The Global Mechanism (GM) enhances its focus on south-to-south cooperation by introducing technology transfer on land management into regional financing platforms. As an initial step towards this goal, it was agreed to use the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative (GGWSSI) platform, currently under development by the African Union Commission and the GM, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with support provided by the European Commission (EU).
The UNCCD has always recognized the key role that technology transfer (TT) plays as an effective instrument to combat land degradation and mitigate the effects of drought. In particular, both the text of the Convention (Article 18) and the 10-Year Strategy (2008-2018), through Operational Objective 5 (mobilize financial and technological resources and optimize them in order to get the maximum impact) provide clear provisions on the need to facilitating access to technology by affected country Parties through adequate financing, effective economic and policy incentives and technical support, notably within the framework of South-South and North-South cooperation (outcome 5.5 of the 10-Year Strategy).
Against this backdrop, the GM organized together with the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) an international workshop on 25 and 26 January, in Tunis, the theme of which was “Technology Transfer between Sahel and Maghreb countries”, in the context of SolArid, one of GM’s South-to-South Cooperation programme.
Participants included several representatives of UNCCD focal point institutions, scientific research centres, development finance institutions such as the African Development Bank, sub-regional institutions including the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), specialized organizations such as the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control (CILSS) and other UN organisations, notably FAO.
The two-day workshop focused in particular on how to capitalize on existing initiatives and lessons learned at sub-regional, interregional and national levels. The need to create a regional platform promoting partnership building at all levels - including at local and decentralised levels of cooperation – was strongly expressed by the participants.
In particular, the platform shall:
- support resource mobilization efforts for technology transfer initiatives in the sub-region;
- manage and disseminate key, up-to-date financial, scientific knowledge and TT success stories; and
- support networking of regional scientific experts to foster collaboration and exchange.
An analysis of priority technology areas helped identify water as the major field of cooperation for promoting south-south technology transfer initiatives, by disseminating research outcomes, and more generally by encouraging collaboration between UNCCD focal points, local authorities, scientific scholars, and development partners. The knowledge exchange platform will be used to consolidate bilateral relations amongst African countries, share experiences on approaches, programmes and methodologies and ensure full ownership of technologies by local populations.
Linking technology transfer to the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative will guarantee that south-south cooperation in the region is strengthened and endorsed at the highest political levels.
For more information:
Mr Youssef Brahimi, Programme Coordinator, North Africa & South-to-South Cooperation
Tel. +39 06 5459 2584
y.brahimi (at) global-mechanism.org
Ms Wafa Essahli, Financial Strategy Officer, Africa Regional Coordination Unit
w.essahli (at) global-mechanism.org
