Improvement and Strengthening of the Forestry Colleges in the SADC Region, Phase III
Project / Programme Summary

1. Objectives:
   The development and immediate objectives of each project under SADC AAA.5.9. Programme are independent from each others. During the phases I and II the Programme had development objectives common to all projects and only immediate objectives varied project specifically. However, for the Phase III each project has drawn its own development and immediate objectives according to the existing development needs in the country and organisation.
   The common components in the objectives of the projects can be concluded to be:
   • colleges are capable to produce adequate number of qualified staff to meet the needs of the country in the Forestry sector
   • colleges are capable to maintain the quality of the trained manpower by arranging further training
   • colleges are cooperating with relevant interest groups within the country as well as regionally
   • college management practises are based on business orientation creating a solid base for financial sustainability of the services provided
2. Activities / contents
   • development of education and training programmes, e.g. curriculum development
   • development of human resources; i.e. scholarship programme, study tours, distance learning programmes & other training
   • development of physical resources; i.e. learning infrastructure, ADP-systems etc.
   • development of management and operational resources; e.g. creating income-generating activities, management staff training
3. Expected outcomes / impacts
   The forestry colleges in the SADC region and the SADC FSTCU are financially and operationally capable to sustainably operate in the field of forestry education and training providing services meeting the national needs.
   A multidisciplinary approach to the renewable natural resources sector is applied in forestry education and training taking into account the environmental, socio-cultural and other relevant issues in the rural settings.
4. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
   Forests have always been of significant importance for the environment globally and locally. In many SADC countries forests have been depleted by the needs of the increasing population. Forests have provided lots of food and other raw material for the rural peoples. The need to protect the forests in the SADC region is very important. The Forestry sector in the SADC region has the potential to become increasingly important source of income through the sustainable utilisation of forests. Employment opportunities can be created by developing the sector.
   The key issue in the development of the Forestry sector is to meet the needs of the trained manpower.
   By developing the forestry education and training the whole sector will become strengthened.

SADC Forestry Sector Technical Coordination Unit (SADC FSTCU), Malawi Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department of International Development Cooperation, Finland