opening and Welcome of regional representatives and BMBF

3 Keynote: Water Security

4 Overview WASA Program and WASANet

Block: Hydrological Forecasts and Management of Hydrologic Extremes

1. Co-HYDIM-SA: Co-design of a hydro-meteorological information system for sustainable water resources management in southern Africa
2. WaRisCo: Water Risks and Resilience in Urban-Rural Areas in Southern Africa - Co-Production of Hydro-

10:30 AM Comfort Break

Water Infrastructure and Water Technology

1. WaReNam: Multi-Scale Water Reuse Strategy for Namibia: Technology, Governance and Capacity Development
2. NEU-Water: Nature Engineered Urban design for Water Recycling and Reuse
3. MAMDIWAS: Making mining-influenced water a driver for change to improve water security in South Africa

12:30 PM Lunch

Sustainable Water Resources Management

1. SeeKaquA: Semi-airborne electromagnetic exploration of Kalahari’s aquifers, Africa
2. WaMiSAR: Sustainable and climate adapted Water Management in Mining in the Southern African Region

Project presentation – Moderated discussions

Thematic Working Groups (introduction)

3:15 PM Comfort Break

5 Capacity Building

6 Decision Support

7 Technological Innovation

WASA Governing Board Meeting (only members)

8 Wrap Up

6:30 PM WASA Networking Dinner

Friday, September 27

9 Welcome and Note from the WASA Board

Thematic Working groups: outcomes

Identifying the Task Forces on Cross-cutting topics for the coming years

10:00 AM Comfort break

10 Task Force 1

11 Task Force 2

12 Task Force 3

13 Report from Task Forces and Plenary Discussion

Wrap Up

Closure of Meeting (Ministries of the WASA Governing Board)

Internal Project Meetings (Optional) / Excursions