Department Environmental Social Sciences
First stakeholder workshop in Niger, West Africa in project FANFAR
October 1, 2018
The first stakeholder workshop in FANFAR was successfully carried out in Niamey, Niger, from 16. – 20. September 2018. Around 40 decision-makers and stakeholders from 15 West African countries participated. They are responsible for producing and managing flood forecasts, flood alerts, or rescue services. The workshop was organized by one of the West African partners AGRHYMET, together with the Swedish project coordinator SMHI. The decision analysts from the ESS department, Francisco Silva Pinto, Alice Aubert, and Judit Lienert, were in charge of different interventions, aimed at guiding through a structured decision-making process and at better understanding the needs, aims, and daily realities of the participants.
We were highly impressed by the level of engagement of the participants, their aim to improve the conditions in their countries, and their friendliness. We greatly acknowledge that they shared valuable local knowledge on the diverse situations in West Africa with us. Many lively interactions and discussions took place. The workshop is an excellent starting point for improving the technical flood forecast and alert system in such a way that it is better adapted to user needs.