As part of the implementation of the AVENIR project in Maï-Ndombe Province, ERAIFT conducted a mission from July 8 to 26, 2025, to support the development of the Simple Land Use Plan (PSAT) for the Mbala 2 region, situated in the Mushie territory. This mission was carried out in collaboration with the Federation of Agricultural Producers of Maï-Ndombe (FOPAM), which provided local coordination.

Conducted in a participatory and inclusive manner, the activity placed the local community at the center of the PSAT process. In partnership with FOPAM, ERAIFT updated the boundaries of the terroir, inventoried and mapped available natural resources, and identified the main challenges related to sustainable resource management, local development and land use allocation.

With the active involvement of the population, priority objectives and concrete actions have been defined to promote sustainable management of natural resources and support local development. The data collected has been validated by the local community during debrief meetings. This data will serve as the basis for finalizing the PSAT, which will soon be submitted for official approval by the local population. Through this action, ERAIFT is fulfilling one of its four core missions, namely serving society.

ERAIFT would like to thank the AVENIR project, IFAD and all other technical and financial partners for their valuable support in carrying out this mission. It also extends its sincere thanks to FOPAM for its effective support at the local level. Finally, ERAIFT expresses its sincere gratitude to the local authorities and the population of Mbala 2 for their warm welcome and active participation in this activity, which is crucial for the sustainable development of the local community.

Participatory discussion and exchange on development priorities and land allocation in the Mbala 2 region

From July 1st to 4th, 2025, the Regional Postgraduate Training School on Integrated Management of Tropical Forests and Lands (ERAIFT) took part in a hands-on workshop in Yangambi focused on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing. The training centered on harnessing data from satellite imagery and drones to support better management of tropical ecosystems.

Organized by UNESCO under its Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, the workshop is part of the second phase of a project funded by the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD) of the Kingdom of Belgium. The project aims to transform the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve into a regional center of excellence for biodiversity conservation and climate action.

The workshop was designed to equip reserve managers and technical partners with practical skills in geospatial data collection and analysis, vegetation and biodiversity monitoring through mapping, and the assessment of forest cover degradation to support evidence-based decision-making. Participants engaged in both theoretical and practical sessions, covering the fundamentals of GIS, the use of geospatial technologies, drone programming and piloting, as well as data processing from drone and satellite imagery.

ERAIFT welcomes this valuable initiative, which significantly strengthens local capacity for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The institution extends its sincere thanks to the Kingdom of Belgium, through the DGD, for funding this second phase of the project, and to UNESCO for its technical and operational support. ERAIFT also expresses its appreciation to all partners committed to safeguarding the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve — a flagship site for sustainable development in the heart of the Congo Basin.

ERAIFT, actively took part in the National Stakeholder Consultation Workshop held from June 26 to 27, 2025, at the Rotana Hotel, Kinshasa-DRC, organized by WWF-DRC as part of the development of its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan.

This workshop brought together around fifty stakeholders, including government institutions, national and international NGOs, civil society organizations, diplomatic representatives, and technical and financial partners. It aimed to build a consensual, inclusive, and forward-looking strategy aligned with national priorities and global conservation commitments such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement.

ERAIFT had the opportunity to contribute, notably through the analysis of conservation programs (forests, species, freshwater, cross-cutting programs), and the consideration of potential synergies with research and training institutions.

ERAIFT’s involvement in this process is consistent with its core mission to strengthen Africa’s scientific and technical capacities, to generate knowledge and contribute to evidence-based policymaking in the field of environment and natural resource management in Central Africa.

By taking part in this strategic initiative, ERAIFT reaffirms its readiness to collaborate with stakeholders, support interinstitutional synergies, and go with the implementation of WWF-DRC’s new conservation strategy.

ERAIFT expresses its sincere thanks to WWF-DRC for its visionary approach and for involving academic and research institutions in this strategic process. The school also extends our warm appreciation to all stakeholders and participants for their constructive inputs and the quality of dialogue throughout the workshop. Finally, we express our gratitude to the European Union and AGRINATURA for the resources made available for this event.

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.

As part of the educational capacity building at IFA-Yangambi, a training mission was held from June 16 to 19, 2025, at Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (Belgium). It brought together a delegation composed of four professors and the Rector of IFA-Yangambi. The objective was to strengthen teaching in the LMD system in the DRC by implementing active teaching practices. Activities on June 17 and 18 included institutional exchanges, doctoral research presentations, the use of the comodale room for hybrid teaching, and teaching tools such as portfolios and interactive models. Several workshops were led by experts on student skills, educational management, and teaching innovation. Guided tours allowed participants to discover the infrastructure at Gembloux, including livestock farms, crops, and technical facilities. The mission was made possible thanks to financial support from AFD via the GIFT project, with the support of Enabel. On this occasion, the Director of ERAIFT had the opportunity to contact the academic authorities of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech and review the various current and future cooperation projects, particularly within the framework of the NATURAFRICA, RESSAC, and DESIRA projects.

ERAIFT thanks the Faculty of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech at the University of Liège for its warm welcome. It also thanks Enabel and the European Union for their support.

As part of the second phase of the project to make the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve a regional center of excellence for biodiversity and climate, UNESCO organized a capacity-building workshop for local stakeholders from June 2 to 4, 2025. This initiative is part of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program and aims to support efforts for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The primary objective of the workshop was to enhance local skills in assessing and managing biosphere reserves, integrating community-based ecosystem approaches (CBEA-S) into local policies, and improving the administrative and financial management of conservation projects.

ERAIFT actively participated in this meeting, which brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including Yangambi Reserve managers, CEPA members, representatives from civil society, researchers, public institutions, and technical and financial partners. Participants benefited from theoretical and practical sessions focused on in-situ and ex-situ conservation, participatory reserve assessment, and CEPA governance. The workshop also promoted better synergy among the various stakeholders involved in managing the Yangambi landscape, to strengthen coordination in the interests of sustainable development and resilience to climate change.

ERAIFT warmly welcomes this initiative and extends its sincere thanks to the European Union and UNESCO for their technical and financial support. It also thanks all the partners involved in the preservation and enhancement of the Yangambi Reserve.

One of the highlights of the academic year lived up to all expectations. We are talking about Impact Job Days. Impact Job Days is a recruitment fair dedicated to sustainable jobs and projects. Since 2022, it has enabled students to meet employers and seize professional opportunities. Another advantage of this eagerly awaited event is that students participate in activities organized by HR experts, thereby developing their employability.

On the agenda for June 5 (among other activities) were:

- A presentation on how to navigate changes in the company.

- A workshop on formulating projects that increase the chances of funding.

- An exhibition, hosted by agricultural leader GBE Agri, offers a wealth of job opportunities and information.

At the end of this generous and dynamic day, the students had strengthened their skills (soft skills) and were better positioned to secure internships and vacant positions at large companies. Their enthusiasm was at its peak for the second day of Job Days, scheduled for the following day at a renowned incubator in downtown Kinshasa.

ERAIFT thanks RADDI for its contribution to the organization of this event and the facilitators from OLIVE PEOPLE for their much-appreciated performance.