This Action Plan of the Environment Initiative is a multilateral document aiming at promoting Africa’s sustainable development without neglecting the environmental sustainability agenda. The Plan is (i) integrated, in the sense that it takes full consideration of economic growth, income distribution, poverty eradication, social equity, and better governance and (ii) adopts a long-term approach, consistent with NEPAD’s emphasis on measures that will ensure that the continent is able to confront both its short-term economic growth challenges and the long-term environmental, poverty reduction and social development imperatives. The overall objective of the Action Plan is to (i) complement the African processes to improve environmental conditions in Africa to contribute to the achievement of economic growth and poverty eradication; (ii) build Africa’s capacity to implement regional and international environmental agreements; and (iii) effectively address African environmental challenges within the overall context of the implementation of NEPAD. Thus, environmental impact assessments must be carried out for all infrastructure projects. The interventions proposed in the Action Plan are divided according to the following Program Areas (i) combating land degradation, drought, and desertification; (ii) conserving wetlands; (iii) prevention, control, and management of invasive alien species; (iv) conservation and sustainable use of marine, coastal, and freshwater resources; (v) combating climate change; (vi) transboundary conservation or management of natural resources. Agricultural development strategies tend to be directed towards enhancing productivity by promoting (i) closer interaction between researchers and farmers; (ii) the participation of women in decision-making processes concerning agriculture; (iii) adaptable and sound technologies to support sustainable agricultural farming systems; (iv) early warning systems; (v) relevant incentive measures, including access to affordable funding and credit; (vi) access to markets for agricultural products from affected countries. In the field of food security, the Plan intends to support the development and implementation of national policies, programs, researches, and development plans of African countries to regenerate their agricultural sector and sustainably develop their fisheries, and increase investment in infrastructure, technology and extension services. To protect the environment, the Action Plans aims to (i) promote the sustainable use of Africa’s natural resources and strengthen public and political support to sub regional and regional environmental initiatives; (ii) enhance the human and institutional capacities of African countries to effectively address the environmental challenges facing the continent; (iii) build a network of regional centers of excellence in environmental science and management. The main interventions will be directed to (i) the sustainable land use (agroforestry and soil conservation); (ii) integrated management of water resources; (iii) development of new and renewable energy sources; (iv) rational use of rangelands; (v) integrated natural resources management, reforestation and ecological monitoring, natural resources mapping, remote sensing and early warning systems; (vi) wise use of wetlands and wetland restoration and rehabilitation on the basis of the results of the wetland inventories; (vii) awareness and information to enable the effective management of invasive alien species; (viii) conservation and management of natural resources and biodiversity including freshwater, forests, and protected areas; (ix) integration of climate change considerations into social, economic and environmental policies and programs. For an inclusive economic and social growth, the interventions are (i) integration of environmental issues into poverty reduction strategies; (ii) effective participation of major African groups and their contribution to informing intergovernmental decision-making; (iii) decentralization together with strengthening rural community systems; (iv) rural electrification; (v) building capacity to maintain and manage systems to deliver water and sanitation services in both rural and urban areas. As for Governance, it is necessary to improve the institutional framework for regional environmental governance as well as establish a solid partnership between African countries themselves and with their bilateral and multilateral partners, including multilateral financial institutions such as GEF, in accordance with the spirit and the letter of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.
2003-10-01