A dedicated programme was created in October 2006 to promote the work of the GICHD within French-speaking countries affected by mines and ERW. The programme was handed over to the Africans partners in December 2011, and in particular to the CPADD ('Centre de Perfectionnement aux Actions Post Conflictuelles de Déminage et de Dépollution').
This programme had three key aims:
- Strengthening the role of the GICHD in French-speaking affected countries;
- Promoting French-language mine action expertise;
- Increasing knowledge exchange, in particular between French-speaking and English-speaking mine action communities.
To promote these aims, the Francophone Programme:
- Published and translated important documents for the Francophone mine and ERW action community
- Created the Website Bibliomines, in partnership with three African centres. This online library collects all documentation as well as events existing in French on mine and ERW action
- Organised annual seminars of African Francophone actors engaged in humanitarian action against mines and ERW on their national territories, as a platform for the exchange of expertise and information
- Identified and promoted Francophone expertise on the international level.
