This is the second issue of the Africa Regional Centre of Excellence (ArcX) programme newsletter.
A Look Ahead Across the ArcX Programme Components (10/06/2025)
As the ArcX Programme gains momentum, each of its core components—Biodiversity & Forests, Water, and Agroecology—is entering a dynamic phase of implementation.
OFAC and B4Life mission to JRC - advancing on NaturAfrica and ArcX programmes (08/05/2025)
From February 17th to 21st, a technical meeting at the JRC in Ispra brought together OFACand B4Life under the NaturAfrica programme. Led by the ArcX Biodiversity team (JRC.D.6), the session focused on advancing biodiversity cooperation in Africa, with input from other JRC initiatives.
Strengthening Regional Data and Conservation: RCoE-ESA’s Milestones in 2024–2025 (11/06/2025)
The Regional Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity, Forests, and Seascape Ecosystems Management in Eastern and Southern Africa (RCoE-ESA), hosted by RCMRD, has made impressive strides since its launch in March 2024. Its achievements reflect the ArcX Programme’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, scientific data access, and sustainable environmental management.
Strengthening Forest Planning in Central Africa: Highlights from the First OFAC-CE Consortium Meeting (11/06/2025)
On 25 March 2025, the first annual meeting of the consortium for the Central Africa Forest Observatory – Centre of Excellence (OFAC-CE) took place virtually under the coordination of CIFOR-ICRAF. The meeting brought together over a dozen African and European institutional partners to review ongoing activities and align on priorities for the year ahead.
Advancing Biodiversity Governance Across West Africa (11/06/2025)
The Biodiversity and Forest Component stories below highlight the growing momentum around biodiversity governance in West Africa, with OBAPAO at the heart of regional coordination and data-driven conservation. From strengthening GIS capacities in Dakar to enriching national biodiversity databases in Niger, a clear shift toward evidence-based policy and collaboration is emerging. Recent workshops in Lomé and Conakry have showcased how peer learning, data harmonisation, and shared best practices are critical to scaling conservation successes. As efforts intensify to meet global targets such as the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, OBAPAO’s initiatives are helping build a resilient, informed, and united front for biodiversity protection across the region.
Meeting with ICPAC, the IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre in Kenya (05/06/2025)
ICPAC and the JRC are teaming up to strengthen water resource management in the Lake Tanganyika Basin. Through shared research and innovation, they are addressing climate and water challenges in one of Africa's most critical freshwater ecosystems.
Roundtable "Transboundary Water Management in Southern Africa" and engagement with the Okavango Research Institute of the University of Botswana (05/06/2025)
The ArcX Water Component was presented at the Southern Africa roundtable on transboundary water management in Maun, Botswana. The event highlighted new EU investments to protect inland water ecosystems and foster regional cooperation.
Meeting with Zambia’s Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) and engagement with the University of Zambia (05/06/2025)
In Lusaka, JRC and ENABEL met with Zambia's WARMA to strengthen water monitoring in the Tanganyika and Kivu Basins. From rising lake levels to early warning systems, regional collaboration is key to confronting water challenges in Southern Africa.
JRC and ZAMCOM Strengthen Collaboration in the Zambezi River Basin (05/06/2025)
On 27 May, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) met with the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM) to explore potential avenues for future EU engagement in the Zambezi River Basin.
New Paper Explores Agroecology’s Role in Strengthening Food Security in Africa (08/05/2025)
A newly released discussion paper, supported by FARA, RUFORUM, and the Joint Research Centre (JRC), reinforces the ArcX programme’s commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture and food and nutrition security across the continent.
DeSIRA-LIFT Conference Advances Agroecology Collaboration in Africa (08/05/2025)
African and European partners gathered in Brussels for the DeSIRA-Lift conference to drive agroecological transformation across Africa. From research networks to curriculum reform, big steps were taken.
Empowering Agroecological Research and Policy in Africa: PANAP Activities in Kigali and Rome (22/05/2025)
As part of the ArcX Agroecology component led by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in collaboration with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), upcoming activities in June 2025 will spotlight efforts to bridge science and policy in agri-food systems across Africa.
African Agroecology Networks Highlighted at Copernicus Land General Assembly (29/05/2025)
The second edition of the Copernicus Land General Assembly took place in Krakow, Poland, from 20-22 May 2025. The event brought together global users of Copernicus data, with a day dedicated to agricultural applications. Six African representatives from the ArcX Agroecology Regional Multi-Actor Research Networks (RMRNs) took part in the Global Network of Users session.
Ocean Component: 5 years to achieve the 2030 Agenda for SDG 14 (08/05/2025)
The Ocean is our planet’s largest ecosystem. It is essential for life and livelihoods. It provides food, medicine, is a source of recreation, it shapes our cultures and identities. It secures trade routes. It also absorbs CO2 and is central to our global response to climate change. Protecting it means taking care of the global health of our planet and our future.
RMRN Kick offs (08/05/2025)
All three Regional Multiactor Research Networks in Africa on Agroecology were kicked off in February and March. Click below for more information about each kick off.
Exciting News for RCoEs Partners: Share Your Data with the Community (08/05/2025)
JRC is pleased to announce that the Africa Knowledge Platform (AKP) is now open for contributions from RCoE partners.
ArcX Programme Forum – September 2025, Nairobi, Kenya (08/05/2025)
The first edition of the ArcX Programme Annual Forum, scheduled for September 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, will gather key stakeholders to promote sustainable development through regional cooperation.
A successful preparatory mission at the heart of dialogue with intermediary organisations (04/06/2025)
From Nairobi to the next steps in ArcX governance: the first field visit by the Technical Assistance team set a strong foundation for collaboration, monitoring alignment and intersectoral dialogue.
Seventh African Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (08/05/2025)
Driving job creation and economic growth through sustainable and inclusive science, technology and innovation solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.
FAO at the Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (08/05/2025)
The UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Government of Uganda organized the 2025 Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, in partnership with the African Union Commission, African Development Bank and UN agencies.
10th Anniversary Celebration of the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Project (08/05/2025)
The Africa Higher Education Centers of Excellence (ACE) Program celebrates 10 years of advancing higher education, research and innovation across Africa. Since 2014, it has improved the quality and accessibility of postgraduate education in Agriculture, Environment, Education, Health and STEM.
28th Annual Conference on Global Economic Analysis (25/06/2025)
The goal of the conference is to promote the exchange of ideas among economists conducting quantitative analysis of global economic issues. Particular emphasis will be placed on applied general equilibrium methods, data, and application.
6th African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Agriculture Ministerial Conference (27/06/2025)
In the framework of the Africa-EU Partnership, the sixth AU-EU agriculture ministerial conference will be centered around strengthening the collaboration and addressing current challenges facing both Continents’ agri-food systems.
The conference will discuss in depth four topics that will feed into the overall theme with a good potential for concrete EU-AU partnership.
Global Climate Action Summit (12/09/2025)
The Global Climate Action Summit will showcase the actions states and regions, cities, companies, investors and civil society have taken already to reduce their emissions; secure bold commitments to do even more, show that decarbonization; job generation and resilient economic growth go hand-in-hand and galvanize a global movement for climate action that leaves no one behind.
Empowering Clean Energy Access Across Africa (08/05/2025)
JRC is excited to introduce the Clean Energy Access Prioritiser (CEAP), a decision support tool now available for the entire African continent.
Unveiling Visitor Trends Across Africa’s Protected Areas (12/06/2025)
Understanding how many people visit protected areas is key to valuing and managing nature-based tourism across Africa.
