A roundtable on the role of geographical indications (GIs) in sustainable development was organised on 7 February 2023 by the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM). The topic ‘what lessons can be learned to improve the contribution of projects to sustainable development?’ was addressed.

The event arose from the efforts of AFD and FFEM to promote a tool for sustainable development during a period of uncertainty around the effects of quality labels on increasing incomes, battling climate change and safeguarding biodiversity for the global community of GI practices.

The AfrIPI GI expert, Monique Bagal, gave a presentation on encouraging the establishment of a true ‘culture of coordination’ which strengthens donor coordination around the implementation of the continental GI strategy, and the creation a ‘hub’ that is intended to collate information on the subject.

Participating organisations in the roundtable discussion included the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property, the Organization for an International Geographical Indications Network (oriGIn), the Group For Research and Technology Exchanges (GRET), the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI) and AfrIPI.