Professor Baudouin MICHEL of the University of Liège, Director of ERAIFT and Rector of IFA Yangambi, held a conference in Brussels on Wednesday, 11 January 2023 on the theme of the Democratic Republic of the Congo-paradoxes and urgent and realistic agro-economic transitions. A total of 140 people attended the conference, either in physically or by videoconference.
The speaker's presentation focused firstly on the issues of food insecurity and deficit, territorial disparities and inequity in the distribution of value added in value chains; secondly on the agri-food system in the Five Economic Growth Poles, and thirdly on the conditions necessary for a sustainable agri-economic transition.
To overcome this agricultural paradox, Professor Baudouin Michel proposes a number of solutions in 5 points: (1) the formulation of an effective agricultural policy, (2) the improvement of added value through a complete untaxation of agricultural activities, (3) the opening up of the territory, (4) the combination of vertical (VCA4D) and horizontal (landscape-NATURAFRICA approach) approaches as well as the systemic approach, and (5) the promotion of PPPs in the landscape.
ERAIFT thanks International Parnerships InfoPoint for the invitation. It also expresses its gratitude to the European Union for the support and renewed confidence.
The ERAIFT Management informs that Mr. Emmanuel HEUSE, Director of Fund Raising at ERAIFT, has decided to end his mandate on December 31, 2022. The Management of ERAIFT sincerely thanks Mr. Emmanuel HEUSE for the excellent results obtained during his mandate and wishes him a fruitful continuation of his career.
Done in Kinshasa, on 15/01/2023
The Director of ERAIFT,
Baudouin MICHEL
Presently, the 40 students of the regional masters' 3rd cohort are ending their course in semester 3 for specialisation (July to December 2022). Four disciplines are concerned, including 3 professional masters degrees and a research master in 4 different professions: Management of Protected Areas and Biosphere Reserves (GAP/GRB), Forest Management Techniques (TAF) and Integrated Management of Tropical Forests and Lands (AGIFT).
Remember that this specialization is made possible by the regional mobility provided in this programme. Indeed, the 17 GAP/GRB Masters were trained at the Ecole de Faune de Garoua (EFG, Cameroon); the 11 TAF Masters completed part of their practical training in a forestry company in the North of the Republic of Congo, within the CIB OLAM Agri company. The 12 AGIFT research Masters continued their studies in DRC, either in the Luki Biosphere Reserve or in the Mangrove Marine Park (RAMSAR site).
January to June 2023 is the final stretch of the programme. Indeed, all these 40 learners have been admitted to an academic internship to carry out their final year research in several countries. Eight GAP masters students have been admitted to an internship at the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC, South Africa), within the partnership that exists between this prestigious South-African institution and ERAIFT.
Public defenses of these research results are to be held in June 2023, online or in class, with an international and interdisciplinary jury. The 3rd cohort, consisting of 40 students from 8 countries, will complete its cursus at the end of June 2023.
The third cohort's departure for the internship frees up space for the start of the fifth cohort, which begins its course in February 2023. Thus the 3rd, 4th and 5th cohorts will run in parallel until June 2023, giving 129 students registered in the Master's programme at ERAIFT (in addition to the 26 doctoral students registered on the role).
ERAIFT expresses its sincere thanks to the European Union for funding this training programme and to AGRINATURA for supporting ERAIFT in the implementation of the programme.
The 18th session of the enlarged Academic and Research Council was held on Tuesday 20/12/2022 under the supervision of the Director of ERAIFT and President of the Academic and Research Council, Mr. Baudouin MICHEL. Participants in this session were Academic and Research Council statutory members as well as its regional and international partners. Apart from other business, 3 main points were on the agenda: 1) the selection of candidates for the 5th promotion of ERAIFT regional masters, 2) recommendations from the 1st ERAIFT scientific retreat, 3) the academic report for the December 2021 - December 2022 period.
Regarding the selection process for the 5th promotion of the ERAIFT Regional Masters Courses, the following decision was taken: 40 scholarship holders were selected from the 170 applications received following the international call for applications. They originate from 11 different countries, including 12 women, i.e. approximately 30%. The regional character of the institution as well as the female representation are well highlighted. This cohort will start training in the first trimester of 2023.
Concerning the ERAIFT scientific seminar in Zongo, from 14 to 17 October 2002, which was a great success, most of the recommendations formulated were approved. The institution is expected to explore ways and means to implement them. These are essentially: the extension of ERAIFT to the English-speaking community, bilingualism, the professionalization of training, the strengthening of internships, and the respect of the academic calendar.
Started at 8.30 a.m., the meeting ended at 12 a.m., in a friendly and satisfying atmosphere. ERAIFT is grateful to the European Union for the funding of this Action and for the renewed confidence; it also thanks AGRINATURA for its collaboration.
Campus UNIKIN - BP 15373 - Kinshasa - Commune de Lemba - RD Congo