CaSA – Benin team visit IRD and French Embassy

In April 2015, the Casa Benin Network has organised two meetings with institutions partner, IRD and French Embassy. These visits are part of the series of meetings initiated by the team of CASA-Benin led by Professor William AMADJI, network focal point, to inform about the existence of the network and its activities.
There was, first, the rich and fruitful briefing held at the headquarters of the IRD in Cotonou with its representative, Jean-Philippe Chippaux. It has been concluded that the IRD is well aware of the existence of the network through PARRAF (Programme d'Appui à la Recherche en Réseau en Afrique), funded by AIRD, which supports as well CASA network. The IRD which supports African researchers and collaboration between research institutions of France and Benin welcomed the visit and remains available to provide support to the network and to all research affecting the theme addressed by CASA, especially on this eve of COP21 preparation.

The second meeting was held with the Head of SCAC (Service de Coopération et d'Action Culturelle) of French Embassy in Benin, Mr Pierrick Rousseau. Mr Rousseau explained that the program gives scholarship opportunities for PhD student members of the Network. The ways of collaboration between the network and the Embassy to support  preparations for the conference on the environment which is to be held in France in December 2015 were discussed.In this context, Casa-Benin team intended to organize a conference-discussion on climate change linked to carbon and soil. All those partner institution officials appreciated and congratulated Casa-Benin Network approach. Several other meetings and conferences are planned in the activities of the Year program.