STRENGTHENING

the

AFRICA ENVIRONMENT

INFORMATION NETWORK An AMCEN initiative

A framework to support development planning processes and increase access to environmental information in Africa

Frank TuryatungaUNEP/DEWA Africa Coordinator

Presentation outline

Roles and responsibilities

Questions for discussion

The Africa Environment Information Network

Key objectives of strengthening the network

Driving needs and justification for the process

Expected Outputs

Implementation framework

Africa Environment Information Network

Launched in 2003 and mandated by AMCEN to support the Africa Environment Outlook process

An integrated information network to support sustainable development in Africa

Actively piloted in 13 African countries (2004-2006)

During the intervening period countries were left to undertake activities deemed important to them

Aim to revive, strengthen and support the network

Key objectives

Generate products and provide services to ease availability of information critical for achieving sustainable development at national level.

Strengthen capacity for managing and using environmental and relevant socio-economic information at the national and regional levels

Facilitate access to environmental data and information to improve knowledge and public participation in decision-making;

Assist in implementation of the objectives of the environmental components of national development programmes and AMCEN decisions;

Needs & justification

Need to strengthen institutional capacities

Lack of harmonised efforts for environmental assessment & reporting

Limited knowledge on state of the environment due to lack of information.

Need to integrate environment information into decision making and sustainable development processes

Needs cont.

Need to establish effective linkages to ongoing and emerging initiatives

Need to establish a forum for information exchange on good practices

Need for a platform for S-S, N-S, and S-N (triangular) cooperation

Expected Outputs

Networking framework and infrastructure

Training and skills development

Capacity building

Information products and services, e.g.: SoE, AEO and GEO Policy briefs/National profiles Thematic extracts/Reports with underlying themes National Environment Summaries Reports on Environment and National Visions/Dev. Plans Data sets, indicators and databases, Data Reports/Compendia Executive seminars/Presentation materials Reporting to international conventions and processes (including

MEAs)

Implementation

Five programme components Country-specific implementation strategies Development of common approaches (standards, etc.) Data and indicator development Capacity building for assessments and reporting Strengthening network and communication infrastructure

• 3-phase implementation strategy Phase 1: Analytical tool and network development Phase 2: Operational – Institutional Capacity Building Phase 3: Operational – Meeting national and regional priorities

Framework and Organisation

Partnership with on-going initiatives Participatory and collaborative partnership

National-level implementation Ownership of process

Articulation and implementation of national priority needs

National focal points (institutions and professionals)

Direct communication to countries and not through CCs

Coordination and Management Regional steering committee

Overall Facilitation and donor coordination by UNEP

Topic Centres to support thematic areas

Africa EIN – building on on-going work

Examples of on-going and proposed initiatives

SoEs

AEO

GEO

UNEP-Live

AEO-Live

NEPAD – Environmental

Component

AMCEN Flagship Programmes

Global Network of Networks (GNON)

Africa EIN - Network Structure

Indian OceanRegion

Southern Africa

Northern Africa

Western Africa

Africa EIN Secretariat

Africa EIN Steering Committee

RECNEIN

Network Partners

Network Partners

Network Partners

Network Partners

Network Partners

Network Partners

African Topic Centres

NEINNEIN

NEIN

NEIN

NEIN

Central Africa

Eastern Africa

THEMATIC ASSESSMENTS

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ANALYSES

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION

TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM

COMMON APPROACHES AND SERVICES•STANDARDS AND PROTOCOLS•DATA AND INDICATORS (STATISTICS, REPORTS, MAPS, IMAGES)•METADATA

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENTS

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

DATA AND INFORMATIONEXCHANGE PLATFORM

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS, EARLY WARNING AND REPORTING PLATFORM

SP

AT

IAL

DA

TA

SO

CIO

-EC

ON

OM

IC

DA

TA

EN

VIR

ON

ME

NTA

L

DA

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AFRICAN TOPIC CENTRES• THEMATIC SUPPORT• EMERGING ISSUES• CAPACITY BUILDING

NATIONAL DATA CENTRES

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICIES AND

INITIATIVES

TECHNICAL SERVICES

Indian OceanRegion

Southern Africa

Eastern Africa

Northern Africa

Western Africa

Central Africa

Africa EIN Steering Committee

Community of Stakeholders

Technical CommitteeSpecialised Technical

Services Working Groups

Sec

tor

Da

tab

ases

Sec

tor

Da

tab

ases

Sec

tor

Da

tab

ases

Sec

tor

Da

tab

ases

Sec

tor

Da

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ases

Sec

tor

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ases

National Networks

National Steering Committee

National Focal Points

Relationships

Services

Coordination mechanism

Communication

National Networks

SECRETARIATAFRICAN TOPIC CENTRES

Functions of the secretariat

Day-to-day management of Africa EIN

Regular communication with NFPs, ATCs and Steering/Scientific Committees

Support update and maintenance of network webpage and other platforms

Regular evaluation of participating countries in meeting reporting obligations

Convene and facilitate regular meetings of Steering & Scientific Committees and NFPs

Functions of the secretariat

Facilitate and support partnerships

Identify and communicate capacity building/training opportunities

Support N-S, S-S, S-N cooperation

Resource mobilisation (incl. for NEINs)

Facilitate information sharing

Collect and organise response to NEIN needs

Monitor and evaluate progress of network

Role of African Topic Centres

Act as a scientific reference centre for specific thematic areas

Support activities and products of Africa EIN related to their area of expertise

Support countries in the management of environmental information

Convene thematic meetings (as appropriate)

Training and capacity building

Tasks for African Topic Centres

Serve on the Africa EIN Scientific Committee

Support AEO and other products (including peer review); joint programming

Support NFPs in meeting reporting obligations

Link Africa EIN to their own networks

Share their platforms for outreach and dissemination

Responsibilities of NFPs

Coordinate establishment, development and functioning of national EIN (NEIN)

• Identify institutions to participate in the national NEIN

• Establish formal agreements with selected institutions, e.g. on data exchange, roles, etc.

• Coordinate meetings and training activities of NEIN

Responsibilities of NFPs…

Coordinate activities of NEIN related to

Africa EIN goals, objectives, products and

outputs

• Overall coordination responsibility for

information products under Africa EIN

• Conduct quality checks of inputs from

various institutions of NEIN

• Share information on new products

• Encourage use of Africa EIN tools

Responsibilities of NFPs….

Support national EIN

• Assess and raise needs and concerns of

NEIN (to Africa EIN structure)

• Facilitate access to information

• Disseminate Africa EIN information

products to NEIN

• Represent NEIN in various meetings and

forums

Role of CCs and Partners

Convening technical meetings at sub-

regional level

Provide platform for preparation of sub-

regional products

Training and capacity building

Dissemination of lessons and best

practices

S-S, N-S, and S-N Cooperation

Resource mobilisation

Roles of Reg. Econ. Communities

Political support

Articulation of sub-regional (and regional)

needs

Support to technical processes

Science to policy management

Convening meetings

Resource mobilisation

Awareness raising

Discussion questions

Does this new structure address concerns

that countries have had regarding the

Africa EIN?

What else needs to be done to strengthen

the network?

What is the additional contribution that can

be brought to the network by national

partners?

What will be the indicators of success of

the network?

Thank you