The AfriAlliance project in partnership with the World Bank and the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) organized the 1st Roadshow of the project during the 9th International Workshop of Africa Centers of Excellence (CEA) held in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, from May 07 to 09, 2018. The main objective of this roadshow was to introduce to the participants the AfriAlliance project initiative, the results obtained after two years of implementation as well as the perspectives.

On the agenda of this meeting were not only presentations but also project developers to discuss their projects in connection with local adaptations to climate change. With regard to the presentations, it should be noted that the Program Director of the AfWA, Dr. Simeon Kenfack, a worthy representative of the AfriAlliance consortium presented the project to an audience of more than 120 participants including students, teachers, funders as well as the World Bank and other project developers. Then, 2iE’s partners, Dr. Sossou and Dr. Hela presented AfriAlliance's findings on technological innovations, including the impacts of climate change on water resources, water services, the multiple uses of water and identified capacity building to address the situation. Finally, about ten project developers presented, one after the other, innovative actions that they carry out and that is related to climate change including, among others, solar pumps (renewable energies), bench-tables and roofs made from recovered plastics (reducing wood cutting) and growing caterpillars as a source of protein for the population’s food (in replacement of animal proteins that consume more herbs and water), to name but a few.

In short, the Ouagadougou meeting was considered fruitful by all participants. For the organizers, it was a good window to compare the theoretical results of the project (the data of factsheets presented) with the reality with regard to the projects initiatives presented by the project developers.

It is worth noting that at the next STC in July in Kampala, Uganda, another AfriAlliance project activity will be organized: The Innovation Bridge Event (IBE). A kind of symposium to disseminate the innovative approaches developed during the project.