8^th China Africa Water Forum: Water and Environment was held successfully in Nairobi of Kenya on 22^nd- 27^th July of 2024. This conference was initiated together by China Africa Water Association (CAWA), UNESCO, Kenyan National Chapter of International Association Hydrogeologists (IAH), Chinese National Chapter of IAH and University of the Western Cape and Regional Centre on Groundwater Resources. This conference was organized by CAWA and hosted by Sino-Africa Joint Research Center Chinese Academy of Sciences (SAJOREC). The conference enjoyed the wholehearted support and collaboration backing of the team led by Prof. Xue Yan, Executive Director, the center of SAJOREC.

The conference brought together over 100 scholars, entrepreneurs and representatives of international organizations and non-governmental organizations, who were from renowned universities, scientific research institutes and enterprises in China, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya respectively. The event was also supported by South African Department of Science and Technology, Africa Groundwater Academy，Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology，Wuhan University, Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences，Tianjin XingTong JiuHeng Technology Co., Ltd.，North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power etc..

Group photo of CAWA conference participants

Dr. Alexandros Makarigakis of UNESCO, Ms. Lindiwe Gama of South African Department of Science and Technology, Mr. Zhenyu Wang, Deputy Director General of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Prof. Qingfeng Wang, DG of Wuhan Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of SAJOREC CAS, Dr. Harrison Pienaar, chairperson of CAWA, Prof. Yongxin Xu, Secretary General of CAWA delivered the opening messages.

The representative of UNESCO noted their longstanding support for CAWA’s effort in promoting the advancement of water-related knowledge and industry in both China and Africa. The platform established by CAWA itself would enhance constantly the talent fostering and scientific research cooperation in the terms of water-related area in developing counties. At the opening ceremony, following rigorous selection and review by experts, a merit certification of International Water Conservation Award of CAWA was presented. This award recognized the critical contribution to rainwater resource asset and water rights trading in the case of Xiangjiang New district in Hunan Province in the field area of water conservation.

During the conference, there were 13 keynote speeches and 54 reports in different sessions, which shown the latest research ideas and applications within the various aspects, including water resources management, water environmental management, climate change mitigation, carbon sequestration and so on. Prof. Dedi Liu of Chairperson and Prof. Jiabo Yin of Secretary General of the Youth League of CAWA organized a sub-forum of the conference, which injected new energy into CAWA from young scientists among developing countries.

Dr. Harrison Pienaar, Chairman of CAWA

East African Rift, Maasai Mara National Park, and other places for field visits were carried out after the splendid academic feast. During this time, experts and scholars from Chinese National Climate Center, Sun Yet-sen university, Chengdu University of Technology, Zhengzhou University, Jinan University, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Wuhan University, Tsinghua University, and friends from the United States were engaged in an in-depth discussion for regarding as verified formation of the Great Rift, the characteristics of flora and fauna in the African savanna, and local sustainable development. The discussions involved the intersection and integration of various disciplines, addressing paleoclimatology, paleoanthropology, and geology.

Academic Salon Site

This conference has provided new perspectives and opportunities for exchange and cooperation between China and African countries in the field of water and environment. CAWA has played a crucial role as a bridge between China and Africa in integrating industry, academia and research in water-related area in developing countries. It has also been very proactive in promoting in-depth exchanges between China and Africa in terms of water and environmental issues.

A field trip in Maasai Mara

         CAWA Secretariat

         16/08/2024