{"id":1125,"date":"2019-12-05T11:19:38","date_gmt":"2019-12-05T11:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/egsnews.eurogeosurveys.org\/?p=1125"},"modified":"2019-12-05T11:20:42","modified_gmt":"2019-12-05T11:20:42","slug":"final-meeting-of-the-panafgeo-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/egsnews.eurogeosurveys.org\/?p=1125","title":{"rendered":"Final Meeting of the PanAfGeo Project"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On 24 and 25 October 2019, about 70 PanAfGeo partners from\naround 50 European and African countries gathered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,\nfor the Phase 1 closing meeting. The Ministers responsible for minerals in\nTanzania and Kenya were the guests of honour. Attendees included some of the\nproject\u2019s main contributors: OAGS Executive Committee members, stakeholders and\nrepresentatives of Geological Surveys in Africa and Europe and the European\nCommission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An overview of all the PanAfGeo Project activities performed under each work package was presented and was followed by a feedback session. A complete review of the three years of training was presented by each WP leader. The complete list of the PanAfGeo work packages are available here: www.panafgeo.eurogeosurveys.org\/about<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PanAfGeo Project: an\noverview (2016-2019) <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Results and impacts: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PanAfGeo increased the\ntechnical competence of 1,074 trainees from 49 African countries (all except\nBurundi, Libya, Mauritius, Seychelles and Somalia). No other EU programme so\nfar has ever had such a cross-continental geographical coverage, overcoming\nlanguage (trainings in three languages: English, French, Portuguese), cultural\nand political barriers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The European Commission\u2019s\nintention of increasing attention for more effective cooperation with Africa\nhas therefore been fully met by PanAfGeo Phase 1, through its geoscience\ntraining programmes for officers of African Geological Surveys. The programme\nhas clearly strengthened the partnership between EU and African countries in\nseveral areas, bringing substantial benefits to the societies in Africa and,\nindirectly, in Europe, through the establishment of stable institutional\nrelations based on mutual trust and respect. The consideration of many African\nMinisters being present at various PanAfGeo events proves the impact generated\nat the highest decision making and political levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The future – PanAfGeo Phase\n2: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, there is always\nroom for improvement and the framework of possible work packages for PanAfGeo-2\nwere discussed at the final meeting in Tanzania, with an emphasis on additional\nactivities that would lead to increased (institutional) capacity of African\nGeological Surveys. The key ambition is to align as much as possible with the\nnew European Commission priority \u2018A stronger Europe in the World\u2019, by putting\nin place a more comprehensive and ambitious strategy for PanAfGeo-2 itself. One\npossibility might be offered by establishing a collaboration with other\ncomplementary projects (such as GMES Africa) in order to achieve synergies in\nland and geo-resources management. The latter is closely linked to climate\nchange adaptation goals that are tackled within the proposed EU Green Deal,\nanother of Ms U. von der Leyen\u2019s priorities as President of the European\nCommission. The cooperation between European and African Geological Surveys\nwithin PanAfGeo-2 will further strengthen the geological sector at government\nlevel in Africa and will, therefore, allow for the increased capacity in\nmanaging geo-resources and environmental matters by national administrations.\nThis represents a step forward in the political commitment to the development\nof EU-Africa cooperation as described in MIP Pan-African 2018-2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PanAfGeo-2 will thus encompass: (1)\nstrengthening the level of geological knowledge and skills in national\nGeological Surveys through trainings; (2) enhancing the institutional and technical\ncapacity and role of African national Geological Surveys; (3) contributing to\nimproved mineral resources assessment, management and governance by national\nGeological Surveys in Africa, (4) increasing the activities of national\nGeological Surveys related to regional mapping and exploration, as well as\nupgrading their geoscientific information base and mineral inventories; (5)\ncreating a Pan-African network of experts through the Organisation of African\nGeological Surveys (OAGS), supported by the organisation of the Geological\nSurveys of Europe (EuroGeoSurveys); (6) supporting the European (Commission)\nand pan African institutions (African Union) in achieving their strategic\npolicy goals on AU-EU cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n