The Executive Director ( ED) of Voice of Nature (VoNat), Ndimuh Bertrand Shancho, recently participated at the Restoration Academy in Dar Es Salaam-Tanzania. The week-long international conference took place from June 16 to 20 2024.  The Restoration Academy is a tailor-made and engaging workshop format that enables restoration implementers to contribute to and benefit from the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (UN Decade) and regional initiatives like the AFR100.

 The Restoration Academy covered a range of topics crucial to the success of ecosystem restoration and forest landscape restoration including communication, networking, sharing of best practices, gender, monitoring and access to funding. The VoNat boss and his counterparts from other African countries received customized training through special presentations, group workshop and interactive sessions.   “It was inspiring learning, sharing, and connecting with world class leaders and experts on ecosystem restoration and forest landscape restoration. I had the honor to convene a parallel session on: Initiating & Upscaling Large Scale Restoration Programmes, and to present on the conservation and restoration actions of my organization,” Shancho said.

Photo credit: KAVS Group/GIZ

He also participated at the 8th Annual Partnership Meeting (APM8) of the AFR100 in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. This year’s theme was “Restoring Forest Landscapes for a Healthy Planet and Wealthy Economies.” German International Cooperation (GIZ) organised the Restoration Academy.

The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA NEPAD) and the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) co-hosted this year’s edition of the Restoration Academy. The VoNat Management expresses special gratitude to GIZ for supporting and giving its Executive Director the opportunity to be part of the Academy and Meeting.