Research project W24Africa
Green Waste and Water Management for a Sustainable Africa
Project name Green Waste and Water Management for a Sustainable Africa
Acronym W²4Africa
Project partner
  • Technische UNiversität Darmstadt, Fachgebiet Umweltanalytik und Schadstoffe
  • University Nangui Abrogoua, Côte d’Ivoire
  • University Cadi Ayyad, Morocco
  • University Abdelmalek Essaadi, Morocco
  • Ingut GmbH, Deutschland
  • Gemaplast, Morocco
  • Ahmed EL GHAMMAT, Morocco
  • KoCam Bio Sarl, Côte d’Ivoire
  • ONG Economie Circulaire Côte d’Ivoire (ONG-EcoCI), Côte d’Ivoire
Grantor German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Duration from: 01.11.2023 to: 31.12.2026

Research field
 E+E
(E+E > Energy + Environment
I+I > Information + Intelligence
M+M > Matter + Materials)
Project content
The W²4Africa project aims to establish innovative scientific and economic educational tools in the fields of waste management, wastewater treatment, renewable energies as well as bioeconomy in Africa. The focus is on developing and sustainably embedding joint teaching and learning programs that promote international knowledge transfer between Africa and Germany.

The educational offerings provide practice-oriented approaches to green and bioeconomic circular economy, with a particular focus on the utilization of various waste and wastewater streams.
To this end, academic teaching modules are being developed, covering the following topics:

• Renewable energies
• Application of renewable energies in bioeconomy and biotechnology
• Industrial wastewater treatment

These modules will initially be implemented at partner universities in Côte d’Ivoire and Morocco and integrated into the local curricula in the long term. Courses will initially be taught by German experts and later independently by the African partner institutions.

In addition, online training programs are being developed for the non-academic sector. These are aimed at participants from business, politics, and society who may not have technical backgrounds but are interested in sustainable solutions in wastewater, and waste management. The goal is to foster knowledge transfer between science and practice and strengthen North-South and South-South exchange.

A key element of the project is the digitalization of teaching content, allowing all courses to be used cross-border and flexibly. In cooperation with INGUT GmbH, online formats are being developed, which may eventually also be offered as certified continuing education programs.

Moreover, W²4Africa provides direct research and practical experiences for students and doctoral candidates from Africa. Within the framework of Master’s and PhD projects, they will have the opportunity to participate in projects at TU Darmstadt and INGUT GmbH and to conduct research stays in Germany.

To deepen scientific and economic cooperation, delegation trips, technical excursions, and company visits are organized. These activities provide opportunities to build new partnerships, particularly in the fields of wastewater management, waste technology, and renewable energies.

The overarching goal of W²4Africa is the sustainable development of teaching and research structures in waste, wastewater, and energy technology, the integration of bioeconomic approaches into existing curricula, and the promotion of a long-term collaboration between African and German educational and economic institutions.

In this way, the project makes a significant contribution to strengthening education, research, and sustainable development at an international level.

Master’s and PhD students from Morocco visiting Darmstadt: participation in ongoing research projects and conducting their master’s and doctoral theses at the IWAR Institute.