The partnership between RIFFEAC and InWEnt since 2008 continued in 2011 with GIZ. Since 1st January 2011, GIZ became the German cooperation organ for sustainable development, following the merging of GTZ, DED and InWEnt.

The workshop on the presentation of the results of 2011-2012 activities and 2012 planning of RIFFEAC-GIZ programme took place in Yaoundé, Cameroon from 12 to 15 February 2012 under the theme “Construction and professional capacity building for sustainable forest management in the Congo Basin”, with the support of the GIZ-COMIFAC program. This sub-regional workshop also supported the holding of RIFFEAC Board meeting and General Assembly, as well as the first pilot follow-up committees of RIFFEAC-BC project.

The RIFFEAC-GIZ partnership in 2011 was mainly focused on improving the training programs of RIFFEAC member institutions. To this effect, a training engineering workshop in the reform of curricula (Libreville workshop, May 2011), with the support of PAPESAC, was followed by a special support to 5 pilot schools in the sub-region. Also, the analysis of needs for professions in the forest-environment sector, following strategic typical jobs for the sector, was carried out and a capacity building workshop for RIFFEAC members in search of funding and seminar organization took place in Bujumbura (October 2011). Close and committed cooperation of RIFFEAC member institutions was crucial for all these activities.

GIZ support shall continue in 2012 following two axes: the continuation of support activities to curricula reform, like in 2011 and the development of the continuous training offer by RIFFEAC member institutions. Beyond this support, GIZ developed a long term continuous training programme called International Leadership Training (ILT) which shall start in April 2012. The overall objective of this programme is to build the capacities of young managers of forest and environmental training institutions in Central Africa in the management of their institutions and training offers.

To conclude, it should be noted that RIFFEAC General Assembly, in its resolutions of 12 February 2012, thanked the Cameroonian Minister of Forestry and, through him, the Cameroonian government for having accepted to host not only the headquarters of the network but also for providing suitable offices.

To learn more, please contact RIFFEAC coordination (Dr. S. I. Sambo, riffeac@yahoo.fr), or GIZ (Mr H. Heidemann, heiko.heidemann@giz.de)

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