Developed and implemented the East African Community Covid 19 Response Programme in the context of WASH: In collaboration with Wateraid International, the EAC Secretariat constructed permanent handwashing Facilities at five (5) border posts and 32 HWFs at the borders and PoEs in collaboration with IOM with Germany government financial support
EAC Environment week to showcase the achievements of EAC and Partner States in addressing environmental challenges and biodiversity was initiated. The first EAC Environment week was organized in June 2021 in Dodoma, Tanzania
The EAC forestry management has been strengthened through regional framework on forests resources management
The EAC Climate Finance Access and Mobilization Strategy was adopted by 42nd Council to facilitate mobilization of at least 20% of USD 212.181 billion by 2030
The EAC participation in Multilateral Environmental Agreements including UN climate change Conferences
The Regional Steering Committee to guide the operationalization of the Regional Platform on land has been established
Progress was made at 90% on the accreditation process of EAC Regional Implementing Entity under the United Nations Frameworks Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Financing Mechanisms (Adaptation Fund)
The sector has enhanced collaboration with partners including USAID/KEA, European Union, IUCN, WaterAid International, UNEP, Adaptation Fund, UNFCCC Secretariat, WWF, NDC Partnership Secretariat, GIZ, IOM, GGGI and African Land Policy Centre in addressing the challenges of environment and natural resources in the Community
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA-EAC-SADC) Region (2010-2014)
The Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Eastern and Southern Africa was a five-year initiative of COMESA, EAC and SADC with the purpose of enabling COMESA-EAC-SADC Member States to increase investments in climate resilient and carbon efficient agriculture and its linkages to forestry, land use and energy practices by 2016.
The overall objective of the Programme was to address the impacts of Climate Change in the COMESA-EAC-SADC region through successful adaptation and mitigation actions, which also build economic and social resilience for present and future generations.
The programme was financed through a multi-donor arrangement involving the following development partners: The Government of Norway, the European Union and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development through COMESA.
The initiative that started in 2010 aimed to inject Africa’s Unified Position on Climate Change into the post-2012 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change global agreement so as to unlock resources for promoting strategic interventions that sustain productivity and livelihood improvements for millions of climate-vulnerable people in the region.
The programme stemmed from the recognition of the seriousness of the challenge posed by Climate Change, which was reiterated by the African Heads of State and Government at the African Union Summit in January 2007. The African Heads of State and Government agreed that the countries in Africa should mainstream Climate Change adaptation and mitigation into their developmental plans. Further, the African Heads of State and Government Summit held in 2009, in Sirte, Libya endorsed the African common position on Climate Change, which advocates for inclusion of Agriculture and Forestry in the Climate Change regime.
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Actions in the EAC region (2019-2024)
Supported by Intra-ACP GCCA+, the overall objective of the project is to increase resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals in the EAC region. An initiative of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States, the Intra-ACP Global Climate Change Alliance+ (GCCA+) Programme supports ACP countries’ efforts to address climate change. The EAC 4-year project has 3 key targets:
To enhance the capacity of the EAC region on climate change;
To strengthen the implementation of climate change actions and the Paris Agreement; and
To strengthen regional capacity to access climate change funding
At regional level, the project is expected to strengthen the capacity of the regional Climate Change Technical Working Group (CCTWG) to implement identified climate change actions as well as review and update the EAC Climate Change Policy and the EAC Climate Change Strategy. In addition, the project will support the development and enactment of the EAC Climate Change Bill and identify relevant national best practices, success stories and lessons on management of climate change and share them among partner states.
At national level, the project will support Partner States in reviewing and updating their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in line with the Paris Agreement. In strengthening regional capacity to access climate change funding, the project aims to develop 3 community-based climate change adaptation projects and submit them to the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund. The project will also support the development and implementation of a Regional Climate Change Communication and Advocacy Plan.
WASH and Health Promotion Sensitization and Awareness Programme on COVID-19 and other Communicable Diseases in EAC Region
Access to safe, clean water remains a challenge to a large number of people and more disproportionately to vulnerable groups. Inadequate access to safe and clean water supply and sanitation services increases the risk of outbreaks of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Infectious diseases tend to spread rapidly and affect large numbers of people within a short time, disrupting daily livelihood activities, affecting environment and social dynamics in the communities.
Conservation and Management of Natural Capital in East African Community Program under USAID/Kenya & East Africa Support (2019-2022)
The improving collaborative Conservation and Management of Transboundary Natural Resources in the East African Community program was implemented since June 2019. The program has three specific purposes:
Enhance collaborative management and conservation of transboundary natural resources:
The Environemnt and Natural Resources Management sector is strengthening the resilience and sustainable management of biologically significant trans-boundary freshwater ecosystems; supporting adaptive capacities and resilience to the negative impacts of Climate Change; developing and harmonising standards, framework and regulation on pollution control and waste management; and, strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction management and policy.
In an effort to ensure sustainable utilization of natural resources, environmental management, and conservation with enhanced value addition, the sector is implementing various programmes and projects.
EAC flagship programmes in the environment and natural resources management sector
Genetic engineering (GE) is a relatively new technology of which there is little public awareness on the risks and benefits in East African region.
As a result, the recent introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in food, feed and processing in agriculture has not been received well by certain segments of society. The GMO debate thus invokes mixed feelings from environment, food safety, human and animal health, policy makers and the general public.
The EAC Partner States have ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, a global provision on biosafety that supports safe handling, transfer, and use of genetically modified organisms. Taking into account that GMOs might already be within the EAC national systems, basic frameworks for biosafety, including National Biosafety Committees (NBC) have been established that act as technical regulatory bodies for biosafety. The Protocol is a multilateral environmental agreement that is intended to contribute to the safe transfer, handling, and use of genetically modified organisms that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and with specific focus on transboundary movements.
Areas of focus include control of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and harmonization of policy frameworks. The priority areas include:
Establish a working group on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) under the committee on Environment and Natural resources for the purpose of addressing GMO matters.
Harmonize the existing policy frameworks on GMOs including supporting development of a common policy, legal, administrative and institutional framework to deal with bio-safety and biotechnology.
The EAC Partner States recognize that development activities may have negative impacts on the environment leading to the degradation of the environment and depletion of natural resources and that a clean and healthy environment is a prerequisite for sustainable development (Article 111 of the EAC Treaty).
Partner States have therefore agreed to cooperate in the Prevention of Illegal Trade in and Movement of Toxic Chemicals, Substances and Hazardous Wastes (Art. 113) and have agreed to harmonise their legal and regulatory framework for the management, movement, utilization and disposal of toxic substances. The EAC Partner States undertake to ensure sound environmental and natural resources management principles for the proper functioning of the Common Market, through prevention of activities that are detrimental to the environment (Article 40 of the Common Market Protocol).
The Blue Economy describes the sustainable use and conservation of aquatic resources in both marine and freshwater environments. This includes oceans and seas, coastlines and banks, lakes, rivers and groundwater.
It comprises activities that exploit aquatic resources (fisheries, mining, petroleum, biotechnologies, etc.) or use aquatic environments (maritime transport, coastal tourism, etc.), once they are done in an integrated, fair and circular manner. These activities help to improve the health of aquatic ecosystems by establishing protective and restorative measures.
Both of the great lakes, Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika, and ultimately, the White Nile depend on the regional catchments referred to as Water Towers of the region. The Water Towers of eastern Africa are a collection of mountain ecosystems and associated river basins. These areas have a major influence on regional hydrology and global climatic cycles.
The majority of the main water towers in the region are under very serious threat and several are severely degraded; the threats are anthropogenic in nature. Many of the forests have been cleared extensively mainly for agricultural purposes and human settlements and face additional pressure from surrounding human settlements.
