Diplôme d'Université sur le Renforcement des Compétences en Gestion des Aires Protégées

Presentation

The creation of protected areas in Sub-Saharan Africa began at the start of the last century, and their number has increased significantly since then. However, various social, territorial, and agro-climatic changes have contributed to the progressive loss of biodiversity in most of these protected areas, particularly in West Africa.

The demographic explosion, increased demand for resources, and growth of livestock have had severe consequences on environmental resources, both inside and outside the parks. The search for new agricultural land has led to a progressive displacement of populations towards natural areas, further destabilizing the existing balance. This results in both ecological and economic losses, as resources are exploited without sustainability.

These changes require new capacities from protected area managers. The fight against illegal and/or unsustainable exploitation of natural resources demands knowledge of the resource in question, understanding of its functioning mechanism, monitoring, and also understanding of the actors involved. However, the classification of protected areas has not been accompanied by adequate policy reinforcement or recruitment of sufficiently equipped personnel to support these evolutions in ecosystem conservation policy. There is, therefore, a real need to strengthen the skills of managers promoting more effective and sustainable management of protected areas in Africa.

Objectives

The purpose of this training is to equip West African protected area managers (and their partners) with specific technical and scientific tools and skills to improve their park management methods and ensure their actions are sustainable.

Upon completion of this training, participants will have acquired new skills for managing and governing protected areas. They will be able to implement adapted planning for the sustainable management of these territories. Their skills in ecological monitoring, conflict resolution between humans and wildlife, and local mediation and consultation will also be reinforced. Their knowledge of general tools (conventions, environmental law, management instruments, standards, etc.) will be improved, making them more operational in proposing and implementing conservation policies.

Content of the Training

The entire training is structured into modules that combine theoretical courses and practical examples, particularly targeting the learning of ecological monitoring techniques, inventories, anti-poaching concepts, diagnostic of conflict situations, and identification of actors involved in conflicts and the establishment of consultation frameworks. The program covers the following points:

• Policies of conservation and global issues of protected area management
• Evaluation and planning of protected areas, international norms and labels
• Ecology of tropical ecosystems, climate change, and conservation biology concepts
• Participatory approaches and biodiversity management through interactions with the periphery of protected areas
• Ecological monitoring, techniques of wildlife inventories, and GIS notions applied to field examples
• Environmental law and sustainable development concepts in Africa
• Environmental and natural resource economics

Targets of the Training

This continuing education program is intended for protected area managers from public, parapublic, and private sectors in West Africa only. It is also addressed to executives of NGOs or associations working in the field of environment and management of renewable natural resources. Candidates must have initial professional experience and a bachelor's degree level or equivalent.

General Organization

The training takes place in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) under the supervision of the Protected Areas Program of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Regional Office for Central and West Africa. It is taught entirely in French and supervised by trainers with solid experience in protected areas in Africa and training. The training will be evaluated, and upon success, participants will receive a University Diploma (DU) in "Protected Area Management," issued by the Université Senghor.

This 17th edition of the DU-GAP will take place from February 15 to April 3, 2021. However, due to the global health situation, the organizers reserve the right to adapt the training's implementation modalities: either in-person, partially remote, totally remote, or canceled if necessary.

Cost

The training is covered by the organizers. This coverage includes training fees, accommodation, food, transportation (under certain conditions), a small allowance for expenses, and insurance for the entire duration of the in-person training. Candidates must assume other eventual costs. Students who have obtained their own funding can also be integrated into the promotion and are encouraged to seek the necessary funding estimated at 3500€ per student.

Application and Candidate Selection

Candidates will be selected based on their application dossier, which must be completed online. After validating the first part of the questionnaire, candidates are also asked to attach a photograph (JPG or PDF format) and an authorization from their employer (PDF format). Any dossier sent by email or fax is not acceptable.

Deadline for Registration: November 21, 2020

Senghor University in Alexandria

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Overview:

Senghor University is an international university focused on French language and development. It offers various programs and services across multiple campuses, including one in Alexandria, Egypt. The university emphasizes practical skills, industry connections, and real-world experience for its students.

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Services Offered:

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

The university promotes a vibrant and inclusive community for its students. It offers various student activities, sports, and fitness options. The campus experience is designed to provide a supportive and professional environment for learning and development.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

Practical Skills and Industry Connections:

The university focuses on providing students with practical skills and opportunities to build a network of industry contacts.

Real-World Experience:

Students have the chance to gain real-world experience through internships and other practical learning opportunities.

Supportive and Professional Environment:

The university provides a supportive and professional environment for students to learn and grow.

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Academic Programs:

The provided context does not offer specific details about the academic programs offered at the Alexandria campus. However, it mentions that the university offers 134 degree programs across various disciplines.

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Other:

The university has a strong focus on Francophonie and its operators, including the OIF, AUF, TV5 Monde, and the Université de la Francophone. It also has a dedicated alumni association, the Association internationale des diplômés de l’Université Senghor (Aidus), which aims to maintain the Senghor spirit and foster a professional network for development in Africa.