SASSCAL funds 33 Namibian students

Thirty-three Namibian students have received support for Honours, Master’s, and PhD degrees through the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL), Namibia’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani, revealed on 12 March.

Zaamwani made the remarks during her statement at the 4th Ordinary Meeting of the SASSCAL Council of Ministers in Gaborone, Botswana, where she outlined the concrete benefits Namibia has derived from its SASSCAL membership.

Beyond student funding, Namibia has also benefited from the establishment of a Graduate Studies Programme in Integrated Water Resources Management, hosted at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).

The country has further received support for the refurbishment of 44 weather stations and the installation of 15 new automated weather stations, significantly boosting its climate monitoring infrastructure.

Zaamwani credited Germany’s sustained financial backing as the foundation of these achievements, expressing “heartfelt appreciation to the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, in particular the Ministry of Research, Technology and Space”.

She also pointed to SASSCAL’s expanding renewable energy portfolio, noting that the organisation is “actively coordinating various green hydrogen initiatives, including pilot projects and a scholarship programme designed to enhance capacity in renewable energy”.

Zaamwani used the platform to urge fellow member states to address a pending legal matter. “I encourage other member states to similarly fast-track the ratification process for this vital legal instrument,” she said, referring to the SASSCAL Treaty, which Namibia has already signed and ratified.

The minister described climate change as posing “significant challenges to our economies, ecosystems, and communities throughout the Southern African region”, framing SASSCAL’s work as essential to building long-term regional resilience.