
Activities
AfrIPI– OVERALL AND ANNUAL WORK PLAN
AfrIPI has four main objectives:
- Promotion of Intellectual Property international agreements for a reinforced cooperation between EU and Africa;
- Strengthening of national and regional Intellectual Property institutions, networks, and tools, to increase a user- friendly and efficient protected IP system;
- Raising awareness of Intellectual Property Rights (including Geographical Indications) in the African society for Small and Medium- sized Enterprises (SMEs);
- Implementation of the work plan activities linked to the African Union (AU) Continental Strategy for Geographical Indications.
To achieve these results, the overall work plan sets a multiannual framework in terms of thematic and geographic priorities, complemented by plans to be developed each year containing detailed activities.
As a Pan-African Action targeting many countries and sub-regions, a geographical balance for activity implementation is sought. Activities are identified each year in close coordination with stakeholders, particularly AU Member States, ARIPO, OAPI, National IP Offices, the private sector and other organisations such as the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO), the European Patent Office (EPO), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) and the African Union Commission (AUC).
AfrIPI Activity Clusters and Key Activities
2022 |
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No. |
Activities |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Component I – Promote International Agreements in the Area of IPR and AfCFTA Negotiations |
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1 |
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2 |
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3 |
Legal and technical assistance to the AfCFTA Secretariat for the Phase II negotiations on IPR |
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4 |
Legal and technical assistance to the RECs for the Phase II negotiations on IPR |
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Component II ‒ Strengthen national & regional IP institutions, networks and tools |
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5 |
Support for the setup of Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) |
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6 |
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7 |
Consultative Roundtable on Enforcement of IPR for North African Countries [1] [2] |
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8 |
Development of patent examination guidelines for OAPI |
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9 |
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10 |
Patent examination training programme (OAPI) |
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11 |
Training on IPR examination practices |
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12 |
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13 |
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14 |
Support for the Creation of an Association of Judges for OAPI Member States |
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15 |
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16 |
Support for the digitalisation of Nigeria IP Office: ‘capture and store’ of trade marks paper files |
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17 |
Technical support on the reference collections for the accredited research and examination centres on plant varieties in OAPI countries |
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18 |
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19 |
Trademark and industrial designs guidelines of Egyptian TIDO: Revision and technical working group participation |
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Component III ‒ Strengthen the capacities of MSMEs/ productive sector on IP |
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20 |
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21 |
Support for the establishment of university-private sector innovation platforms for OAPI countries |
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22 |
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23 |
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24 |
IP awareness sessions of patents and innovation for ARIPO countries |
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25 |
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26 |
Promotional workshop on designs and utility models for ARIPO |
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27 |
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28 |
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Component IV – Support to AU Continental strategy for GIs |
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29 |
Technical support for the development of the legal framework for GIs in OAPI countries |
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30 |
Technical support for the development of the legal framework for GIs in ARIPO countries |
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31 |
Technical support for the development of the legal framework for GIs in other countries |
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32 |
Support the registration at national level of GIs for OAPI countries |
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33 |
Support the registration at national level for one pilot in Egypt |
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34 |
Support the registration at EU level of GIs for Kilichi du Niger |
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35 |
Update and extend the GI Hub via updated/ additional content and enhanced technical functionalities |
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36 |
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37 |
Support to the screening of GIs in Tchad |


Communication Training on the ARIPO Regional Intellectual Property Rights System
There is a need for government information officers and journalists to be equipped to effectively notify their audiences of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Regional Intellectual Property Rights System, which can be used to raise awareness
Regional Conference for OAPI MS on the Status of the Protection and Use of African Medicinal Inventions
African countries are a key destination for counterfeit goods, such as pharmaceuticals, with all the hazards and dangers that these pose for consumers.
Consultative roundtable on counterfeiting in Nigeria
According to the OECD-EUIPO report on Mapping the Real Routes of Trade in Fake Goods
Support for the Creation of an Association of Judges for OAPI Member States
From 12 to 14 October 2022, the African Organisation of Intellectual Property (OAPI) and AfrIPI hold a constitutive General Assembly of the Association of Judges in Dakar, Senegal.
Support for the ARIPO Patent Examination Training
Under the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Patent Examination Training programme (ARPET), AfrIPI, ARIPO and the European Patent Office (EPO) have partnered together to train patent examiners of the national patent offices of ARIPO Member States.
Judges Colloquium on Enforcement
AfrIPI created a pan-African case-law database on intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the first Annual Work Plan (AWP) in 2021. This year, the second AWP will focus on maintaining the tool and continuously uploading new case-law for different IPRs.
Study and mentorship visits
In line with international and European best practices and in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, AfrIPI aims to create, protect, utilise, administer and enforce intellectual property rights across Africa.
Integration and Implementation of IP Tools
In the last decade, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has worked very closely with the European Union’s Member States IP offices to develop IT tools that help the offices work more efficiently and make IP information freely available to the public
Regional workshop on accession to the Banjul Protocol
The Banjul Protocol provides a centralised trade mark registration procedure. Applications for trade mark registrations may be submitted either to the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) or the Intellectual Property office of a Member State.
IP Awareness Sessions on Patents and Innovation for ARIPO Countries
Universities, research and development (R&D) institutions and other innovation associations are increasingly leveraging their intellectual property (IP) internationally, as they diversify their contributions beyond just imparting knowledge to their students.
Legal and technical assistance to the RECs for the Phase II negotiations on IPR
On 18-20 April 2022, a sub-regional workshop of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), together with the ‘Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Africa’ project (AfrIPI), was held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Cong
Promotional workshop on designs and utility models for ARIPO
On 27 and 28 April 2022, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) and AfrIPI hosted a promotional workshop on Designs and Utility Models at ARIPO in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Support to the development of national framework for copyrights in Equatorial Guinea
On March 25 and 26, 2022, a consultative workshop to support the establishment of a structure for the collective management of copyright and related rights was held in Equatorial Guinea.
World IP Day in Cooperation with WIPO
World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated every 26 April to increase intellectual property (IP) awareness.
Support for the establishment of university-private sector innovation platforms for OAPI countries
In support and appreciation of the production of inventions and institutional innovations for the benefit of enterprises, seminars involving universities, institutes and research centres were organised in the 17 OAPI member countries in three phases.
Expert Support for the ARIPO Master’s Training Programme
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization, are delivering a comprehensive Intellectual Property (IP) Master’s Programme in English to three universities in Africa: the Africa Unive
Expert support for the OAPI online master’s training programme
Expanding knowledge on IP in Africa is essential to create a strengthened IP network.
Technical support for the development of the legal framework for GIs in ARIPO countries
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) ad hoc working group on Geographical Indications (GIs) was held online on 22 March 2022 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Consultative roundtable on enforcement of IPR for North African countries
A consultative roundtable on the enforcement of IPR for North African countries was held on the 23rd – 24th of February 2022.
AfrIPI engages at the 7th edition of the EU-Africa Business Forum
The EU-Africa Business Forum 2022 (EABF22) took place from 14 to 18 February. This important event allows public-private dialogue between the EU and Africa at continental level. It aims to increase opportunities for sustainable economic cooperation.
Support for the digitalisation of the Nigeria IP Office: ‘Capture and Store’ of Trade Marks Paper Files
The Nigeria Intellectual Property (IP) Office has a vast quantity of paper-based trade marks that need to be scanned to migrate the data to the back office system (IPAS). As a result, it has been selected as the pilot office to give support for this digitalisation process.
GI awareness
A geographical indication (GI) is a distinctive sign used to identify a product whose quality, reputation or other characteristics are related to its geographical origin.
Technical support for the development of the legal framework for GIs in other countries
On 17 and 18 February 2022 the National Conference on Creating Legal and Institutional Framework for Geographical Indications in Nigeria will be held. It will be hosted by the European Union, together with the Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Africa project, the Nigerian Trade Mark Registry under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Africa International Trade & Commerce Research organisation.
Africa IP SME Helpdesk
The Africa IP SME Helpdesk supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs') from the European Union (EU) to both protect and enforce their Intellectual Property (
Support for the Setup and Strengthening of Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) in ARIPO and OAPI member states
In 2022, AfrIPI will carry out a twofold action to help set-up and develop Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) for literary and artistic works in Member States of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (
ARIPO IP Awareness Campaign
Although the African Regional Intellectual Property Office (ARIPO) has existed since 1976, not many citizens from its 22 member states understand its core business and the benefit of filing through the ARIPO system.
OAPI Trademarks examiners training
On 30 November and 1 December AfrIPI is organising a training for trademark examiners.
Consultative roundtable on enforcement of IPR for North African countries
A trend for increasing proliferation of counterfeit and illegal goods (ranging from medicine and food to pesticides) has been observed on the markets in North African countries.
Workshop on international frameworks (The Hague) for examiners
OAPI accessed the Geneva Act of The Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs and this became effective on 16 September 2008.
Conference on Geographical Indications for ARIPO countries
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) is organising a Regional Conference on Geographical Indications (GIs) in collaboration with AfrIPI (African Intellectual Property and Innovation) from 10 to 12 November 2021 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Regional Workshop on the Arusha Protocol
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) is organising a virtual Regional Workshop on the Arusha Protocol in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation Project (AfrIPI) on 9 November 2021.
Innovation Day
This activity aims to get together, in OAPI 17 Member States, all innovation actors (academia, businesses, and public research bodies) in order to create long-term exchange platforms and establish common working plans.
Regional Seminar on Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights
The AFRIPI project in partnership with the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) is organising a regional seminar on the enforcement of intellectual property rights from 20 to 21 October 2021 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Cooperation Liaision Meeting on Africa
On 18 October, the AfrIPI project will be presented at the EUIPO 17th Liaison Meeting on Cooperation. Main topics will include the launch of the first Africa IP SME helpdesk.
Patent Examination Training
In view of the implementation of the substantive examination of patent and utility model applications scheduled for January 2022, the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) plans, among other things, to strengthen the capacities and to tra
Create an African SME learning tool
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are important drivers of growth in economies across Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for up to 90 % of all businesses in these markets.
Meetings on the TF in Nigeria
The objective is to follow-up on the capacity-building workshop organised by AfriPI in April 2021 (in Abuja) and support the work of National Task Force created at this occasion with a view to suggest a draft law and a plan of action for GIs in Nigeria.
AfrIPI project launch event
In orde
Support to the Kampala diplomatic conference on voluntary registration of copyrights and related rights
The voluntary registration of copyrights and related rights regulations provide means of presumption as to the authorship/ ownership of rights, offering a proof of ownership document.
Support to the design and delivery of online training at the ARIPO master’s programmes on IP
Expanding the knowledge on IP in Africa is essential to create a strengthened IP network.
GAP analysis on international agreements
International IPR agreements are key facilitators of international trade in the globalised economy. In many African countries the absence of a consistent and coherent national policy on intellectual property (IP), which is in line with those international IPR agreements, creates issues.
Harmonisation Workshop in ARIPO
AfrIPI is organising a workshop for ARIPO member states on the methodology used to achieve harmonisation in trade mark and design registration practices in Europe in the last decade.
Nigeria’s Trade Mark examiners workshop
Strengthening national and regional IP offices is one of the four main pillars of the Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Africa (AfrIPI) Project.
Judges colloquium on enforcement – initiating the creation of an online accessible case-law database
ARIPO is making vast efforts to set-up a regional case-law database on intellectual property rights (IPRs). To achieve this high-reaching objective, the establishment of a network or platform to link IPR judges would be needed.
Trade Marks Examiners training for Morocco
AfrIPI delivered on-demand training activities that were tailored to the specific needs of public officials in the field of intellectual property.
Vienna Classification System Trainings
The AfrIPI project seeks to promote the African IPOs’ awareness of the advantages of the existing international system of IP.
Regional workshop on accession to the Banjul protocol
The Banjul Protocol provides a centralised trade mark registration procedure. Applications for trade mark registrations may be submitted either to the ARIPO Office or to the industrial property office of a member state; and must designate the member state(s) where registration is sought.
Capacity building workshop on geographical indications for public sector/policy makers in Nigeria
22 April 2021 is the date chosen for a workshop on geographical indications (GIs) in Nigeria. The main thrust of the workshop will be to discuss how best to prepare the public sector in promoting GIs in Nigeria (capacity building).
Regional workshop on the Arusha protocol
Plant variety protection (or plant breeders’ rights (PBRs)) is an IPR granted to farmers or breeders of new plant varieties.
Conference on geographical indications for policymakers for ARIPO countries and panel on legal framework
Geographical indications (GIs) have become one of the important key drivers for social and economic development in many countries. ARIPO has created a draft legal framework.
Awareness raising on the advantages of international systems on IP
In general, in Africa there is a low participation in international agreements in IP. This activity, focused on OAPI member states, will aim to promote accession to all international treaties that the gap analysis will present useful in facilitating international trade for these focus countries.
Support to IP Academies network
The Nigerian and Ethiopian intellectual property offices (IPOs) held an online workshop with the EUIPO Academy on 24 March 2021, to exchange best practices on how to set up their own IP Academies.
Development of common guidelines for ARIPO member states
In the globalised world, where more and more businesses operate across national borders, regional harmonisation of IP soft law is key to facilitate the use of IP rights by MSMEs.
Support to the reform of Angolan IP legislation
Today, technological innovation represents the economic segment that has grown the most and has greatly contributed to the economic development of countries.
Legal and technical assistance to AU Commission on IP
The main objective of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is to create a single continental market for goods and services, with the free movement of people and investments, and thus pave the way for accelerating the establishment of the Continental Customs Union and the African Custo
Support to the development of national framework for copyrights in Equatorial Guinea
Effective protection of copyright and related rights ensures the contribution of the cultural sector to the economy through the emergence and development of the cultural industry. In this mechanism, the role of collective management is essential.
AfrIPI and the African IPOs: creating awareness
The European Intellectual Property Office EUIPO (represented by the AfrIPI PMT) together with the European Commission (DG DEVCO) will organise an online seminar on the EU partnership with Africa on Intellectual Property Rights, in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Technical support to the development of the legal framework for GIs
Having adequate legal frameworks in place is essential for protecting Geographical Indications (GIs).
Support to GI registration Cabrito de Tete
The AfrIPI project supports the Cabrito de Tete geographical indication (Mozambique). It does so by providing technical and logistical assistance in the commercial testing.
Patent examination training programme (ARIPO)
Inventors often favour the legal certainty of patents granted by patent systems with substantive examination. Due to a lack of resources and capacity, only a few countries in Africa conduct any form of substantive examination.
Support to the intellectual property (IP) academies network
IP academies are important for raising awareness on IP and strengthening capacities related to IP knowledge.
Workshop to exchange best practices and identify actions on counterfeiting and piracy in specific industry sectors (pharmaceuticals)
African countries are a key destination for counterfeit goods such as pharmaceuticals, with the hazards and damage that this pose to consumers.
Training on IP to technical working group AfCFTA
As the AfrIPI project is designed to facilitate the ongoing negotiations (in particular Phase II, dealing with intellectual property rights) and later implementation of the AfCFTA, the project will provide technical assistance to the African Union and its member states in this regard.
Webinar on licencing mechanisms
The international development community has set a clear goal of reaching universal health coverage by 2030 while leaving no one behind.
Support the registration of African GIs at national and/or EU level
The AfrIPI project supports the Cabrito de Tete geographical indication (Mozambique). It does so by providing technical and logistical assistance in commercial testing.
Expert support to the OAPI online master’s training programme
Expanding knowledge on IP in Africa is essential to create a strengthened IP network.
AfrIPI feeding the GI Hub
Free access to information ensures transparency and promotes participation in public debate.
Trade mark and industrial designs guidelines: revision and technical working group participation (Egypt twinning project)
The twinning project ‘Trademarks and Industrial Designs Office’ was initiated on January 2020 and is scheduled to be implemented over a period of 18 months.
Trade mark and Industrial Designs Guidelines: revision and technical working group participation (Egypt twinning project)
The twinning project ‘Trade marks and Industrial Designs Office’ was initiated on the 20 January 2020 and is scheduled for implementation over a period of 18 months, with the objective of strengthening the protection of trade marks and industrial designs in Egypt.<Support the registration at national and/ or EU level of African GIs
The Continental Strategy for GIs in Africa (2018- 2023) highlights the importance of the development and registration of GI products as pilots and drivers for rural and sustainable development to provide learning and demonstrative effects.
Development of the Egyptian Trade mark and Industrial Designs Guidelines
The Twinning Project ‘Trademarks and Industrial Designs Office’ was initiated on the 20 January 2020 and i
A new African GI manual coming soon
As stated in the continental GI strategy for Africa, the value of GIs needs to be highlighted through specifically supporting the effective progress of African geographical indications (GIs).
Integration and implementation of IP tools
Open access to the IP registers is expected to provide immediate tangible benefits to the users of the IP system in Africa, such as quality, reliability, and access to information.
Supporting the registration at national and/or EU level of African Geographical Indications (GIs) (Penja Pepper GI)
The GI Penja Pepper has been filed for registration at EU level and is currently being examined. This activity is part of the support the AfrIPI project provides in terms of technical assistance in protecting GIs at national and/or EU level.
Development of the OAPI trade mark and designs examination guidelines
In order to enhance the quality, consistency and transparency of the examination of trade marks and designs in OAPI, it is important to have common guidelines for all examiners to use as a reference in their examination work.