Taking action to bridge the gap between policymakers and water researchers in Africa
The second virtual conference on joint action towards water knowledge management, presented by the NEPAD Southern African Network for Water Centers of Excellence (SANWATCE), takes place from 18 to 22 March. Hosted by the NEPADSANWATCE, in conjunction with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, this e-conference will take place during the United Nations’ World Water Day on 22 March as part of the UN International Year for Water Cooperation. Following from the first e-conference in November 2012, the upcoming e-conference will focus on the need for joint action towards water knowledge management, and challenges and problems that are being faced. Specific aims are to •improve partnerships and visibility •identify possible projects•explore thematic collaborations.
According to Nico Elema, regional programme manager of SANWATCE, an e-conference is a discussion among a group of people on a specific theme that is conducted via the Internet: “It is an interesting alternative to the traditional format of seminars and workshops as it saves costs and provides more flexibility to participants to schedule their participation. “We are very excited about the opportunity to connect with likeminded people in the water sector in the region,” he says. “We are looking forward to lively debate, which in turn will stimulate skills development and growth within the sector.” All discussions and presentations will take place on the online platform AquaKnow.net, a collaborative workspace and content management system. Video addresses by keynote speakers will be available to set the scene for the various topics of discussion. To join the discussions of the e-conference, sign up now at http://econference.nepadwatercoe.org.
