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41
 Africa environment information
network (2012 and 2013)
The Africa Environment Information Network (Afri-
caEIN) has been revived in order to tap into other
information networks, including the Global Network
of Networks and UNEPLive.79 The AfricaEIN is a net-
work of information and data centres, institutions and
experts across Africa, which aims to avail informa-
tion and data for environmental assessments such as
the Africa Environment Outlook. A range of activi-
ties has been proposed including community involve-
ment to solicit citizen observations as input for the
indicators-based country environment profiles, which
are being piloted in four countries - Zambia, Ghana,
Tanzania and Cameroon.80 The pilot profiles are be-
ing used as templates for regular, country-led, easy-
to-update environmental reporting. A core set of indi-
cators for environmental reporting in Africa was also
compiled although these are yet to be agreed upon by
countries. The indicators should ensure that environ-
mental profiles are comparable. AfricaEIN members had
also planned a publication on Land and Oceans Con-
nections but this did not materialize, due to insufficient
funding.
The AfricaEIN project will continue into 2014, and a fund-
ing proposal has been submitted to the GEF for a medi-
um-sized project. Plans for the future AfricaEIN are set
out in a booklet entitled Strengthening the Africa Environ-
ment Information Network: A Framework to Increase Access
79. As part of the revival process, the AfricaEIN drew lessons from the
European Information Network and undertook a detailed survey
with UNEP to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the earlier
phase of the Africa network.
80. See
to Environmental Information and to Support Africa’s Devel-
opment Planning Processes.81
 Raise awareness on Africa’s
environmental hotspots, promote
resource efficiency and empower
governments and local communities
with decision-making tools (only 2012)
In 2012 a quick study was undertaken on the efficient use
of Africa’s resources, focusing on energy, land and water.
The study on land focused on changing land use patterns,
especially the transformation of smallholder farming with
large-scale commercial farming practices. It looked espe-
cially at palm farming in Cameroon and cereals produc-
tion in Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda. Based on the study
findings, a narrowly focused project on large-scale land ac-
quisitions was conceived, and a detailed project proposal
was developed and presented to various potential funders
during the Rio+20 conference. The large-scale land acqui-
sition project is discussed in 5 below.
The study on energy focused on the potential for hydro-
power generation in Africa. While the region has significant
potential for hydropower, much of this has not yet been
tapped. However, given the current land use and owner-
ship arrangements, any investments in hydropower infra-
structure will have significant impacts on local livelihoods.
This observation led to discussions with WWF-Norway and
WWF-Uganda leading to the Uganda hydropower mapping
project discussed in 6 below, including deliverables such
as interactive Geo-IQ mapping and training of local users.
81.
Reduced Water body of Lake Mweru Wantipa
20 June 1984 – 27 June 1989 01 July 2011 – 23 July 2011