The Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) says its new project will align with Namibia's national development priorities in addressing the impacts of climate change on water and food security.
SASCALL Programme Coordinator Panduleni Hamukwaya unveiled the SASCALL 2.0 project at a two-day workshop in Windhoek.
The SASSCAL 2.0 project aims to empower communities through education and technology on climate-resilient and adaptation strategies. It will use digital tools to support smallholder farmers while also encouraging youth and women's participation in green entrepreneurship and sustainable farming.
Hamukwaya said the workshop offers an opportunity to examine the SASSCAL 2.0 thematic areas that will prioritise action that supports climate resilience, food and water security, and other areas that are essential to the wellbeing of people and the stability of economies.
"I urge us all present here today to use this workshop not only to share insights but to build stronger bridges between science, implementation and impacts. Let us take stock of the progress made so far, identify gaps that persist, and co-create pathways for a future where Southern Africa takes the lead in climate-smart development and adaptive resource management."
On her part, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Ruth Masake, urged participants to translate the research that will be presented and deliberated on during the workshop into practical interventions to help transform the lives of the people impacted by climate change.
"We are now progressing through SASSCAL 2.0, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), with a remarkable EUR 10 million investment. Through this phase, Namibia continues to play a pivotal role in coordinating and implementing research projects, particularly in the critical areas of water and food security, valued at EUR 2.8 million, equivalent to approximately N$59 million at the current exchange rate."
The SASSCAL 2.0 Research Programme followed the success of the SASSCAL 1.0 Research Portfolio, which focused on climate, water, forestry agriculture, and biodiversity capacity development and provided the basis for the development of innovative products and services.