Namibia hosts training session for African geoscientists

WINDHOEK, FEB 9 — Namibia hosted the 4th PanAfGeo session, a three-year project which supports the training of geoscientific staff from African Geological Surveys through the development of an innovative training program.

A group of 21 professionals from 13 African countries completed a two-week course on Geoscientific Information Management at the Geological Survey of Namibia in Windhoek, Thursday.
The capacity building session was jointly organized by the French Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Namibia.

According to Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy on Friday, the experts from across Africa received interactive learning through lectures and practical digital exercises on the methods, approaches, tools, procedures and requirements for building 3D geological models in multi-layer contexts.

Furthermore, the trainees acquired state-of-the-art tool kits that contained methods and field work from eight geoscientific domains: geoscientific mapping, mineral resources assessment, artisanal and small-scale mining, environmental management of mines, geohazards, geoheritage, geoscientific information management, communication and promotion, the ministry added.

“The overall objective and impact of PanAfGeo was to improve the governance and sustainable use of African mineral resources and related infrastructures,” the ministry added.
The ministry said the outcome of the session strengthened the knowledge and skills in Africa’s mining sector and specifically of African Geological Surveys, to enable them to contribute in their respective countries.
The PanAfGeo cooperation provides up to 50 training sessions to some 1,500 geoscientists coming from all African countries. This program worth 10.3 million euros is co-funded by the European Commission. – XINHUA