The 30th Session of the Board of Directors of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory Begins in Nouakchott

The 30th session of the Board of Directors of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory began on Thursday at the Palais des Congrès in Nouakchott.

This one-day session will examine the progress of the implementation of the recommendations of the last session (2023), the status of funding during the past period, the report of the Commissioner of Accounts and the budget for the future activities of the Observatory during the current year.

The opening ceremony of this session was marked by a speech delivered by the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Lalia Ali Camara, in which she explained that the work of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory constitutes strategic support to address major environmental challenges such as climate change, degradation of ecosystems and biodiversity, in addition to new aspects of pollution.

She said that addressing the various challenges mentioned requires continuous reflection and practical management of environmental knowledge and water resources, ecological follow-up, development of green technologies and initiatives to mobilize funds and enhance capacities.

The Tunisian Minister of Environment, Leila Chikaoui Mahdaoui, pointed out in a speech on the same occasion that attending and organizing this session enhances the interest in preserving the heritage of the member countries of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory, praising in this regard the role of this organization in building capacities to implement environmental policies at the level of the African continent in general and in member countries, which gave it the confidence of partners and member countries.

She affirmed Tunisia’s support for this organization, which is based in her country, reviewing some of the achievements and forms of support that the organization enjoys from the Republic of Tunisia, aware of the importance of the programs and projects implemented by the Observatory in its member countries in the field of environmental protection, nature conservation and support for the resilience of vulnerable groups in the face of climate change, calling on the Sahara and Sahel Observatory to continue the approach to face the challenges that are constantly multiplying.

As for the President of the current 30th session of the Board of Directors of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory, Mr. Abdoullah Zaghloul, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation in the Arab Republic of Egypt, he indicated that the convening of this session aims to present the most important achievements attained in the year 2023, the most important of which is the launch of the first project to adapt to climate change in Guinea funded by the Green Climate Fund, active participation in major international conferences on climate, water resources and desertification, and discussing strengthening partnerships with member states, international organizations and research institutions.

This year, FAO will work to consolidate achievements and develop new initiatives in the areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation, sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration.

The Executive Secretary of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory, Nabil Benkhtri, gave a speech in which he praised the facilities provided by Mauritania to ensure the success of this session, which will allow reviewing past initiatives and foreseeing the future.

He pointed out that several important steps have been achieved by the Observatory in the field of mobilizing resources and funds for the implementation of the various programs of the Organization at the level of its member countries, and that other touches are currently being developed in the field of environmental protection and adaptation that serve the entire regions of the African continent to preserve their natural systems.

He pointed out that the organization will continue to mobilize resources and strengthen partnerships to ensure the achievement of more targeted projects and programs and the organization will continue to produce and share knowledge within its approach since 2022.

He added that the challenges facing the continent are increasing, as well as the devastating effects of the environment at various levels, but the Organization will work to turn these challenges into opportunities.

The opening ceremony of the session took place in the presence of Their Excellencies the Ministers of Agriculture and Livestock respectively, Memma Ould Babita and Hamedeith Ould Cheine, in addition to the Minister of Water and Environment of Uganda, Ms. Sam Shaptors, the Executive Secretary of the Joint Committee to Combat the Effects of Drought in the Sahel, Mr. Abdallah Mohamedou, and several other personalities and members of the Board of Directors of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory.