2022 Cohort – Science Advice Skills Development Program (SASDP)
The INGSA-Africa Science Advice Skills Development Program has concluded its inaugural program – matching 10 mid-career scientists and researchers from 8 African countries with 10 mentors from 8 different countries around the world.
The program focused on the topic of Climate Change in Africa (Health, Water, Energy, Food Security) and selected participants with expertise related to climate change.
The SASDP started with a contact phase in the form of a virtual mentor-mentee introductory workshop on 14 September 2022 where core topics – such as introduction to tools for transformative policy advice and experiences, balancing political realities and scientific advice and the role of science in addressing climate change in the African continent – were addressed by invited specialists in science advice.
The SASDP officially concluded through a virtual workshop on 15 December 2022, where findings and outputs of mentorship program were shared by the mentees while the mentors discussed their experience engaging with mentors. The program was also presented to representatives of the parent organisation, INGSA, at a workshop organized on 5 December 2022 as a side-event of the World Science Forum in Cape Town, South Africa.