{"id":5296,"date":"2026-01-23T08:09:31","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T08:09:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.atm.helsinki.fi\/peex\/?post_type=avada_portfolio&p=5296"},"modified":"2026-01-23T08:09:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T08:09:31","slug":"sumup-for-empoandes-project-kick-off-meeting","status":"publish","type":"avada_portfolio","link":"https:\/\/www.atm.helsinki.fi\/peex\/index.php\/portfolio-items\/sumup-for-empoandes-project-kick-off-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Sumup for EMPOANDES project kick-off-meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Erasmus+ EMPOANDES project \u201cEMPOwer ANDES societies to improve adaptation to climate change through the co-creation of climate services capacities<\/em>\u201d (Dec 2025 \u2013 Feb 2028; http:\/\/empoandes.eu<\/a>) kick-off-meeting took place in a hybrid mode during 20-22 January 2026 in Quito, Ecuador. In total, 42 participants attended the event including 27 persons onsite and 15 persons online. This event was hosted by the Universidad de las Americas (UDLA<\/a>). The agenda included a series of presentations and discussions arranged in 3 days.<\/p>\n

On 20th<\/sup> January, the kick-off-meeting started from the institutional welcome, the EMPOANDES project history and overview; and the introduction of the project consortium \u2013 16 Partners\/ leading institutions from 3 European and 5 Latin American countries. The project consortium includes from Europe the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain, the University of Patras, Greece, and the University of Helsinki, Finland; and from Latin America (universities and national meteorological services from Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Chile, and Bolivia), as well as key research centers like the Centro Internacional de Investigaci\u00f3n del Fen\u00f3meno del Ni\u00f1o, collaboratively addressing climate education and services.
\nThe project implementation included presentations and discussions on working packages (WPs) tasks, deliverables, milestones, activities, etc.: (1) Project Management, (2) De\ufb01nition of Higher Education Institutions, and Community Needs; (3) Curricula Development, (4) Sta\ufb00 Capacity Building; (5) Piloting Capacity Development and Community Empowerment; and finally, the first day ended with concluding remarks.<\/p>\n

On 21st<\/sup> January, the WP6 on \u201cDissemination and Communication\u201d was presented, as well as the Communication Board and the Capacity Building in the field of Higher Education (CBHE) Grant Holders meetings took place. Then, the presentations on the EMPOANDES Project Structures continued and included talks about the Communication and Executive Board, External Advisory Board, Sustanability and Legacy Board. Onsite participants travelled to the Universidad central de Ecuador (UCE) in Quito for other activities including sightseeing, and joint dinner.<\/p>\n

On 22nd<\/sup> January, the EMPOANDES networking projects\/ activities were presented and discussed, and these included: (1) ClimEd \u201cMultilevel Local, Nation- and Regionwide Education and Training in Climate Services, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation<\/em>\u201d (2020-2026; http:\/\/climed.network<\/a>); (2) CLUVEX \u201cClimate University for Virtual Exchange<\/em>\u201d (2023-2026; https:\/\/www.atm.helsinki.fi\/cluvex<\/a>); (3) CU \u201cClimate University\u201d (2018-present; https:\/\/www.climateuniversity.fi<\/a>) to educate competencies the society needs to tackle the challenges of climate change and the sustainability crisis; (4) ENANDES \u201cEnhancing Adaptive Capacity of Andean Communities through Climate Services<\/em>\u201d focused on Chile, Colombia, and Peru & ENANDES+ extending to Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina, increasing regional coverage, and refer to a series of projects by the World Meteorological Organization to build climate resilience in Andean communities by co-producing and delivering tailored climate information; (5) FIASA-CA \u201cConstruction of a simulation model of agro-productive systems using water quantification to the year 2030 in the Cayambe Pedro Moncayo Irrigation Canal<\/em>\u201d; (6) \u201cMeteorological anomaly identification system for Ecuador using sub-seasonal climate forecast<\/em>\u201d; (7) \u201cEffects of climate change on water resources in the Lake Titicaca basin, Puno-Peru<\/em>\u201d; (8) \u201cImpact of climate change on droughts in the basins of the Lake Titicaca hydrographic slope, Peruvian sector<\/em>\u201d; and others. The presentations were followed by networking and concluding remarks.<\/p>\n

Text by: Hanna K. Lappalainen, Svyatoslav Tyuryakov, Alexander Mahura (Univ of Helsinki)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>