Sub Saharan Africa

Most of Africa’s economies, cultures and political systems are dependent, to a large extent, on genetic resources, which have been vital and are of increasing importance to many sectors,including agriculture, pharmaceuticals and the chemical and industrial sectors. The acquisition and study of new genetic materials plays a key role in developing new varieties of crops, drugs and technologies that can help alleviate hunger, disease and poverty. In addition, the issue of access to genetic resources is of critical importance to a number of fields, including agriculture,and of major significance to public health, particularly with increasing interest in and reliance on traditional medicine. In the past three decades or so, the question of how well these resources are conserved, managed and used in a sustainable manner, including related issues such as intellectual property rights, has taken centre stage in both national and regional discussions.

Training materials for this review include lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations and interactive group practice exercises.

A number of selected law and policy files are also available as reference materials.

Additional handouts to enrich the training include a summary of overheads for each presentation, references to the full-text of relevant laws and policies and a bibliography for further reading.

Other materials for trainers include an overview with a complete list of handouts, workshop schedule, an evaluation form and instructions for trainers with a timed schedule of activities and handouts. See also Information for Trainers , for a selection of templates, tips, and step-by-step guidelines for planning and delivering a successful training workshop.

Selected Law and Policy files

Additional information