Summer school on training and advocacy: sharing experiences and best practices of the Copernicea project, Tunis, July 1-5, 2024

From July 1 to 5, 2024, the Sahara and Sahel Observatory, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and the Directorate General for Environment and Quality of Life (DGEQV), is organizing a summer school for training and advocacy for project stakeholders. This event aims to share the experiences and best practices of the Copernicea project regarding Ecosystem Accounting and National Accounts (CECN) and to finalize the activities of the project's first phase by completing the process of producing CECN accounts at the national level.

The event brings together representatives from Tunisia's Ministry of Environment, as well as delegations from beneficiary countries: Burkina Faso, Guinea, Morocco, Niger, and Senegal.

During this meeting, special attention is given to the efforts made by these countries to integrate biodiversity and ecosystems into decision-making processes. Discussions focus on the use of data and the integration of ecosystem accounts as sustainable development indicators.

Participants will explore ways to improve information systems and data production to optimize the development of CECN accounts. They will also focus on enhancing the involvement of the scientific and academic community in the preparation and automation of these accounts.

Communication and awareness play a significant role during this summer school, with discussions aimed at finalizing the development of advocacy documents. Participants will familiarize themselves with and guide the communication products and tools to demystify ecosystem accounting and raise stakeholder awareness of their role in implementing the new global biodiversity framework. They will also exchange on the challenges encountered in implementing project activities and adopt a roadmap for finalizing the activities.