The NEPAD African Western and Southern Networks of Centres of Excellence in Water Sciences are international collaborations between teams of researchers working in different parts of southern and western Africa on the economic development of local water resources. The southern network of nine centres is coordinated from the University of Stellenbosch in Cape Town, South Africa, the western network of five centres from the University of Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal.
Centres of Excellence are physical or virtual centres focused on specific issues. They concentrate on existing capabilities and resources to encourage collaboration across disciplines and across organisations on long term programmes and projects directly relevant to human needs and aspirations. By definition, Centres of Excellence are widely known for their work.
The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) "explicitly recognizes that Africa’s economic renewal and sustainable development will not be achieved without effective and efficient research and development (R&D) institutions.”[1] NEPAD, therefore, launched a programme specifically to identify and reinforce R&D capacities in Africa through building regional networks of Centres of Excellence in water sciences.[2] The program is in line with Africa's Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA).[3] The specific goals for water sciences (p. 28 of the CPA) are:
Calls of interest were launched and proposals evaluated in both the Southern African and Western African regions to identify and appoint Centres of Excellences in water sciences. Two regional networks were set up in 2009. The existing networks may be further expanded.
Coordinator of the network is the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.[4] [5]
The coordinator is the Doctoral School on Water of the University of Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal.