Environment and Sustainable Development

The overall objective of the Environment and Sustainable Development programme is to ensure the equitable and sustainable use of the environment and land based resources for the benefit of the present and future generations. The economies of SADC Member States are mainly agro based, however the region continues to experience high levels of environmental degradation manifested, among other things, by deforestation, loss of biodiversity, pollution, soil erosion, decreasing quality and quantity of water, poor sanitation services and poor urban conditions.

The SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) realizes the importance of sustainable use and management of the environment in fighting against poverty and food insecurity and it identifies Environment and sustainable development as one of the key intervention areas. Among the focus areas for Environment and Sustainable Development are the following:

· Creating the requisite harmonized policy environment, as well as legal and regulatory frameworks to promote regional cooperation on all issues relating to environment and natural resources management including trans-boundary ecosystems;

· Promoting environmental mainstreaming in order to ensure the responsiveness of all SADC policies, strategies and programmes for sustainable development;

· Regular assessment, monitoring and reporting on environmental conditions and trends in the SADC region;

· Capacity building, information sharing and awareness creation on problems and perspectives in environmental management; and,

· Ensuring coordinated regional positions in the negotiations and implementation of MEAs; and other agreements.

Consultancy (October 2009): Development Of A SADC Regional Environment Mainstreaming Instrument - Terms of Reference

Programmes

SADC Regional Environmental Education Programme
SADC Regional Land Reform Technical Support Facility
Sub regional Environment Action Plan on NEPAD
Communicating Environment
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Contact for Environment and Sustainable Development @ FANR: Alex Banda, abanda@sadc.int