The importance of policy and regulatory reform in the environmental

AU-NEPAD Environment Action Plan (EAP)
The Importance of Policy and Regulatory Reform in the Environmental Sector in Africa
by Vincent Oparah (vincento@nepad.org)
NEPAD Agency
(NEPAD- Flagship Programmes)
Response to the NEPAD Focus Areas
Climate Change
Climate Change
and Natural
Resources Mgt
Sustainable Land Management
Sustainable Environment Management
Natural Resource Governance Programme
An Overview of NPCA Operations
2
Background to Environment Action Plan
Environment is one of 8 components of
NEPAD
Designed to tackle Africa’s environmental
challenges –First Africa Framework on
Environment
Adopted in 2003 by 2nd AU Summit following
participatory and consultative process
•
Process coordinated by the NEPAD (Secretariat) Agency,
AUC in collaboration with UNEP, AMCEN, GEF
Goals and Objectives
Goal: Coherent, strategic and long-term programme of action in support Africa’s
sustainable development through sub-regional and regional environmental initiatives
Key Objectives of the EAP
Contribute to NEPAD
implementation
through the
environment initiative
Promote sustainable
use of Africa’s natural
resources and
strengthen public and
political support to
environmental
initiatives
Promote
environmental issues
into poverty
reduction
strategies
Cross-Cutting Programmatic Actions
CAADP Pillar 1
NRG
TerrAfrica
EAP
Rural Futures
GCCASP
Agriculture CC A-M FW
Relevance of Policy (EAP)
• Framework for cooperation amongst member
states/development partners
• Promote sustainable use of Africa’s natural resources
and strengthen public and political support to
environmental initiatives
• Identification of key priority regional projects
• Framework for consultation and dialogue among civil
society organisations
• Enhance Africa’s negotiation in international policy
process on environment e.g. climate change
Relevance of Policy (EAP)
• Enhanced
regional
cooperation
through
harmonization of policies eg. Congo Basin
Convergence Plan
• Resource Mobilisation eg. Congo Basin Fund managed
by AFDB; Great Green Wall Programme; TerrAfrica
Pogramme; etc
• Provision of platform to agree on the basic issues and
principles
• Contribution to AMCEN work programme
The Review Exercise (Nine Years after inception)
Findings/
Challenges
• The design of the EAP lacked and
M&E framework – difficult to
assess
• Lack Interlinkages with related
thematic issues
• The EAP as a framework is silent
on the issue of gender Balance
• Coordination of implementation
Way Forward
• High level political support & advocacy
• Robust coordination of EAP on the continent is
required through RECs and Member States
• Regular reporting by member states
• Updates on EAP to include emerging and persistent
issues from outcomes of Rio+20
• Communication / advocacy and KM
• Resource Mobilisation including domestic
Recommendations (14th AMCEN Decision)
• Establishment of African Environment Partnership Platform
(AEPP) to coordinate, mobilise resources in support of EAP
implementation
• Development of Regional Flagship programmes on:
a. Green Economy
b. Land degradation, Desertification, Biodiversity and
Ecosystems-based Adaptation
c. Sustainable Consumption and Production
d. Africa Sustainable Energy Development
Programme
e. Integrated Environmental Assessment for
Sustainable Development Planning
Thank you
for your Attention