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3A Keeping the environment in Africa under review
The Africa Environmental Information Network (AfricaEIN)13
supports African countries as they keep their state of
the environment under review. One application is the
development of country environment profiles. In 2014 10
countries published their profiles online: Cameroon, Ghana,
Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda,
Zambia and Zimbabwe. To enable countries to actively
upload their contributions, they were assisted by a User
Guide prepared by GRID-Arendal on how to input data into
country environmental profiles. In order to better profile
the AfricaEIN, a stand-alone website is being developed. In
addition, a simpleshow video explaining the network was
also produced in English and French.14
3 Support to ODA Countries in Environmental Management
In an attempt to secure long-term funding for the project, a
medium-sized proposal was jointly developed with UNEP
and submitted to GEF. There is been no decision on the
proposal other than an acknowledgement of receipt.
3B ResourceUseEfficiency inAfrica“Water grabbing”
This project profiles the extent of large-scale land investments
in Africa, as well as highlighting their impact on livelihoods
and on water ecosystems. A summary of the project’s initial
findings was published and distributed at the World Water
Week in late August/early September 2014, and the findings
were also presented in two plenary sessions. The full report
was finalised in December and publication is expected in
early 2015. The project was well received by the African
Ministerial Conference on Water, and funding options for a
future phase are now being explored.
3+ Support to ODA countries in environmental
management funded from other (non-MFA) sources
A joint study with UNEP, Food Wasted, Food Lost, was
undertaken to establish the contribution of ecosystems
restoration in meeting the food needs of the world’s
growing population. The study was premised on
the understanding that food producing ecosystems,
including agro-ecosystems, forests and water ecosystems
are reaching their full potential, and are therefore not
the only solution to the world’s increasing food needs.
The study argues that ecosystem degradation is a major
cause of loss in potential food production, while human
practices and preferences are blamed not only for
food loss but also food waste. It calls for investment in
better management of food producing ecosystems. The
publication is part of the Think.Eat.Save campaign by UN
agencies in response to the 2014 Zero Hunger Challenge
by the UN Secretary General.
Zambia: Atlas of Our Changing Environment
The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA)
) was given an award in October
2014 for their work on the Zambia Atlas (published in
2013) ).
The Zambia Atlas was a joint effort of GRID-Arendal, ZEMA
and UNEP. The research benefited from the FK Norway
Exchange ) whereby Joel
Simwinga of ZEMA was seconded to GRID-Arendal and
Bernardas Padegimas, a GRID-Arendal staff member, was
seconded to ZEMA. Additional support was received from
GRID-Sioux Falls. ZEMA received the Best Public Sector
Campaign Award, in recognition of the collaborative
approach used in producing the Atlas and its influence
on the public, from Zambia Public Relations Association
(ZAPRA), a professional association for communication
and public relations specialists.
org/news/2014-zapra-public-relations-awards)
SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME EM
FAO, UNEP, GRID-Arendal and IWMI. 2014. Project: Analysis of impacts
of large-scale investments in agriculture on water resources, ecosystems and
livelihoods; and development of policy options for decision makers. Summary of
project findings.
Formo, R.K., H. Jørstad, C. Nellemann, C. Mafuta, R. Munang, J. Andrews, and
J.N.Hval. 2014. FoodWasted, Food Lost – Food security by restoring ecosystems and
reducing food loss. United Nations Environment Programme and GRID-Arendal,
Nairobi and Arendal.
2014 PUBLICATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN ODA COUNTRIES
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