About the African Wildlife Forensics Network
Our history
The African Wildlife Forensics Network (AWFN) was launched in Gaborone, Botswana in May 2016 as part of an initiative led by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network (TRACE), supported by the United Kingdom Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Challenge Fund.
Since then it has expanded to include participants from more than fifteen African nations and a range of international technical experts and donors, with core support currently provided by the USAID VukaNow Programme.
The AWFN is composed of practitioners working in the fields of crime scene investigation and forensic laboratory analysis. In the context of the AWFN, the term wildlife forensics refers generically to the collection, analysis and presentation of evidence relevant to wildlife crime investigation.
Our vision
Wildlife law enforcement agencies across Africa have access to appropriate forensic science and crime scene services to support criminal investigations.
Our mission
To develop and facilitate an active network of wildlife forensics stakeholders, and support access to forensic science and crime scene services across the African continent.
Objectives of the AWFN
1
To provide and maintain networking opportunities for African wildlife forensics stakeholders within and beyond Africa.
2
To facilitate interactions between law enforcement agencies and wildlife forensic laboratory practitioners within and among countries.
3
To promote and facilitate the implementation of wildlife forensic casework.
4
To provide and coordinate opportunities for wildlife forensic laboratory and crime scene training in Africa. .
5
To create an awareness of, and support for, new technologies in wildlife forensic laboratories and law enforcement agencies.
6
To build shared resources such as reference databases, reference samples, crime scene tools and training manuals and harmonise wildlife forensic methodologies, good practice, policies and procedures.
Supporters
The AWFN is supported by the following organisations:
