56 / 100
56
on a number of relevant programmes including
agricultural development and food security, natural
resource management, environmental protection,
conflict prevention/management and transport
and communications. All these programmes
contain provisions pertaining to sustainable
mountain ecosystem-based development, which
can be profitably utilized to design and implement a
mountain agenda for the region. In addition, IGAD
has also carried out a number of assessments – the
IGAD Environment Outlook (2007), for example –
which provides awealth of information for addressing
climate change and mountain issues, among others.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern
Africa (COMESA) was established in 1993, as a
common market institutional arrangement and has
its Secretariat in Lusaka, Zambia. The organization
is operating within a variety of policies and
institutional frameworks. A number of programmes
with components relevant to mountain ecosystems
and climate change have been developed under the
COMESA framework. These include programmes
on climate change, agriculture and livelihoods,
which are linked to the New Partnership for Africa’s
Development (NEPAD). However, none of these
programmes directly address mountain issues.
NEPAD, adopted by the African Heads of State
and Government in 2001, is a commitment by
African leaders to eradicate poverty and promote
sustainable growth and development (Rehabeam,
2004). Under this partnership, there are a number
of institutional frameworks that guide and support
the implementation of policies and programmes
geared to realizing the common vision of the Heads
of State. It has a Secretariat in Pretoria, South
Africa, which provides overall coordination and
guidance. Under this institutional arrangement,
resources have been allocated and a number of
programmes have been implemented, some of which
address issues pertinent to sustainable mountain
ecosystems. One of the most important and relevant
programmes is the NEPAD Action Plan for the
Environment Initiative developed and implemented
under AMCEN. The Action Plan was finalized and
approved in 2003 and contains many components
relevant to the environment and development
in mountainous areas, including environmental
hazards which are common in mountains.
The SADC is an economic organization comprising
of 15 states, some of which are located in Eastern
and Central Africa. Some of these countries are
also part of the East African mountain ecosystem
region; namely, Tanzania, Malawi and DRC. The
programme offers an opportunity for developing
and implementing programmes that could have
significant relevance to East African mountain
development. The transnational issues affecting
areas like Mulanje Highlands in Malawi, and
the Virunga Mountains and the Rwenzori
Mountains, could be best addressed through such
an institutional arrangement, something that has
so far been difficult under the EAC, particularly
with regard to Malawi and DRC (COMESA/EAC/
SADC, 2011).
In summary, the EAC is strategically well positioned
to spearhead transboundary mountain ecosystem
management, while synergizing with subrelated
regional entities.
Countryside, Burundi