The University of Ouagadougou, officially renamed Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, is Burkina Faso’s leading public university and a major hub for higher education and research in West Africa. Established in 1974, it comprises multiple training and research units across sciences, health, engineering, and social sciences, serving tens of thousands of students.

Within this academic environment, the university hosts key programmes under the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), including a Climate Research and Data Centre and postgraduate programmes in climate-related fields. These initiatives are designed to strengthen scientific understanding of climate systems and support data-driven solutions for environmental challenges in the region.

The WASCAL programme at the University of Ouagadougou adopts a multidisciplinary approach, combining climate science, informatics, and land-use planning to address pressing issues such as climate variability, desertification, and sustainable resource management. It also plays a key role in training highly skilled professionals through specialized master’s programmes, including those focused on climate informatics and data analysis.

In addition to research and training, the centre contributes to regional collaboration by linking universities, governments, and international partners across West Africa. Its work supports the development of climate services, policy-relevant research, and evidence-based decision-making aimed at improving resilience in vulnerable communities.

Overall, the University of Ouagadougou serves as a critical platform for advancing climate research, innovation, and capacity building in Burkina Faso and the wider Sahel region.