EGI’s Executive Director John Takang and Research and Policy Officer Coleen Mumbang attended a training workshop of CSOs in forest and environment sectors on Public Policy, Advocacy, Monitoring and Denunciation. The workshop, which took place from 16 to 19 September 2014 in Bertoua, was organized by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) within the framework of WWF’s Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN).
They joined 43 other participants from local organizations for training that will enable their organizations to better participate in the process of formulation and monitoring the implementation of public policy in the forest and environment sectors. Participants were trained on advocacy techniques, approaches for monitoring the implementation of public policy, and techniques of denunciation.
For EGI, the workshop was the first activity geared towards ushering in a new partnership between EGI and WWF, under the Cooperation for the Implementation of civil society strengthening program, funded by the Swedish Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
Through this partnership, EGI will be supported to engage more effectively in policy dialogues and influencing private sector decision-making and practices related to natural resource management, and to engage with policy makers to improve the general environment for civil society organizations to influence policy and decision making.
Even more importantly, WWF’s support will enable EGI to support communities to also get actively involved in exercising their rights and making decisions involving natural resource management in their communities, so that they can benefit equitably from these resources.
Speaking shortly after the workshop, the Executive Director, John Takang, said that the training workshop was an important milestone in EGI’s work in natural resources policy advocacy and thanked WWF for the opportunity.
On her part, Mumbang felt that the workshop had equipped her with skills to carry out her responsibilities at EGI more effectively. She says, “The workshop has helped me to get a better understanding of the tools and approaches used for monitoring of the implementation of public policy and to get the techniques used for advocacy. Now I am ready to infuse these newly acquired skills into our policy work at EGI.”
On 3 October 2014, John Takang joined other organizations for a ceremony to sign the Memorandum of Understanding at the Holiday Inn Resort in Limbe, paving way for what he says will be a progressive and enriching partnership.
