1. Consortium for Barcode of Life (CBOL) Eastern Africa Conference, Nairobi, Kenya, 18-19 October 2006 EAFRINET LOOP as a CBOL Partner in the Eastern Africa Region Wanja Kinuthia EAFRINET Co-ordinator, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 40658- 00100 Nairobi, Kenya eafrinet@africaonline.co.ke

2. Introduction EAFRINET LOOP is the eastern Africa arm of the Global Network for Taxonomy, BioNET-INTERNATIONAL Members include individuals and institutions interested in taxonomy and it application. Countries: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zanzibar (Burundi, Rwanda & DRC)

3. National Coordinating Institutions Eritrea: University of Asmara Ethiopia : Institute of Biodiversity Conservation & Research Kenya: National Museums of Kenya Uganda: Makerere University Tanzania: Tropical Pesticides Research Institute Zanzibar: Ministry of Agriculture

4. Activities Information dissemination and communication Networking taxonomic experts with end-users Taxonomic capacity building in the region Development of taxonomic tools Partner: a) S-S to pool existing taxonomic resources b) North-South for technology and skills transfer

5. Activities cont’ Utilise taxonomic research in :- a) biodiversity conservation b) Agriculture especially proper identification of pests, diseases and bio-control agents for food security c) Linking taxonomists with donors

6. Opportunities for partnering with CBOL Networking with BioNET LOOPS and its partners, API, BOZONET etc A ready pool of human and Institutions Platform for raising awareness on DNA barcoding activities, information dissemination Linking individuals & institutions to enhance capacity building

7. Some of the achievements API: 1 st bee taxonomic course in 2003 at NMK/ICIPE BIOTA: 2 nd bee taxonomic course in 2006 South-S in-house taxonomic training North-S in-house taxonomic training Parataxomic training at grass-root level Identification of training opportunities & linking end-users to taxonomic experts

8. Main Institutions NMK-IPR:Collections & Animal diseases UoN, KARI MUIENR- Uganda ICIPE ILRI International Collaborators KIST- Rwanda Who else? Your input

9. Acknowledgement NMK Management BioNET-INTERNATIONAL SAFRINET, WAFRINET & EURONET National LOOP Coordinators National partner institutions and individuals CBOL

10. Thank You!