Strategic Human Capacity Building for the Georesources Industry in Africa -A Way Forward

Michael Adewunmi
Pennsylvania State University, N/A, PA

The Alliance for Earth Sciences, Engineering, and Development in Africa (AESEDA) is a formal partnership among Penn State University, select African Universities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. This partnership is designed to enable the integration of physical sciences, engineering, and social sciences within interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach initiatives in order to promote diversity, develop human resources, promote economic vitality, and enable stewardship of African georesources (i.e., water, energy and minerals). This mission is anchored in a multi-disciplinary approach; a diverse intellectual and cultural climate; innovative collaborative partnerships with a range of institutions; and a focus on historically disadvantaged populations. Our goal is to apply our integrated intellectual capital to address issues of georesources extraction and management for sustainable livelihoods in Africa, including industrial and economic activities that are the backbone of socio-economic development.

Partnership activities taking place under the umbrella of AESEDA will serve to: Build human capacity in Africa that will drive and sustain georesources management as the engine of economic growth Formulate a greater basis for economic opportunity and sustainable livelihoods. Develop a technically sound framework for decision-making and policy implementation encourage Africa's full participation in the global economy. Capitalize on new and emerging educational methods and technologies to enhance human capacity development.

The Alliance will pursue its mission to maximize the potential of both human and physical resources through academic partnerships - with foundations, international development agencies, and major multinational corporations in georesources extraction as additional stakeholders. The public-private alliance formed in AESEDA will help develop the human capital needed to support the georesources industry that is a critical sector of the economy in many African countries.