Development partners on Monday called on African countries to implement water and sanitation projects toward meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDGs) on Water and Sanitation by 2030.
Ms. Rhoda Tumusiime, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission
Ms. Rhoda Tumusiime, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission, made the call at the sidelines of the Africa Water Week in Dar Es Salaam.
Tumusiime urged countries in the continent to begin to invest in equitable and sustainable use of their water resources.
She said the commission was working to achieve the targets of Africa Water Vision 2025 for equitable and sustainable use and management of water resources for poverty alleviation and socio-economic development.
Tumusiime said effective management of water resources would promote development, inclusion and reduce poverty.
She stressed the need to monitor and report progress toward achieving the SDGs as a way of establishing baselines for the global indicator framework for Africa commitments.
Mr Mohammed El-Azizi, Director for Water and Sanitation, Africa Development Bank (AfDB), said the water sector in Africa was facing huge challenges with most of them emanating from human activities.
El-Azizi also stressed the need to invest in resources and time to develop new and innovative initiatives to manage scarce water resources in Africa and beyond.
“It’s time to be innovative in all fronts of the water sector in all our countries, from research to policy formulation and implementation,” he said.
El-Azizi said sustainable development was the framework for international organisations to support African countries toward scaling up access to water.
He said as the world’s population was increasing, African countries were doubling in size, saying this was a challenge for effective distribution of water resources to all.
El-Azizi called for urgent steps and actions in to treat waste water and ensure water security for the socio-economic development of the region.
He said the bank was investing €6 billion in 43 water projects in 23 countries in the region to scale up access to water.
Dr Maniza Zaman, UNICEF Country Representative in Tanzania, said the goal six of the SDGs envisages universal, sustainable, affordable and equitable access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.
Zaman said UNICEF’s engagement in Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) was based on the mandate to promote and protect the fulfillment of children’s rights.
She said the fund was focusing on “Leave No One Behind” to ensure that all children were reached with quality services, including the poor, disabled and those in remote areas.
She quoted the 2015 Annual Global Analysis by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme of WASH as saying there was widening gap between those who have access to WASH and those without.
“Access to sanitation continues to be a major challenge; the number of people in sub-Saharan Africa without access to sanitation has increased since 1990, with nearly one in four people practicing open defecation,” she said.
Zaman added that signing the SDGs meant keeping the promise, hence the need to urgently close the widening inequality gaps.
The 6th Africa Water Week (AWW-6), organised by African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), aspires to lay the building blocks for Africa to achieve the SDG 6 as well as other inter-linking SDGs connected with water resources management.
The week represents a political commitment at the highest level for creating platform to discuss and collectively seek solutions to Africa’s water and sanitation challenges.
A new analysis on the post-2020 climate action plans of selected developing countries has been published, which gives climate change practitioners insights into the status of each country’s national climate strategy and can help them make strategic decisions about future activities related to the Paris Agreement.
Climate-smart agriculture. Photo: talkvietnam.com
The Analysis of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) presents summaries of the INDCs submitted to the UNFCCC by 37 developing countries, including partner countries of the Enhancing Capacity for Low Emissions Development Strategies (EC-LEDS) programme.
Each country profile includes information from the INDC on the following themes:
Unconditional and conditional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets
Analytical basis for developing the emissions reduction targets
Mitigation actions being undertaken by the country
Adaptation strategies
Existing policy framework of the country’s INDC, and
Financial and technical assistance required
The analysis covers 14 countries in Asia, 10 in Africa, six in Europe/Eurasia (E&E) and seven in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC). The country profiles include insights on data quality and transparency; the most recently submitted GHG inventory to the UNFCCC; national GHG emissions by sector; and key documents for further consultation. In addition, the white paper presents a summary of total pledges, as well as regional and sectoral trend analyses for a deeper understanding of the broader implications of the INDCs.
The most commons sectors with mitigation actions outlined were Energy, Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) and Transport. Waste, Agriculture, Industrial Processes and Infrastructure also had specific actions identified, with prevalence varying by region.
Thirty out of 37 countries analysed identified the energy sector as a priority area for action. These activities ranged from a general sector-wide target, such as increasing renewable electricity generation to 80% by 2030 (Honduras), to specific action items, such as distributing 260,000 clean cook stoves between 2016 and 2031 (Myanmar).
The LULUCF was the second most prevalent priority area for mitigation activities, which included improving forest management, forest law management, land rehabilitation, and participation in REDD+.
Transport was the third most prevalent priority area for action. Activities identified included scaling mass transportation and cleaner vehicle fleets through increased turnover of fleets, vehicle inspections, or a transition to cleaner fuels such as electrification.
The white paper was published by the USAID Global Climate Change Office and the USAID Resources to Advance LEDS Implementation (RALI) Project. Climate change practitioners can use this white paper to support and inform country-specific climate change mitigation or adaptation activities.
The analysis complements the RALI project’s recently released CLEER Web Tools, which help practitioners quantify the GHG reduction impacts of clean energy activities.
Africa is experiencing water crisis with scientists saying there is strong evidence of decreased water flow and water quality in many countries.
Former President and the UNESCO’s Special Envoy for Water in Africa, His Excellency Mwai Kibaki addressing the 6th African Water Week conference organized by the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) in conjunction with the African Union Commission at Julius Nyerere International Conference Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Scientists, researchers and drivers of water policy have also warned that continued population and economic growth, combined with climate change, could result in serious water shortages in some parts of the continent by 2025. These challenges are coming at a time many African countries are mapping pathways towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It is against this backdrop that the African water ministers attending the 6th edition of the Africa Water Week have called for increased self-driven and innovative approach to addressing the water challenges.
According to the ministers, the flagship water event on the continent which began on Monday (18 July, 2016) at the Julius Nyerere International Conference Centre in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, provides the unique opportunity to explore pathways of addressing water challenges.
“We need new ideas and self-driven approaches to addressing the issues of water in Africa,” noted Gerson H Lwenge, Tazanian minister of water and irrigation, at the opening of the conference.
In a pre-conference statement, African water ministers under the auspices of African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), said there was a range of actions – besides investments into large inter-basin transfer schemes – that could be taken to improve the prospects for quality water supply and quality.
The President of AMCOW and Senegalese hydraulic and sanitation minister, Amadou Mansour Faye; the Executive Secretary, Bai Mass Taal; and other high-level speakers at the opening of the conference, emphasised the need to better address issues related to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG-6) and other inter-related goals with emphasis on new approaches adapted to the African reality.
“The SDGs is all about using local initiatives by both the private sector and the government working together,” Mr Taal noted.
“Water resources is vital in realising these goals,” says H.E Mwai Kibaki former President of Kenya and UNESCO Special Envoy on Water in Africa, at the conference plenary.
With the theme “Achieving the SDGs on Water Security and Sanitation,” the 6th Africa Water Week (AWW-6) aspires to lay the building blocks for Africa to achieve the SDG-6 as well as other inter-linking SDGs connected with water resources management and improved sanitation service delivery. It also represents the quest in the continent to place emphasis on matching commitments and plans with concrete actions with impact on the ground.
It highlights Africa’s undaunted focus on achieving the Agenda 2063, the continent’s global strategy to optimise use of Africa’s resources for the overall benefit of all. The four sub-themes of the AWW-6 revolve round achieving universal and equitable access to water and sanitation for all, and ensuring sustainable water resources management and climate resilience. Others are strengthening productive waste water management and improved water quality improving policy, financing and monitoring.
Part of the desired outcome for the conference is the adoption of a roadmap for developing a comprehensive action plan for Africa aimed at translating high-level commitments including N’gor Declaration on Water Security and Sanitation into implementation at country, sub-regional and continental levels.
The biennial water conference brings over 1,000 participants from governments, regional institutions, international partners, the private sector, the scientific community, civil society and the media from all over the world.
Coal is likely to become a popular source of energy in Nigeria as the nation moves to intensify mining activities and boost production, contrary to global plans to transit to clean energy sources.
The Nigerian government has approved N10 billion to reclaim the desert along 11 front line states in the northern part of the country. Disregard the $10 billion mentioned in the narration in the report.
Government initiative aimed at involving women in the protection of water facilities is likely to be frustrated, no thanks to socio-cultural factors wherein women are not to be seen in some communities in Nigeria.
For Nigeria to be among the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020, an environmentally sustainable energy supply must be addressed.
L-R: Lead Consultant, ECOWAS Commission, Prof. Ken Ife; Director-General/CEO, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Prof. Eli Jidere Bala; Science & Technology Minister, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; representative of NEPAD Nigeria office, Sunday Dan Ogu (who is Director, Programme development & Implementation); and representative of Pa Lamin Beyai (UNDP Country Director), Muyiwa Odele… at the official opening of the two-day National Technical Validation Workshop on SE4ALL Action Agenda, Thursday July 14, 2016, in Abuja
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, who made the disclosure last Thursday (14 July, 2016) in Abuja at the opening of the Validation Workshop the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) Action Agenda, added that the energy supply venture should likewise be secured, equitable and create employment opportunities.
According to him, this can only be achieved through the transformation of the nation’s economy from one based mainly on fossil fuel to a low carbon based around renewable energy and energy efficiency.
“The Nigerian government’s commitment to accelerate the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the country is well set out in the National Energy Policy, the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) and the Vision 2020/20,” he said, adding that renewable energy reduces sole dependence on fossil fuels, improves security of energy supply, reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, creates environmental and social benefits; and delivers green jobs to the economy.
Apart from reviewing the draft SE4ALL Action Agenda, the objective of the two-day gathering was also to: domesticate the SE4ALL Initiative in the country, engage all stakeholders in the development of the SE4ALL Action Plan, and promote dialogue and discourse among policy makers on SE4ALL.
Stakeholders at the meeting included ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), the media, civil society organisations and international donor and development partners. The forum was organised by the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) in collaboration with The Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Nigeria and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The minister congratulated the ECN and all stakeholders for drafting the Action Plan, while also thanking the UNDP and NEPAD leadership in the country for the support granted to uplift sustainable energy development.
His words: “My ministry will continue to play its role in ensuring that energy development, which is impacted more by science and technology development, is done in a sustainable manner. Renewable energy and energy efficiency best practices will continue to attract my ministry’s attention until it is developed into an economic sub-sector that contributes reasonably to the GDP.”
Tracing the genesis of the SE4ALL, Prof. Eli Jidere Bala, Director-General and CEO of the ECN, said the initiative was formally unveiled in September 2011 by the UN Secretary General with the view of bringing all sectors of the society to support the three interlinked objectives of ensuring universal access to modern energy services; doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix; and doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency, all by 2030. The initiative was launched a year later in Nigeria.
He said: “Consequently, in the discharge of its statutory responsibility for strategic planning and coordination of national energy policies in all its ramifications, ECN was supported by the UNDP to work with other stakeholders, including MDAs, in domesticating the UN initiative in the country.
“To this effect, sensitisation workshops on SE4ALL were held in 2012 and 2013. In 2013 also, a SE4All Rapid Assessment Gap & Analysis for Nigeria was carried out, and stakeholders met to validate the draft. The Rapid Assessment & Gap Analysis provides regional and international stakeholders with information on the current status of the energy access, renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency.”
According to him, the next step in the SE4ALL milestone is the preparation of country-specific Action Agenda across government MDAs to bridge the gaps earlier identified in line with international template.
The UNDP Country Director, Pa Lamin Beyai, emphasised that, once validated, the SE4ALL Action Plan would become a viable instrument to help coordinate strategies and activities to meet the objectives of the SE4ALL Initiative.
“We at the UNDP are indeed very optimistic that, with the quality of stakeholders invited for the workshop, we will have a quality and workable document that will not only help to meet the aspiration of many Nigerians, but also provide a framework for energising the national sensitisation, prioritisation and, most importantly, implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the people of Nigeria, and ensure that no one is left behind,” said Beyai, who was represented by Muyiwa Odele.
“I urge you to come out with a national work plan on gender and climate change that is implementable, achievable, smart and that would address the nation’s challenging problems in the short, medium and long term. We must also develop and implement specific plans to fill the gaps in adaptation, capacity building, education, access to safe, affordable, available and sustainable technologies, and decision-making schemes for women in rural contexts.”
L-R: Priscilla Achakpa, Executive Director of the Women Environmental Programme (WEP); Ibrahim Jibril, Minister of State for Environment; Amina Mohhamed, Minister for Environment; Opia Kumah, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria; and Prof Olukayode Oladipo of the University of Lagos, Akoka … at the official opening of the two-day National Consultative Workshop on “Gender and climate change consultation: Taking the Paris Agreement and Nigeria’s INDC forward”, on Wednesday (13 July, 2016) in Abuja
Those were the compelling words of Mrs Amina Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, last Wednesday (13 July, 2016) in Abuja while officially opening the two-day National Consultative Workshop on “Gender and climate change consultation: Taking the Paris Agreement and Nigeria’s INDC forward.”
The forum, along with the expected outcome, according to her, is an avenue by which gender takes the front stage in addressing climate action through the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
She acknowledged the fact that progress towards recognising the need to address gender equality in climate change initiatives has been gradual, adding however that, over the past eight years, more than 50 decisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) now support the recognition and integration of gender considerations.
She identified some of these to include the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) that supports countries through emerging women and gender-related processes to plan mitigation activities; the recently-adopted Paris Agreement wherein, for the first time, gender-related dimensions of climate change are explicitly recognised by Parties to the UNFCCC; and where about 40% of INDCs submitted to the UNFCCC mentioned gender/women in the context of their national ambitions on climate change mitigation.
Her words: “It is important to note that women are not only vulnerable to climate change but they are also effective actors or agents of change in relation to both mitigation and adaptation. Women often have a strong body of knowledge and expertise that can be used in climate change mitigation, disaster reduction and adaptation strategies. Furthermore, women’s responsibilities in households and communities, as stewards of natural and household resources, position them well to contribute to livelihood strategies adapted to changing environmental realities.”
Opia Kumah, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria, spoke in a similar vein, acknowledging women’s pivotal role in natural resources management and in other productive and reproductive activities in the household, community, local and international levels.
Besides creating an opportunity for a better understanding of the link between gender and climate change, he expressed the optimism that the Consultative Process would, in line with the country’s commitment to the implementation of the INDC, focus on community-based organisations and groups that take action with a gender sensitive lens.
“We have to work in a real spirit of partnership where concerned stakeholders like local women communities, NGOs and the private sector collaborate and develop equitable climate change adaptation strategies and responses to ensure sustainable development for Nigeria,” Kumah stated, even as he underlined the need to ensure sufficient financing, accountability and good governance to make the dream a reality.
“Your call to strengthen transparency and clarity on the role stakeholders for effective implementation of the Paris commitments in Nigeria can only be led by Nigerians,” he added.
Prof Emmanuel Oladipo of the University of Lagos, Akoka in a presentation titled: “Perspectives on the Paris Agreement and the linkage to Nigeria’s NDC” underlined key measures of the country’s NDC (that aims to reduce per GDP emission from 0.873 kg CO2e in 2015 to 0.491 kg CO2e by 2030) as: end gas flaring by 2030; off-grid solar PV of 13GW; efficient gas generators; 2% per year energy efficiency (30% by 2030); transport shift car to bus; improve electricity grid; and, climate smart agriculture and reforestation.
He listed specific activities to be carried out in the NDC implementation to include:
Review of mitigation potential identified in INDC preparation against the Strategic Framework for Voluntary Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action – to enable Nigeria pursue a low carbon climate resilient and pro-growth and gender sensitive and sustainable development path.
Review of Nigeria’s current climate finance landscape, support needs and the international funding landscape, along with an assessment of climate finance readiness and gaps – in line with the detailed provisions of the Paris Agreement.
Gap analysis of existing data sharing and reporting structures and processes and make initial recommendations on the appropriate form and structure of a national MRV system, including completing and maintaining the national GHG inventory and assuring data quality.
Promoting public awareness and education on (gender-responsive) climate-compatible development.
Training and capacity building.
Titilope Ngozi Akosa, Executive Director of Centre for 21st Century Issues, in a paper titled “Role of Women and Youth in the Implementation of Paris Agreement and Road to COP 22”, stressed that ensuring women and youths participate in climate change decision making process is very crucial for an agreement and actions that takes account of their needs.
According to her, while the youths are uncomfortable with negotiators who they (the youths) see as delaying in catalysing the climate agreement and actions, women demand that the climate agreement must include social dimensions, and be very ambitious in terms of emission reduction targets while rejecting harmful and risky technology in limiting emissions to below 1.5-degree pre-industrial levels.
She suggested women and youths’ roles for Paris Agreement implementation as well as COP22 to include:
Understand and track the processes for gender and youth concerns
Adopt youth and women positions to engage the processes
Identify important policy spaces and moments for interventions
Track the implementation of NDCs
If possible join the negotiators, join climate change justice movements and other relevant groups to advocate
Showcase gender just solutions that have worked
Participate in climate change meetings at national and global levels
Track climate finance to know whether women and youths are benefitting from global climate financial flows
Monitor the processes and know where changes are occurring and address them as appropriates
At the national level, Akosa believes women and youth should:
Work with the relevant Climate Change Department to conduct policy analysis on various national policies on climate change and link them to the Paris Climate agreement and SDG goal on climate change
Youth and women’s group should form a strong coalition to amplify their voices and concerns
Showcase local case studies that have worked for women and young people
Organise gender and climate change workshops and engage with key stakeholders
Collaborate with government
Work with government to stop gas flaring
Ensure climate responses are not anchored on risky and harmful technologies and false solutions
Nkiruka Nnaemego, CEO/Founder, Fresh & Young Brains Development Initiative, spoke on “Youth Initiatives to combat Climate Change in the context of the Paris Agreement and Nigeria’s INDCs.”
She emphasised in her presentation that despite the fact that youth are trustees of the future for the next generation, there is under-representation of youth in the policy design, implementation and monitoring frameworks of the INDC.
“Few youths were involved in the preparation of the 2011 NASPA-CCN, Nigeria Climate Change Policy Response and Strategy, 2012 and National Agricultural Resilience Framework (NARF 2014) which are key components of Nigeria’s INDC,” Nnaemego stated, adding that apart from poor access to information and poor capacity on climate change issues, youth issues are often lumped with and swallowed by women and gender-related issues which, according to her, end up not fully addressing youth needs.
She outlined the role of youths in implementing the INDCs as:
Research & Documentation: Innovative ideas and strategies for Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation
Policy Advocacy: End Gas Flaring by 2030, NASPA-CCN, Nigeria Climate Change Policy Response and Strategy, 2012, National Agricultural Resilience Framework (NARF 2014)
Participation in negotiations
Develop Local and Eco-friendly Technology: Efficient gas generators, off-grid solar PV
Social Media, Grassroots and Public Campaign: to reach rural youth and communities
Conferences, Festivals, Caravans
Climate smart agriculture and reforestation: climate resilient crops, composting, irrigation systems, livestock diversification and range management, early warning/meteorological forecasts and related information.
Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Lt. General Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of Botswana is expected to declare a Regional Disaster and launch a Regional Appeal for Humanitarian and Recovery Support amounting to $2.7 billion.
Climate change as a result of global warming continues to cause havoc in various parts of the world, drying up farmlands that livestock used to depend on
This is in response to the devastating El-Niño-induced drought which has affected an estimated 40 million people across the SADC region and, out of this figure, more than 23 million are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
The event is scheduled to take place at Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC), Botswana on Tuesday 26th July 2016.
The Appeal is a formal request to the International Community to provide assistance to affected member states, and it is meant to complement the response efforts at individual member states level, as a lot has been done by the countries.
Five member states – Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe – have declared national drought emergencies.
South Africa has declared a drought emergency in eight of the country’s nine provinces, while Mozambique declared a 90-day institutional red alert for some southern and central areas.
