Regional Learning and Investor Forum on Environment and Natural Resources Management Opens in Arusha
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 1st March , 2018:
A Regional Learning Event and Investor Forum on Environment and Natural Resources Management under the theme Building resilience in East Africa: Bridging the Gaps in Policy and Practice is underway at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The two-day forum being organized by the East African Community Secretariat in collaboration with the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) with the financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provides an interactive space to promote networking, stimulate actions, and facilitate experiential learning that supports resilience, linking local level initiatives with those at regional and national levels.
The overall objective of the event is to showcase EAC priority programs in Environment and Natural Resources on climate change; biodiversity conservation; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); and transboundary water resources management.
Reading the speech of the EAC Secretary General, Amb Liberat Mfumukeko during the official opening session, the Director of Productive Sector, at the EAC Secretariat, Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana said the Community is facing numerous environmental challenges that undermine regional efforts in improving the quality of life of citizens and attaining sustainable development objectives.Some of those challenges are but not limited to: pollution, desertification, deterioration of aquatic and fresh water ecosystems, disasters, climate change and serious biodiversity losses.
Mr. Havugimana disclosed that at the regional level, the EAC Secretariat and Lake LVBC have been implementing a good number of projects and programmes with a view to conserving and protecting the region’s environment and natural capital against all forms of pollution and degradation arising from sustainable natural events (extreme weather conditions for example: EL NINO and LA NINA) as well as human induced disasters and developmental activities.
He said for the region to build on the momentum of work that has been carried out particularly in the last five years under the USAID/KEA funded PREPARED Program, there is a need for a critical assessment of the past performances, draw lessons and identify offered opportunities to stimulate future actions that can allow achievement of quick wins and facilitate pragmatic learning that supports resilience, linking local level initiatives with those at regional and national levels.
At the same occasion, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission in charge of Programmes and Projects, Mr Telly Eugene Muramila said the region is facing a number of environmental challenges similar to the other blocs and to mention one challenge – is the increasing demand for water, driven by population pressure, rapid industrialization, and agricultural intensification.
Mr, Muramila, who was speaking on behalf of Dr. Ali Said Matano, the Executive Secretary of LVBC, informed the participants at the forum that PREPARED Program with other Partners in the region since 2012 has been addressing so many environmental challenges on climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation and improved water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), which are high priorities for both the US Government and the EAC.
He further explained that over the past five years, LVBC and PREPARED have worked to enhance the resiliency of institutions in East Africa to provide water, supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. “To achieve this goal, the PREPARED Program focused on improving the quality of service delivery among water utilities and reducing non-revenue water (NRW) rates”, added Mr Muramila.
On his part, Mr. Brad Arsenault, Deputy Chief, USAID Kenya and East Africa pledged the commitment of the United States Government to continue supporting East African-led strategic priorities for biodiversity conservation, water resource management, and combatting wildlife trafficking.
He however, called for the Planning for Resilience in East Africa through Policy, Adaptation, Research and Economic Development, better known as PREPARED.
The two-day forum is characterized by plenary and keynote sessions, thematic discussions, and practitioner exhibitions.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified