The 31 early career scientists came from 15 countries in Africa, representing different disciplines, communities of practice and different African universities. They have been selected to participate in the training through the recent LIRA call on Advancing the implementation of SDG 11 in cities in Africa.
The aims of the workshop were:
- to strengthen scientific capacity to undertake TD research
- to enable researchers to build meaningful inter- and trans-disciplinary projects
- to strengthen science communication skills
- to support the development of full proposals.
The training workshop presented theories, methods, and examples of TD research. The workshop also included modules on science communication and proposal writing as well as a field visit to the KALOCODE project in Kasubi, organised together with the Makarere Urban Action Lab.
The event was delivered by a group of TD and urban experts, including Vivi Stavrou (ISSC, France), Zarina Patel (University of Cape Town and African Centre for Cities, South Africa), Tobias Buser (TD-Net, Switzerland), Christine Kessides (former Urban Practice Manager, World Bank Institute, USA), and Omar Nagadi (Cairo Lab for Urban Studies, Training and Environmental Research, Egypt). It also included two guest lectures from Prof Nelson Sewankambo (Uganda National Academy of Sciences) and Prof Shuaib Lwasa (the Urban Action Lab in Makarere University).
Over the course of the five-day training, the researchers also worked on the development of their full proposals, which should be submitted by 20 November 2017. All proposals will undergo a scientific review process, following which the LIRA 2030 Africa programme will award up to ten grants for integrated research projects in Africa, each worth up to 90,000 Euro over 2 years. Each project is expected to stimulate and deliver the new knowledge required in the practice of sustainable urban development.
About LIRA
LIRA 2030 Africa is a five-year programme of the International Council for Science (ICSU), implemented in partnership with the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) and the International Social Science Council, with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. LIRA 2030 Africa aims to generate solutions-oriented knowledge to address complex sustainability challenges in Africa and to increase participation of the African scientific community in global research programmes.
Related Items
Working scientist podcast: Democratizing knowledge and access to tools for sustainable development
11.03.2021

World Engineering Day - science and engineering are key partners in building a sustainable future
04.03.2021

ISC and Sustainability in the Digital Age partner to drive transformative system changes for an equitable world
27.11.2020

LIRA2030 research informs implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Mozambique
07.07.2020

Investment in transdisciplinary research and training for future generations of African scientists is crucial to advancing sustainable development in African cities
30.04.2020

Lagos is getting less rain, but more heavy storms. What it can do to prepare - by Nelson Odume, LIRA2030 grantee
09.04.2020

Understanding the different characteristics of African cities will be crucial in responding effectively to COVID-19 on the continent
13.03.2020

Cities in the Danger Zone: Adding Natural Threats to the Development Challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cameroon
13.11.2019

Global Sustainable Development Report 2019 calls for urgent, targeted action to avoid reversing the development gains of recent decades
23.09.2019

ISC commits to enhanced collaboration with UN-Habitat and UNDRR on urban health and wellbeing and disaster risk reduction
20.06.2019

Nine projects led by African early-career scientists funded under the LIRA 2030 Africa programme
19.06.2019

The triumphs and trials of transdisciplinary research: reflections on the un-disciplining of disciplines
28.05.2019

Official Statement by the Scientific and Technological Community (STC) Major Group Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2019, Geneva, Switzerland
17.05.2019

Science and Policy Forum underscores need for collaboration across science, policy makers and society for success in disaster risk reduction
15.05.2019

COP24 side event on The CitiesIPCC Research and Action Agenda for effective urban responses to climate change
07.12.2018

Early career scientists from Africa gather for LIRA transdisciplinary workshop in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
26.09.2018

How to bring clean energy to informal settlements: Co-designing sustainable energy solutions in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa
28.08.2018

Transforming southern African cities in a changing climate – Q and A with Alice McClure from the University of Cape Town
28.08.2018

Public launch event of the Council explores values of science and links between science, politics and society
05.07.2018

INGSA-Africa Chapter Holds Pre-AMASA 13 Learning Collaborative Workshop in Abuja, Nigeria.
23.11.2017

New report from scientific experts provides a unique guide to translate Sustainable Development Goals into reality
12.05.2017

Call for pre-proposals: Advancing the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 11 on cities in Africa
27.02.2017
Call for Nominations for the Scientific Committee for the Urban Health and Wellbeing programme
10.02.2017
GSDR report launches in France – High level event and workshop co-organized by ICSU, UNDESA, IDDRI and IRD
28.10.2016
ICSU’s Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme highlights importance of health issues at UNEP General Assembly
24.05.2016
International experts submit report on Future of the Seas and Oceans to G7 Science and Technology Ministers meeting in Japan
21.05.2016
ICSU’s Urban Health programme convenes workshop in China on modelling approaches to human health risks in cities
02.05.2016
Former ICSU President Jane Lubchenco awarded Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for Work in Changing Policy
25.03.2015
More than 1,000 delegates gather in Geneva for talks on global disaster risk reduction agreement
20.11.2014

UN supports call for an international science advisory mechanism on disaster risk reduction
26.07.2014
The International Council for Science pledges support for scientists in the L’Aquila case
11.01.2013
Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) to meet in Panama
13.04.2012