Coastal and Marine component of the NEPAD Environment Initiative

The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) recognizes sustainable use of African natural resources and the protection of the environment are an important component for achieving its objective on poverty alleviation and placing Africa on a path of sustainable economic growth and development.

To this end and following the adoption of NEPAD, an Environmental Action Plan for the implementation of the Environment Initiative of NEPAD was prepared.

The Plan was developed under the guidance of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) through a process involving consultations with a wide a range of stakeholders. It was adopted at the Second Summit of the African Union which was held in Maputo from 10th to 12th July 2003.

The NEPAD Environment Action Plan (NEAP) is consistent with NEPAD's emphasis on measures that will ensure that the continent is able to confront both its short-term economic growth challenges and the long-term environmental, poverty reduction and social development imperatives. In order for Africa to respond effectively to the above challenges, NEAP identifies eight broad programmatic sectors one of which is the coastal and marine sub-theme (COSMAR) sub-theme.

The goal of NEPAD COSMAR is to mainstream environmental concerns into the development agenda of countries through targeted actions that address not only environmental concerns, but also institutional, regulatory, policy and capacity aspects.

The Government of Kenya hosts NEPAD COSMAR Secretariat, housed within the Eastern Africa NEPAD Secretariat based in Nairobi.

The responsibilities of the secretariat are to:

• Mainstream coastal and marine issues within NEPAD
• Coordinate and facilitate programme/project preparation and implementation
• Facilitate resource mobilization and partnerships- serve as a platform for engaging continental stakeholders and the international community
• Foster knowledge sharing, networking, advocacy and outreach - promoting NEPAD both in Africa and internationally
• Coordination among Partners to avoid duplication and overlaps of efforts

Six priority areas have been identified for projects interventions under NEPAD COSMAR.

• Conservation of key habitats;
• Sustainable development and use of living resources;
• Coastal Erosion;
• Integrated coastal zone management;
• Pollution;
• Climate change.

Several regional projects centered around the six priority areas and supplemented by a few other additional 'associated projects' have been recommended for implementation under COSMAR programme. Details on projects identified under each priority area can be view in the COSMAR website.