UNEP provides training on environmental developments and best practices in Sudan
Posted: Monday, 12 May 2008, Nairobi  |  Author: UNEP



UNEP’s Post–Conflict Environmental Assessment Report on Sudan indicates that, "The pervasive scarcity of solid quantitative data on all aspects of the environment of Sudan constrains rational planning for resources management and conservation… A significant investment in data collection management and dissemination should therefore be an early part of any programme to improve environmental governance in Sudan".

In this context, UNEP, Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch (PCDMB) organized two training courses on the Online Access to Research in the Environment (OARE) for Sudanese environmental institutions both in north and south Sudan. The training was held between 29^th April - 1^st May in Khartoum and 4^th - 6^th May in Juba. The ultimate objective was to train participants on how to use OARE portal and take full benefit of the wide collection of scientific information offered online by the OARE programme.

OARE is a capacity-building programme led by UNEP in partnership with Yale University and more than 120 scientific publishers. It was launched in October 2006, thanks to the contribution of world leading publishers such as Blackwell, CABI, and Elsevier. OARE provides more than 1300 peer reviewed journal titles for 108 developing countries. The programme aims to contribute to the development of expert professional and academic communities and an informed public, encourage scientific creativity and productivity, and facilitate the development of progressive science-based national policies



The training was attended by 31 participants in Khartoum and 17 in Juba. Participants came from environmental institutions such as the Ministry of Environment, research institutes, universities, and local NGOs in Sudan.

In Khartoum, the opening ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Ms. Theresa Siricio Iro, State Minister of Environment and Physical Development, His Excellency Dr. Issa Beshri, State Minister of Science and Technology and in Juba by Mr. David Batali, Deputy Director of Environment.

Ms. Therese Siricio Iro, addressing the participants at the opening ceremony said: "…UNEP’s efforts to convene the workshop at this juncture is a right step towards a right direction. There is every need to update our knowledge on par with the current state of art technology and impart education and knowledge with best standards to the Sudanese community to enable informed decision …. Being cognizant of the huge potential of OARE in acting as a link between science, practice and decision making, I call upon the participants to make use of this opportune workshop to harness the invaluable repository of scientific information in support of sustainable development…"  

As testified by the presence of high level officials and the enthusiasm of participants, OARE programme was welcomed as an initiative that will help Sudanese environmental institutions to update their knowledge and take stock of recent developments in environmental science and best practices. Both of them are crucial in a post conflict country facing a tremendous environmental challenge.

For more information on OARE programme, please contact, Mohamed Atani, OARE technical Officer, UNEP, DCPI, Nairobi, Kenya at the following e-mail address: Mohamed.atani@unep.org