UNESCO’s Arid Regions Water Management Program G-WADI holds Meeting of Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Network

The Sub-Saharan regional network of UNESCO IHP’s Global Network on Water and Development Information for Arid Lands (G- WADI) met in Windhoek, Namibia from May 18-20. The meeting had two themes: continued expansion of the African Drought Early Warning System Expansion to Southern Africa, and meeting of the G-WADI/ International Drought Initiative (IDI) Africa Expert Group.  ICIWaRM is G-WADI’s Global Technical Secretariat, and participated in the meeting.

Scientists, engineers, managers and planners for water, environment and meteorological ministries and departments participated — from Namibia, Senegal, Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Sweden, Sudan, and the Seychelles. Scientists from Princeton University and UNESCO personnel from various offices in Europe and Africa also participated.

Part of the meeting was devoted to the development and use of the African Flood and Drought Monitor (AFDM), developed by Princeton University, in Southern Africa. The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and their implementing partner, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) have committed to help fund installation of the AFDM in up to three countries.

G-WADI also established a subcommittee to update the Chemical and Isotopic Tracers section of the website (http://www.gwadi.org/tools/tracers) in honor of Mike Edmunds, one of the founders of G-WADI, who passed away in April 2015.

Photo credits: Will Logan, ICIWaRM