Development of Sub-Regional Environmental Action Plans of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)

In adopting the suggested Work Programme “a number of Council Members welcomed GEF’s commitment to support a coordinated, phased approach to the implementation of the Action Plan for the Environment Initiative of NEPAD and stressed the importance of supporting African Countries and regional organizations to implement this important initiative”. (Paragraph 47 of the Co-chairs summary of the May 2004 Council meeting). The suggested Medium sized project is a direct response to Council’s request and has the following objectives:(a)to develop five sub-regional action plans (North Africa, Economic Community for West Africa States, Community of East Africa States, Economic Community of Central Africa States, Southern Africa Development Community) which will take into account activities identified by African Governments during the development of the NEPAD Environmental Action Plan to strengthen collaboration, capacity and action at the sub-regional level to implement the NEPAD Environmental Initiative; (b)to develop a coordinated and strategic approach within the GEF and with other international and bilateral donors to assisting countries to implement the NEPAD Environmental Action Plan through a stocktaking of on-going assistance, identification of gaps in such assistance, and development of a process of consultation and exchange of information among interested donors.(c)to strengthen the capacity of the African Regional Economics Communities and the NEPAD Secretariat to prepare and implement Sub regional NEPAD environmental action plans and to mainstream environmental issues into their regular activities.