The Lead Investigator of the Renewable Energy, Climate Change and Land Use Management in The Gambia (RECCLUM), Professor Sidat Yaffa, revealed that two-year Feasibility study which started in 2023 and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMFTR), formulated Master of Science (MSc) Degree program focusing on Renewable Energy, Climate Change, and Land Use Management for the University of the Gambia has been submitted to the Senate Committee and awaits approval. “Hopefully the program will start in January 2026”, Prof Yaffa added. He was speaking to the national broadcaster-GRTS’s current affairs show Good Morning Gambia on the 24th September, 2025.
Commenting on raft of activities under the RECCLUM project, Prof Yaffa noted that aside the provision of an irrigation facility powered by a solar system, the construction of a cold storage facility within the women garden is near completion. This he noted aims to ease production thus improving lives and livelihoods of beneficiaries. The lead investigator stated that the all program activities of the project are being finalized as researchers wrapped up the reports including the Onion experimental trials.
Professor Yaffa who doubles as the Director of the UTG/WASCAL also dilated on the implementation of the doctoral research program (PhD) on Climate Change and Education saying new intakes are already recruited and currently been trained on Language proficiency in Francophone west African countries. Other activities under his office Prof Yaffa noted are the REPGam project, SHINE initiative and the National Action Climate Centre of the UTG. Partners of these programs are the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Bristol University UK and the Canadian government respectively.
