Among other things, participants (1) adopted the topics of CEFDHAC 7^th Sub-regional Forum, though they are still to be specified; (2) determined a period during which the 7^th Sub-regional Forum can hold (between October and November 2012). The precise date shall be known after that of the Council of Forest Ministers is determined; (3) prepared a draft agenda of the Forum which shall be finalized and adopted after the holding of the 2^nd preparatory meeting of the 7^th Forum; (4) determined selection criteria and categories of participants to be expected at the 7^th Forum; (5) adopted a draft projected budget for the organization of the 7^th Forum…

Douala (Cameroon), 26 to 27 March 2012 – Holding of a Seminar in prelude to CCEFDHAC 7^th Sub-Regional Forum The workshop was organized by CEFDHAC steering committee office, with the technical and financial support of GIZ, PACEBCo, UICN and CBFP Facilitation. The meeting aimed at mobilizing ideas and resources (material and human) required for the success of the 7^th CEFDHAC Forum. The point was, among other things, to update the objectives and the expected results as described in the road map adopted at the end of the second CPR meeting, to visit the financial and technical project offer to be presented to PACEBCo, in view of the signature of a CEEAC-CEFDHAC convention and to assess the level of the consultation process for the final choice of the facilitating agency. About thirty participants attended the meeting, namely: representatives of CEEAC, COMIFAC, the Rwandan Government, members of the Regional Steering Committee, CEFDHAC network coordinators, presidents of CEFDHAC National Fora. Representatives of Partner organizations also attended: GIZ, PFBC, and UICN. Thus, the seminar was attended by thirty (30) persons.

The workshop for the preparation of CEFDHAC 7^th Sub-regional Forum lasted two (2) days. The first day covered the following points: Module 0: The formal phase including the various opening speeches; Module 1: General introduction of the seminar; Module 2: Level of preparedness for the Sub-regional Forum; Presentation of the main theme of the Sub-regional Forum: “Multi-actor Participation in the Integrated Management of Natural Resources”; Module 3: Exposés by resource persons on green and sustainable economy; COMIFAC sub-regional directives on the participation of local and indigenous populations and NGOs in the sustainable management of forests in Central Africa, land tenure – Definition, appraisal, major problems, major challenges and roles of CSOs; Gender, governance, conservation, development and Convergence Plan, and new COMIFAC themes.

The second day covered the logistic/administrative preparation of the Sub-Regional Forum and also witnessed the holding of a select meeting of the Sub-regional Committee (CPR members + partners)

At the end of the two-day deliberations, different exposés, exchanges and workshop discussions, and given the planned objectives, the expected results were achieved according to the organizers of the meeting. To this regard, the participants: (1) adopted the topics to be discussed at CEFDHAC 7^th Sub-regional Forum, though they are still to be specified; (2) determined a period during which the 7^th Sub-regional Forum can hold (between October and November 2012); the precise date shall be known after that of the Council of Forest Ministers; (3) prepared a draft agenda of the Forum which shall be finalized and adopted after the holding of the 2^nd preparatory meeting; (4) determined selection criteria and categories of participants to be expected at the 7^th Forum; (5) adopted a draft projected budget for the organization of the 7^th Forum; (6) prepared a non exhaustive list of partners likely to sponsor the Forum; (7) prepared a book of specifications to be presented to the host country; (8) listed activities at the Forum and prepared their schedule (activities before, during and after the Forum); two sub-organizing committees shall be established and shall merge during the 2^nd preparatory meeting; (9) determined the process and criteria for the selection of presentations at the 7^th Forum; (10) proposed a non exhaustive list of agencies for the facilitation of the Forum (the first call for interest having been unfruitful, a second one shall be launched in the first week of April 2012 latest); (11) examined and adopted the technical and financial offer project for CEEAC-CEFDHAC Convention to be submitted to PACEBCo.

Available for download:

The Report of the Preparatory Meeting of CEFDHAC 7th Forum