Jean Albergel (Dr.

)
Senior Scientist CNRS-IRD Joint Office
Coordinator of European Affairs Postnet Suite 164 Private Bag X844 - Silverton
PhD University of Paris VI 0127 Pretoria South Africa
At IRD since 1979, Cel : 27 (0) 82 600 5682
Born 13/07/1954 at PARIS XII, Tel : 27 (0) 12 844 0117 / 0118
Nationality : French, E-Mail : jean.albergel@ird.fr
Married with 4 children http://www.afrique-australe.aird.fr/
Scientific career
His research career in hydrology and soil sciences was conducted mainly in Africa on both sides of
the Sahara, in climates with high hydrological deficits and sharply contrasting seasons. It addresses
three related topics in arid and semi-arid areas:
Analysis and modelling processes of infiltration, runoff and fluxes transfers in small
cultivated watersheds in arid and semi-arid areas (Soil erosion).
Study of climate variability and its impacts on water resources, crops, irrigation and
environment.
Management of water resources at different scales, water management and territories under
the constraint of global change. Small and medium size hydraulic infrastructures for
irrigation. Ecosystem services of wet zones.
Main qualifications
From 1979 to 1980, Jean Albergel managed research and consulting operations for the "Anomaly of
the Niger Flood" program. He was working in the hydrological brigade of Mopti (Mali).
From 1981 to 1986, he was recruited by ORSTOM and worked on the runoff and the infiltration
processes in the Sahel region. He developed a hydrological model to determine the ten-year floods of
small agricultural catchments. He clearly identified the role of surface sealing characteristics in the
infiltration process.
From 1987 to 1995, he worked in Dakar (Senegal). He took part in the Gambia River Study and in
OMVS (Senegal Valley Authority) dams and irrigation monitoring program. He led a study for
developing bottomlands in the Sahel (E.U. project CCE DG XII).
From 1996 to 2001, he coordinated the European INCO research program on hill reservoirs and soil
conservation infrastructures in Mediterranean countries. This program concerned 7 institutions
working in four countries: Lebanon, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia.
From 2001 to 2003, he was a research team manager in Montpellier (Agronomic School of
Montpellier (ENSAM)) working on analysis and modelling of Runoff and Erosion in cultivated
catchments.
From January 2003 to October 2006: he worked at the IRD headquarters as Deputy Director for water
and soil programs. In October 2006 he was appointed as the IRD representative for East Africa
hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) at its International campus in Gigiri.
Since 2011, he chairs the European Sub-Group on Science in the framework of the AU-EU 8th
Partnership in Science, Information Society and Space.
Since October 2012, he served as coordinator of European Affairs at IRD HQ in Marseille France.

Since 2011 he has worked more in research management, but he never abandoned field and laboratory
work and continually supervised PhD students.
European experiences
1988-1992: STD2: coordinator of hydrological Work Package in the: Bottomlands in
the Sahel, Typology, Hydrology and agricultural valorisation project.
1996 -2001: Project Coordinator for the INCO DC MP : HYDROMED Program: Hill
reservoirs in the Semi-Arid Mediterranean.
 2007-2009: FP6 program SSA: SOWAMED Project coordinator: Soil and Water in
the Mediterranean.
2007-2009 : Coordinator of WP on Water Harvesting of the FP6 : AQUASTRESS
Project, ,
2008 2012 FP7 INCONET program: CAAST-NET WP Project coordinator.
Projects evaluator for the commission since 1996 in the field of water and soil
sciences.
2011-2013: Chair of the European Sub-Group on Science in the framework of the
AU-EU 8th Partnership in Science, Information Society and Space.
Main Consultations
Jean Albergel conducted many consultations in the framework of water management or for scientific
programs in hydrology.
In Africa, he worked for various international agencies: World Bank, UNDP, USAIDand for private
companies like Dames & Moore, Mott Mac Donald Int., BCEOM, SOGREAH
In South America, he performed several consultations for IRENA in Nicaragua, and for CENID
RASPA in Mexico.
In the Middle East, he is presently a scientific advisor for the Water Management dept. of ACSAD
(Syria)
In South East Asia, (Thailand Nepal India Indonesia Philippines), he helped IBSRAM to
develop a Soil Erosion Management Research Consortium in 1996.
2005 2008 expert in International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology
for Development (IAASTD), Leading Author in the CWANA report, co-author of the Executive
Summary of the Synthesis Report
Academic references
1987 Doctorate (Phd) in natural science, specialty hydrology, University of PARIS 6.
1978 Master of Sciences (Hydrology) graduate at PARIS 6
1977 School of Engineers Mineral Resources and Materials Orleans
Professional positions
Since October 2013 : Director of the CNRS-IRD joint office in South Africa
2012 to 2013: Coordinator of European Affairs at IRD HQ in Marseille (France)
2006 to 2012: IRD Representative in Kenya
2004 to 2006: IRD Deputy Manager water and soil Paris
2001 to 2003: ENSAM Montpellier (School of Agronomy) Manager of the AMBRE Research
Unit
1995 to 2001: IRD in Tunis (Tunisia): Coordinator of a European research program on hill
reservoirs and watershed management in Mediterranean countries (EU INCO DC
STD IV and V).
1987 to 1995: ORSTOM in Dakar (Senegal): Coordinator of the Developing bottomlands in the
Sahel. Typology, Hydrological processes, Agricultural potential (EU DG12,
STD2)program.
1985-1987: ORSTOM in Montpellier (France): Scientist, PhD preparation.
1981-1985: ORSTOM in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso): Scientist
1980-1981: ORSTOM in Bondy (France): Scientist
1979-1980: Ministry of Hydraulics in Mopti (Mali): Volunteer
Teaching and training
Since the beginning of his career, Jean has conducted training in hydrology in universities and in
engineering schools. Presently, he presents courses and co-supervises Masters Degree students at the
Crteil University, at the Montpellier University and at the Montpellier School of Agronomy. He has
trained 13 Phd and several Masters of Science students. He is currently supervising the PhD work
entitled:
 ECOSYSTEM SERVICES OF FLOODPLAIN GRASSLANDS. The influence of inundation
dynamics on fodder production in the Tana River Delta, Kenya (Defence 2013/02/22)

Scientific Committees
2004 2008: IRD Scientific committee
2005 2009: Meteo France COMSI Scientific committee
2006 2010: Steering committee of the Challenge Programme on Water & Food (IWMI)
2008 2013: Scientific committee of the Water and territories program of the Ministry of
Environment (France)

Award
2010 : Knight of the Order of Academic Palms (France)
Recent publications
Books last 5 years :
Albergel Jean, Diop S. (2012) Amnagements hydrauliques innovants pour la gestion conservatoire
des eaux et des sols sur le trac de la Grande Muraille Verte. In : Dia A. (ed.), Duponnois Robin (ed.).
La Grande Muraille Verte : capitalisation des recherches et valorisation des savoirs locaux. Marseille :
IRD, 2012, p. 321-349. ISBN 978-2-7099-1738-4
Albergel J. & Cecchi P (2012) Le petit barrage, un hydro-amnagement innovant en zones
mditerranennes et tropicales sches. In "Leau au cur de la science" Coordination
scientifique : Bernard Pouyaud. Editions IRD,

Albergel J. (2012) Reservoirs, Multipurpose Use of Small Reservoirs. Flood-flow harvesting

and small reservoirs. Encyclopedia of Lakes and Reservoirs in Encyclopedia of Earth
Sciences Series Bengtsson, Lars; Herschy, Reginald W.; Fairbridge, R.W. (Eds.) 2012,.

Albergel J., Collinet J., Zante P. & Hamrouni H. (2011). Role of the Mediterranean Forest in
Soil and Water conservation. In Water for Forests and People in the Mediterranean region.
Birot Y., Garcia C., Palahi M. Ed. , What science can tell us? Coll. European Forest institute
Joensuu Finland 2011 pp 43-52. (le livre a t traduit en Franais)

Albergel J., Collinet J., Zante P. & Hamrouni H. (2011). Integrated water management at the
landscape scale : science backing development : a case study in Tunisia. In Water for Forests
and People in the Mediterranean region. Birot Y., Garcia C., Palahi M. Ed. , What science can
tell us? Coll. European Forest institute Joensuu Finland 2011 pp 98-204 (le livre a t
traduit en Franais)

Latiri, K., Gana, A., Shideed, K., Albergel, J., and al, 2009. Historical and Current
Perspectives of AKST. In: Agriculture at a crossroads, Volume 1 Central and West Asia and
North Africa. International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology
for Development (ed McIntyre, B.D. and Herren, H.R. and Wakhungu, J. and Watson, R.T.),
pp 27-82, Island Press, .

Taha Ayoub, A., Ben Zid, R., Alayyash, S.M., Ali, S., Memon, Y., Albergel, J and al 2009.
Setting the Scene. In: Agriculture at a crossroads, Volume 1 Central and West Asia and North
Africa. International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for
Development (ed McIntyre, B.D. and Herren, H.R. and Wakhungu, J. and Watson, R.T.), pp
1-26, Island Press, .

Tsedeke Abate (Ethiopie), Jean Albergel (France), and al 2009 Executive Summary of the
Synthesis Report of theInternational Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science
andTechnology for Developent (IAASTD). Science and Technology for Development (ed
McIntyre, B.D. and Herren, H.R. and Wakhungu, J. and Watson, R.T.),

Papers published 2008-2013:

Leauthaud C., Belaud G., Duvail Stphanie, Moussa R., Grunberger Olivier, Albergel Jean.
Characterizing floods in the poorly gauged wetlands of the Tana River Delta, Kenya, using a water
balance model and satellite data. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 2013, 17 (8), p. 3059-3075.
ISSN 1027-5606
Leauthaud C., Duvail Stphanie, Hamerlynck O., Paul J. L., Cochet H., Nyunja J., Albergel Jean,
Grunberger Olivier. Floods and livelihoods : the impact of changing water resources on wetland agro-
ecological production systems in the Tana River Delta, Kenya. Global Environmental Change-Human
and Policy Dimensions, 2013, 23 (1), p. 252-263. ISSN 0959-3780
Corbane Christina, Jacob Frdric, Raclot Damien, Albergel Jean, Andrieux P. (2012) Multitemporal
analysis of hydrological soil surface characteristics using aerial photos : A case study on a
Mediterranean vineyard. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation,
2012, 18, p. 356-367. ISSN 0303-2434
Albergel Jean. Barrages : ces petits qui protgent les grands. Pour la Science, 2012, (418), p.
15-16. ISSN 0153-4092
Corbane Christina, Jacob Frdric, Raclot Damien, Albergel Jean, Andrieux P. Multitemporal
analysis of hydrological soil surface characteristics using aerial photos : A case study on a
Mediterranean vineyard. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and
Geoinformation, 2012, 18, p. 356-367. ISSN 0303-2434
Boualem Remini , Bachir Achour and Jean Albergel (2011), Timimouns foggara (Algeria):
an heritage in danger. )( : . Arabian Journal of Geosciences.
Springer Berlin / Heidelberg ISSN 1866-7511 (Print) 1866-7538 (Online). Arabian Journal of
Geosciences, 2011, 4 (3-4), p. 495-506. ISSN 1866-7511
Descroix, L.; Mah, G.; Favreau, G.; Gautier, E.; Olivry, J.; Albergel, J.; Diedhiou, A.; Lebel,
T.; Dessouassi, R.; Sighomnou, D.; Bouzou Moussa, I.; Mamadou, I.; Le Breton, E.; Amogu,
O.; Cappelaere, B.; Boulain, N.; Ramier, D.; Amani, A.; Boubkraoui, S.; Karambiri, H. &
Nazoumou, Y. (2009), 'Spatio temporal variability of hydrological regimes in Sahelo-
Sudanian Africa: a synthesis', Journal of Hydrology 2009 12-012
Al Ali Youssef, Touma Jaoudat, Zante Patrick, Nasri S., Albergel Jean. Water and sediment
balances of a contour bench terracing system in a semi-arid cultivated zone (El Gouazine,
central Tunisia). Hydrological Sciences Journal-Journal des Sciences Hydrologiques, 2008,
53 (4), p. 883-892.
Corbane Christina, Andrieux P., Voltz M., Chadaeuf J., Albergel Jean, Robbez Masson J. M.,
Zante Patrick. Assessing the variability of soil surface characteristics in row-cropped fields :
The case of Mediterranean vineyards in Southern France. Catena, 2008, 72 (1), p. 79-90.
Zahar Y., Ghorbel A., Albergel Jean. Impacts of large dams on downstream flow conditions
of rivers : Aggradation and reduction of the Medjerda channel capacity downstream of the
Sidi Salem dam (Tunisia). Journal of Hydrology, 2008, 351 (3-4), p. 318-330.
Corbane Christina, Raclot Damien,. Jacob Frdric, Albergel Jean,. Andrieux P. Remote
sensing of soil surface characteristics from a multiscale classification approach. Catena 75
(2008) 308318

References
Tony Simons, (Dr) Director General of the World Agroforestry Centre. Tony Simons
t.simons@CGIAR.ORG

Salif Diop, (Prof) Senior Environmental Affairs Officer at UNEPs Division of Early Warning
and Assessment (DEWA). Salif Diop Salif.Diop@unep.org

Jean Franois Girard (Prof) President of : Ple de Recherche et dEnseignement Suprieur

PRES Sorbonne Paris Cit . Jean-Franois Girard jean-francois.girard@sorbonne-paris-
cite.fr