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UNEP and its IETC Contribute to:
United Nations System-wide Initiative on Africa

On 15 March 1996, the United Nations launched a System-wide Special Initiative on Africa - a multi-billion dollar (U.S.) programme of concrete actions aimed at expanding assistance and reducing fragmentation of development efforts among donors. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is playing a key role in the Special Initiative, and United Nations Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, Ms. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, is a member of the UN Administrative Committee on Co-ordination (ACC) Initiative Steering Committee. The committee has identified five areas of priority for action: Water; Food Security; Governance; Social and Human Development; and Resource Mobilization.

UNEP's major contribution to the Initiative is the proposal of an equity-led growth approach to the management and use of freshwater resources in Africa within the context of sustainable development. In Africa, the dominant challenge concerning freshwater resources is the equity issue of ensuring that everyone gets reasonable access to and a "fair share" of safe water. In an attempt to address these problems, UNEP is promoting a new approach to water resources management that calls for a "fair share" for the poor; among neighboring countries; for local communities; for smaller projects and technologies; for capacity building; for women and children; and, a fair share for future generations and the environment. UNEP's "fair share" will be an organizing focus of its work programme by: assessing all future water policies, plans and programmes in terms of their economic viability, environmental sustainability and equity impacts; and, assisting governments to implement this new approach, including practical and affordable techniques for helping the poor get access to safe water.

IETC is contributing to this process by producing a Source Book on Technologies for Freshwater Augmentation in Africa. The book is being prepared in cooperation with UNEP's Water Unit and the Institute of Water and Sanitation Development (ISWD), Harare, Zimbabwe. This publication together with five other regional reports will be ready for dissemination in Fall 1996.

• Brochure
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• International Year of Forests
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• World Environment Day
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• UNEP Campaign
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