-Since 2003 I became actively involved in the programmes of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) organized by its focal point, which is hosted in Sudan by the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources (under the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning).  Under the umbrella of the UNFCCC the following was performed:

a) Researchin Environmental Strategies for Increasing Human Resilience in Sudan: Lessons for Climate Change Adaptation in North and East Africa (2003/2005).  This research was one of the three case studies of Sudan AIACC AF14 project (Assessment of Impact and Adaptation to Climate Change).  The Sudan AIACC AF14 project was one of 24 projects operated in different parts of the world, in Africa, Asia, Latin America and small islands states.  Sudan AIACC AF14 was motivated by the observation that existing resilience-building strategies – whether directed toward household, community, or even ecosystem resilience can be effective at increasing the capacity to cope with and adapt to climate-related impacts, and that these strategies could be built upon for climate change adaptation.  In this project the cooperation with researchers from inside (universities, research institutes in addition to the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources) and outside (Stockholm Institute for Environmental Studies-Boston) the country was enormous.  The work involved, collection and analysis of data (from fieldwork and from secondary data sources) reports writing (3 reports) papers publications and presentation of talks in local and regional and international meetings, conferences and workshops (http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/aiacc/).

b) For the past two years I represented University of Khartoum at Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources as the latter hosts a program known as the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) under the aegis of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  The NAPA program is being carried on in all the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) the aim of this programme is to communicate to the international community priority activities that address LDCs’ urgent needs for adapting to the adverse impacts of climate change.  Initially I started as technical committee member and thereafter I become a consultant.  The work involved was:

·      Organisation of workshops to ensure adequate stakeholder representation in the development of the NAPA document;

·      Assessment of vulnerabilities and Identification of comprehensive range climate change adaptation strategies;

·      Establishment of country-driven criteria by which to evaluate and prioritise adaptation options;

·      Make consensus-based recommendations for adaptation activities; and As needed, recommend capacity building, and policy, programme, and institutional integration, as part of adaptation priority activities.

As part of my duties as technical committee member I had to provide guidance for the NAPA team at the different stages of the NAPA process that involved writing of illustrative papers

c) Sudan is currently working on its Second National Communication.  I’m also actively contributing to that as I’m a member of the national team.

-I’m particularly interested in socio-economic modelling and hoping to get an opportunity for specialization in this area as I found it represents a real gape in our climate change research.  Without socio-economic modelling our today findings are very limited only to the present, however with it the scope will be widen and future extrapolation could be considered.