The 2009/2010 ACCFP Round 1 Culmination Conference was held 8-10 December in Dakar, Senegal. During the conference, 41 ACCFP Fellows, 14 ACCFP Host Institution Supervisors and 10 ACCFP Home Institution Supervisors presented their research in regards to the conference theme, “Climate change in Africa: Research insights on adaptation at local and regional/sub-regional scales”. Interactive plenary sessions solicited reflections from and facilitated discussions between Fellows and their Home and Host Supervisors that enunciated strengths and weaknesses of the ACCFP experience. Several high-ranking officials also addressed Fellows and conference participants, congratulating them on their ACCFP projects and related accomplishments. These included Prof. Amadou Tidiane Ba, Minister of Higher Education, of Universities and Regional University Centers and of Scientific Research, Senegal; Prof. Saliou Ndiaye, Rector of the University of Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal; and Dr. Mbareck Diop, Chair of the CCAA Advisory Board, Senegal. At the conclusion of the Culmination Conference, a total of 44 Fellows graduated from Round 1 of the program.

The results of individual Fellowship projects and major messages emerging from the Fellows’ work highlighted current and future priorities with respect to capacity building for climate change adaptation in Africa. Insight from Round 1 participants and additional lessons learned from program management and implementation combined to inform a series of recommendations for Phase II of the program – and beyond. For more details, please download the Final Technical Report for Round 1 of the ACCFP.

For more information about Round 1 of the ACCFP, Contact Clark Seipt (START) at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information about the ACCFP Round 1 Culmination Conference, visit www.start.org.