Regional Centre of Excellence Launch

RCMRD wishes to invite you to the Launch of the Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) on 22-March-2024 at 9:00hrs at RCMRD, Nairobi Kenya. The RCoEs are the European Union’s support for the use of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for the green transition and sustainable development in the main dimensions of the Green Deal: forests and biodiversity, water, oceans, energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate change. The RCoEs will enable knowledge and informed decisions in responding to megatrends including climate change, environmental degradation, population growth, technological development and diversification of security threats in Sub-Saharan Africa. The overall objective of the project is to ensure forests, biodiversity and seascape ecosystems in Eastern and Southern Africa are sustainably managed and continue providing ecosystem services and contribute to the well-being of the populations, by providing improved, regular and updated information for informed decision making.

 

The specific objectives (SO) are i) that the regional centre of excellence for Eastern and Southern Africa becomes a reference point for updated information, able to influence policy decisions in the region on forestry and biodiversity, contributing to the regional and global agenda on forests and biodiversity; and ii) that cross-sectoral and cross-regional coordination and strategic steering of RCoEs to address STI green transition challenges is improved. The geographical scope covers Eastern and Southern African Countries: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

 

The two main implementing partners are CIFOR (coordinating partner) and RCMRD. To support the RCoE, this partnership builds on strong links between research and technology. It brings in institutions with experience in research and technology.

 

Whereas the Center for International Forestry Research advances human wellbeing, environmental conservation and equity by conducting research to inform policies and practices that affect forests in developing countries. We are one of the 15 centers within the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Our headquarters are in Bogor, Indonesia and we have offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

 

The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resource for Development (RCMRD) will host the RCoE, with member states in Eastern and Southern Africa. It plays a key role in capacity development on areas of geo-information and related technologies. The role of RCMRD in the action includes; Hosting the RCoE; Liaise with partner countries including on assessment of information and capacity needs for decision-making; Be the main coordinator/contact for country-related interactions; capacity development on areas of geo-information and related technologies among others.