About PanAfGeo+
“PanAfGeo+” for “Pan-African Support to Geological Sciences and Technology, Africa-EU Partnership” is a project which supports the training of geoscientific staff from African geological surveys through the development of an innovative training programme. This programme includes the acquisition and development of important professional skills that complement existing qualifications and technical skills. The training programme is carried out by world-class geoscientific experts coming from African and European geological surveys.
PanAfGeo+ is funded by the European Commission (DG INTPA). The consortium of PanAfGeo+ consists of EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) and Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS) coordinated by the French Geological Survey (BRGM). This programme allows trainees to acquire a state-of-the-art tool kit that contains methods and/or field work from eight geoscientific domains or work packages.
WP7 – Hydrogeology: Water Balance Course (In English)
The WP7 training course focuses on understanding the hydrological cycle, groundwater balance and the sustainable management of groundwater resources.
Water availability and consumption are influenced by natural processes and human activities. The hydrological cycle determines how water circulates through evaporation, precipitation, infiltration and runoff, while climate change affects these processes through changing rainfall patterns, rising temperatures and more frequent droughts and floods.
Human activities, including agriculture, industry and domestic water use, also influence groundwater availability. Understanding these interactions is essential for assessing groundwater resources and supporting sustainable water management.
The course will introduce participants to the main processes controlling groundwater quantity and provide practical approaches to assessing groundwater resources under different geological and environmental conditions.
The training is jointly organised by the Czech Geological Survey (CGS), the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute (PGI-NRI), and a local expert.
Download the call for applications here.
Training Content
The ten-day training will combine classroom lectures, tutorials, practical exercises and fieldwork.
The programme includes ten lecture and tutorial sessions, three full-day field trips focused on groundwater sampling, and discussion sessions to review exercises and findings.
The course will cover:
- Groundwater quantity management and groundwater analysis;
- The water cycle, including recharge, discharge and groundwater flow routes;
- Groundwater hydrology, including aquifers, aquitards, porous media and fractured rocks;
- Groundwater mapping and systematic field data collection;
- Processing and organisation of hydrogeological data;
- Introduction to groundwater modelling and water balance calculations using Excel;
- Assessment of groundwater resources;
- Parallel and radial groundwater flow;
- Groundwater level variations, including seasonal and temporal changes;
- Sustainable groundwater management, governance, ownership, licensing and the Sustainable Development Goals.
During the three field trips, participants will practise groundwater sampling and examine the relationships between hydrochemistry, geology and hydrogeology.
The training will also introduce participants to groundwater inventory techniques, interpretation of monitoring data and basic hydrogeological modelling.
Return-to-Work Plan
Each participant will be required to prepare and present a Return-to-Work Plan during the training. This should outline a practical project through which the knowledge and skills acquired can be applied within their geological survey or institution.
Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of the training, participants will be able to:
- Understand and quantitatively evaluate hydrological processes influencing groundwater resources;
- Assess groundwater availability and calculate groundwater balances;
- Apply groundwater inventory and sampling techniques in the field;
- Integrate geological, hydrological and hydrogeological information to interpret groundwater quantities;
- Interpret groundwater monitoring data and apply basic water balance concepts to groundwater management.
Who Can Apply?
The training session is open to all individuals eligible under the PanAfGeo Trainee Charter.
To fully benefit from the training, applicants should demonstrate:
- Good computer skills;
- Some knowledge of online communication, writing and scientific communication;
- Experience presenting results to different audiences;
- Basic knowledge of hydrogeology and hydrology.
Important Notes
- The Letter of Commitment must be officially approved and signed by the management of your institution.
- Incomplete applications, including those without a passport number or confirmation that the passport will remain valid for at least six months after the end of the training, will be automatically excluded.
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to check their passport validity before submitting their application.
Funding
The European Commission fully funds the WP7 training course.
Eligible expenses include:
- International round-trip travel;
- Entry visa fees, where applicable and upon presentation of a receipt;
- Accommodation, breakfast and meals during the training course.
Please note that no daily allowance or health insurance reimbursement will be provided under the PanAfGeo+ programme.
Arrangements concerning travel to the international airport and international health insurance, where required, should be agreed with the applicant’s employer.
Application Instructions
Applicants must submit the following documents in PDF format:
- Completed Application Form
- Signed Letter of Commitment (from the employer)
- Letter of Motivation
- Copy of a passport valid for at least six months after the date of entry into Namibia
Please rename all application documents using your family name followed by a number (e.g. SURNAME_1, SURNAME_2, SURNAME_3), using Latin characters only.
Applications must be submitted through the online portal only: Register here
Deadline for applications: 20 November 2026, 24:00 GMT.
