Banjul, May 07, 2024. The Annual Steering Committee Meeting on the Global Forest Transformation for People and Climate Project, convened on Tuesday, 07 May  in Banjul, The Gambia as part of the collaborative effort between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to promote forest conservation initiatives and climate resilience in the sub-region.  

This event is important given the urgent need to address the escalating challenges facing West Africa's forests. With deforestation rates rising and climate change impacts worsening, the collaborative efforts of SIDA, FAO, and ECOWAS are crucial. This annual  meeting emphasizes the need for coordinated action to safeguard the region's invaluable forest ecosystems by convening stakeholders and partners to review progress and plan future strategies and interventions. 

The Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Honourable Rohey John Manjang, delivered a keynote address. She  affirmed  the government's unwavering dedication and commitment  to sustainable forest management, biodiversity conversation, and  sustainable forest management.  . Minister Manjang emphasized, "Deforestation and land degradation are a major environmental problem. However, through sustainable forest management efforts, we can improve the productivity of our agricultural land and thereby enhance food security of local communities and the attainment of the objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP). " 

The collaborative project between the SIDA, FAO and ECOWAS aims to bolster responsive decision-making on forests and land management. This initiative supports the implementation of the ECOWAS Forest Convergence Plan by enhancing knowledge of forest dynamics, facilitating forest legal framework reform, and demonstrating best community-based forest practices. The overarching objective is to positively impact livelihoods and enhance climate change resilience across the sub-region. 

Echoing the sentiment of regional cooperation, Massandje Toure-Liste, the ECOWAS Commissioner, stated, "I invite the Representatives of the Member States and the local communities to continue to play their part in this important project by developing and implementing operational synergies that reconcile ecosystem management and climate change mitigation" 

Dr. Robert Guei, the FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator, highlighted the pivotal role of collaboration in environmental conservation, stating, " This SIDA-funded project is a long-standing exemplary partnership between FAO and ECOWAS, which has led to major achievements and very significant results in several areas in West Africa " 

Joachim Beijmo - Head of Regional Development, Head of Regional Development Cooperation in Africa · Swedish Embassy in Addis Ababa emphasized the importance of initiatives that focus on sustainable forestry to benefit both people and the climate and expressed satisfaction with the project's progress thus far conveying enthusiasm for the upcoming developments. 

Moshibudi Rampedi, the FAO  Representative in the Gambia extended a warm welcome to the delegates from the ECOWAS Member States, participants and partners. She  expressed  appreciation  for the collaboration between FAO, ECOWASSIDA and  in national efforts like the Grassroots Adaptation Interventions for Climate Change Effects (GRACE)initiative in the Gambia.. “By actively supporting GRACE, FAO demonstrates its commitment to sustainable forest and land management furthermore  fostering local ownership and resilience-building ” 

The Steering Committee Meeting serves as a platform to review project progress, discuss budget implementation, and plan for future activities, with a focus on sustaining project results beyond its completion.  Ms Mandisa Mashologu, United Nations Resident Coordinator a.i. attended the opening session to show solidarity with FAO and highlight the importance of the meeting  and the intervention for the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda targets.

, FAO launched and handed over theForest Knowledge Portal of West Africa, a collaborative platform designed to enhance regional data sharing and environmental management. Developed by FAO and AGRHYMET on the GeoNode platform, it features foundational infrastructure for managing spatial data and metadata, with a "subsites" plugin that allows for both shared infrastructure and data ownership. The portal's launch marks a significant step towards building a collaborative ecosystem for effective data management across West Africa, with tailored sub-sites for each country, capacity-building workshops, and national virtual training to ensure widespread usability and sustainability. 

Following the two day  meeting, participants will undertake   a field visit  to the GRACE initiative sites. GRACE is implemented by the national Non-Government Organization  Freedom from Hunger Campaign (FFHC), to further reinforce the commitment to community-based forest practices and climate resilience. 

The progress made within the project exemplifies a concerted effort towards achieving sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation in West Africa. Through collaborative endeavours, significant strides have been taken to enhance knowledge of forest ecosystems, strengthen legal frameworks, and foster community-based initiatives. As stakeholders convene to review achievements and plan future strategies, there is a profound commitment to continue advancing efforts that safeguard the invaluable forest resources of the region.