The University attends the 1st International Forum for Climate Adaptation in Djibouti
Institutional
Partnerships
International
Published on February 16, 2026–Updated on February 16, 2026
Dates
on the February 9, 2026
ICAF
Bringing together 23 countries and more than 350 participants, the International Forum for Climate Adaptation in Djibouti enabled Université Côte d’Azur to reaffirm its commitment to partnership-based research serving the most vulnerable regions.
Jeanick Brisswalter was accompanied by Cécile Sabourault, Vice President of International Development, and Marie Pierre Ballarin, Vice President of International Relations in the South, and a large delegation from the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) was present alongside its President and CEO, Valérie Verdier.
Three major themes were discussed at this international forum
Governance of adaptation
Innovative strategies and solutions,
Capacity building through research and innovation.
Africa contributes only a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, but it faces some of the most severe climate impacts, with rising temperatures, extreme weather events, water stress, and ecosystem degradation already affecting livelihoods, food security, health systems, and economic development across the continent.
Signing of the Doctoral Alliance for Climate Adaptation (ADAC) between Université Côte d'Azur, East African universities, and IRD
Universities in East Africa, IRD, and Université Côte d'Azur have committed to signing the Doctoral Alliance for Climate Adaptation (ADAC), which aims to establish a roadmap of concrete actions to provide research-based solutions to adapt to and anticipate the effects of climate change. This alliance aims to create a regional space for research and innovation based on participatory and educational research, focused on solutions and local innovation to serve the most vulnerable socio-ecosystems. It is part of Université Côte d'Azur's efforts to strengthen cooperation between the South Region - Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and the State of Djibouti, under the auspices ofthe French Embassy in Djibouti.
This trip to Djibouti was also marked by the signing of a research agreement with the Djibouti Study and Research Center (CERD) in the field of marine biochemistry (Nice Institute of Chemistry). The agreement was signed by Mohamed A.K. Jalludin, Director of CERD, and Jeanick Brisswalter, in the presence of Nabil Mohamed Ahmed, Djibouti's Minister of Higher Education and Research, and Cécile Sabourault, Vice President of International Development at Université Côte d'Azur.
Strategic discussions on common perspectives in research and training
A multilateral meeting was also organized with Dr. Mohamed A-K Jalludin, Director General of CERD; Dr. Djama Mohamed Hassan, President ofthe University of Djibouti; Jeanick Brisswalter, President of Université Côte d'Azur; and a representative of the French Embassy to discuss common perspectives on research, capacity building, and training.
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Meeting at the French Embassy to strengthen synergies around ICAF and visit to the Faculty of Engineering
The Université Côte d'Azur_IRD delegation was received by Jérôme Bresson, French Ambassador to Djibouti, and his teams to discuss the challenges facing ICAF and the actions to be pursued with Djiboutian partners, as well as the possible synergies that could emerge from this mission.
The meeting concluded with a visit to the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Djibouti on January 21, 2026.
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Valérie Verdier, Jeanick Brisswalter, and His Excellency Jérôme Bresson
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Visit to the Faculty of Engineering alongside Djama Mohamed Hassan, President of the University of Djibouti, and Valérie Verdier, CEO of IRD
