The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), through the Centro de Estudos e Gestão Estratégica –CGEE – (Center for Strategic Studies and Management, and the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq – (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development), are to begin a series of strategic actions focused on scientific cooperation on the African continent to strengthen the fight against desertification.

This is the objective of the France-Brazil-Africa Scientific Cooperation Program to be launched during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, in Rio de Janeiro, on Wednesday (June 20).

The event will be attended by Minister Marco Antonio Raupp, government leaders and researchers from several countries. It will be held at 11 am at Pavilhão Brasil, Parque dos Atletas.

Agreement

The partnership is the result of long-standing cooperation between the partners, which began at the second International Conference on Climate, Sustainability and Development in Semi-arid Regions (ICID +18) in August 2010, in Fortaleza. In October 2011, the CGEE partnered with the Institute of Research for Development (IRD / France) and the Pan African Agency of the Great Green Wall (GGWA) in Niamey, the capital of Niger. The program also implements the commitments entered into by the agreement signed in March 2012 during the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille, France.

The initiative aims to strengthen the governance and sustainable development of drylands, and to support national and local policies, focusing on six themes: Agriculture and food; Management of natural resources (water, soil, biodiversity, etc.); Adapting to climate change; Sustainable and human development; Governance; and Technology and innovation.

The funding agencies CNPq (Brazil), Aird (France) and GGWA (the Sahel region in Africa) will work closely together. In the future the intention is for this initiative to attract new donors and development lenders, boosting sustainable development in African drylands. The idea is to also to transfer science and knowledge through support initiatives and interdisciplinary research programs.

Follow the MCTI at Rio+20.

Text: Denise Coelho - communications officer at the MCTI with information from the communications officer at the CGEE