Report from the 6th IAHR Africa Division Congress
The 6th IAHR Africa Division Congress took place from December 9th to 12th, 2024, at the Mohamed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir-Marrakech, Morocco. The Congress brought together experts in water research and innovation to address key challenges in Africa.
The Congress had 221 registrations, with a participation of around 115 delegates and 80 speakers, including keynotes and panelists, from around 42 countries worldwide.
The themes featured a wide range of topics including hydroinformatics, hydraulic structures, climate change, urban water and wastewater, water governance, lakes, estuaries and coasts, river basins management, and groundwater hydraulics and management.
The event underscored the importance of fostering regional and global collaboration to advance innovative solutions in water managemnet, ensuring resilience in the face of climate change.
The main objective of the Africa Division - established in 1992 - is to bolster IAHR’s impact on the continent, by exploring and identifying the main water challenges, and expand the IAHR network, by attracting and engaging African institutes, universities, and professionals. As part of this vision, IAHR connects African scholars, professionals and institutions with worldwide organizations, and promote collaborations that will create solutions for the water security and climate change challenges and help meet net-zero and sustainability targets.
Programme highlights
The risks of relying on global hydrological model outputs for water resource development in Africa, amidst lagging investment in people. Prof. Jane Tanner, University of Reading, UK
How to integrate information concerning climate change and climate variability in water resources decision making. Prof. Taha B. M. J. Ouarda, Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre, Canada
Water for resilient cities : challenges and opportunities by Philippe Gourbesville
Challenges and Opportunities for Hydraulic Research and Engineering in Africa: The Role of IAHR African Division. Prof. Abdin Mohamed Ali Salih, Arab Water Council & University of Khartoum
2 High Level Panels on Water Education and Capacity Building and Governance and African Cooperation
4 Special Talks PRIMA, WATER4ALL, IAHR, MEDICORE
Enhancing Water Productivity with WaPOR: A Hands-On Workshop Using WaPLUGIN in QGIS
Design of physical hydraulic models and measurements
1 technical visit to the Mohamed VI Museum of Water Civilization in Marrakech
Winners:
Miftah Meryem, Morocco
Jamiu Eniola, Nigeria
CHAGDALI SARA, Morocco
Finalists
Zaynab Bouhioui, Morocco
Asma ABOU ALI, Morocco
Zhihui Liu, China
Valerio Prosseda, Italy
EBOA MBONJO Franck Cloreil, Cameroon
The way forward
Advances in water research needs investment in data collection: water information systems, sensors, integration, dashbord, forcasting, warning, etc.
Ensuring strategic needs and uses to cope with african demographic growth: Drinking water, quality, water for food security – smart irrigation and adapting agriculture to climate change
Need for more infrastructure for energy and flood management
Protection of natural environment and Mitigation of water hazards
Working at the right scale/block scale for water services with proper interconnection
Reviewing urban design and planning
Next Congress
A call to host the IAHR Africa Congress in 2026 will soon open! Keep updated
Potential candidatures are invited to submit any expressions of interest to the Chair of the Africa Division, Moez Louati
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Interview to IAHR President Philippe Gourbesville" IAHR Africa Congress Explores Urban Water Management Solutions" by Morocco World News
6th IAHR Congress Showcases UM6P’s Role in Shaping Africa’s Water Policy Morocco World News
