Bank Group President, Donald Kaberuka, on Wednesday, December 2, 2009, in Tunis received a World Conservation Union (IUCN) delegation, led by its Director General, Julia Marton-Lefevre. Discussions focused on issues of common interest, including potentials for healthy environment and resources management, as well as biodiversity conservation in Africa. The meeting also sought to identify cooperation areas and discussed capacity building issues.
The two institutions in August 2008, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In this regard, President Kaberuka proposed two major areas of collaboration: Environmental impacts on huge projects (hydraulic and infrastructures); and Capacity building on projects. Meanwhile, the two parties agreed to pursue collaboration with regard to the Congo Basin ecosystem management, as well as Lake Chad basin sustainable development programme and the MANO River forest ecosystems management. IUCN mission held a technical meeting on Thursday, 3 December 2009, with agriculture department, infrastructure department and the water and sanitation department experts, with a view to shaping collaboration areas and to translating the MOU into action.
"Our discussions with President Kaberuka have been fruitful," Mrs. Marton-Lefevre said, adding that "our two organizations are convinced of the need to work together for the conservation of nature and sustainable development."
The World Conservation Union (International Union for Conservation of Nature) the world's largest conservation/environment membership organization which brings together states over 1,000 members spread across most of the globe, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations, scientists and experts in a unique worldwide partnership.
IUCN's mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. The discussions were held in the presence of the AfDB Operations Vice-President, Kamal El-Keshen and Agriculture Department Chief Natural Resources Officer, Modibo Traoré.
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Aristide Agoungnon Ahouassou
