Capacity Assessment Report and Action Plan for Environmental Capacity Development

Abstract

The overall aim of this report is to determine priority needs and establish a plan of action in order to develop capacity to meet binding commitments contained in the three Rio Conventions: (a) the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), (b) the Convention on Biodiversity (UNCBD) commonly known as CBD, and (c) the Convention on Desertification and Land Degradation (UNCCD) commonly known as CCD. This study was done under the overall framework of the National Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA) whose objectives are as follows: (a) To define Malawi’s priority issues and capacity constraints; (b) To determine what the capacity needs are in order to address those constraints, in the Malawian Context, in the Climate Change, Biodiversity and Desertification/Land Degradation thematic areas; (c) To identify what capacities exist, are in short supply or ill-deployed; and (d) To determine where capacity may be lacking within the country and how it may be developed. In Summary, the following are the authors recommendations:

(a) Seek and obtain high-level political support and managerial endorsement; (b) Seek funding to finance an implementation structure; (c) Joint work programmes at the national level should be formulated between the conventions; (d) A Joint liaison group of the three Rio conventions and potential additional members from other MEAs should be formed with an open and flexible coordination framework. (e) Joint activities should be planned taking into account elements like; - Integration of activities related to national biodiversity strategies and action plans with national action programmes for the Convention to Combat Desertification, national adaptation programmes of action under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ramsar wetland policies, CITES programmes and other relevant programmes, including national strategies for sustainable development and poverty reduction;- Capacity-building, including MEAs negotiations, information systems, institutional arrangements and joint planning activities between the coordinating bodies and focal points of the conventions; and development of criteria for synergy projects and development and application of "good practice" synergy projects at the national level. Identify and implement pilot projects taking into account the three conventions’ objectives and perpetuate synergetic actions through the diffusion of successful initiatives.