Regional Training of Trainers Workshop on Law and Policy of Relevance to the Management of Plant Genetic Resources in Eastern and Central Africa

Abstract

In 2003 a learning module on Law and Polley of Relevance to the Management of Plant Genetic Resources was published to address an urgent need to strengthen capacity of managers of genetic resources in developing countries to play a more active role in defining national laws and policies concerning the conservation, use and management of plant genetic resources (PGR). The module is intended to help those who have practical management and/or policy making responsibilities for PGR to navigate through the policy environment in such a way as to promote the sound and scientific management of PGR for food and agriculture in their roles as custodians and developers of genetic resources or as policy-makers. The learning module was sponsored by the CGIAR System-wide Genetic Resources Program (SGRP) and developed under the leadership of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) and the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR). The module is presented in the format of a CD-ROM. Following the publication of the learning module, mini-modules including a 'Review of Regional Policy Instruments, Developments and Trends' were designed to complement the base learning module with reg ional specific information, handouts, overheads and exercises for Latin America; Sub-Saharan Africa; Central and Western Asia and North Africa ana Asia; and, the Pacific and Oceania. The mini-modules were thereafter reviewed at the Global Training of Trainers Workshop on Law and Policy of Relevance to the Management of Plant Genetic Resources, 19-24 July 2004, at InWEnt Capacity Building International, Leipzig, Germany. Following the workshop the mini-modules were fully edited for style, consistency and content after receiving feedback from the workshop participants. The Southern Environmental and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (SEAPRI), a semi~autonomous legal and policy unit of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) was involved in writing and testing both the base learning module and the Sub-Saharan Africa mini-module. Its staff participated at the workshop in Leipzig and thereafter in providing feedback following the workshop. As a follow-up activity participants were urged to host regional workshops to increase the capacity of those with practical management and/or policy-making responsibilities for plant genetic resources.