5th Symposium on climate change adaptation in Africa

Consistent with the need for more cross-sectoral interactions among the various stakeholders working in the field of climate change adaptation in the African continent, the aims of the Symposium are as follows:

• I.   to provide research institutions and universities from Africa and those working in Africa with an opportunity to     display and present their works in the field of climate change mitigation and adaptation;
• II.  to foster the exchange of information, ideas and experiences acquired in the execution of climate change projects, especially successful initiatives and good practice across the African continent;
• III.  to discuss methodological approaches and experiences deriving from case studies and projects, which aim to show how climate change mitigation and adaptation may be implemented in practice;
• IV.  to network the participants and provide a platform so they can explore possibilities for cooperation.

Last but not least, a further aim of the event will be to document and disseminate the wealth of experiences available today. To this purpose, papers presented at the event, and which have passed peer-review, will be published in the book “The contribution of universities to climate change mitigation and adaptation”.  This will be a further volume of the award-winning book series “Climate Change Management”  published by Springer,  which since its creation in 2008 has become the  world´s leading book series on climate change management. The decision of the editors as to which papers may be selected and undergo peer review for the book and for the special issue, is final. The book will follow the success of the “African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation”, an open access publication to which over 200 African experts have contributed to, and which has had in excess of 100.000 downloads to date: https://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1007/978-3-030-45106-6.

Co-Chairs 
•    Professor Walter Leal, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and Manchester Metropolitan University (UK)
•    Professor Sidat Yaffa, University of the Gambia (Gambia) 
•    Dr. Moumini Savadogo, Executive Director, West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) •    Prof. Mouhamadou Hassirou, Chairman of the WASCAL Board  

Scientific Committee
•    Prof. Lydia Adeleke, The Federal University of Technology, Nigeria
•    Prof. Desalegn Ayal, University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
•    Professor Boaventura Cuamba, Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique
•    Prof. Izael Da Silva, Strathmore University, Kenya
•    Prof. Jackson Efitre, Makerere University, Uganda
•    Dr. Hassan M.EI Shaer, Desert Research Foundation, Egypt
•    Dr. John Koku, Central University College, Ghana
•    Professor Pantaleo Munishi, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
•    Professor Justice Nyamangara,  Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe
•    Dr. Adebisi-Adelani Oluyemisi, National Horticultural Research Institute, Nigeria
•    Dr. Gaspard Rwanyiziri,    University of Rwanda, Rwanda
•    Dr Menas Wuta, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabw

Scientific Support
•    Marina Kovaleva, HAW Hamburg & International Climate Change Information and Research Programme (ICCIRP)
•    Dr. Mamma Sawaneh, Scientific Coordinator, UTG/WASCAL Doctoral Research Programme on Climate Change and Education
•    Dr. Ebrima Sonko, Deputy Director, REPGam Programme at University of The Gambia 
 
Cooperating Organisations
•    United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
•    United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
•    World Health Organisation (WHO)
•    World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)
•    International Climate Change Information and Research Programme (ICCIRP)
•    International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

The Symposium will be held in Banjul, the capital city of The Gambia, which has many international connections.
 

Delegates attending the Symposium will come from a cross-sectoral range of areas, from across the African society and the international community. These are:

1. Researchers at universities and research centres;
2. Teaching staff at universities;
3. Representatives from NGOs and companies; 
4. Representatives from UN and national development and aid agencies working with climate change     adaptation in Africa and funding/ executing projects on the ground;
6. Project officers and consultants;
7. Other people interested in the field.

The participation of African doctoral students is warmly encouraged and supervisors/advisers are kindly requested to facilitate their participation. The sort of international exposure and the rich content of this Symposium will be beneficial to their work and careers.
It is believed that this wide range of participants will help to outline the need for and the usefulness of integrated approaches towards climate change mitigation and adaptation in Africa and, hence contribute to the further consolidation of this thematic area.

The Symposium will be organised in two main strands:

Strand 1: the posters
Participating and organisations will be able to put-up posters describing their works and projects and to distribute the relevant information to the participants. The posters will allow close, one-to-one contacts between the participants and the exhibitors.

Strand 2: the presentations
A set of presentations, divided into five main themes will be organised, distributed over parallel sessions dealing with some of the issues of strategic value in the field of climate change mitigation and adaptation. These are:
 
Session 1: Implementing Climate Change Adaptation in Rural Areas and Communities, Cities, 
                   Countries and via Outreach Programmes
Session 2: Climate Change Adaptation, Resilience and Hazards (including droughts/floods and disasters management)
Session 3: Climate Change and Agriculture
Session 4: Information, Communication, Education and Training on Climate Change 
Session 5: Climate Change and Health 

A number of cross-cutting issues such as attribution, loss and damage, as well as how climate change adaptation may reduce poverty and improve livelihoods, will also be discussed.

The plenary and parallel sessions, as well as the social events, will provide participants with an outstanding opportunity to interact, network and learn about the latest ideas, projects and practices, mainstreaming climate change mitigation and adaptation in the African continent.

The Symposium will be held on 1st-3rd March 2023 in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia. Banjul International Airport also known as Yundum International (IATA: BJL) is one of Africa´s hubs, and has many international connections. The schedule is as follows:  

In order to ensure an efficient use of the time, delegates are kindly asked to organise their travel in a way that allows them to arrive in  Banjul in the morning of 1st March 2023, and travel back on or after 3rd March 2023, so they can fully take part in the Symposium.

Deadline for submission of abstracts: 20th December 2022
Deadline for submission of papers: 20th February 2023
Deadline for registrations: 20th February 2023

Since the book “The contribution of universities to climate change mitigation and adaptation” is expected to be launched shortly after the event, the deadlines need to be followed.
 

A discounted fee of  € 200 to non- African delegates and € 150 to African delegates (€ 50 to students), will be charged to those who register until 20th December 2023 (early bird registration). After that,  delegates will need to pay the full fee of €250, € 200 and € 100 respectively. The fee includes lunches and coffee breaks on 1st, 2nd and 3rd March 2023, as well as an evening reception on 1st March, and a dinner on 2nd March 2023.

This is a self-funded event and the organisers are unable to pay any travel or accommodation costs of any kind. Letters of invitation may be sent to those delegates who have registered and paid their fees only.
 

Registrations are now open and are possible until 20th February 2023. Regrettably, logistical limitations mean that registrations after the deadline will not be possible. Since the space for posters and the time for presentations is limited, delegates are advised to register as soon as possible. The organisers will notify any interested delegate or organisation in case there  are any limitations with time for presentations or space for displays. Registered delegates will then receive further details on the payment of the fees and updated information on the preparations for the event. The decision as to which papers will be accepted for presentation will be taken by the Chairpersons, following consultation with the organising committee. Participants registering to the event will do so under the condition that they will cover their own travel, accommodation and incidental costs (e.g. visa fees) related to their trip to Banjul.

This is a self-funded event and the organisers are unable to pay any travel or accommodation costs of any kind. Letters of invitation to enter The Gambia can be only be sent to bona fide, registered delegates, who have paid their fees and need a document to show their employers. For cancellations of registrations up to 30 days before the event, a 50% refund may be made. For cancellations after the 20th February 2023 no refunds will be possible. Registrations are now open:

REGISTER NOW!

All questions related to scientific inputs, abstracts and strategic partnerships, as well as the book, should be sent to:

Professor Walter Leal (BSc, PhD, DSc, DPhil, DEd, DLitt, FSB, FRGS, FLS)
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and Manchester Metropolitan University (UK)
info (at) iccip (dot) net

and/ or

Professor Sidat Yaffa
University of The Gambia
The Gambia 
syaffa (at) utg.edu (dot) gm
 

All questions related to registrations, should be sent to Marina Kovaleva, International Climate Change Information and Research Programme (ICCIRP) at: marina.kovaleva (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de (this E-Mail is currently not working, so send the E-Mail to: lealfilho (at) yahoo (dot) com)

All questions related to local issues, visas, options for accommodation and other local details should be sent to:

Dr. Mamma Sawaneh, Scientific Coordinator, UTG/WASCAL Doctoral Research Program on Climate Change and Education. msawaneh (at) utg.edu (dot) gm
Dr. Ebrima Sonko, Deputy Director, REPGam Program at University of The Gambia. esonko (at) utg.edu (dot) gm
 

An abstract should be up to 200 words, it should describe the rationale and aims of the paper, and some of its results. General descriptions of broad contexts should be avoided.  The full contact details about the author(s) need to be provided. Abstracts should be written in the third person  and not in the first or second one (e.g. I, me, or my paper). Please see below  a sample abstract. Authors whose abstracts have been accepted, will receive further details about how to submit their full papers, and further logistical information.

SAMPLE ABSTRACT
Please send your abstract to Marina Kovaleva at: marina.kovaleva (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de

Promoting Climate Change Adaptation in Developing Countries: breaking misconceptions and addressing information needs

Professor Walter Leal (BSc, PhD, DSc, DPhil, DEd, DLitt, FSB, FRGS, FLS)
Hamburg University of Applied Science and Manchester Metropolitan University
Ulmenliet 20, 21033 Hamburg, Germany & Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5GD, United Kingdom
info (at) iccip (dot) net

Abstract
The impacts of climate change to natural ecosystems, infra-structure and livelihoods, means that the implementation of climate change adaptation strategies in developing countries has become a pressingissue.  Among other factors,  the undertaking of adaptation strategies is made difficult by the generallack of awareness and spread misconceptions about the real impacts of climate change which, inturn,slow down the execution of  the adaptation initiatives needed, and which may ameliorate them. This paper presents an analysis about the misconceptions related to the implementation of climate change adaptation strategies, and describes the most widespread ones, as well as their implications.

A special emphasis is given to the problems and barriers caused by misinformation, which – in turn- prevent the promotion of adaptation initiatives at local level. Finally, some concrete steps which may be taken in order to break the misconceptions and foster a  more  systematic view of adaptation strategies, are outlined. Experiences gathered in this paper will be useful to people and organisations interested in the different levels of responses given to climate change threats,  and on some of the tools which may be used to encourage  specific action to adapt to changing climate conditions.