At the end of the meeting, participants formulated 15 recommendations, including among others: (1) to COMOIFAC Executive Secretariat (ES) and to CEEAC to mobilize financial resources for the organization of a workshop to build the capacities of CNULD FPs on the use of PRAIS Portal; (2) to development partners to financially and technically support the implementation of GTCCD 2012-2013 road map at sub-regional and national levels; (3) to the CBFP to lead advocacy and lobbying with development partners for support to GDT and the GTCCD.

Bangui – Central African Republic, 18 to 20 April 2012 – Holding of the fifth meeting of the Work Group for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Fight against Desertification in Central Africa (GTCCD). It was convene by Mr Raymond Mbitikon, COMIFAC ES. Chaired by Mr Martin TADOUM, COMIOFAC Deputy ES and moderated by Mr Chouaibou Nchoutpouen, COMIFAC ES Biodiversity and Desertification Expert, deliberations in Bangui gathered focal points of COMIFAC member countries. Also attending were representatives of the following sub-regional and international institutions: Fishery resources (CCEBEVIRHA), the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) and COMIFAC.

COMIFAC GTCCD Fifth Meeting held in Four Phases: (1) the opening ceremony; (2) Plenary sessions and interactions; (3) group work and (4) Restitution and adoption of recommendations. The opening ceremony was marked by three speeches: The speech of CBFP Delegate facilitator for the occasion, the speech of COMIFAC Deputy Executive Secretary and the opening speech of the Director of Cabinet, representing the CAR Minister of Environment and Ecology.

In his welcome address, CBFP Delegate Facilitator, Mr Cléto NDOKUMAGENGE, thanked COMIFAC ES for having invited CBFP Facilitation to attend the workshop. He went further to say that governance at partners’ level was a guarantee to promoting CNULD implementation in Central Africa. Eventually, he stated CBFP availability to pursue lobbying for land sustainable management in Central Africa and support to the GTCCD.

COMIFAC Deputy ES, Mr Martin Tadoum, in his turn recalled the political commitment and the efforts of Central African countries for land sustainable management and desertification control. He pointed out the fact that such efforts would be reflected by the adherence of all COMIFAC countries to the CNULD, the adoption by each country of her NAP for desertification control, the adoption of the Sub-regional Action Plan for desertification control in Central Africa (PASR-LCD/AC), considering desertification in COMIFAC Convergence Plan, especially in point 3, the creation of the GTCCD, etc. He also recalled the achievements of the GTCCD. He went further in his speech and mentioned the alignment of NAP and the preparation of the fifth report on CNULD implementation which are for now urgent actions under this convention for which the countries of the sub-region shall have to take proper action in view of their implementation.

The Director of Cabinet, representing His Excellency, the CAR Minister of Environment and Ecology, before opening the meeting, expressed thanks to GIZ, on behalf of the Government, for having accepted to financially support the holding of the meeting. Eventually, she wished full success to the deliberations and declared the fifth GTCDD meeting open.

After the opening ceremony, came presentations by participants, the presentation of the objectives of the workshop, the adoption of the agenda and plenary communications.

At the end of the meeting, participants formulated 15 recommendations, including among others: (1) to COMIFAC Executive Secretariat (ES) and to CEEAC to mobilize financial resources for the organization of a workshop to build the capacities of CNULD PF on the use of PRAIS Portal; (2) to development partners to financially and technically support the implementation of GTCCD 2012-2013 road map at sub-regional and national levels; (3) to the CBFP to lead advocacy and lobbying with development partners for support to GDT and the GTCCD (4) to CNULD FP in Burundi, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda and Sao Tome & Principe to get into contact with their FEM Operational Focal Point in order to mobilize the 30,000 USD planned for national consultations to identify priority projects.

Available for download:

♦ Final Communiqué of the fifth meeting of the Work Group for the Implementation of the UN Convention on Fighting Desertification in Central Africa (GTCCD)

♦ GTCCD (2012-2013) Road Map

♦ SUMMARY OF ACTIONS IDENTIFIED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOME DECISIONS OF THE TENTH CONFERENCE OF PARTIES TO THE UN CONVENTION ON FIGHTING DESERTIFICATION (CNULD) (CDP10)