Webinar: Climate Change, Hydrology and Water Resources in East Africa
ICPAC has launched a series of webinars as a forum to promote strategic regional dialogue around the impacts of climate change on different socioeconomic sectors. The overall goal of this effort is to highlight the emerging challenges and identify potential solutions and preparation measures.
This webinar examines Climate Change, Hydrology and Water Resources in East Africa. It aims at shading light on the implications of climate change for the hydrological cycle and water resources of the region.
Climate variability and change are causing devastating socio-economic impacts especially through severe droughts, floods, and other weather and climate extremes. Water is fundamental to human life and many activities and the availability of clean water is a constraint on economic development. Demand for water is increasing as a result of population growth and economic development.
Understanding the impacts of climate change on water resources is key for the sustainable development of Eastern Africa.
Panelists
Prof Elfatih A B Eltahir
Professor of Hydrology and Climate Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Topic: Climate Change and Water Resources Management: Climate Change Impact on the Nile River Flow
Elfatih A. B. Eltahir is the Breene M. Kerr Professor of Hydrology and Climate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Khartoum in Sudan in 1985 (First Class Honors); a Master of Science in hydrology from the National University of Ireland in 1988 (First Class Honors); and the Master of Science in meteorology and the Doctor of Science in Hydro-climatology, both from MIT in the same year of 1993.
Eltahir is currently the Director of the MIT-University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) Research Program with a focus on Sustainable Development in Africa.
Prof John Marsham
Met Office Joint-Chair University of LeedsTopic: Potential Impact of Climate Change on Hydro-Meteorological Hazards (flood and drought and the increase of lake levels) over East Africa
John Marsham is Met Office Joint Chair at the University of Leeds leading the Leeds component of the Met Office Academic Partnership (MOAP). He is a member of Water@Leeds and NCAS. He leads a research group studying atmospheric convection, tropical meteorology, climate change and Saharan dust uplift. His focus is on taking process studies through to implications for and improvements in weather and climate models.
Mr. Fred Mwango
Regional Water Expert Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)Topic: Policy Opportunities and Gaps in Navigating Transboundary Water Risks
Fred Mwango has over 38 years of experience working in water resources thematic areas. Before joining IGAD he served for many years in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Kenya in various capacities including Ag. Director Water Resources and later as Head, Transboundary Waters in the same Ministry. He has also served for many years as a Member of the Nile Technical Advisory Committee (NILETAC) for Kenya as well as serving as a Member of the Technical Advisory Committee Member for Kenya for the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW TAC) for over 20 years. He has provided several presentations on Transboundary Water-related topics (Water Security, Governance etc ).
Dr. Mohammed A. Hassan
Hydrometeorologist IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Center (ICPAC)discussant
Topic: Reactions to Presentations with Reference to IGAD interventions
Mohammed A. Hassan has over 20year experience in water resource management in the Greater Horn of Africa. He has held several positions among and as a senior lecturer at the Technical University of Kenya, National Decision Support Specialist at the Nile Basin Initiative. He is currently a hydro-meteorologist at ICPAC.