African Forest Research Network (AFORNET)
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African Forest Research Network (AFORNET)
Dr. Iba Kone, Coordinator
The AFORNET secretariat
African Academy of Sciences
P.O. Box 24916, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254 20 884401-5
Fax: 254 20 884406
Email: i.kone@afornet.org
Web: http://www.afornet.org
Dr Yonas Yemshaw, Scientific Program Officer, y.yemshaw@afornet.org
Ms. Olivia Osula, Secretary, o.osura@afornet.org
Description
Though launched in 1991 as a pioneering project, the Capacity Building in Forest Research (CBFR) in Africa, the African Forest Research Network (AFORNET) is a network of African forest research scientists initiated out of the outcome of a forestry research in the 1980s that revealed gross insufficiency of resources in relation to the needs for scientific research led by SAREC and the African Academy of Sciences (AAS).
To comprehend more issues related to knowledge about forests, a survey was conducted in the late 1980’s about forestry research in Africa. It showed that, research capacity and facilities were grossly insufficient in relation to needs. As a result, SAREC in conjunction with the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) initiated a capacity building program including competitive grants for young scientists. As the program evolved, the need to maintain and develop existing capacity emerged. In 1997, the CBFR transformed itself to a pan-African network that seeks to promote multi disciplinary and multi-country driven forest research in Africa. Consequently, preparations for the launch of AFORNET were initiated which coincided with the third phase of Sida support to forestry research in Africa (1998-2001). AFORNET is currently hosted at the African Academy of Sciences Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya.
Its vision is to promote the conservation and sustainable management of African forestry resources to fulfill national, sub-regional and regional needs, through strengthening multi-disciplinary and multi-country driven research to provide lasting solutions in managing, protecting and restoring forest resources (including land and water) to alleviate poverty. Its mission is to see African Forest Scientists carry out important and high quality research with assured, adequate funding and full international recognition. The main objective of AFORNET is to increase the research capacities of AFORNET affiliated scientists and institutions to address issues of sustainable forestry management in Africa by focusing its mandate on a cluster of activities to achieve tangible and measurable results.
In essence, AFORNET provides a platform to African forest scientists to identify key national, sub regional and regional forestry research problems. It also provides appropriate funding, back up and technical support packages to scientists and stakeholders to address identified problems. These promote networking and interaction among African scientists through the establishment of thematic research networks. In recognition that the world is now a global village, AFORNET offers international exposure to scientists through the development of efficient mechanisms and channels implemented with the objective of disseminating scientific results across countries and among end users.
As a network of African forest research scientists, AFORNET’s main activity entails operating a research grants scheme to promote and strengthen individual scientists’ research capacity in order to retain outstanding scholars for generating and disseminating knowledge relevant to development. Appraisal of the applications by peer reviewers and the technical committee are stringent and competition among applicants is stiff. Grantees submit progress reports and their findings are presented at a final workshop.
AFORNET is currently hosted at the AAS’s headquarter in Nairobi, Kenya. Since its inception in 1998, AFORNET is noted to have adopted a flexible organizational structure, which is a four-layered operational structure.
Governance: The principal organ comprises the Member Forum or the General Assembly held once every three years. It is made up of all the network members and defines the priority, policy and modus operandi of the network. It also elects the office bearers of the AFORNET board which meets twice a year to approve AFORNET strategic plans, annual plans and specific technical, financial and other progress reports. It has a chairperson, a coordinator and deputy coordinators who are ex-officio members of the board. This board comprises 5 statutory members and two external resource persons who are used as consultants, peer reviewers and advisors in areas of their competence. The Technical Committee has 5 statutory members and two resource persons from the Board. It meets in tandem with the board to review all research proposals from scientists and recommend suitable proposals for funding by the board. The regional nodes, their officers and their committee members operationalize the functions of AFORNET at the regional level.
In order to deliver on its mandate, AFORNET relies on its team of partners who have supported its various programs over time. These include research institutions, universities, colleges, non-governmental organizations, and relevant government ministries. Past and current donors include AAS, KSLA, African Union, IUFRO, CIFOR, ETFREN, IFS, FAO, IPGRI, ISNAR, Tropenbos, IFAD, UNECEF, UNEP, Global Forest Watch, The World Forestry Center, and The World Agroforestry Centre.
Track Record
Since its inception, AFORNET has had a significant impact in the field of forest research and natural resource management. For instance, since the commencement of the capacity building program, over 140 research grants have been awarded to individuals and groups of scientists. 51 grants were distributed during the program period 1998–2001. These grants have been utilized in the fields of forest management, timber and fuel production, forest genetics, agro-forestry, biodiversity and socio-economic studies on utilization of forest resources. The net effect of the grants is that today many grantees hold positions of responsibility in forestry research in their countries and several are involved in the AFORNET.
Since its inception, AFORNET has secured 12 collaborative research grants to the tune of SEK 9,600,000 for over 70 African forest scientists and researchers in addition to 36 grants amounting to SEK2,880,000 for at least 36 masters and doctoral research scientists.
It has also delivered on its skill-sharpening program, which has strengthened the capacity of more than 150 scientists through thematic training and consensus building. A quarterly newsletter is circulated to members and forestry institutions.
Challenges
As a research-oriented institution, AFORNET has made tremendous contributions in forest research and resource utilization with support from different organizations. More needs to be done for its researchers to make the most of the grants. For instance, the institution requires scientific equipment, consumable materials and computer software for its laboratories.
AFORNET could however access more in research and be more accessible to scientists if it had regional offices which calls for strengthening its operational and functional eco-regional nodes.
While significant accomplishments have been made under the current governance structures, AFORNET’s Board needs to be consolidated to act as an authoritative African Forestry Research Council. This will help in setting appropriate mechanisms including funding to ensure the organisation’s long-term sustainability.
Opportunities
Africa has about 650 million hectares of forest, which is 17 percent of the world’s total cover. African forests average 0.85 ha per capita. Forests and woodland ecosystems have high productivity rates and support rich and diverse services at the global, regional and local levels.
Africa’s humid tropical forests support an estimated 1.5 million species providing local communities with food, shelter, utensils, clothing and medicine. The most dominant use of woodland resources is provision of energy, from fuel-wood and charcoal besides being important for cultural, spiritual and religious uses. Nationally, the commercial exploitation of African forests and woodlands is an important source of income, foreign exchange and employment.
In spite of this, Africa’s forest resources have faced decline mainly due to demand for agricultural land, timber and other non-timber forest products. In view of this and in relation to the work of AFORNET, there are many opportunities for collaboration and support. Firstly, AFORNET needs to increase grants to scientists to halt the rate of decline in forest cover. Secondly, there are opportunities in expanding AFORNET programs affecting all sectors of the economy linked to forest resources.
Forest research encompasses complex relationships between social and pure sciences and calls for enhancing research facilities. Opportunity exists to partner with AFORNET in the fields of scientific laboratories and equipment, consumable material and information technology. Further opportunities exist to expand functional and operational nodes to ease access and flow of information.
