On July 1st, the kick-off meeting for the joint project “Driving Mechanisms and Early Warning of Cyanobacteria-Induced Water Quality Degradation in Typical Bays of Lake Victoria, East Africa,” supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was successfully convened in Kisumu, Kenya. The meeting brought together eight Chinese representatives including project leader Dr. Min Yang, core team member Professor Shuang Chen (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology), Deputy General Manager Liang Hou (Lihe Technology), and Kenyan partners led by Professor Christopher Aura, Director of the Freshwater Research Center at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute. Distinguished attendees included Professor Linxiu Zhang from UNEP’s International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP) and Dr. Joash Oruta, Head of the Southern Lake Victoria Basin Office at Kenya’s Water Resources Authority. Over 50 experts, scholars, and technical professionals from both nations participated in the meeting chaired by Professor Aura.
Focusing on Winam Gulf in Africa’s largest lake, this project investigates growth patterns and key drivers of toxin- and odor-producing algae under stable low-latitude temperatures. It aims to develop a big data-based early warning system for algal-related water quality issues and propose nutrient management strategies for terrestrial systems. The research will provide scientific foundations for local and international policymaking while supporting Kenya and neighboring countries in achieving SDG6 targets.
Dr. Yang presented the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences’ key research domains and international collaboration priorities. Professor Chen shared preliminary findings from Victoria Lake studies, while Researcher Ming Su outlined the project framework. Engineer Yirong Zhou from Lihe Technology introduced plans for demonstration laboratory construction. Subsequent discussions explored implementation strategies and future cooperation prospects, with particular emphasis on personnel exchanges and capacity building. The meeting also featured a special presentation by Professor Dennis Ochuodho, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Odinga University of Science and Technology, on bamboo-based agroforestry restoration projects supported by the CAS-Sino-Africa Center through UNEP-IEMP.
Following the renewal of their MoU in October 2024, the delegation visited UNEP headquarters’ Ecosystems Division and Early Warning and Assessment Division to explore potential collaborations in water quality monitoring and nutrient management, with both parties committing to enhanced cooperation.
The delegation additionally visited Machakos University, Kisumu Water Purification Plant, and the Southern Lake Victoria Basin Office to identify capacity-building and collaborative research needs, laying groundwork for strengthened Sino-Kenyan scientific cooperation.