Training of Climate and Energy experts for West Africa to support West Africa communities’ resilience though the West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use

The West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and adapted Land Use (WASCAL) is an Intergovernmental Institution established since 2012 to support the capacity development of youth in Climate Change for the West African countries members through the support of the German Federal Minister of education and research (BMBF). Through the German cooperation and main financial with West African countries contribution in 2012, four Master and six PhD relevant programs were established respectively in Climate change & Land use (FUTMINNA, Nigeria), Climate Change & Human Security (UL, Togo), Climate Change & Education (UTG, The Gambia), Climate Change & Energy (UAM Niger) and Climate Change & Water Resources (UAC, Benin), Climate Change Economics (UCAD, Dakar, Senegal), Climate Change & Land Use (KNUST, Ghana), West African Climate System (FUTA, Nigeria), Climate change & Biodiversity (UFHB, Côte d’Ivoire), Climate Change & Agriculture (IPR/IFRA, Mali). The outcome was the transformation of 252 students as climate experts for West Africa. After successful implementation of the curriculum, the above master’s programs were upgraded in PhD to implement the 4^th batch with the six other PhD Programs. The Master of Climate Change and Human Security was replaced by a PhD program in Disaster Risk Management and the master in Climate Change and Land use was replace by the PhD in Climate Change & Human Habitat. The fourth batch was implemented with 10 PhD program and two new Master program established in climate Change & Marines Science (UTA of Mindelo, Cabo Verde and Informatica and Climate Change (UJKZ, Burkina Faso). The fifth is currently running with the 11 countries across 12 Universities described above. Then the sixth batch recruitment will be effective with the new Program established in Guinea on Climate Change, Mining Environment and Forestry (UGAN, Conakry, Guinea). The graduation of more than 430 PhD and master’s holders working mainly in high education, research and international institution is a positive response to climate change. In line with its mission to improve the livelihood of communities, WASCAL with the support of BMBF has established master’s programs in four countries in Energy and green hydrogen to support African countries to foster the use of clean energy and contribute to reduce carbon footprint for a better energy transition. In addition to the climate experts, 59 master holders have been graduated through 6 relevant curricula in the followings tracks: Photovoltaic & System Analysis and Green Hydrogen in Niger, Biofuels, Bioenergy and Green Hydrogen in Togo, Economy, Infrastructure and Green Hydrogen Production in Senegal and Technology of green Hydrogen production, Georesources & green hydrogen Production. More than 700 publications, 150 policy brief and other relevant deliverables such as books chapter were produced. The collaboration was done with more than 35 lecturers, supervisors as well as several institutions across Germany and elsewhere. WASCAL and its partners from Germany are working to develop technologies and conduct activities that can support Africa countries resilience for better livelihood of communities.