National Profile and Action Plan Development to Implement Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration

As a contribution to capacity development to strengthen access to information and public participation in environmental decision-making in Africa, UNITAR is providing support in 2009 to Botswana, Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo to develop a National Profile and Action Plan to strengthen capacities to implement Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration. Adopted by Heads of State and Governments at the Rio Summit in 1992, Principle 10 has become an important international reference point to strengthen access to environmental information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters. In the African region, the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) includes among its founding principles good governance as well as a broad and deep participation of all sectors in society, in order to address current development challenges of the continent.

 

The opportunity to participate in the African pilot projects was announced at the 12h session of the African Ministerial Conference for the Environment (AMCEN-12) at a Side Event organized by UNITAR in collaboration with UNEP Regional Office for Africa and the Environmental Evaluation Unit of the University of Cape Town (EEU UCT). Following an open Africa-wide application process Botswana, Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo were selected to participate in the pilot projects. Country activities will start in the first quarter of 2009 and will have duration of 15 months. UNITAR is currently seeking support to assist additional countries who applied for the projects.

 

For additional information on the African pilot projects please refer to the project Information Note available in English and French from our publications page.