Ghana and the EU have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the implementation of the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan. The FLEGT aims to fight illegal logging and associated trade on its markets by timber supplying countries, including Ghana. It is also part of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) signed between Ghana and the EU in 2009 in order to fight illegal logging and trade in associated timber products.
The Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Ms Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, said the introduction of the law would enable Ghana and the EU to halt trade in illegal timber and also give Ghana the licence to verify the legality of timber export to the EU market. She added that a wood tracking system had been developed to help the Forestry Commission (FC) track illegal logging activities before they entered the EU market.
“The tracking system makes use of the latest technology to manage data collected by FC officials using electronic hand-held devices at various control points throughout the supply chain,” she said.
The Head of the EU Delegation, Mr Claude Maerten, said “The EU now encourages Ghana to take the last remaining steps towards full operation of the system and issue of a VPA licence as soon as possible. By so doing, Ghana will be able to fully exploit new market opportunities for legally licensed timber following the implementation of the EU Timber Regulation and similar laws in other timber large importing countries”.

Boat with seven laboratories will collect data on marine ecosystems, climate change and pollution. The aim is to help developing countries improve fisheries management The EAF-Nansen project includes 32 coastal countries in Africa. Norway will build one of the most advanced research vessels in the world as part of this ongoing project with the FAO. The new $80 million research vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen will replace an older craft that has been carrying out in-depth research near the coast of Africa since 1993.

Prof Dr Rainer Fischer, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME went to Addis Ababa to explore opportunities to deepen cooperation between the EU and Africa on scientific and technological research and development. During their meeting, they  focused on the fields of sustainable biomaterials, sustainable energy and industry, innovative agriculture, vaccines against diseases of poverty, as well as innovative approaches for the discovery of bioactive small molecules using endogenous bioresources. Fraunhofer IME has already taken part to a number of research projects engaging with Africa.

The National Centre for Scientific and Technological Research (Cenarest - Centre national de recherche scientifique et technologique) welcomed members of the ‘cassava project’ to put in place the practical arrangements of this initiative. During this visit, results of the implementation stages were presented. The ‘cassava project’ is now taking shape. During the meeting, delegates focused on the adoption of the program of 2014 activities and the implementation of a platform that should bring innovations to this project and make the Research and Development Committee in Gabon effective.

Mauritius has until the end of May to submit a report to the European Union, which will determine if the country could gain 4 million Euros related to the use of ethanol.  “In regards with the use of ethanol in Mauritius, we are no judging. But the ball is now in the court of the government. If Mauritius wants to benefit from this EU grant, it is up to the government to provide a serious report to show that the requirements have been met,” explained Guy Samzun, Head of EU Delegation in Mauritius.

A joint agreement between Liberia and the EU was signed on Thursday at the Chamber of Commerce. This agreement aims to put in place a system to verify the legality of Liberia's timber production and strengthen forest sector governance. The agreement will increase in long-term revenue for communities and the government, investment and job creation.

The fifth African water week opened Monday in Dakar, gathering delegations from several African and European countries and international non-governmental organizations operating in the domain of water and sanitation. During the meeting, participants will discuss the current situation and make recommendations for a better access to water and sanitation within the framework of the UN post-2015 development programme.

The African Development Bank (ADB) announced that Malawi was granted funding of a total of 35.5 million dollars to finance a water supply and sanitation project. This represents a loan for 23 million dollars from the African Development Fund, a loan of 7.7 million dollars from the Nigeria Trust Fund and 4.8 million dollar grant funded by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative. These funds are intended to secure water supply and sanitation in five districts.

Recalling its Conclusions on “Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Development Cooperation,” the Council reaffirms its strong commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women as a fundamental human right and as a core value of the EU and a basic principle of its development policy. It underlines that the promotion of gender equality, women’s empowerment and the enjoyment of human rights by women and girls are instrumental to achieving internationally agreed development goals.

The European Union (EU) has stated its intention to help Nigeria source for funds to undertake various capital projects planned to boost and stabilise electricity supply in the country. The EU, which described Nigeria’s energy sector as one of its priority sectors disclosed that it was willing to help the country close up the gap in financing some of its key capital projects in the sector.