Affirming its commitment to synergies and partnerships, the Southern African Science Services Centre for Climate and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) highlighted its dedication to the management and monitoring of wetlands in the region.
Speaking at the recently concluded GMEs and Africa Forum 2, Chenai-Moyo Ruth Makoni, during SASSCAL’s presentation, emphasised the center’s determination to foster collaboration with various stakeholders.
Makoni outlined SASSCAL’s primary objective, stating, “We are determined to build synergies that enhance cross-fertilisation with public, private, civil society, NGOs, academia and other consortia in the management and monitoring of wetlands in Southern Africa”. She emphasised the goal of upscaling and operationalising the geoportal developed in phase I to deliver products and information services to policymakers, the private sector and other end-users for effective wetlands management.
Identifying key stakeholders for collaboration, Makoni mentioned academia, local communities, the private and public sectors, line ministries, research institutions and river basin commissions. SASSCAL aims to improve the policy and institutional framework for sustainable wetlands management in southern Africa and enhance access to satellite earth observation and in situ data for monitoring and management.
Already establishing synergies at the ministerial level with various governmental bodies, SASSCAL also boasts partnerships with regional institutions like SADC Waternet, Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM), The Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM) and The Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM). Additionally, the centre collaborates with technical partners such as the Environmental Management Agency, Harare Wetlands Trust, Zimbabwe National Geospatial & Space Agency and JRC.
In line with its commitment to a collaborative approach, SASSCAL seeks to strengthen ties with diverse entities to enhance the sustainable management and monitoring of wetlands in the southern African region.
