Please download the documentation of the planning workshop in Bujumbura, Burundi (December, 7-12th, 2009) (French version)

As part of the German development co-operation with the COMIFAC, the German agency InWEnt (the acronym stands for: capacity building international), works in close partnership with the network of Central African forestry and environmental training institutions (RIFFEAC) to build the capacity of the schools and universities providing education and advanced trainings, key activities in the implementation of the COMIFAC Convergence Plan.

Collaboration was already beneficial between InWEnt and the RIFFEAC during the year 2009 with a study trip in Germany, a workshop on "Teaching Methods and Participative Approaches" in Germany, a workshop on "Forest Certification" in Gabon and a workshop on "Climate Change and the Forestry Sector: adaptation and REDD" in Cameroon. Each time, more than 20 teachers seized the opportunity to learn, exchange experiences and develop new methods of knowledge transfer fit for their institutions.

While continuing these collaboration efforts, a workshop on "Activities Planning of the InWEnt/RIFFEAC partnership over the 2010-2012 period", was held on December for the first time in Bujumbura (Burundi), a new Member State of the RIFFEAC, with the help of the Higher Agronomic Institute of Gitega.

Many exchanges led on a partnership convention between InWEnt and the RIFFEAC and on a selection of the activities to carry out and the schedule. The three measures concerned with the partnership are: (i) improvement of the curricula and their implementation, (ii) development of a catalogue of offers of continuing education and (iii) the finalization and validation of the sub-regional training policy in forestry and environmental studies. It was decided that the priority for 2010 would be the validation of the sub-regional training policy so it could officially serve as common reference document to the institution members, partners and COMIFAC after validation by the national ministries in charge.

The workshops were prepared and implemented by ECO Consult in close cooperation with CBFP-members. For more information, please kindly contact the program manager, Mr. Heiko Heidemann (heiko.heidemann@inwent.org).

Participants of the workshop "Activities Planning of the InWEnt/RIFFEAC partnership over the period 2010-2012" planting a banana tree as a symbol of the co-operation between the two organizations with Bujumbura/Burundi (7-12 December) (Photograph: ECO Consult).

.