On Wednesday June 20, a tripartite agreement to end desertification in Africa between Brazil, France and the bloc of countries on the African continent was signed. The parties sealed the unprecedented partnership at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), at an event attended by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Marco Antônio Raupp.

During the ceremony, at Pavilhão Brasil, Parque dos Atletas, the institutions involved launched the selection process for funding of research projects on the subject worth one million euros (about R$ 2.6 million), which will be jointly financed. The initiative will be developed by France's Research Development Agency (AIRD), the Pan-African Great Green Wall Agency (GGW) and, Brazil's National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq / MCTI ) and the Center for Strategic Studies and Management (CGEE).

At the event - which was also attended by the Minister of Planning, Budget and Management, Miriam Belchior, and the Minister for National Integration, Fernando Bezerra Coelho - it was confirmed that the selection process will be opened by October 20. It is intended for researchers, professors and researchers from educational and research institutions in French, Brazil and Africa and aims to develop a consolidated scientific community in the countries to support the fight against desertification in Africa. This partnership is based on six areas: agriculture and food, natural resource management, adaptation to climate change, sustainable development, governance, and technology and innovation.

The famous Sahara Desert, in North Africa, is one of the poorest places in the world. Approximately 2.5 million people live in the region, made up of 13 countries, such as Algeria and Sudan.

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                                                                                                                         Text: Juliana d'Arede - Press Office, MCTI