The African Regional Workshop of Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme and the Second Conference on Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods in Africa was convened during 23-25 September 2019 in Dakar, Senegal. The overall goal of the workshop/conference was to establish a permanent mechanism of partnership to support the China-Africa cooperation in achieving sustainable development goals. The workshop/conference was co-sponsored by UN Environment, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), National Natural Sciences Foundation of China, University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar (UCAD) – Senegal, United Nations Development Programme, Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall (PAGGW), National Agency of the Great Green Wall of Senegal, with the support by UN Environment-International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP) and the National Academy of Sciences & Techniques of Senegal (ANSTS). It was attended by about 100 researchers, administrative and technical staff from more than 10 African nations and China, representing about 30 national and regional organizations.
At the opening ceremony held on the morning of 23 September 2019, Prof. Doudou Ba, the President of ANSTS, Prof. Doctar Toure, Vice President of TWAS, Ms. Kai Feng, Deputy Director from the Bureau of International Cooperation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Prof. Linxiu Zhang, Director of UNEP-IEMP, made their remarks on behalf of sponsoring organizations. They pointed out that this event was a key follow up of the first Conference on Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods in Africa held in Kenya in September 2017.
On 25 September, the representatives of African academies wrote to express their appreciation and satisfaction for the excellent organization of the workshop/conference and hope to strengthen relationship among the technical partners that are present in Dakar. It was regarded as a great success due to enhancing mutual understanding between Chinese and African scientists and institutions, pushing forward the implementation of existing collaborative research projects, and achieving all the expected objectives.
