The "Enhancing the contribution of non-timber forest products to food security in Central Africa" project which held its launch workshop in Kigali (Rwanda) from June 3 to 5, 2014, purports to address the issue of the contribution of non-timber forest products to food security in Central Africa.

 
 
The chief aim of the workshop hosted by FAO with financial support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) was to inform stakeholders about the project and discuss its activities and implementation approaches.

 
The meeting attracted more than forty attendees. They included representatives of the COMIFAC Executive Secretariat, governments involved in the project (Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe and Chad), ADB, FAO, local communities and civil society organizations playing an active role in promoting NTFPs.

 For three days, participants followed presentations on a range of topics relating to:

 
the project background: objectives, expected outcomes, indicators and progress status of the project since February 2014.

operational planning of activities scheduled for 2014: a review of activities to be implemented in 2014 and presentations made by the NSCs (National Steering Committees) on preliminary bi-annual work plans;

 
administrative procedures and definition of modes of collaboration: ADB procedures; project operational procedures and conventions / letters of agreement and various contracts; communication within the team, the website and other information technology tools; terms of reference and the importance of the national advisory committees of COMIFAC’s NTFP sub-working group (Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, Sao Tome And Principe, Chad).

The presentations provided a basis for informed discussions that culminated in key recommendations addressed to FAO. For better implementation of the project, it will be needful to:

 
• Establish without delay,  national advisory committees on NTFPs (NAC-NWFP) in each country covered by the FAO / NTFP project by merging them with bodies set up by another REDD + project in the interests of efficiency ;

• Clarify the different missions of the National Steering Committees and National Advisory Committees on NTFPs in the countries, the Regional Steering Committees and National Steering Committees;

• Submit for approval to the Regional Steering Committee (RSC), the merger of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) and the National Steering Committee (NSC) which is designated NCC in the project document;

• Engage governments and stakeholders to ensure project ownership and management of project gains;

• Develop a concept note on conditions for granting internships and study trips latest by mid-July 2014;

• increase transparency in this process;

• Explore all possible communication channels related to the management of information and communication tools;

• Create computerized files to manage project assets and equipment and also to handle labeling with logos of the ADB, FAO, COMIFAC and CBFF;

• Progressively hand over various project equipment to the governments;

• Align the project with the COMIFAC Convergence Plan under review.
 

Details on the conduct of the project launch workshop are provided in a report which can be viewed below: