The project "Capacity building of biodiversity practitioners, scientists and policy makers for the sustainable management of protected areas and forest ecosystems in Africa", coordinated by ERAIFT and AGRINATURA with funding from the European Union through the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) Decision n° 41928, aims to support environmental policies and investments for the sustainable, participatory and equitable management of protected areas and forest ecosystems in Africa, as well as to contribute to building the capacity of biodiversity practitioners, scientists and policy-makers in the production and use of the information needed for such sustainable management. The project covers the Congo Basin and West Africa.

Launched in 2021, the project covers 61 months for a total budget of 7,800,000 EUR. The main beneficiaries of the project are biodiversity practitioners, scientists, civil society organizations and the private sector, as well as political decision-makers. The ultimate beneficiaries are the populations living near protected areas and forest ecosystems in Africa, in particular, and the global population in general.

The main activities expected from this action are as follows: (i) diploma courses (Doctorate, Master's) and continuous training, (ii) the development of training tools and materials and their vulgarization (MOOCs), (iii) the strengthening and modernization of the infrastructures of ERAIFT and its national and regional partner institutions, (iv) the support of political decision-makers in the sustainable management of PAs and forest ecosystems in Africa, and (v) the capitalization and communication of research results.