FAO, Finland scale up technical innovation to help African countries - NaijaAgroNet

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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Finland have signed an agreement to enhance the capacity of countries in forest resources and data management especially in Africa, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The $7 million multi-donor project will be implemented jointly by the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment and National Forest Monitoring teams over a period of four years, with an initial $2,3 million contribution provided by Finland. 

Through this new partnership FAO and Finland will team up to help countries to produce and disseminate better information, and hence contribute to better decision-making at different levels. 

FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo said: “This important collaboration with Finland will help scale-up capacities for innovative and accurate forest monitoring. With a spotlight on  empowering women in Africa, this project will bring our expertise and tools where they are most needed.” 

“Finland has over 100 years of tradition and expertise in forest assessment and monitoring. We are very glad to team up with FAO and offer our Nordic know-how. This is a great opportunity to contribute to halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation by 2030,” said Ville Skinnari, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland.