Participants at the UNEP’s African Civil Society Regional Consultative Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya from 10 – 11 November 2008

Africa local governments prepare for Global Civil Society Forum

The ICLEI Africa Secretariat represented the Major Group - Local Governments at UNEP’s African Civil Society Regional Consultative Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya from 10 – 11 November 2008. The meeting was in preparation for the 10th Global Civil Society Forum (GCSF) that will be held in February 2009, prior to the 25th session of the UNEP’s Governing Council/ Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF).

Global Civil Society Forum's role

The objective of the GCSF is to provide a platform for exchange and consultation on key environmental issues to be addressed by the Member States during the GC25/GMEF, and to facilitate Major Groups’ contribution to the GC/GMEF and other international environmental forums.

This year’s African Regional Consultative Meeting included the traditional dialogue with Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP, and focused on six priority areas:

• Climate Change
• Disasters and Conflicts
• Ecosystem Management
• Environmental Governance
• Harmful Substances and Hazardous Waste
• Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Consumption and Production

The two days focused on UNEP’s programme of work (POW) 2010 - 2011, opportunities for Major Groups Engagement in the implementation of the POW, and broad issues of International Environmental Governance and Globalization and the Environment

The group assembled also had an opportunity to elect 2 representatives to the UNEP Governing Council. UNEP is currently setting up a Regional (African) Climate Adaption Network, with the first meeting to be held in the first quarter of 2009.

More information

UNEP - Regional Office for Africa www.unep.org/roa/Projects_Programmes/Civil_Society/Reg_Consult2008/indexupdate.asp