17 February 2014: The Commission des Forets d’Afrique Centrale (COMIFAC) has released its 2014 annual work plan to guide the implementation of the Secretariat’s work in support of the conservation and sustainable management of forests in Central Africa.

The work plan builds on the Biennial Action Plan adopted by the COMIFAC Council of Ministers and covers the implementation and monitoring and evaluation of the sub-regional Convergence Plan adopted in 2005. The work plan calls for greater efforts with regard to communication and capacity building, and the positioning and promotion of COMIFAC in international processes and discussions on forests. The work plan also sets the framework for the coordination and management of the COMIFAC Executive Secretariat and the arrangement of statutory meetings.

Activities elaborated in the work plan include the revision of the Convergence Plan, the establishment of the Central African forest observatory, support for coordination between forest and fiscal policies, and enhanced regional and sub-regional cooperation, including through institutional capacity building and reform. [Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) Press Release] [Publication: Plan de Travail Annuel du Secretariat Exécutif de la COMIFAC]