The Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) marked a major achievement last week with the successful hosting of a virtual certificate award ceremony for participants of the WeMAST Earth Observation Product Validation; effective utilization and capturing the Earth Observation data in the field. Held on 16 May 2025, the event brought together trainees, facilitators, and stakeholders from across the region to celebrate the completion of several specialised training initiatives conducted under WeMAST Phase II.

In his adress, SASSCAL Interim Executive Director, Dr. Budzanani Tacheba, congratulated the participants on their accomplishments and highlighted the role of capacity-building in promoting sustainable land management and climate change adaptation. He noted that the WeMAST training programme is a crucial investment in regional scientific capability, enabling professionals to address environmental challenges more effectively through advanced remote sensing and geospatialtools.

The ceremony honoured individuals who completed a series of comprehensive training sessions over the past year. These included two regionally hosted workshops focused on Earth Observation Product Validation; one held in Lusaka, Zambia in July 2024, and another in Gaborone, Botswana in August 2024. Moreover, participants who took part in a practical, field-based Stakeholder Engagement and Earth Observation Data Capture training held at the end of October 2024 in Harare, Zimbabwe also received their certificates. Other recipients were from the training conducted virtually in November 2024, which focused on the effective utilisation of Earth observation products, equipping participants with key skills for applying satellite data in decision-making processes.

Participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to enhance their technical skills and network with peers from across the SADC region. Several trainees shared reflections during the ceremony, describing how the programme has empowered them to contribute more meaningfully to environmental monitoring and sustainable development initiatives in their home countries.

WeMAST (Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Service for Transboundary Basins in Southern Africa) is a flagship initiative under the GMES and Africa programme, designed to support better decision-making through the application of satellite technology and geospatial analysis. The WeMAST geoportal continues to serve as a vital resource for researchers, policymakers, and land management practitioners.

The success of the virtual certificate award ceremony reflects SASSCAL’s ongoing commitment to regional collaboration, scientific innovation, and the strengthening of local capacities in the face of climate change.