Annual Meeting of African Science Academies (AMASA) 2025

The 2025 Annual Meeting of African Science Academies (AMASA 2025) took place on 17-21 November 2025 at the Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology in Rabat, Morocco. This year’s theme, “Water and Green Hydrogen – Scientific Pathways for Sustainable Development in Africa” aimed to address Africa’s water challenges and the advancing of green hydrogen technologies to bolster climate resilience, economic growth, and energy transition. The meeting was attended by over 70 experts, including representatives from African science academies, alongside academics, policymakers, and development partners. Through multidisciplinary panels and interactive sessions, participants explored innovative solutions to Africa’s sustainability challenges.

AMASA 2025 Participants

Morocco, home to the Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology, provided a strategic setting for AMASA 2025 complemented by a visit to Tangier’s industrial port, a hub for green logistics and automotive innovation. As a continental leader in renewable energy and desalination, Morocco hosts flagship projects in solar power and green hydrogen research.

Water remains the foundation of life, agriculture, and health, yet millions of Africans still lack reliable access. Meanwhile, green hydrogen – produced using renewable energy sources such as solar and wind – offers Africa a transformative opportunity to leapfrog into a low-carbon industrial future. Through its sessions, AMASA 2025 emphasised alignment of Africa’s scientific capacity with policy priorities to address the Water-Energy-Climate nexus through interdisciplinary collaboration — the essence of AMASA.

The sessions focused on four key objectives:

Advancing Science: Analysing breakthroughs in water resource management and green hydrogen technologies.
Policy and Governance: Shaping coherent frameworks to support sustainable energy and water systems.
Capacity Building: Strengthening education, research, and innovation ecosystems.
Partnerships: Fostering collaboration among African science academies, international bodies, and industry.

Experts also discussed the barriers to hydrogen adoption, including fossil fuel dependency, policy fragmentation, and public awareness gaps.

Key Recommendations
Conference delegates proposed actionable strategies, including:

Establishing hydrogen innovation zones to accelerate technology adoption.
Developing regional integration frameworks such as an ECOWAS Hydrogen Corridor.
Promoting inclusive governance models to ensure equitable benefits for communities.

Celebrating Scientific Excellence

Since 2024, AMASA has proudly featured the prestigious AMASA Prize, a symbol of excellence that honours outstanding contributions to science. This prize stands as a cornerstone of NASAC’s mission to advance scientific innovation and leadership across Africa. By recognising researchers whose work addresses critical challenges, the AMASA Prize not only celebrates individual achievement but also strengthens the collective capacity of the NASAC network. More than an accolade, the prize serves as a catalyst for collaboration, nurturing emerging talent and amplifying Africa’s voice in global scientific discourse. For NASAC, it is a strategic instrument for fostering knowledge exchange, driving impactful research, and building a resilient scientific community capable of shaping the continent’s future.

In line with this commitment, the AMASA 2025 awards celebrated exceptional researchers whose work exemplifies innovation, leadership, and transformative impact in tackling both regional and global challenges. The 2025 AMASA Prize winner is Prof. Driss Ouazar (Morocco), an internationally recognised leader in Computational Water Resources Engineering, Climate Adaptation, and the Water–Energy–Food–Hydrogen nexus. His pioneering work develops advanced numerical and systems-engineering methods to address water scarcity and climate vulnerability in arid regions. Beyond research, he has shaped global resilience metrics through initiatives like the International Platform of Adaptation Metrics (IPAM–Water) and influenced science policy as a member of high-level councils and international platforms. A Resident Member of the Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology, Prof. Ouazar combines scientific excellence with capacity building, having established research institutes and innovative programmes that attract talent across Africa. His visionary leadership informs decision-making, inspires new generations, and advances sustainable development.

Prof. Nadia Yousfi (Morocco) is the First Runner-up, a leading expert in Hydrogen Energy Systems, with a strong foundation in Mathematics and Engineering Sciences. She pioneered the use of machine learning for proactive, self-healing control of fuel cells and electrolysers, extending their lifespan without costly sensors. Her work has led to patents, industry adoption, and the creation of innovative academic programmes, including France’s first hydrogen master’s degree. Through initiatives like the Hyckathlon and leadership roles in global forums, Prof. Yousfi promotes education, outreach, and sustainable energy solutions, earning prestigious awards such as the CNRS Bronze Medal and SEE Blondel Medal.

Prof. Fidele Ntie-Kang (Cameroon) is the Second Runner-up, an emerging leader in Computational Chemistry and natural product drug discovery. His research integrates cheminformatics, molecular modelling, and medicinal chemistry to accelerate the identification of bioactive compounds from African medicinal plants. As creator of the African Natural Product Database, he has provided open-access resources that showcase Africa’s chemical diversity and therapeutic potential. Widely cited for his scientific contributions, Prof. Ntie-Kang also champions capacity building through mentorship, collaborations, and training initiatives, bridging traditional knowledge with cutting-edge science to combat infectious and neglected diseases.

AMASA 2025 was more than a conference—it was a powerful testament to Africa’s scientific ingenuity and its unwavering commitment to a sustainable future. By uniting visionary researchers and thought leaders, the meeting ignited bold ideas and forged partnerships that will transform challenges into opportunities. From advancing water security to pioneering green hydrogen solutions, AMASA 2025 charted a course for resilience, prosperity, and global leadership. As the AMASA Prize celebrated Africa’s brightest minds, the message was clear: science is not just shaping Africa’s tomorrow – it is defining it. Together, we move forward with purpose, collaboration, and hope for a continent that leads the world in innovation and sustainability.