CEBioS participation at a conference dedicated to capacity building in Africa

Conservation organisations and agencies in Africa are faced with a growing diversity of environmental issues. Sustainable solutions to these problems will require actions to be implemented by strong organisations and communities with the skills, knowledge and data to undertake a broad range of technical and process-based activities. There are already a broad range of capacity-related initiatives in Africa that are working to tackle capacity building issues. The aims of the conference were to review existing regional initiatives, exchange ideas, develop and enhance capacity networks, and formulate effective and lasting solutions to common capacity problems in Africa.

The conference themes were:

• Theme 1: Protected areas
• Theme 2: Community engagement & rights-based governance
• Theme 3: Effective leadership and strong organisations
• Theme 4: Professional e-Learning.

The key cross-cutting capacity issues were:

1. Conservation in politically unstable areas and 'disabling' environments
2. Solutions to internal organisation and community 'barriers'
3. Supporting skilled individuals
4. Effective pooling of resources across the conservation sector
5. Sustainable resource management within wider economic development.

Dr M-L Susini presented a poster entitled 'Distance learning in order to help African countries improve their biodiversity knowledge networks'. It dealt with activities undertaken by CEBioS to help its partner countries develop their national Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) networks.

For more information, see here.

Please note that this information has expired.