The primary objective of AfriAlliance was to foster collaboration between African and European stakeholders in the fields of water innovation, research, policy, and capacity development, in order to prepare Africa for future climate change challenges. This Africa-EU cooperation was brought to a practical level by sharing both technological and non-technological innovations to address local challenges. In doing so, the project also identified and promoted sustainable market and investment opportunities.
Demand-driven, problem-focused Action Groups facilitated knowledge exchange among key stakeholders and networks at multiple scales, effectively identifying and addressing vulnerabilities. The project leveraged a wide range of existing and emerging communication channels—including EU and African platforms, conferences, and social media—to integrate climate change considerations into water-related networks, raise awareness of impacts, and promote adaptation strategies.
Water and climate change research collaboration between Africa and Europe was strengthened and enhanced through a combination of forward-looking and bottom-up innovation processes, including roadmapping techniques. The project identified demands, opportunities, and constraints at various levels and delivered strategic guidance, including both short-term, demand-driven research and innovation (R&I) outlooks and a long-term R&I agenda, to improve Africa-EU cooperation.
Furthermore, AfriAlliance supported policymakers in developing a consistent and coordinated approach to bilateral collaboration on innovation for water and climate resilience.
Key project activities:
•Demand-driven Action Groups
•Identifying and aligning social innovation with research needs
•Enhancing knowledge sharing and technology transfer
•Improving monitoring and forecasting of water and climate-related challenges
•Dissemination and outreach initiatives
Under the Project, WE&B succesfully developed/ delivered the following services:
•WE&B served as a Work Package Coordinator, leading the design and implementation of 10 Action Groups (Communities of Practice) across the African continent. These groups provided a platform to strengthen coordination both within Africa and between Africa and Europe in the areas of water and climate innovation.
• WE&B developed a comprehensive Stakeholder Map identifying African and European entities active in water and climate sectors.
• A Social Network Analysis was conducted involving 750 connected organizations. This analysis provided valuable insights into power dynamics, influence, and networking capacity among stakeholders.
• WE&B led the project’s sustainability efforts by designing and producing three Business Plans for the key outcomes of the AfriAlliance project: (i) The AfriAlliance Online Platform; (ii) The Stakeholder Engagement Events and (iii) The AfriAlliance Action Groups.
Key outputs and Resources:
•Example of policy brief produced: https://afrialliance.org/files/downloads/2019-04/AfriAlliance_PolicyBrief%231.pdf
•Example of Factsheets produced: https://afrialliance.org/files/downloads/2020-02/AfriAlliance%20Social%20Innovation%20Factsheet%20%233.2%20English%20Version_0.pdf
•Social Network Analysis: https://afrialliance.org/knowledge-hub/afrialliance-stakeholder-map/afrialliance-stakeholder-map