About
The International Conference will give room for debates, exchanges and possibilities to consolidate partnerships on issues related to African ecosystems’ management, protection, conservation and restoration. But before, an exhibition will be organized and will tell the story of the OSS over 30 years, a flashback that will have the teachings of the past highlighted, the experiences brought to light and the future better understood.
With the financial support of the French Development Agency – AFD
Venue
Ramada Plaza Hotel, Tunis
Date
Wednesday - Thursday - Friday
June 8, 9 and 10
The sessions
Discussion panel
Ecosystems, key tool for the development of the African continent
Panel 1
Valuing ecosystem services
Panel 2
Adaptation to Climate Change to better manage migration
Panel 3
Land Restoration
Panel 4
Good governance of water resources to contend with water stress
Agenda
Participants reception
Opening session
- Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra, Executive Secretary of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory - OSS
- Mr. Gilles Kleitz, Executive Director of the French Development Agency - AFD
- Dr. Abdoulaye Mohamadou, Executive Secretary of the CILSS
- Mr. Taieb Baccouche, Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) – Morocco
- Mrs. Garama Saratou Rabiou Inoussa, Minister of the Environment and the Fight against Desertification, Niger
- Mrs. Leila Chikhaoui, Minister of the Environment, Tunisia
- Press Conference
Coffee break and exhibition visit
Discussion panel :
« Ecosystems, key tool for the development of the African continent »
- Presentation of the documentary book : Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra, OSS Executive Secretary
- Video on Ecosystems in Africa
Discussion panel
- Chair : Dr. Abdoulaye Mohamadou, Executive Secretary of CILSS
- Moderator : Mr. Luc Gnacadja, Former UNCCD Executive Secretary and Chairman of the OSS SOC
- Rapporteur : Mr. Mourad Briki, Watch and Prospective Department Coordinator - OSS
Panelists :
- Mrs. Garama Saratou Rabiou Inoussa, Minister of the Environment and the Fight against Desertification, Niger
- Mr. Gilles Kleitz, Executive Director of the AFD
- Mr. Ali BETY, High Commissioner 3N Initiative, Niger
- Mr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Former Executive Secretary of UNCBD and Vice-Chairman of the OSS SOC
- Mr. Youba Sokona, IPCC Vice-Chairman
- Mr. François Gemenne, President of Climate Voices, Belgium
Lunch
Thematic panel 1 :
Valuing ecosystem services
- Chair : Mr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Former Executive Secretary of UNCBD and Vice-Chairman of the OSS SOC
- Moderator : Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra, Executive Secretary of the OSS
- Rapporteur : Mrs. Karen Colin de Verdière, Head of the Agriculture - Water - Environment division, AFD
Panelists :
- Mr. Jo Mulongoy, President of the Institute for enhanced livelihoods, member of the OSS SOC
- Mr. Didier Tidjani, Teacher-Researcher, member of the OSS SOC
- Mr. Laurent Sedogo, Executive Director of the Dreyer Foundation, member of the OSS SOC
- Mrs. Yamna Djellouli, Teacher-Researcher at the University of Le Mans
- Mr. Emmanuel Fourmann, French Development Agency
Coffee break / Networking
Thematic panel 2 :
Adaptation to Climate Change to better manage
- Chair : Mr. Youba Sokona, IPCC Vice-Chairman
- Moderator : Mrs. Khaoula Jaoui, Climate Department Coordinator – OSS
- Rapporteur : Mr. Ghazi Gader, Natural Resources Management & Climate Change Expert - OSS
Panelists :
- Mr. François Gemenne, President of Climate Voices, Belgium
- Mrs. Roukiattou Ouedraogo, Communication Manager – SPONG, member of the OSS SOC
- Mr. Mounir Majdoub, President of “Alternatives”, member of the OSS SOC
- Mr. Cheikh Mbow, Director General of the Centre de Suivi Ecologique – CSE Dakar
- Mr. Callist Tindimugaya, Commissioner for Water Resources Planning and Regulations Department,Uganda
Coffee break
Thematic Panel 3 :
Land Restoration
- Chair : Mr. Antoine Cornet, Director of the Center for International Actions and achievements, Cari, member of the CSFD
- Moderator : Mrs. Fatou Mar, Land Department Coordinator – OSS
- Rapporteur : Mrs. Thioro Niang, Communication Manager, CSE - Dakar
Panelists :
- Mr. Luc Gnacadja, Former Executive Secretary of UNCCD, Chairman of the OSS SOC
- Mr. Jean Luc Chotte, President of the French Scientific Committee for Desertification - CSFD FRANCE
- Mr. Philippe Ankers, FAO Tunisia Representative, Coordinator of the Sub-Regional Office for North Africa
- Dr. Sakhoudia Thiam, SNRM Expert, Head of the Research and Development Department - PAGGW
- Mr. Hédi Chebili, Director General for the Environment and Quality of Life, Tunisia
Lunch
Thematic panel 4 :
Good governance of water resources to contend with water stress
- Chair : Mr. Mathieu Vasseur, Regional Director of the AFD, Rabat
- Moderator : Mr. Abdel Kader Dodo, Water Department Coordinator - OSS
- Rapporteur : Mr. Pape Ndiouga NDIAYE, Communication and Knowledge Management Expert, ANBO-UNDP/GEF
Panelists :
- Mr. Jean François Donzier, Honorary Secretary General of the International Network of Basin organizations - INBO, member of the OSS SOC
- Mr. Khatim Kherraz, Former OSS Executive Secretary
- Mr. Mokhtar Bzioui, Expert with the World Water Council, member of the OSS SOC
- Mrs. Atika Ben Maid, Water and Energy Projects Manager, AFD, Egypt
- Mr. Hamadi Habaieb, Director General of the Water Planning and Balance Office, Tunisia
- Mr. Callist Tindimugaya, Commissioner for Water Resources Planning and Regulations Department, Uganda
Coffee break
Recommendations and end of the working sessions
Restitution workshop of the regional initiative results “Water Stress in North Africa and Climate Change”
POINT 1 | Opening session
- Speech of the AMU Secretary General: Dr. Taieb Baccouche
- Speech of the AFD Regional Director: Mr. Mathieu Vasseur
- Speech of the OSS Executive Secretary: Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
- Speech of Mrs. Leila Chikhaoui, Minister of the Environment, Tunisia
- Opening speech of Mr. Mahmoud Elyes Hamza, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, Tunisia
- Welcome and introduction of the participants
POINT 2 Part 1| Presentation of national summaries and peer-to-peer exchanges
- Egypt : Prof. Dr. Abdel Fattah Elsheikh
- Libya : Dr. Suleiman Salah El Baruni
Coffee break
POINT 2 Part 2 | Presentation of national summaries and peer-to-peer exchanges
- Morocco: Mr. Rachid BENI AKHY
- Tunisia: Dr. Raoudha Gafrej
POINT 3 Part 1 | Presentation of the regional summary
- Summary of the main issues and solutions
- The main recommendations
- Questions and answers
Lunch
POINT 3 Part 2| Peer-to-peer exchanges and contribution to the recommendations of the regional summary
Coffee break
POINT 4 | Presentation of experiences from both shores of the Mediterranean
- Presentation of the FAO experience: Abdourahman Maki
- Presentation of the COSTEA experience: Benjamin Noury
- Sharing AFD's experience : Frédéric Maurel
Coffee break
POINT 5 | Evaluation
The online evaluation of the Initiative (Mrs. Agathe Devaux and Mr. Marc Tevini - online)
POINT 5 | Reading of the recommendations and closing of the working sessions (Call for action)
- Speech of the OSS Executive Secretary: Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
- Speech of the AFD Regional Director: Mr. Mathieu Vasseur
The OSS and Africa, a 30-year old truthful relationship
What you keep in mind, will shape the future
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Sahara and Sahel Observatory is organizing an international conference with the main purpose of highlighting the scope and extent of the organization's commitment to African ecosystems. This conference will also be an echo of the OSS interest for land restoration and for good governance of water resources. An exhibition of photos, drawings, watercolors and installations will give a visual scope to the OSS journey and its involvement in Africa. « The OSS and Africa, a 30-year old truthful relationship » exhibition, will bring to light the OSS achievements, over 30 years of life, valuing the African natural resources and always keeping watch over the weaknesses and threats to which they might be subject. Our hosts, speakers and guests of honor will take a moment of relaxation to listen to inspiring speeches and discover the OSS works of art.
Photos Through her photos, Lilia Benzid pays tribute to the African lands, areas and cultures, which the OSS, humbly and surely, serves thanks to concrete initiatives.
Drawings Leyla Bennani uses her scientific drawings, to mark the universe of African ecosystems that are on top of the OSS concerns.
Watercolors Alia Ben Attia's watercolors are a living proof of the OSS commitment to the artistic representation of African ecosystems, and to the institution consideration to the efficiency of plastic expression.
Books The exhibition brings together a set of OSS book covers, highlighting the artistic work of Olfa Othman.
Introspective watercolor Reem Saad, a Tunisian artist, introduces her “introspective watercolor” plastic transcription of the African continent map.
Design Asma Ghiloufi's diptych is a fresh look on the African ecosystems fauna and flora, like botanical plates.
Storyteller tree The storyteller tree is an installation made of a wire sculpture, attached to a wood-made frame, each visitor will leave a comment on each piece of leaf, as in a guest book.
Gallery
DOCUMENTARY BOOK
AFRICAN ECOSYSTEMS BETWEEN DEGRADATION AND RESTORATION
Africa's diverse and rich ecosystems provide services that are essential to sustaining life. Their management is now at the heart of political issues. The economic, social and environmental value of ecosystems have come to the forefront of the collective consciousness.
This book is based on many works, data and information, documents and reports of national, regional and international institutions.
It will be released on the occasion of the International Conference due on June 8-9, 2022 in Tunis. It also relies on research and development organizations and highlights the potential, issues and challenges of natural ecosystems in Africa, their state of degradation and the techniques and practices for their restoration. Led by a global vision of sustainability, it aims to provide a trustworthy and up-to-date reference on the available knowledge that can be capitalized and which will make it possible for all stakeholders to take well-thought decisions and measures for the conservation and restoration of ecosystems at local, national and regional levels.