Les liaisons fructueuses - RUIG-GIAN

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these differing interests by carving out independent
research projects that would complement the
country-led reviews. This has proven to be a fruitful
compromise. Many of the national teams are benefiting
from the independent research being undertaken by
our academic partners, and our academic partners are
benefiting from the contacts and research being undertaken
by the national institutions.
The impact of GIAN funding
Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment of
Madagascar, Mr. Rakotobe (center, white jacket) and
participants attending the second national workshop
on wildlife trade policy reviews (Antananarivo, March
2008). The workshop offered stakeholders an opportunity
to comment on the preliminary results contained
in the draft review report. One of the main conclusions
was to move from reactive to proactive conservation approaches.
tional characteristics and then reach agreement on
how to reconcile differing perspectives, approaches
and working styles.
For example, our colleagues at IUED have a great
deal of flexibility when determining the scope and
focus of their research. In contrast, IGOs, such as
UNEP and CITES, which are made up of, and
driven by, member States, often have little flexibility
to go beyond their specific mandates. Furthermore,
for IGOs, research is often viewed as a means to an
end rather than an end itself. Moreover, IGO-led
research is often carried out in a political context,
which can impose further limitations on its scope
and focus.
In the case of our joint GIAN project, these differing
perspectives primarily manifested themselves in
the question of an academic interest in making public
all the results of the research versus the possible
interest of some participating countries in keeping
some results confidential. We were able to overcome
Of course, this project is ultimately not about the
development of studies and data (outputs) but
policy reform (outcomes). It was initiated with the
specific objective of developing better wildlife trade
policies. Although it is too early to say whether this
will be achieved, the project has already resulted in
some notable successes.
As the first global initiative to promote wildlife
trade policy reviews, the project has led to the design
of a review methodology and the development
of a guidance document for conducting the reviews.
Four countries (Vietnam, Uganda, Madagascar and
Nicaragua) are currently undertaking pilot wildlife
trade policy reviews using the methodology and
guidance document.
This project also led to the convening of a side event
on wildlife trade policy reviews during the most
recent meeting of the Conference of Parties (CoP)
to CITES (CoP14, The Hague, June 2007). Some
1200 representatives of more than 160 countries
and many interested intergovernmental and nongovernmental
organisations participated in CoP14.
The side event provided an opportunity for the pilot
countries to brief other CITES Parties and various
stakeholders on their experiences in conducting the
reviews thus far. This briefing stimulated further discussions
and negotiations on wildlife trade policy
reviews in several of the committee and plenary sessions
of the CITES CoP. During these negotiations,
the countries and international partners participating
in the project spoke out in favor of these reviews.
Ultimately, the CITES Parties reiterated their
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