From September 10th to 12th, 2024, a group of AFAS staff, fellows, alumni and stakeholders, participated in the dynamic DAAD Global Centres Conference in Berlin, Germany. The Centres for Climate and Environment and the Centres for Health and Pandemic Prevention had separate conferences taking place simultaneously and with common parts. The Conferences had the following titles:
The conference brought together leading experts and participants from around the world, each sharing their unique perspectives on the challenges and solutions facing our planet. The event was marked by insightful panel discussions and interactive seminars, with AFAS members playing a pivotal role in driving these conversations.
The conference began with an inspiring opening by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Academic Advisory Board, featuring Prof. Dr. N’Golo Koné (AFAS Co-PI, University of Félix Houphouët-Boigny). This was followed by a round table on “Imaginaries of Climate Futures around the World”, where Prof. Dr. Daniel Olago (AFAS Co-PI, University of Nairobi) contributed as a panellist and provided an insightful view on Africa’s approach to climate resilience, focusing on the importance of blending local knowledge with scientific advancements.
AFAS organized a roundtable on “Upscaling Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Agriculture.” This session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Christian Borgemeister (AFAS Co-PI, University of Bonn), with contributions from Prof. Dr. Daniel Olago, Dr. Nelly Masayi (AFAS Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Nairobi) and Esther Mutuma (AFAS stakeholder, CEO of Boreka social enterprise). Together, they emphasized how Africa’s agricultural future can thrive through Nature-based Solutions (NbS), stressing both the challenges and tangible solutions for climate resilience.
A key highlight of the day was the discussion on “Collaborative Knowledge Production for Effective, Just, and Inclusive Environmental Interventions,” chaired by Prof. Dr. Michael Bollig (AFAS Co-PI, University of Cologne). Other AFAS members who contributed to the discussion included Dr. Yvonne Githiora (AFAS alumna, Research Scientist at Wildlife Works), Dr. Gerda Kuiper (AFAS coordinator, University of Cologne) and Aminata Belem (AFAS alumna). TRAJECTS-member Dr. Michelle Pressend complemented the group of speakers, who all shared their hands-on experiences.
The second day began with welcoming remarks by Dr. Kai Sicks, Secretary General of DAAD, and Anke Reiffenstuel, Director for Education and Science Diplomacy at the German Federal Foreign Office.
A standout session on this day was the policy dialogue: “Realizing Climate Futures: How to Close the Gap between Knowledge and Action,” which focused on translating climate research into real-world impact. The session included a special contribution from, H.E. Yadir Salazar Mejía, Ambassador of Colombia to Germany as a panellist. The rest of the panellists were AFAS alumnus, Nouhou Zoungrana, AFAS stakeholder Esther Mutuma and PhD student Nada Majdalani from the SAGE Centre. Prof. Dr. Christian Borgemeister chaired the session.
The final day of the conference brought together interdisciplinary perspectives and in-depth discussions on climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and water security through series of individual presentations and workshops. AFAS researchers presented their findings, notably, Evelyne Othigo (AFAS PhD student, University of Nairobi) shared her findings on NbS and their impact on Maasai agro-pastoralists in Kenya, Dr. Timothy Downing (AFAS alumnus) provided a historical perspective on NbS in Kenya’s savannas and Dr. Nelly Masayi talked about the effects of land-use change on tropical savannas in Western Kenya.
The conference concluded with a reflective session, where rapporteurs from each Global Centre, including Prof. Dr. N’golo Koné, summarized key insights and actionable steps moving forward. The closing remarks underscored the critical importance of collaboration in addressing global challenges and celebrated the active contributions from AFAS and other centres.
A video and more information on the conference can be found on the Global Centres Conference 2024 website: https://www.daad.de/en/information-services-for-higher-education-institutions/further-information-on-daad-programmes/global-centres-conferences-2024/
© All photos: DAAD/Stefan Zeitz
info[at]afas.africa