2017 Abidjan Workshop

Where and When?

The first WABES regional expert workshop was held in Abidjan from November 28 to December 1, 2017.

The general objective of the workshop:

The overall objective of the workshop is to facilitate networking of West African Experts in regard to better support the implementation of the work programmes of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), in particular its thematic, methodological and regional/global assessment.

This workshop also marked the official launch of WABES MSc programme on 'Managing Science-Policy Interfaces for Sustainable Development in West Africa - SPIBES', and other project activities in the sub-region.

The intended outputs:

• Provide a science-policy platform for experts in the region to exchange information on IPBES-relevant topics and to be informed about IPBES activities and its developments - introduction to IPBES capacity building mandate;
• Establish or strengthen the connections between West African Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Experts in the context of IPBES;
• Exchange about the role and relevance of Indigenous Local Knowledge (ILK) and other knowledge systems available in the sub-region.
• Present the WABES project and launch officially its activities, particularly the MSc program.

The report of the 2017 Workshop can be downloaded here.