For this first Expert Talk of the TRANS-SAHARA series, we are honoured to host Professor Kazuhiko Takeuchi (President of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan) and Professor Osamu Saito (Program Director, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)/Visiting Professor, Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI), The University of Tokyo) who share their research on building resilience to climate change in Asia and Africa. They introduce the innovative Ghana Model, showing how science, traditional knowledge, and community collaboration can come together to shape sustainable futures. The session was moderated by Professor Daphne Gondhalekar (TUM) and Mr Gilles Amadou Ouédraogo (UNCCD).

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In this inaugural episode, Dr. Birguy Lamizana Diallo (UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)) delves into the ambitions and realities of the Great Green Wall Initiative, a bold effort to restore degraded landscapes across the Sahel and Sahara. She discusses its ecological impact, the role of local communities, and how it contributes to regional climate resilience.

Simon Pfluger (Climate & Company) explores how climate finance mechanisms, including Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and carbon credit systems, can unlock investment for agroforestry and sustainable land management. His insights highlight the potential of financial tools to drive long-term resilience in dryland regions.

On 2 October 2025, Dr. Daphne Gondhalekar (Technical University of Munich) joined the Expert Talks Series to present her research on the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus. Her talk explored how this integrated planning framework can support equitable and regenerative transitions in urban and regional contexts. Moderated by Anna Lorenzini (Zabala Innovation), the session highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder co-creation and systems thinking for sustainable development.

The third episode of the TRANS-SAHARA Expert Talks Series featured Prof. Demel Teketay (Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources), a globally recognised forest scientist, who shared his extensive expertise on forest certification and its potential to promote sustainable land use in Africa. Moderated by Dr. Mengistie Kindu  (Technical University of Munich), the session explored practical approaches to forest governance and highlighted the need for collaborative, science-driven solutions to ecological challenges.

CHECK PROF. TEKETAY’S PUBLICATIONS PRESENTED DURING THE WEBINAR:

• Forest Certification in Africa
• Forest Certification
• Status of Forest Certification in eastern and southern Africa sub-regions
• The Role of Certification in accelerating sustainable forest management on the continent
• Status of Forestry in Africa Opportunities and Challenges

The fourth episode of the TRANS-SAHARA Expert Talks Series features Director Sumaila Saaka, Executive Director of the Forum for Natural Regeneration (FONAR) in Ghana and a leading practitioner of Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR). In his presentation, “Revitalising Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) as a Scalable Agroforestry Model in Sub-Saharan Africa’s Semi-Arid Drylands,” Director Saaka shares how community-driven agroforestry and landscape restoration can strengthen livelihoods, improve food security, and build climate resilience. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in natural resource management and climate-smart agriculture, the session highlights low-cost, locally led solutions for restoring degraded lands and underscores the importance of science-informed and participatory approaches to sustainable land use under the EU-funded TRANS-SAHARA Project.

The fifth episode of the TRANS-SAHARA Expert Talks Series features Dr. Yuji Hara, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Systems Engineering, Wakayama University (Japan) and a leading scholar in landscape planning and anthropogenic geomorphology. In his presentation, “Introduction to Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems: Some Examples from Japan and Africa,” Dr. Hara draws on research from Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States to explore how landscapes are shaped by the dynamic interactions between people, ecology, and land use. The session highlights his work on indicator species and rice-based urban–rural landscapes as tools for understanding ecosystem services and cultural heritage, as well as his contributions to FAO’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative, emphasizing science-based approaches to the sustainable management of traditional agricultural landscapes within the TRANS-SAHARA framework.

In this webinar, Professor Akissa Bahri explores innovative approaches to reusing wastewater and marginal water for forestry and agroforestry irrigation, offering solutions to improve water efficiency and sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions. The session was moderated by Professor Jorg E. Drewes from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), fostering an engaging discussion on practical strategies for turning waste into value.

In this webinar, Professor Ali Karnib explores integrated approaches to modeling the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus, highlighting how science-based tools can support evidence-based policy making, strengthen water governance, and enhance climate resilience in vulnerable regions. Drawing on more than 20 years of international experience, the session reflects Professor Karnib’s work at the interface of science, policy, and practice across diverse socio-ecological contexts.

The session fostered an engaging discussion on how WEFE-informed decision-making can bridge gaps between research and policy to support sustainable development outcomes.