The Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) has announced it will be moving into its second phase of research and launching its SASSCAL 2.0 Research Programme, themed “Towards impactful research outcomes for climate adaptation and mitigation in the Southern Africa region” on the 22 – 23 March 2023, at the Regional Secretariat in Windhoek, Namibia.

The kick-off to the programme, with a five-year timeline, will be attended by the SASSCAL Council of Ministers, Ambassadors, SASSCAL’s initial and primary funder – the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), representatives of SASSCAL Member States, international and regional partners, SASSCAL 2.0 implementing Principal Investigators and researchers to draw a roll-out plan and symbolise commitment by all parties. In addition, it will inaugurate 13 approved projects per the SASSCAL’s five thematic areas in agriculture, water, biodiversity, climate and forestry.

According to the Executive Director of SASSCAL, Dr Jane Olwoch. “SASSCAL 2.0 will implement the following projects: SUSTAIN, FoSRECs, RIBS, ELNAC, TIPPEECC, ANTELOPE, WIRE, FRAME, Climate Smart Crops, Properties Plants, ANGSOILS, VRPE and Beekeeping to the tune of about EUR 8.6 million,” she commented.

Working on these projects include academic research partners and government institutions from Angola, Botswana, Germany, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia. The aim of SASSCAL 2.0 is to understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change on the environment. In addition, the programme will also establish frameworks to improve Southern Africa’s participation in carrying out scientific research for socio-economic prosperity.

The programme was inaugurated to enhance internationally acclaimed research programmes across the board, increase regional and global interactive and expert exchange for fostering international and research partnerships and address global issues via international development projects.

Furthermore, SASSCAL 2.0 will aid relevant skills development, encourage institutional and human capacity-building workshops in scientific research, foster the establishment of research-oriented products and services and advance diversity and inclusivity inputs that ensure a rounded localised solution in understanding various indigenous communities across Africa. 

The first SASSCAL research programme, 1.0, was established between 2012 till 2018. The programme produced 88 research projects and 230 peer-reviewed publications, including 227 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree candidates and 33 doctorates.