ICWRGC engages in Africa through transdisciplinary research, hydrological data sharing, and capacity-development partnerships aimed at building climate resilience and water security. Our engagement in Africa is mainly implemented by providing support for graduate schools in Southern and West Africa, modelling for transboundary integrated water resources management, and Global Data Integration. Most of these activities are conducted under the supervision of Luna Bharati, as ICWRGC’s head of research and education.
Key focus areas of our engagement include Research Projects (in Southern Africa), where we are involved in Co-HYDIM-SA (Co-design of a Hydrometeorological Information System for Sustainable Water Resources Management in Southern Africa) project under the WASA (Water Security in Africa) programme. This initiative builds early-warning and forecasting systems in transboundary catchments.
Ms. Tuuliki Kandjinga is a PhD student from Namibia working for the project. She just returned to Namibia after her stay in Germany within the scope of the Co-HYDIM programme. Tuuliki spent her time both with ICWRGC in Koblenz and at the University of Bonn. We would like to give you an update on Tuuliki’s work.
ICWRGC: Hello Tuuliki, you only just returned to Namibia after your exchange. How long did you stay here in Koblenz and Bonn?
Tuuliki: I was based in Germany from May 2025 to May 2026, so for approximately 12 months
Tuuliki Kandjinga
ICWRGC: Tuuliki, you work at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform in Namibia. Could you give us a short description of your work at the ministry?
Tuuliki: As a Senior Hydrologist I work at the Ministry in the Directorate of Water Resources Management. My work focuses on water resources assessment and management, water quality monitoring and environmental compliance, pollution control and wastewater management, technical support to river basin management initiatives and transboundary water management as well as research and policy support for sustainable water resources development in Namibia.
ICWRGC: Tuuliki, you are now working on a PhD project. What topic do you intend to focus on? How is this connected to your work at the Ministry?
Tuuliki: My PhD research is titled “Current and Future Water Availability and Demand under Climate and Socio-economic Change: A Case Study of the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin, Namibia.” The study investigates how climate change, population growth, and socio-economic development may affect water availability and demand in the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin, which supports nearly 40% of Namibia’s population. The research combines hydrological modelling, climate scenario analysis, and stakeholder engagement to assess future water security challenges and identify sustainable water allocation and management strategies. The research aims to provide evidence-based recommendations to support long-term water planning and climate resilience in Namibia
ICWRGC: Who were/are your supervisors and collaborators in Germany (team at Uni Bonn) and in Namibia?
Tuuliki: My supervisors are PD Dr. Luna Bharati from ICWRGC (who is also “Privatdozent/Associate Professor at Uni Bonn) (First Supervisor), Prof. Dr. Christian Borgemeister, University of Bonn, Second Supervisor, Dr. Fazlullah Akhtar, University of Bonn, Tutor and Dr. Tina Beuchelt, University of Bonn, Advisor. In Namibia, I am supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR), NamWater (bulk water supplier in Namibia; comment from editors), and the Namibia National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST). The collaboration between the German supervisors and the Namibian partners is continuous and complementary. My German supervisors provide scientific guidance, methodological support, and regular feedback throughout the research process, including on the research design, modelling approach, scientific writing, and the preparation of publications. This support is provided through regular meetings, progress reviews, and constructive discussions to ensure the quality and scientific rigor. The Namibian partners support the institutional collaboration and practical implementation of the research by facilitating fieldwork, supporting data collection and analysis, coordinating engagement with relevant institutions and stakeholders, and sharing technical and operational expertise. In addition, they assist in ensuring that the research is conducted in compliance with Namibia’s research governance framework, ethical requirements, and regulatory procedures. This collaboration ensures that the research combines international scientific expertise with local technical knowledge and institutional experience, resulting in research that is both scientifically rigorous and directly relevant to evidence-based water resources planning and management in Namibia.
ICWRGC: When will you return to Germany to conclude your PhD project?
Tuuliki: I plan to return to Germany in April 2027 to conclude my research work.
Within the scope of the Co-HYDIM project, Ms. Veronica Köss (University of Bonn) successfully completed her master’s thesis, utilizing the SWAT model to simulate the water balance of the Cuvelai Basin in Angola and Namibia. Notably, this research produced the first-ever distributed hydrological model for the Cuvelai Basin.
Another key area is Academic Capacity Development. ICWRGC co-initiated the SASSCAL Graduate Studies Programme (Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management) in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a joint initiative of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Germany to strengthen scientific capacity and support evidence-based responses to climate change and sustainable land management in Southern Africa. SASSCAL launched the SASSCAL Graduate Studies Programme in Integrated Water Resources Management (SGSP-IWRM) in 2021. The programme is jointly implemented by SASSCAL, the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), and the International Centre for Water Resources and Global Change (ICWRGC).
The first cohort of SGSP-IWRM ran from 2021 to 2025 and brought together thirteen PhD candidates from the five SASSCAL member countries.
Oshana region, Namibia. © Veronica Köss
One of ICWRGC’s most significant contributions has been the coordination of the scientific mobility programme to Germany. Building on its extensive network of German universities and research institutions, ICWRGC identified suitable host institutions and supervisors for each PhD candidate, ensuring that research topics were matched with appropriate scientific expertise.
During the research stays in Germany, ICWRGC organised a scientific workshop at the Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), providing a platform for African and German researchers to exchange knowledge and discuss current and emerging research challenges related to water resources management in Southern Africa.
Building on the success of the first cohort, the second phase of the programme, SGSP-IWRM II, has now commenced following the approval of the joint proposal submitted by SASSCAL, ICWRGC and NUST, from our side co-led by our colleague Layla Hashweh. An inception meeting between SASSCAL, NUST, and ICWRGC marked the official launch of the second cohort, and a call for applications will soon be issued for PhD candidates who will participate in the programme from 2026 to 2029.
”Serving as the ICWRGC-coordinator of the first SASSCAL Graduate Studies Programme in Integrated Water Resources Management (SGSP-IWRM I) has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It was a privilege to work closely with the first cohort of doctoral students and witness their academic and professional growth throughout the programme. The student mobility component proved to be a powerful instrument for capacity development, benefiting both individuals and institutions. Based on interviews I conducted with students and supervisors, the programme significantly contributed to advancing technical and analytical research skills, strengthening academic independence and leadership, expanding professional networks and intercultural competencies, and enhancing institutional collaboration and research visibility.
Dr. Layla HashwehICWRGC Coordinator SASSCAL
Equally important, the collaboration was a genuine two-way learning experience. German supervisors also benefited by gaining new scientific perspectives, enriching their intercultural understanding, and deepening their knowledge of Southern African research systems. This mutual exchange of expertise and experience is what made SGSP-IWRM I such a meaningful and lasting success.
ICWRGC also partners with WASCAL (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use). This is a joint project by Germany, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo. It was established in 2012 as a regional initiative to strengthen the scientific capacity of West African countries to address the challenges of climate change and sustainable land use. As one of WASCAL’s three core pillars, the Graduate Studies Programme (GSP) provides internationally oriented Master’s and PhD education, bringing together students from across the 12 WASCAL member countries and linking African universities with leading research institutions in Germany. To further strengthen these partnerships, the Network for Capacity Development in Africa (NetCDA) was established to enhance collaboration between WASCAL graduate programmes and their German partner institutions. Building on the success of the first phase, NetCDA II supports the sixth cohort (Batch 6) of WASCAL PhD students by strengthening scientific supervision, expanding academic networks, promoting international mobility, and increasing the visibility of the programme.
Since 2024, the International Centre for Water Resources and Global Change (ICWRGC) has served as the German partner institution for the WASCAL Doctoral Research Programme in Climate Change and Water Resources at the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) in Benin. The current WASCAL UAC Batch 6 consists of 13 PhD candidates from across the WASCAL member countries. The students have successfully completed their mandatory coursework and have presented and defended their research proposals before the scientific advisory board. ICWRGC actively participated in the proposal presentations, providing scientific guidance and constructive feedback to strengthen the students’ research plans. The candidates are now commencing their field research, marking the beginning of the next phase of their doctoral studies.
Oshana region, Namibia. © Veronica Köss
”Beyond supporting capacity development and education in West Africa, the WASCAL programme has successfully established a strong academic network connecting institutions in Germany and West Africa, ensuring the programme's long-term impact.
PD Dr. Luna BharatiICWRGC Head of Research and Education
On top of that, ICWRGC is active in supporting the hydrological data exchange in Africa through its Global Data Centres and in partnership with UNESCO-IHP, WMO and UNEP. ICWRGC operates the GEMS/Water Data Centre (GWDC) and the International Soil Moisture Network (ISMN) and closely collaborates with the Global Runoff Data Centre, supporting global climate observation and integrating thousands of African hydrological stations into international databases.
