As part of the certified vocational training program in Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR), established by the Regional Postgraduate School of Integrated Management and Development of Tropical Forests and Territories (ERAIFT) in partnership with the JMN-CJPN-GOPA consortium, mandated by the GIZ regional support project for COMIFAC, a workshop to select applicants and trainers was held from June 16 to 20, 2025, in the meeting room of the Sustainable Forest Management in the Congo Basin Program in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The objectives of this workshop were to review the applicants' files based on the academic, professional, and motivational criteria defined in the call for applications; to select qualified trainers for the various modules of the certification training program; to draw up lists of successful applicants for the two categories of beneficiaries; to collectively review RIFFEAC's RPF strategy to improve its clarity, feasibility, and alignment with the selected profiles; and to formulate strategic and operational recommendations for the participatory implementation of the first cohort of the 2025 program.
This professional program aims to strengthen the technical, practical, and strategic capacities of professionals in the sector by offering them in-depth, interdisciplinary, and action-oriented training that addresses the specific challenges of restoring degraded ecosystems in Central Africa.
The following individuals participated in this workshop: Mr. Jean Jadot ONDOBO, Technical Advisor in charge of vocational training at GIZ Cameroon; Mr. Félix KOUBOUANA, Regional Coordinator of RIFFEAC; Mr. Hervé MISHIDI, IT and Logistics Manager at ERAIFT; Mr. Joël MOBUNDA, ERAIFT focal point for the RPF program; Mr. Axel Yvan NJEUKWE, Technical Assistant for Natural Resources at the JMN-CJPN-COPA consortium; and Mr. Marc Andy MESSELE from the JMN-CJPN-COPA consortium.
At the end of this participatory workshop, 25 learners were selected from a total of 486 applications received from all African countries, mainly COMIFAC member states. A list of trainers selected for the various modules was also drawn up.
ERAIFT would like to express its sincere thanks to GIZ Cameroon, COMIFAC, RIFFEAC, and the JMN-CJPN-GOPA consortium for their involvement in implementing the RPF certification training program. It also expresses its deep gratitude to the European Union, through the program.
