Climate change represents an ever greater challenge for land use and water management in Africa. Now new solution strategies are to be worked out with German support. Together with 15 countries in southern and western Africa the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has launched a new initiative to develop Regional Science Service Centres under the heading Climate Change and Adapted Land Management in Africa. The BMBF is initially investing a total of 5.1 million euros in African research infrastructure. “This is the starting point for a new dimension in research cooperation,” says Federal Research Minister Annette Schavan, emphasizing that the main objective is to strengthen and integrate the existing competences in the regions themselves through collaborative partnerships. The plan is for two climate centres in southern and western Africa, where German and African scientists will work together, conducting research on, for example, agriculture and water shortages or improved protection against flooding. Later the centres will also have an advisory capacity and train future African researchers.////
