Covenant-DAAD-DIaDeRC Workshop and Network Conference 2025

Covenant-DAAD-DIaDeRC Workshop and Network Conference on Climate Change, Food Security and Human Capital Utilisation in Africa 

Date: May 28–30, 2024
Location: Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

Introduction

This concept note proposes a DAAD-funded alumni event designed to promote scientific exchange, professional training, and long-term networking among alumni and stakeholders. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, this event will address the urgent challenges of climate change, food insecurity, and human capital utilisation (given the inadequate provision of quality healthcare and education) in Africa. It will harness the expertise of German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) alumni, foster partnerships, and create platforms for sustained collaboration.

The Covenant-DAAD-DIaDeRC Workshop embodies the DAAD mission to empower alumni by connecting them with scientific, social, political, and economic institutions. It is also designed to foster innovative solutions to global challenges while strengthening the alumni network and ensuring intergenerational knowledge sharing.

Background and Rationale

Africa faces critical and interrelated challenges of food insecurity, climate change, and low utilisation of human capital as reflected in inadequate provision of quality healthcare and education. Even the recent ‘JAPA syndrome’ with the exodus of youthful and trained professionals outside the continent in search of greener pastures speaks volumes to the challenge.  These issues are exacerbated by socioeconomic inequalities, population growth, and climate-induced vulnerabilities such as erratic weather patterns, flooding, and desertification. Thus, addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary, collaborative, and innovative approaches grounded in actionable research and sustained partnerships.

This workshop aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that focus on:

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Tackling food insecurity and enhancing agricultural resilience.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Strengthening health systems to address the intersection of climate change and public health challenges.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): Empowering scholars and researchers to address the need for quality education, especially at the post-secondary level.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Advancing strategies for climate mitigation and adaptation.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Fostering collaborations among researchers, policymakers, and institutions.

The proposed event builds on the work of the DePECOS Institutions and Development Research Centre (DIaDeRC), leveraging the African Scholars Mentorship Network (ASMN), a vibrant community of over 1,000 early-career researchers and professionals in four editions of ASMN bootcamp (ASMN 1.0, ASMN 2.0, ASMN 3.0 and ASMN 4.0). It seeks to empower researchers to provide innovative solutions to regional challenges while strengthening their professional networks and capacities. The event is scheduled to be held the week when DIaDeRC’s ASMN programme will be two years, given its launch on 28th May 2023.

In addition, the event will leverage Covenant University’s pivotal role as a leading university in Nigeria and West Africa, as it was ranked as #1 in Nigeria, #1 in West Africa and #7 in Africa according to Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025.  Also, it will build on discourses at some of Covenant University centres, notably the Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR) with the National Budget Roundtable and Panel Discussion, as well as the Regional Centre of Expertise, Ogun (RCE Ogun) with education for sustainable development and climate change action.

Objectives

The Covenant-DAAD-DIaDeRC Workshop and Network Conference is designed to achieve the following objectives:

1. Promote Knowledge Exchange: Facilitate interdisciplinary discussions on climate change, food security, and human capital utilisation, creating actionable solutions to pressing regional challenges.
2. Strengthen Professional Networks: Build long-term collaborations among DAAD alumni, ASMN members, and other researchers to address shared challenges.
3. Empower Early-Career Researchers: Provide structured mentorship in grant writing, academic publishing, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
4. Foster Collaborative Research: Encourage participants to co-develop innovative projects that align with the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
5. Produce Knowledge Products: Publish peer-reviewed papers and create platforms for ongoing exchange and collaboration.

Workshop Format and Activities

Opening and Keynote Sessions: The event will commence with an opening ceremony featuring goodwill messages from institutional representatives such as the German Consulate, Ogun State Commissioner of Education, and the DAAD Regional Office. Keynote speeches from distinguished experts and regional thought leaders will set the stage for thematic discussions on climate action, food security, and human capital utilisation.

Capacity-Building and Thematic Discussions: Workshops will equip participants with essential skills for research and professional growth. Topics will include:

• Writing successful grant proposals and securing funding.
• Publishing high-quality research in reputable journals.
• Collaborative strategies for interdisciplinary research.

Thematic discussions will take place in syndicate groups, addressing:

• Climate Action (SDG 13): Innovative strategies for mitigation and adaptation.
• Food Security (SDG 2): Enhancing agricultural resilience and nutrition security.
• Human Capital- Healthcare (SDG 3): Strengthening systems to address health inequities and climate-sensitive diseases.
• Human Capital- Education (SDG 4): Empowering scholars and researchers to address quality education, especially at the post-secondary level.

Parallel Scientific Sessions: Featuring a series of parallel sessions where participants will present research papers aligned with the targeted SDGs (2, 3, 4, 13 and 17).

Networking and Closing: Focused on sustaining engagement through structured networking sessions and presentations of syndicate group outcomes. Participants will form research clusters for continued collaboration and contribute to follow-up activities such as joint publications and grant applications.

Expected Outcomes

The workshop will deliver the following measurable outcomes:

1. Capacity Building: Improved research and professional skills for at least 50 early-career researchers.

2. Collaborative Networks: Formation of interdisciplinary research clusters to foster sustained engagement and output.

3. Knowledge Dissemination via:

• Production of policy brief to be circulated in blogposts and Mass Media.
• Publication of research papers as a special issue in a scientific journal.
• Development of a proposal for an edited book addressing food security, climate action, and human capital utilisation in Africa.

4. Digital Platforms: Establishment of virtual networking spaces (e.g., Mailing List, WhatsApp, Telegram) for continuous interaction. This would be further developed into a web-based application.

5. Policy Impact: Practical recommendations for addressing food security, human capital utilisation, and climate-related challenges in Africa.

Target Audience and Expression of Interest

The event is targeted at researchers, scholars and experts in the area of Climate Change, Food Security and Human Capital Utilisation in Africa; with priority given to DAAD Alumni and DIaDeRC’s ASMN Community. Plans are in place to secure funding from DAAD to cover registration and participation, accommodation and feeding during the event; however, participants with other sources of funding would be considered.

To participate, complete the Expression of Interest Form before 10^th January 2025, HERE:

For more information, use the contact below and check the Event Page.

Organising Committee Chair

Evans S. Osabuohien

Alumnus, DAAD-IDC (International Deans’ Course) (2021/2022)

Professor of Economics at Covenant University, Ota

Former Head, Department of Economics & Development Studies, Covenant University

Founding Chair, DePECOS Institutions and Development Research Centre (DIaDeRC), Nigeria

Founding Chair, Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research (CEPDeR)

Pioneer Chair, Regional Centre of Expertise, Ogun (RCE Ogun)

Fellow, Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) since 2012

Fellow, Swedish Institute (SI.) since 2009

Global Author and Advisor for BSC (Behavioural, Social and Cultural) Task Force, UNEP GEO-7

(evans.osabuohien@covenantuniversity.edu.ng; evans.osabuohien@diaderc.org; pecos4eva@gmail.com; conference@diaderc.org; +234 803 582 6693; +234 813 169 1290)