Training Workshop

Venue: Muguga/Nairobi, Kenya

Date: 4-6 December, 2007

Final workshop report now available for download.

Jointly organized by: Forestry Research Network of Sub-Saharan Africa (FORNESSA) and IUFRO's Special Programme for Developing Countries

Sponsors:
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA),
the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development/German Agency for Technical Cooperation (BMZ/GTZ),
the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (FORMIN),
the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, and
the Korea Forest Research Institute (KFRI)

Local organiser:
Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI)


Background and Objectives

The need for sound scientific information in the development of public forest policies at the local, national and international levels has grown significantly in recent years. So too has the need for such information within the private forestry sector and among non-governmental organizations, whose role in the development, sustainable management and conservation of forest resources in all regions of the world is steadily increasing in importance. Despite rapid advances in information technology that has, in theory, the potential to significantly improve the flow of research findings to policy-makers and forest managers, communication and interaction often is inadequate between the research community and the users of the information they generate. Also, often research is planned and conducted before giving adequate thought to exactly how the results will be transformed into usable information. In order to generate value for society, research results should be used by someone – policy-makers, forestry practitioners, landowners, educators and other researchers. The science-policy interface is all about utilising scientific knowledge more effectively.

The overall objective of this training workshop is therefore:
•    To provide concepts and methods to researchers on how to plan, conduct, and organise research activities so that results can more quickly and easily be transformed into usable information for problem-solving and policy-making.

Although not all research is specifically focused on policy-relevant questions, best practices in transforming research results into usable information can increase the impact of science on forest policy and improve the practice of forestry, thereby creating more value for society from forest and tree-related research. Towards this end, the training workshop specifically aims at improving the understanding of policy- and decision-making and the roles scientists can play in informing such processes.


Target Audience

The training workshop will bring together early- and mid-career scientists and forest managers/practitioners from developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa who wish to increase the impact of their scientific work (i.e. research, advocacy, supervision etc.) on policy making through adequate contribution of research results and scientific knowledge to policy-making processes, addressing broader environmental and socio-economic issues.
A total number of about 20 participants will be accepted in the training workshop.


Training Workshop Contents

The three-day training workshop has been designed to provide latest thinking on concepts and tools for the improvement of the interface of forest science and forest policy. The workshop content is built on a “best practices guide


Trainers and Resource Persons

A number of trainers and resource persons will be approached and requested for input to this training event. Lead trainers from the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) will be moderating and facilitating the training process. Resource persons from forest research institutions in Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi will share their experiences in working at the science-policy interface through presentations and participation in the group work.


Workshop Organization

Venue:
The workshop will take place at the Headquarters of the Kenya Forestry Research Institute in Muguga/Nairobi, Kenya.

Time Schedule:
•    Arrival of participants in Nairobi on 3 December, 2007
•    Training workshop: 4 to 6 December 2007
•    Departure of participants from Nairobi on 7 December, 2007

Please note: the course will be held in English only.


Tentative Workshop Programme

The detailed programme is currently being developed in close cooperation with the trainers and resource persons. For the tentative programme of the workshop please click here. (The updated version will be published shortly.)


Registration

For registration please access the online registration form. Please note: The deadline for submission is 5 October, 2007.