Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and the American University in Cairo (AUC) have launched a joint initiative to train African professionals in water management, climate-smart agriculture, and the water-energy-food-ecosystems (WEFE) nexus. The programme, known as Building Climate Leadership Excellence for African Resilience (BCLEAR), aims to create a network of African trainers and specialists who can transfer knowledge and skills to their national institutions. This initiative is designed to expand capacity-building activities across the continent, with a focus on Nile Basin countries.
The BCLEAR programme will include four training-of-trainers programmes, some of which will be hosted in Egypt with participants from African countries, while others will be held in Uganda and Rwanda. These training sessions will cover topics such as climate-smart agriculture, sustainable water resources management, crop and water management, and integrated resource planning. The programme will also focus on the WEFE nexus, an approach that examines the links between water, energy, food production, and ecosystems.
Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam emphasized that African countries face common challenges related to water, climate change, food security, and development. He highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange and institutional capacity building for greater cooperation among African countries. Sewilam also noted that Nile Basin countries have accumulated different experiences in dealing with these challenges, and sharing expertise could help turn regional cooperation into practical partnerships.
AUC will contribute its academic, research, and training capabilities to the programme, working alongside the technical and institutional expertise of Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and specialized organizations in participating countries. The partnership aims to ensure that training is connected to the specific needs of participating countries while promoting mutual learning among African institutions.
The programme is being launched while Egypt holds the current presidency of the African Water Facility (AWF). Egypt intends to use its presidency to support African cooperation, capacity building, and knowledge exchange alongside its broader engagement with Nile Basin countries. Egypt has increasingly used training and technical cooperation as part of its water diplomacy in Africa, alongside participation in regional initiatives focused on climate adaptation, water management, and institutional capacity building.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has not disclosed the programme's budget, implementation period, or the number of African participants expected to take part in the four training programmes. However, the ministry's statement emphasized that the partnership is intended to ensure that training is connected to the specific needs of participating countries while promoting mutual learning among African institutions.
The BCLEAR programme is expected to enhance the capacity of African institutions to address water and climate-related challenges. By creating a network of African trainers and specialists, the programme aims to promote knowledge exchange and institutional capacity building across the continent. The programme's impact is expected to be significant, with potential benefits for Nile Basin countries and beyond.
Key points
- The programme focuses on the water-energy-food-ecosystems (WEFE) nexus.
- Egypt holds the current presidency of the African Water Facility (AWF).
- The programme aims to create a network of African trainers and specialists.
