Activities

01 - 31 Sep - Dec

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.

01 - 31 Aug - Dec

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.

01 - 31 Jul

AfrIPI project launch event

In order to increase visibility, this launch event will formally announce the start of the IPR Protection for Africa (AfrIPI) Project.

01 - 30 Jun - Nov

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.

01 - 30 Jun

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.

22 Apr

Nigeria / online

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).

01 - 31 Apr - Dec

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.

01 - 31 Apr - May

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.

01 - 30 Apr - Sep

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.

01 - 31 Apr - Jul

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.

24 Mar

Online

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.

01 - 12 Mar - Dec

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.

01 - 30 Mar - Apr

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.

01 - 31 Mar - Dec

Regional workshop on accession to the Banjul protocol

The Banjul protocol provides for a centralised trade mark registration procedure. The Banjul protocol is not limited to ARIPO member states, as it is also open to other African countries.

01 - 31 Feb - Dec

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.

01 - 31 Feb - Dec

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.

01 - 31 Jan - Dec

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

01 - 31 Jan - Dec

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.

15 Dec

Online

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).

01 - 31 Dec

Technical support to the development of the legal framework for GIs

Having adequate legal frameworks in place is essential for protecting Geographical Indications (GIs).

23 Nov

Mozambique

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.

17 - 19 Nov

Online

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.

01 - 31 Nov - Dec

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.

01 - 31 Nov - Dec

Support to the intellectual property (IP) academies network

IP academies are important for raising awareness on IP and strengthening capacities related to IP knowledge.

01 - 30 Nov - Jun

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.

01 - 30 Oct - Apr

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.

01 - 30 Oct - Nov

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.

01 - 31 Sep - Dec

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.

01 - 31 Sep - Dec

Integration and implementation of IP tools

The activity aims to create awareness on the available IP tools and prepare the countries involved to integrate relevant EUIPN tools into their software. This integration process also includes the sharing of knowledge and experiences as well as technical hands-on sessions.

01 - 30 Sep - Jun

Expert support to the OAPI online master’s training programme

Expanding knowledge on IP in Africa is essential to create a strengthened IP network.

01 - 31 Sep - Dec

AfrIPI feeding the GI Hub

Free access to information ensures transparency and promotes participation in public debate.

01 - 31 Sep - Jul

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.

01 - 31 Sep - Dec

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.<

01 - 31 Sep - Dec

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.

01 - 31 Sep - Dec

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

01 - 30 Sep

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).

01 - 31 Sep - Dec

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.

01 - 31 Sep - Dec

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.