Abidjan, 30 September 2016 – The United Nations Environment Programme and the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) commit to tighten cooperation and partnership in advancing environmental sustainability in the ECOWAS region.
At the end of a three-day working session with the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, the Regional Director of UN Environment in Africa, Mrs. Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo and the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Edward Singhatey signed an Aide Memoire, thereby confirming their determination to take their collaboration to another level.
To date, the cooperation between ECOWAS and UN Environment has focused mainly on chemicals and hazardous wastes and Resource efficiency and was not guided by a formal agreement.
This signature marks an initial step leading to the signing of a formal Memorandum of Understanding that will guide the work of the two institutions in supporting Member States in their efforts to implement the environmental dimension of the ECOWAS Vision 2020 as well as the African Union Agenda 2063 for Africa’s renaissance and the global 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and poverty reduction in the ECOWAS region.
UN Environment Regional Director and Representative for Africa, Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo said: “Sub regional, regional and global frameworks are in place. We need innovative ideas to make them come alive and mobilize resources for it. In this perspective, ECOWAS would be a key entry point into the Member States and a partner to reinforce the multiplier effect of UNEP's efforts and initiatives especially by distilling global and regional norms and standards to meet the specific needs at the economic community level.”
It is expected that a stronger cooperation and a more strategic engagement between UN Environment and ECOWAS will create or enhance synergies, coherence and concerted actions towards a transformative environmental agenda in the sub region.
The Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Edward David Singhatey stated: “The Environment has been neglected for too long. Yet Climate Change, Loss of biodiversity, depletion of natural resources are affecting our common background relating to farming and imposing a heavy toll on Africa and institutional instability has not helped to move in the right direction. This Aide Memoire is a good step in the right direction but just an initial step. The real challenge is to effectively implement the agreed action plan and we should not miss this opportunity.”
The collaboration will be deployed on four (4) main areas: Enhanced policy dialogue among the member States in follow-up of key regional and global decisions relating to the environment; Policy influence and assistance to the Member States in the implementation of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements; Strengthening regional environmental governance through harmonization of legislation and regular environment assessment; and development of joint regional programmes and projects according to their common programmatic areas, and mobilization of resources for their implementation.
The two institutions agreed to engage in regular discussions including through high-level meetings in order to exchange views on common issues affecting the sub-region. A formal detailed agreement on strategic and technical cooperation will be developed and signed.
For more information, please contact: Mohamed Atani, Regional Communication Officer, UN Environment Africa Office, Nairobi, Kenya; Tel: +254 20 76 24235; Mobile: +254 (0)727531253 ; Email: mohamed.atani@unep.org
And/or Angele Luh, Head – UN Environment Sub Regional Office for West Africa, Abidjan- Tel: +225 22 51 46 20, Mobile: +225 48 25 02 58 Email: angele.luh@unep.org
