LINKAGES AFRICA
Reporting on Environment and Sustainable Development in Africa
Issue # 2: 19 April, 2007
Editor: Richard Sherman
Executive Editor: Kimo Goree
Published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
Distributed exclusively to the AFRICASD-L list by IISD Reporting Services
For more information on the African Regional Coverage Project visit
http://www.iisd.ca/africa
Editor's note: Welcome to the second issue of Linkages Africa. We hope to provide this service on at
least a fortnightly basis. If you should come across a news article or have a submission for the next
issue, please send it directly to richards@iisd.org. Linkages Africa is an exclusive publication of IISD
for the AFRICASD-L list and should not be reposted or republished to other lists/websites without
the permission of IISD (you can write to Kimo for permission.) If you have been forwarded this issue
and would like to subscribe to AFRICASD-L, please visit http://www.iisd.ca/email/africasd-L.htm
IISD RS LAUNCHES AFRICAN WATER PORTAL
In the lead up to the sixth Ordinary Session of the African Ministers’ Council on Water, which takes place
from 27-31 May 2007 in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, IISD Reporting Services African Regional
Coverage Project has launched a consolidated online water portal dealing with intergovernmental water
processes and issues in Africa. For more information, please visit our AMCOW Water Portal
KEY EVENTS
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK STRATEGY SEEKS TO BOOST AFRICAN SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
16 April 2007: The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has announced a development strategy for
higher education, science and technology. AfDB’s 53 member countries adopted the strategy at a
stakeholders' consultative workshop held in Accra, Ghana from 12–13 April. The AfDB strategy aims to
establish public-private partnerships and programmes for developing technological skills, strengthen
science and technology infrastructure and bring about institutional and policy reforms. The AfDB also
hopes to encourage private sector investments by boosting research through incentives such as grants and
subsidies, and better aligning projects with the needs of the productive sector. The strategy will involve all
members of the scientific community- universities, research institutions, women in science groups and the
African Diaspora- in exploring policies and establishing appropriate institutional arrangements in member
countries.
Source: SciDev.Net ; African Development Bank
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN AFRICA
16 April 2007: IDRC’s Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) programme and the United Nations
Economic Commission for Africa are jointly hosting a regional workshop to support increased regional
sharing of climate change knowledge and adaptation strategies. The workshop aims to provide the
opportunity for CCAA partners and invited stakeholders from across the continent to explore opportunities
for enhanced regional cooperation in developing adaptation strategies. The workshop also aims to provide
a first opportunity for CCAA-supported research teams to identify shared knowledge gaps and possibilities
for sustained, collaborative learning, and to review key methodological tools. In his welcome address,
Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA said the ECA views
“adaptation to climate change as a sustainable development issue in Africa, which requires an integrated
and holistic approach. Inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches to knowledge management are
necessary to effectively address complex sustainable development challenges facing the world today.”
Welcome Address by Abdoulie Janneh, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECA
16 April
Workshop Programme
Inception Note
MARS COMMITS $4.5 MILLION TO DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS IN AFRICA; THREE
YEAR PROGRAM BUILDS ON LEGACY OF PAST COMMITMENTS
16 April 2007: Mars, Incorporated announced partnerships with leading international non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) and development agencies for a multi-year programme to provide economic,
educational and environmental assistance to communities and individuals in West Africa. Mars, which will
commit $4.5 million to the programs over the next three years, will double its existing annual contribution
to the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) and will partner with Africare, the International Foundation for
Education & Self-Help (IFESH), the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ) and the Rainforest
Alliance on projects to increase economic assistance for local cocoa farmers, improve local infrastructure
and education, and enhance agricultural sustainability. Mars, GTZ and the Rainforest Alliance, an
international conservation NGO, will focus on development of best farming processes including crop
diversification and preservation of biodiversity, providing support for improved farming skills in West
Africa.
Source: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-162007/0004565843&EDATE=
AFRICAN YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS: MOVING THE URBAN AGENDA FORWARD
15 April 2007: In the run up to the twenty-first session of the UN-HABITAT Governing Council, young
African entrepreneurs gathered in Nairobi to discuss market opportunities, best practices and business
models to strengthen youth entrepreneurship in urban areas. Addressing the meeting, UN-HABITAT
Executive Director, Anna Tibaijuka said, UN-HABIITAT was “working to keep the candle of hope burning
by investing in young people and consulting them.” She said “there is urgent need to acknowledge youth
both as partners and an important part of the solution to sustainable cities by creating policies and
programmes in the area of youth entrepreneurship.” Stephen Kisui, Tanzanian Director of Youth Affairs,
said “young people demanded tangible action and said that his ministry fully supported the proposal by
UN-HABITAT to help young African entrepreneurs by establishing a fund to address the financial
difficulties they face.” UN-HABITAT member states will discuss the proposed fund at the upcoming UNHABITAT Governing Council, taking place from 16-20 April in Nairobi. Many private sector and nongovernmental organizations support the establishment of the fund as a great step towards the youth agenda.
Address by Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of
UN-HABITAT At the Opening Ceremony of the Young Entrepreneurs Day, Nairobi, Sunday 15 April
2007.
Source: UN-HABITAT
AFRICAN MINISTERS OF HEALTH ADOPT DECLARATION AND AFRICA HEALTH
STRATEGY
13 April 2007: The third session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Health concluded on 13
April with the adoption of the Africa Health Strategy and the Johannesburg Declaration. The ministerial
conference which took place in Johannesburg from 9-13 April under the theme “Strengthening Health
Systems for Equity and Development” discussed ways and means of strengthening health systems and
concluded with the adoption of an Africa Health Strategy. The Strategy addresses a number of vital issues,
namely: a situation analysis of the health systems in Africa; strategic directions; integrated approaches and
linkages; socioeconomic and political context of health, monitoring and evaluation; and the way forward.
Among the issues discussed at the conference were: African Traditional Medicine; Human Resources for
Health; Draft Implementation Plan for the Outcome of the Abuja Special Summit on HIV and AIDS, TB
and Malaria; Draft Implementation Plan of Action on Violence Prevention, and the Pharmaceutical
Manufacturing Plan for Africa. Third session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Health
Source: African Union
UNITED NATIONS: SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF AFRICA’S DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT
HIGHLIGHTED AS POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CONCLUDES
DEBATE
12 April 2007: The Commission on Population and Development wrapped up its general debate on the
implications of changing age structures, with African delegations highlighting the socio-economic impacts
of the continent’s dramatic demographic shifts and a keynote speaker who challenged the United Nations to
boost investment in Africa’s young people. Commission on Population and Development
Source: UN
UN AND FIFA TEAM UP TO PROMOTE AFRICA DURING 2010 WORLD CUP
12 April 2007: Ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be staged in South Africa, the United Nations
tourism agency has announced that it is teaming up with FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, to help
promote development across the African continent. The heads of FIFA, the UN World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO) and the UNWTO ST-EP Foundation (Sustainable Tourism -- Eliminating Poverty)
are preparing a partnership to assist African countries within the framework of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The partnership’s aims include helping to eliminate poverty and supporting sustainable tourism in Africa
by using soccer as a driving force. Earlier this year, the African Union (AU), South Africa and Ethiopia
nominated 2007 as the International Year of African Football, an initiative that was welcomed by the UN
as part of its global drive of linking sport with development.
Source: UN
UNEP: CLIMATE PROOFING AFRICA KEY CHALLENGE FOR THE CONTINENT
10 April 2007: Africa requires urgent assistance to adapt to climate change and action by industrialized
countries to deliver deep cuts in emissions if the continent and its people are to thrive in the 21st century.
The regional report by Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
predicts that continued increase in greenhouse gases will later this century put up to 1.8 billion more people
in Africa at risk of water stress. Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) said “the report underlines the enormous costs facing Africa as a result of unchecked
climate change-costs that are wholly unacceptable for the 800 million people alive today and for the
generations to come. It is the continent with the least responsibility for the climate change and yet is
perversely the Continent with the most at risk if greenhouse gases are not cut.” “Some measure of climate
change is however a reality that the world must already live with. That reality requires assistance for Africa
to adapt. It requires investment but equally requires climate proofing of economies now and in the future.
This is as much about investment in careful and considered planning-- so that climate change becomes
central to the development process-- as it is about financial investment,” he added.
Draft IPCC Chapter on Africa
Source: UNEP
EXPERTS MEET TO DEVELOP AN AGENDA FOR ACTION FOR EFFECTIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN AFRICA
9 April 2007: African experts began a two-day workshop on April 12 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to
deliberate on specific practical and feasible processes to improve environmental impact assessment (EIA)
in Africa. Organized by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and Capacity Development and
Linkages for Environmental Assessment in Africa (CLEAA), the workshop will consider the
recommendations contained in ECA’s seminal study on the application of EIA in African countries,
Review of the Application of Environmental Assessment in Selected African Countries. It will also develop
an agenda for action around the key elements of EIA’s which African countries have found most
challenging such as EIA reviews and the implementation and follow-up of Environmental Management
Plans (EMP).
Source: UNECA
“ALGERIA APPEAL” CALLS FOR ACTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN AFRICA
4 April 2007: The international workshop entitled “Desertification: what future for Africa?” held in
Algiers, Algeria from 20-4 April concluded with the adoption of the “Algiers Appeal.” Opening the
conference Algeria’s Minister for Territorial Planning Cherif Rahmani, who is also the President of the
World Deserts Foundation, warned that by 2025 the number of people living in deserts would have doubled
to two billion people. Of them, 750 million would be in Africa, he said. Desertification would drive 65
million Africans to seek refuge in the West, he added. Representatives from 20 African countries, European
deputies and international experts in the field attended the three-day conference, which was jointly
organized by the Algerian parliament and the Pan-African parliament. The focus of the conference was the
development of an effective African strategy to combat desertification and its direct consequences on the
countries of Africa. The Conference concluded with the adoption of the “Algiers Appeal” which called on
African governments to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The appeal also called on African nations to step up
regional cooperation in water management and to set up a regional observatory specifically to tackle
desertification.
Contribution from Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, to
the Seminar on Desertification and its Implications, 2 – 4 April 2007.
Sources:
Africa: Africans Must Ratify Kyoto to Slow Desert Expansion – Conference, April 7
African leaders unite to combat desertification, 6 April,
Desert spread will lift Africa food costs – minister, 4 April
AFRICA’S ECONOMIC MINISTERS ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
4 April 2007: The Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
concluded with the adoption of resolutions calling for action to ensure that the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) are achieved in African countries. The Ministerial Statement, while having a predominate
focus on the MDGs, also addresses a range of other issues including the impact of climate change in Africa.
In the statement, Ministers noted with concern the effects of climate change across the continent, including
African countries’ vulnerability to natural disasters, the threat to future economic growth and development,
and the major challenge climate change poses to reducing poverty. Ministers requested African
governments to integrate climate adaptation and mitigation measures into their national development
strategies with support from development partners and the Regional Economic Communities. Ministers
also requested the ECA in collaboration with AUC, AfDB and other international institutions to develop
and implement the Climate Information for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) Programme and to
report on progress at each Conference of this Commission.
Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
Source: UNECA
AFRICAN CIVIL SOCIETY CONSULTATIONS ON CLIMATE CHANGE LAUNCHED
April 2007: LEAD International, in partnership with ACTS, ENDA, LEAD Africa, and SouthSouthNorth,
is organizing a series of regional civil society consultations on Climate Change in Africa. The consultations
will aim to facilitate an African civil society voice on the response to climate change in the continent, and
to raise attention to the costs of action and inaction. The regional workshops will be held in: Nairobi (16th
& 17th April) - Eastern & Central Climate Change Consultation Workshop; Dakar (21st & 22nd April) West & Central Africa Climate Change Consultation Workshop; and Pretoria (16th & 17th April) Southern Africa Climate Change Consultation Workshop. As part of the consultation, the Climate Change
in Africa website is also hosting an on-line discussions forum for wider discussion on the issues. The
outcomes of the consultations will be presented by African civil society representatives at the G8 Sherpa Civil Society Dialogue in Bonn (25th & 26th April); and at a side event during the 15th session UN
Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD-15). Visit the consultation website on
www.climatechangeafrica.org for further information on the workshops (agendas and venues) and
background reading on climate change in Africa.
ENERGY MINISTERS ADOPT MAPUTO DECLARATION ON ENERGY SECURITY IN
AFRICA
30 March 2007: The Forum of Ministers of Africa (FEMA) ended in Maputo with the adoption of the
Maputo Declaration on “Energy Security and Sustainability in Africa.” According to Mozambique’s
Energy Minister, Salvador Namburete, the Maputo Declaration, approved late on Friday at the end of the
two-day conference, allows for the harmonization of positions with energy usage in the continent. The
objective of the conference was to have a high level forum for discussion on how to ensure a reliable, cost
effective and sustainable energy supply on the African continent, and to facilitate the articulation of an
African position on energy security and sustainability for the CSD-15. The meeting deliberated key actions
and policy ideas relating to three major areas: the power sector; the oil and gas sector; and access to modern
energy. The main outcomes pf the meeting included: articulation and adoption of FEMA’s workplan for
2007-2008; declaration on Energy Security and sustainability in Africa as a basis for FEMA’s activities and
submission to the CSD15; agreement on the next FEMA chair and co-chair upon end of term of current
chair- to be Minister of Energy of Mozambique and Minister of Energy of Egypt as chair and co-chair
respectively; and agreement that Egypt will host the next FEMA conference.
Sources:
Africa: African Energy Ministers Call for Cooperation, April 11
African energy ministers meet in Mozambique to discuss resource protection
REPORTS
IISD REPORT ON THE IPCC WORKING GROUP II MEETING
6 April 2007: The eighth session of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II
took place at the Charlemagne Building, Brussels, Belgium, from 2-6 April 2007. The meeting was
attended by 366 participants, including scientists and representatives from governments, UN agencies and
non-governmental organizations. The meeting resulted in the acceptance of Working Group II’s (WGII)
contribution to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), titled “Climate Change 2007: Impacts,
adaptation and vulnerability,” including approval of the Summary for Policy Makers (SPM) and acceptance
of the underlying report and Technical Summary. The key findings of the SPM emphasize the observed and
projected impacts of climate change, including accumulating evidence that changes in many physical and
biological systems are linked to anthropogenic warming. According to the SPM, observed and projected
impacts of climate change include various changes in the natural environment, flooding, and food and
water shortages. Among other things, the SPM states that 20-30% of plant and animal species are likely to
face extinction with temperature rises exceeding 1.5-2.5°C. It indicates that hundreds of millions of people
will be exposed to increased water stress, many millions more people are projected to be exposed to
flooding every year, and access to food in many African countries is projected to be severely compromised.
The SPM also highlights other vulnerabilities and potential negative impacts of climate change on
sustainable development. It states that adaptation will be necessary to the already unavoidable warming, but
many impacts can be avoided, reduced or delayed by mitigation.
IISD RS Report
ECONOMIC REPORT ON AFRICA 2007 RELEASED
3 April 2007: African economies are forecast to grow by an average of 5.8% in 2007, according to the
latest edition of the Economic Report on Africa (ERA 2007), the annual flagship publication of the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The report, titled “Accelerating Africa's Development
through Diversification,” notes that African economies continued to sustain the growth momentum of
previous years, recording an overall real GDP growth rate of 5.7% in 2006. 28 countries recorded higher
economic growth rates in 2006 than 2005. ERA 2007 finds that the diversification process in Africa is
highly influenced by investment, per capita income, and the degree of openness of trade, macroeconomic
policy stance and the institutional framework. Based on these findings the report recommends several
strategies to promote diversification in African economies. The 2007 edition of ERA is produced in
partnership with the African Union Commission for the first time. It thus gives a truly African perspective
on the performance of African economies and the key development challenges faced by the continent. The
report seeks to generate constructive debate on effective strategies for addressing these challenges. Visit the
ERA 2007 website at http://www.uneca.org/era2007 for the full report in pdf, as well as the Media Kit
Source: UN Economic Commission for Africa
UPCOMING MEETINGS
International Conference on Climatic Changes and their Impacts on Coastal Zones and River Deltas:
Vulnerability, Mitigation And Adaptation: 21-25 April 2007. Alexandria, Egypt. The topics to be
discussed during this conference are: global climate changes; mitigation and adaptation; forecasting sea
level rise based on climate models results and other techniques; impacts of sea level rise on groundwater
and soil salinization in river deltas; impacts of global climatic change on river deltas and coastal zones from
a geo-environmental and socio-economic point of view; implications of climate changes in the wider Nile
River Delta; long-term vulnerability of natural resources to global warming and change; and soil and water
treatment. For more information, contact: Conference Secretariat; e-mail: amhkhater@yahoo.com; internet:
http://www.ccie.eg.net/index.html
Water Management Africa 2007: 23-24 April 2007, Pretoria, South Africa. This Pan African event aims
to provide solutions to the growing problem of water scarcity in Africa ranging from productive water
management and use strategies, legislature, infrastructure development and funding, to coping with climate
change and human resources development at community, governmental and industrial levels. This event is
a platform for sharing water governance strategies and knowledge, which will be useful in harnessing
productive water management and governance strategies in Africa. For more information, contact: Sekila
Molapo; tel: +27 82 863 0318; fax: +27 21 461 6616; e-mail: sekila@koetsa.com; internet:
http://www.koetsa.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=29
Early Lessons for Implementation of Adaptation to Climate Change Projects in South-eastern
Africa: 24-25 April 2007, Maputo, Mozambique. This meeting is being hosted by IISD and SSN with
IIED/CLACC. Across south-eastern Africa, various organizations are developing or are in the process of
implementing projects specifically designed to support adaptation to climate change. To date, there has
been little communication or sharing of experiences between the individuals and organizations
implementing these projects. As implementation of adaptation projects is a relatively new field,
considerable benefit could be derived from encouraging the establishment of a more strongly linked
community of practice in south-eastern Africa, an area that is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate
change. For more information, contact: Jo-Ellen Parry, IISD: tel: +1 204 958-7722; fax: +1 204 958-7710;
e-mail: jperry@iisd.ca; internet: http://www.iisd.org
Experts Meeting on the revised Model Law on Safety in Biotechnology: 25-27 April, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. For more information, contact: African Union Commission, Department of Human Resources,
Science and Technology; tel: +251-1-51-75-23; fax: +2511-551-7844 or 2511-550-5928; e-mail:
hambanim@africa-union.org or hamdya@africa-union.org; internet: http://www.africa-union.org
Fifth Session of the Committee on Development Information: 29 April 2007-4 May 2007, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. The Fifth Session of the Committee on Development Information (CODI-V) will meet under the
theme “Employment and the Knowledge Economy in Africa.” For more information, contact: Economic
Commission for Africa; Yatenayet Wogayehu; tel: +251-11-54 43 243; fax: +251-11-55 10 512; e-mail:
ywogayehu@uneca.org; internet: http://www.uneca.org/codi/
Third Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic
Pollutants (COP-3): 30 April 2007-4 May 2007. Senegal, Dakar. COP-3 will take place from 30 April
2007 to 4 May in Senegal, Dakar. For more information, contact: Stockholm Convention Secretariat; tel:
+41-22-917-8191; fax: +41-22-797-3460; e-mail: ssc@pops.int; internet: http://www.pops.int/
Linkages Africa is published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) <info@iisd.ca>,
publishers of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin © <enb@iisd.org>. The Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston
James “Kimo” Goree VI <kimo@iisd.org>. The Programme Manager of the African Regional Coverage Project is
Richard Sherman <richards@iisd.org>. Funding for the African Regional Coverage Project has been provided by South
Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism through the IISD/DEAT/UNEP ROA project for IISD
Reporting Service coverage of African regional meetings. IISD can be contacted at 161 Portage Avenue East, 6th
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Linkages Africa do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD. For information on IISD RS, including requests to provide
reporting services, contact the Director of IISD Reporting Services at <kimo@iisd.org>, +1-646-536-7556 or 212 East
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