The International project PanAfGeo2 is targeted at the practical improvement and capacity building for the staff of geological surveys of African states. It has been moving around Africa, to anchor the crucial practical training in the field of geoscientific mapping in Windhoek, Namibia. It is supported by the EU and co-financed by twelve European geological surveys united under EuroGeoSurveys.
Its “Work Package A” is focused on practical skills in the field of geoscientific mapping and represents the most variegated work package of seven work packages included in the programme. The WP A training in Namibia opens the second phase of the programme, in Windhoek after three years of rotation through Ethiopia, Morocco, Senegal and Namibia. The awarding of the participants certificates and the official closing ceremony will be held at the Geological Survey of Namibia on Friday 28 September, at 14.00.
The program takes 28 days, combined with hands-on lectures, field excursions, demonstration, practice in instrumental methods, and a mapping part. The field part was conducted in small groups of trainees, each of them supervised by one expert. The training was coordinated by the Czech team and launched thanks to the joint effort of the experts from the Czech Geological Survey (CGS), Portugal Geological Survey (LNEG) and the Geological Survey of Namibia (GSN), supported also by local independent experts. A total number of 25 trainees representing 13 African countries are being trained during this course, accompanied also by junior staff members of the GSN.
PanAfGeo, the “Pan-African support to Geological Sciences and Technology Africa-EU Partnership” is running a Photography Competition for all participants of the PanAfGeo project.
The theme for your photos is “What does the PanAfGeo project mean to you ?” and can include entries on how you think PanAfGeo benefits you, your Survey, your Society or your Country.
Ten finalists will see their photo printed in high resolution, framed and exhibited during the final meeting of the project in 2024. Winners will be announced during that meeting and on the PanAfGeo website and social media.
Key information:
• Deadline: 04th of October 2024
• The contestants must have been involved in any way in PanAfGeo phase 2, and the photograph must be taken during one of the training packages. Your submission includes the right for EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) to use your photograph and/or description during the period of the competition and afterwards for promotional purposes of PanAfGeo on the website and on social media.
• Photos should illustrate the best of “what PanAfGeo means to you” and should include a short
description of why this was important to you.
• The photographs have to be sent in jpg format, high resolution.
Check out the 3rd issue of UNESCO’s International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP) newsletter.
The newsletter highlights the IGGP’s recent progress and activities to support the UNESCO Member States to facilitate international scientific cooperation in the geosciences. The IGGP mission includes promoting sustainable use of natural resources, advancing new initiatives related to geo-diversity and geo-heritage and geohazards risk mitigation.
On Page 8 of the IGGP newsletter, the PanAfGeo-2 Project Geoheritage training session in the Congo Republic and UNESCO’s role are emphasized.
The African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM) H.E. Ambassador Albert Muchanga met a joint EU-Africa PanAfGeo and AfricaMaVal projects delegation composed of French Geological Surveys (BRGM), EuroGeoSurveys (EGS), Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS) and Minerals Africa Development Institution (MADI). The meeting took place at the Kenneth Kaunda Wing of the newly refurbished Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia on 8th July 2022.
The purpose of the meeting was to develop a strong relationship between the OAGS and the AUC and to inform the Commissioner about key projects being implemented in Africa supported by the EU namely; the PanAfGeo 2, a capacity Building Project for African geoscientists that are being implemented jointly by EGS and OAGS and AfricaMaVal with an objective of building partnerships on critical raw materials value chains between EU and Africa.
Further, the delegations paid courtesy calls to the Zambian Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development officials including the Minister Hon. Paul Kabuswe and the Permanent Secretary Mr. Sakwiba Musiwa who welcomed and thanked the delegation on behalf of the Zambian Government. The Minister and his staff pledged support for the projects and unveiled and outlined key projects being undertaken by the government where partnership and collaboration could be pursued. These include harmonisation and professionalisation of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) and conducting extensive geological surveys and exploration of the country among others.
Prof. Olugbenga Okunlola, President of the Geological Society of Africa, gave the welcome address for the 28th colloquium of African geology and the 18th general conference between the 6th and 8th of July, 2022. Here he highlighted the presentation of the PanAfGeo initiative and its involvement with the colloquium plenary sessions.
Prof. Olugbenga Okunlola, emphasised the wealth of geoscientific knowledge presented at the colloquium, as well as its opportunities to introduce new concepts to geoscience and foster future collaborations.
The UNESCO published an article about the recently concluded Geoheritage (WP-D) training session that took place from 13-18 June 2022 (In French) in Pointe Noire, Republic of the Congo.
The Republic of Congo came a step closer towards setting up a geopark between 13 and 18 June when it was one of 14 African countries which sent delegates to a training course on geological heritage in the departments of Pointe-Noire and Kouilou. The 25 young geologists left the course vowing to inventory the geological heritage in their respective countries.
Blending theory with field visits, the trainers expounded on the concepts of geodiversity, geological heritage and geoconservation for the benefit of delegates who had come from the geological surveys of Algeria, Angola, Benin, Comoros, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Togo and Senegal. Experts on geoheritage explained to the trainees how they defined geological heritage and classified this at the local, regional, national and international levels.
The course organizers are grateful to the Ministry of State and Minister of Mines and Geology, Pierre Oba, for his warm welcome of Africa delegates and his participation to this course.
The six-day course was part of PanAfGeo, an initiative co-funded by the European Union that has been supporting the training of geoscientific staff from African geological surveys since 2016 to increase African-owned geological knowledge and skills for sustainable mineral exploitation and related infrastructure, as well as natural disaster prevention and mitigation. PanAfGeo stands for Pan-African Support to the EuroGeoSurveys-Organisation of African Geological Surveys Partnership. This unprecedented pan-African project is led by the French Geological Survey, the Bureau de recherche géologiques et minières. The course was co-organised by the Polish, French and Spanish geological surveys in close cooperation with UNESCO. The course was hosted by the Ministry of Mining Industries and Geology.
The annual Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is the premier event of the world’s mineral exploration and mining industry. The PanAfGeo Project was represented at the EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) stand in the European Commission’s booth. The European Commission booth also hosted European Commission initiatives and representatives such as the European Raw Materials Alliance and EIT Raw Materials, projects from H2020 (the European Union (EU) research programme for research and innovation) and EU member states.
Throughout the PDAC Convention, EGS promoted the PanAfGeo Project by providing informative discussions on the scientific training sessions conducted in the different geoscientific domains and, in particular, training sessions in mineral resource assessment. There was also the Mine African Pavilion that provided networking opportunities throughout the convention. Other related events also focused on the African mining industry.
“PDAC provides another great opportunity for strengthening our Africa-EU partnership through PanAfGeo,” said Julie Hollis, Secretary General of EuroGeoSurveys, after meeting with Dr David Khoza, Executive Manager of the Council for Geoscience (South Africa) and Secretariat Representative of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS).
The PanAfGeo-2 allows trainees to acquire state-of-the-art tools, methods and experienced knowledge in 8 geoscientific skills. The project supports the training of geoscientific staff from African Geological Surveys through the diversity of innovative training methods. The project will embrace the acquisition and development of the professional skills that complement the participants’ technical qualifications, under the guidance of African and European geoscientists with an extensive international experience.
The PanAfGeo team and representatives from member countries attended the Mining Indaba 2022 conference in Cape Town, South Africa. During the conference the PanAfGeo Project showed active participation at the various events of the EU Delegation in South Africa for the duration of the week.
PANAFGEO-2 SPECIAL SESSION: A STRONGER AFRICA – EU GEO-SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION PROGRAM
On 9 May 2022, The PanAfGeo community met in Cape Town during the course of the “Investing in African Mining” Indaba week to discuss collaboration amongst the African and European partners, particularly the Geological Surveys. The meeting was held in-person and had representatives from across Europe and Africa.
Four keynote speakers set the stage for the discussions that followed:
• Rasa Jautakaite-Tunaitiene, Delegation of the European Union to South Africa
• Jean-Claude Guillaneau, PanAfGeo Coordinator – French Geological Survey (BRGM)
• David Khoza, Organisation of African Geological Surveys (OAGS)
• Frank Mugyenyi, Minerals Africa Development Institution (MADI)
The session was opened by Rasa Jautakaite-Tunaitiene, who explained the importance of scientific cooperation and its relevance to the Africa-EU Partnership. Ms Jautakaite-Tunaitiene emphasized development and cooperation activities between the two continents by using the example of the PanAfGeo Project, and how it paves the way for future Africa-EU cooperation in line with high-level policy dialogues on the green transition.
Jean-Claude Guillaneau, PanAfGeo Project Coordinator, gave an overview of the project, showcasing the outcomes of the first phase of PanAfGeo after its successful conclusion led to the second phase. Mr Guillaneau highlighted the importance of co-leadership between the European and African partners, and how crucial it was to ensure direct involvement of the African Geological Surveys and promote participation from their countries. The significance of the Africa-EU Partnership was underlined by David Khoza, who provided an overview of the efforts and involvement of OAGS throughout the project, and the link they provide to the African Union. Frank Mugyeni then accentuated the importance of mineral resources in the context of Africa-EU cooperation, noting in particular the African Union’s recently established African Mineral and Energy Resources Classification and Management System (AMREC). He welcomed the fact that PanAfGeo has generated a greater interest in the sector and hopes that those who have benefited from the trainings on offer will go on to become job creators themselves, passing on the skills they have acquired.
Prof. Komlavi Francisco SEDDOH, Representative of TOGO on the Executive Board of UNESCO commended the role played by UNESCO in the field of earth science education in Africa in partnership with the PanAfGeo Project as well as its contribution to the implementation of the African mining vision in collaboration with the African Center of the African Union Commission during the plenary meeting of the UNESCO Executive Board’s 214th session on April 4-5 in Paris, France.
Prof. Seddoh further emphasized that his Delegation would be happy to have more information on this initiative and how it relates to the Geology Departments of African Universities.
Read the full speech (in French) of Prof. Seddoh, here (PDF).
