RESEARCH
PAUWES has attracted a considerable number of research collaborations, especially taking into account its short time of existence. The cooperation projects involve international partners in academia and practice. Most cooperation springs from the partnership with the German Higher Education Consortium and from the technical cooperation with funding from BMBF, DFID or other sources. Below an overview of key research projects:
WESA – Water and Energy Security in Africa
The project aims to support the development of PAUWES by enhancing its research activities in water and energy sciences. The project focuses on the development of innovative scientific research methods, which are adapted to local contexts and applicable in the areas of water and energy security in Africa. It is the first step towards the realization of a research agenda at PAUWES and at the same time offers PAUWES graduates the opportunity to conduct PhD studies. Another important objective is to establish PAUWES as a Pan African (and beyond) hub/platform on the topic of Energy, Water and Climate Change.
Water Policy and Engineering
- Impact of land use change and climate change on water balance and sediment yield.
- Integrated water resource management in transboundary river basins.
- Integrated water resources management and improvement of basin functionalities.
Energy Policy and Engineering
- Design of hybrid power plant with policy and regulatory frameworks formulation for renewable energy intervention in Africa.
- Analysis of standards for energy distribution systems and disaster risk reduction.
- Managing the dynamics of electricity supply and demand during power shortages.
- Energy transition, technological and regulatory strategies for the deployment of renewable energies.
- Exploring the feasibility and potentialities of hydrogen production coupled with solar energy.
Key Activities and Events
- Support 8 PhD students at PAUWES to pursue doctoral studies in water and energy (Engineering and Policy) in collaboration with partners.
- Research and case studies
- Online and face-to-face events to strengthen cooperation with PAUWES and contribute to Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
Higher Education Partners
- Pan African University – Institute of Water and Energy Sciences (PAUWES )
- The United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
- University of Tlemcen
- The Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT) at the TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences)
- The Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn (UB)
Funding Partner
- German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF)
Risk Assessment and Reduction Strategies for Sustainable Urban Resource Supply in Sub-Saharan Africa Mali – RARSUS-SEMALI
Sector Water & Energy (Engineering and Policy)
Area Mali, Niger, Algeria, Germany
Period 2017 – 2019
Budget Approx. 483 411 €
Sustainable urban development is becoming a key challenge globally due to growing population, fast urbanization, environmental and climatic concerns. African countries are on a move to development and there is need of great care for sustainable use of available resources to avoid the risks of resource depletion, environmental pollution and climate effects. Sustainable development of urban and semi-urban regions requires an adequate risk management in supply of resources (water, energy, food). Such supply systems are susceptible to increasing risks arising from resource depletion, non-sustainable use, improper management, environmental and climatic risks. Research collaborations present a unique opportunity to address the adaptation of sustainable resource supply to avoid prescribed risks to urban and semi-urban developments. Such network will provide an exemplary platform for exchange of technical knowledge and research expertise and encourage interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral higher education endeavours.
The main objective of this project is establish is to long-standing research-based higher education cooperation between Germany and the African partners in the area of sustainable resource supply management in urban and semi-urban regions.
Water
- Propose the sustainable solutions to improve the overall supply situation of urban systems.
- Develop the groundwater models in combination with GIS-based tool for appropriate sites selection.
- Hydrological modeling output data monitoring will be fed in GIS systems in order to support conceiving strategies.
Energy
- To identify the key energy resources and local supply infrastructure, which are vital for the sustainable development of Mali.
- Develop a methodology to assess and develop different energy supply scenarios.
- Renewable energy resource assessment and their potential role of renewables into energy mix in the region of Bamako Mali.
- Develop the criteria in order to rank the importance of energy resources in the Malian context.
Key Activities and Events
- Development of renewable energy lab with focus on solar, wind energy storage technology.
- Pilot scale research on key resource supply challenges in urban and semi-urban African areas with participation of relevant stakeholders.
- Platform for professional capacity-building and knowledge transfer, delivery of training in research and capacity building for university staff, young researchers, as well as practitioners dealing with an interdisciplinary and interfaculty approach.
- Design and development of e-learning courses for water, energy and agricultural production is offering high quality and meaningful content.
- The Summer school will provide students with the necessary knowledge and improve capability and technical skills.
Higher Education Partners
- The Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT) at the TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences)
- Faculty of Sciences and Techniques (FST) at University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTT-B) Mali
- Institut Polytechnique Rural de Formation et de Recherche Appliquee (IPR-IFRA), Katibougou Mali
- Abdou Moumouni University, Niger
- The Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn (UB)
- The United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
Funding Partner
- German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF)
- DAAD
WASCAL – PAUWES
West African Science Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) and Pan African University – Institute of Water and Energy Sciences (PAUWES) Cooperation) – WASCAL – PAUWES
OVERVIEW
Sector Water & Energy (Engineering and Policy)
Area German, Algeria, Niger, Benin
Period 01 Jan 2017 – 31 Dec 2017
Budget Approx. 323 000 €
The collaboration between the Center for Development Research (ZEF) of the University of Bonn, the West African Science Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) and PAUWES aims to build strong networks and create synergies in their quests in the areas of energy and water resources. The project also aims to improve high quality education particularly in research based education and improve the connection between both university partners and their successful establishment in the African and International scientific network.
RESEARCH & CASE STUDY
Ongoing Water and Energy research at WASCAL are established via internships at the WASCAL Competence Center in Ouagadougou.
Key Activities and Events
- Training sessions at the University Abdou Moumouni in Niamey (Niger) and at the University Abomey-Calavi in Cotonou (Benin) will bring together 20 PAUWES MSc students (10 working on energy and 10 on water) with 10 WASCAL PhD and 10 MSc students from the two graduate schools, focusing on the same topics.
- A Summer School at PAUWES with 20 WASCAL Students from Niamey and Cotonou
Higher Education Partners
- The Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn (UB) from Germany
- The West African Science Center on Climate change and adapted land use
- University Abomey-Calavi in Cotonou (Benin)
- Abdou Moumouni in Niamey (Niger)
Funding Partner
- German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF)