Following increasing international attention to help Africa achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals, CIFOR will dedicate 40 percent of its research expenditure to sub-Saharan Africa.
The aims and strategies of this new commitment are detailed in CIFOR’s recently published “Contributing to Africa’s Development through Forests – Strategy for Engagement in sub-Saharan Africa.” Download pdf file (1.4 MB)
According to Assistant Director General, Yemi Katerere, who led the development of CIFOR’s Africa strategy, the commitment of 40 percent of funding to Africa reflects CIFOR’s belief that forests can play an important role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“CIFOR decided to increase its level of work in Africa because in many sub-Saharan Africa nations, forests play a vital role in people’s lives through the provision of medicines, food, energy, income and acting as a safety net during droughts. Forests are also a source of environmental services such as providing clean water,” Katerere said.
“Our new Africa strategy will help in achieving the MDGs by ensuring CIFOR’s research has a tight focus on livelihood needs, conservation, and sustainable forest management.”
The main aims of the strategy include influencing policies by providing credible information, developing natural resource management technologies, training forest stakeholders and helping processes that lead to a more equitable and sustainable distribution of forest resources.
|
Why Forests Matter to Africa and the Millennium Development Goals
Forests are vital for the welfare of millions of people in Africa, especially the poor and marginalized. Used wisely, they could improve livelihoods and people's quality of life.
- Africa has exceptionally high levels of poverty. In 2001, 46.5 percent of sub-Saharan Africans were living on less than US$1 a day.
- Over two-thirds of Africa’s 600 million people rely directly or indirectly on forests for their livelihoods including food security.
- Wood is the primary energy source for at least 70 percent of households.
- Forest-related activities account for 10 percent of the GDP in at least 19 African countries, and more than 10 percent of national trade in 10 others.
- Forests covered 27.3 percent of the total land area of sub-Saharan Africa in 2000.
- Africa is home to 25 percent of the world’s remaining tropical rainforests and contains 20 percent of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
- A high return on research investment in Africa can be achieved by developing processes and mechanisms to confront persistent poverty and enhance the capacity and confidence of individuals, organisations and communities.
- The end of violent conflicts in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Angola, Mozambique, the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Congo presents new opportunities to support sustainable forest management.
- African countries can take advantage of the growing national and global demand for forest goods and services.
|
Katerere says renewed international commitment to Africa underscores growing acceptance that international public goods research organizations such as CIFOR can contribute significantly towards poverty reduction. CIFOR will coordinate its activities in Africa with other CGIAR centers, African research organizations and other partners through joint programming and priority setting. Katerere is quick to emphasise that the new commitment does not mean CIFOR will shift its focus from Asia and Latin America.
“CIFOR will always be a global research center. The new commitment to Africa reflects the fact that Africa is where the greatest need is. CIFOR will still focus strongly on Asia and Latin America. It certainly won't be reduced and may even increase, depending on donor support,” Katerere said.
CIFOR has worked in sub-Saharan Africa since it was established in 1993. Today it operates in Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Gabon, the Democratic Republic Congo, Ethiopia and many other countries.
These countries have large rural populations, persistent poverty, high economic dependence on forests and agriculture, weak economies and major health challenges.
“In each of these countries forests play a complex and diverse role in supporting livelihoods. The way in which they are managed - or mismanaged - can profoundly impact on millions of lives. Focusing on forests is vital for Africa's future welfare and achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” Katerere said.