Professor Salif Diop, a major player in the water sector in Africa and the world, died on 27 December, 2021, in Dakar. He will leave a great void, given his unwavering commitment to the preparation and organisation of the 9th World Water Forum, "Dakar 2022". Professor Salif Diop has contributed much with dedication and selflessness as a member of the Pilot Group of the "Water Security and Sanitation" priority, overseeing in particular the work of the Action Groups on :
- Protect and restore ecosystems and forests, including coastal and marine impacts, and combat desertification(6.6 14.1, 14.2, 15.1, 15.3)
- Halt the loss of aquatic biodiversity and invasive species in water ecosystems (15.5 15.8, 15.9)
- Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change and natural disasters (13.1, 11.5, 1.5,11.B, 13.3)
The water community thus loses a reference for his rich background, wide experience and expertise. Professor Salif Diop contributed to the dissemination of scientific knowledge essential for sustainable water governance as a major player in the water sector in Senegal, throughout his remarkable career at the Cheikh A. Diop University (UCAD) of Dakar and the National Academy of Sciences and Techniques of Senegal (ANSTS), but also as a staff member of UNEP and an active member of several international scientific institutions, including the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and the World Academy of Sciences for the Advancement of Sciences in the Developing Countries (TWAS). May he rest in peace.
