Around the globe, there are plenty of organizations that are already restoring ecosystems – from mountain ridges to coral reefs. How can these organizations join forces for #GenerationRestoration? How can their experiences inspire the implementation of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and how can they benefit from the UN Decade’s global partner network?

The Restoration Academy is a workshop series designed to answer these questions and support local and national organizations to become part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. After a first edition in Central America, this time the Restoration Academy opened its gates for national and local restoration implementers from Eastern Africa, notably from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Rwanda.

Over the course of ten sessions, participants from local non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, research institutes and governmental institutions shared experiences and best practices, formed new networks, and learned about a number of topics that are crucial for successful ecosystem restoration projects. Experts from different institutions were invited to contribute and engage in exchanges with the participants in a variety of interactive formats.

The Restoration Academy started with a virtual kick-off session in early November 2022, followed by a deep-dive into the structure, strategy and communication approach of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (session 2). Subsequently, participants learned about online platforms to share their knowledge and experiences, including the Good Practices section of the UN Decade’s Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring (FERM) and Panorama Solutions for a Healthy Planet (session 3).

From January 17 to 19 2023 around 30 participants united in Kigali, Rwanda. During this in-person workshop, participants focused on networks for ecosystem restoration, including the UN Decade’s partner network, the AFR100 (the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative) and the Global Landscape’s GLFx Chapters (session 4). Session 5 zoomed in on different approaches and tools for ecosystem restoration monitoring. Poster presentations provided an opportunity for the participants to introduce their organizations and their work, while multiple interactive formats, such as World Café and Open Space, offered plenty of room for lively exchanges. On the third day, participants set out on a field trip to the nearby Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco Tourism Park. In the 121-hectare park participants learned about successful urban wetland restoration that benefits both – biodiversity and the citizens of Kigali.

The Restoration Academy continued virtually in February with session 6 introducing findings from a recent study on the funding landscape for ecosystem restoration with a focus on non-profit initiatives. Session 7 offered an opportunity to meet representatives of five selected funding options. Session 8 comprised an online training on restoration project development.

The Academy was rounded-off with an Open Space in which participants created their own agenda for focused exchanges on topics of their choosing (session 9).

The closing session, which took place on March 08th 2023 included a recap of the journey that lies behind and an outlook on activities and opportunities that await participants as members of the Restoration Academy’s alumni network.

The Restoration Academy Africa is a joint initiative of the projects “Support for the Design and Implementation of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (DEER)” and “Large-scale Forest Landscape Restoration in Africa (AREECA)”, both funded through the German International Climate Initiative (IKI) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). The Restoration Academy Africa was co-hosted by the African Union Development Agency - NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) through the AFR100 Initiative and supported by the “Global project on forest landscape restoration and good governance in the forest sector (Forests4Future)” which is implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

For more information on the Restoration Academy feel free to contact the organization team.

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, led by the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and its partners, covers terrestrial as well as coastal and marine ecosystems. As a global call to action, it will draw together political support, scientific research and financial muscle to massively scale up restoration. Find out how you can contribute to the UN Decade. Follow #GenerationRestoration.