Future Climate For Africa

Mid-term conference 2017 - Photography by Gregor Röhrig

By SouthSouthNorth

From 4-7 September 2017, the FCFA Mid-Term Conference welcomed 103 participants from across Africa and the UK. The majority were researchers from the five FCFA research consortia: AMMA-2050, FRACTAL, HyCRISTAL, IMPALA and UMFULA. The main objective of the conference was to share and engage critically on research conducted in the first half of the FCFA programme. A secondary objective was to reflect on learning and progress a roadmap for the second half of the FCFA programme and its legacy.

Registration / arriving

Arrivals from across Africa and the UK. Expectations are high. Excitement in the air. It appears everyone is enjoying being in Cape Town!

welcome

The conference secretariat and hosts, Zablone Owiti and Jean-Pierre Roux, welcome participants. In the opening address, Helen Pearce emphasises the UK Department for International Development and the Natural Environment Research Council's continued support for the programme. Congratulations on an A+ rating in the 2017 FCFA Annual Review!

Highlight Talks from FCFA Projects

Principle Investigators from the five FCFA consortia present highlights of progress to date: Chris Taylor (AMMA-2050), Bruce Hewitson (FRACTAL), John Marsham (HyCRISTAL), Cath Senior (IMPALA), and Declan Conway (UMFULA ).

Q&A with the Panel

Animated discussions are evoked by some direct and challenging questions to the panel. How are we linking research to development impact?

time for a coffee break and some mingling

Established relationships are strengthened, new relationships are kindled. Participants remark that some of their most meaningful and useful conversations were conducted informally over a cup of coffee or tea.

Poster preview presentations begin

The central focus of the conference agenda: Academic exchanges around posters and thematic breakout sessions. Critical engagements across institutions, disciplines, and work packages are facilitated. Researchers present one slide in one minute to introduce their poster to participants.

poster viewing

It's time to get off those seats and move to the poster viewing rooms, where the posters spark much interest and conversations. 53 posters are presented on the themes: Physical climate science; Information distillation and communication; Co-exploration and co-production; Decision making under uncertainty; Urban planning and Water Resources; Agriculture and rural livelihoods.

PROGRAMME IMPACT & LEGACY

Alongside research discussions, participants reflect on how their work link to the intended programme impact: Reducing disruption, damages and fatalities from climate today and in the future; safeguarding economic development and poverty alleviation over the long-term.

An impromptu play draws laughter and reflection. Researchers develop "pathways" to maximise impact beyond the academic sphere and legacy beyond the lifecycle of the programme.

thematic sessions

Exploratory breakout group discussions link research across the FCFA consortia and identify opportunities for future collaboration. What are the opportunities for "capstone" outputs? Together we can be more than the sum of our parts.

Keynote speakers

Provocative keynote addresses capture the attention of participants and spark discussion. How is the FCFA community positioning itself in a complex world?

Keynote speakers: Dr Raffaello Cervigni (World Bank), Paul Watkiss (Paul Watkiss and Associates), Dr Arame Tall (Global Framework for Climate Services), Prof Ted Shepherd (University of Reading).

What a team!

FCFA is (Present): Thompson Annor, Matthew Ascott, Adama Bamba, Rondro Barimalala, Ajay Bhave, Sam Bickersteth, Ross Blamey, Laura Burgin, Matthew Collins, James Cullis, Declan Conway, Amy Creese, Simon Dadson, Moussa Diakhate, Abdoulaye Diarra, Barbara Evans, Declan Finney, Sonja Folwell, Gino Fox, Amadou Thierno Gaye, Mailin Gudoshava, Neil Hart, Alex Harvey, Bruce Hewitson, Linda Hirons, Kornelia Iipinge, Rebecca Ilunga, Victor Indasi, Christopher Jack, Rachel James, Tamara Janes, Richard Jones, Japhet Kashaigili, Jess Kavonic, Kristen Kennedy, Jesse Kisembe, Dom Kniveton, Bettina Koelle, Seshagirirao Kolusu, Kouakou Kouadio, Michele Leon, Emmanuel Likoya, Jon Lovett, Rebecka Malinga, Rudo Mamombe, John Marsham, Diana Mataya, Genito Maure, Alice McClure, John Mfune, Neha Mittal, David Mkwambisi, Hecralito Mucavele, Davison Muchadenyika, Callum Munday, Joseph Mutemi, Mavhungu Muthige, Brenda Mwalukanga, Jonathan Mwanza, Rhoda Nakabugo, Siny Ndoye, Simphiwe Ngcobo, Grigory Nikulin, Elias Nkiaka, Zablone Owiti, John Owuor, Joanna Pardoe, Helen Pearce, Wilfried Pokam Mba, Kwesi Quagraine, Ponnambalam Rameshwaran, Stefan Raubenheimer, Estelle Rouhaud, Jean-Pierre Roux, David Rowell, Geoffrey Sabiiti, Youssouph Sane, Dianne Scott, Catherine Senior, Ted Shepherd, Meggan Spires, Anna Steynor, Rachel Stratton, Laure Tall, Arame Tall, Christopher Taylor, Anna Taylor, Lorenzo Tomassini, Simon Tucker, Andy Turner, Mathilda Van Rooyen, Katharine Vincent, Emma Visman, Nicholas Walker, Grady Walker, Richard Washington, Eddie Wasswa Jjemba, Paul Watkiss, Celia Way, Rosalind West, Sandra Rutendo Zenda, Nkulumo Zinyengere.

This document is an output from a project commissioned through the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). CDKN is a programme funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Netherlands Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS) for the benefit of developing countries. The views expressed and information contained in it are not necessarily those of or endorsed by DFID, DGIS or the entities managing the delivery of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, which can accept no responsibility or liability for such views, completeness or accuracy of the information or for any reliance placed on them.