Africa is characterized by rising poverty levels and degradation of the environment and increasing loss of the region’s natural resources. UNEP’s Africa Environment Outlook (AEO) report observes that conditions in natural habitats and fragile ecosystems have been deteriorating resulting in diminishing biodiversity. There are high rates of exploitation of such resources as freshwater, forests, and coastal and marine stocks continue to be used at rates beyond their viable rates of replacement. Land degradation, natural as well as human-induced environmental disasters and invasive alien species continue to be major problems in Africa. Natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, earthquakes and landslides cause considerable human suffering and economic damage in the region. On the whole, environmental degradation undermines prospects of fighting poverty, economic growth and sustainable development in Africa.
ROA plays a central and holistic role of co-coordinating UNEP’s programme of work in the African region. ROA acts as the link between the various Divisions and centers of UNEP and the countries in the region, and promotes collaboration and partnerships with organizations active in sustainable development in Africa. The office closely collaborates with many partners to put Africa on the global map where critical environmental issues are discussed and addressed. ROA covers all 53 countries of the continent.
The ROA strategy sets out to ensure that environmental considerations are the engine driving Africa along the road to recovery, stability and sustainable development.
The main elements of the strategy are:
to bring critical environmental issues to the attention of decision-makers at the regional, sub-regional and national levels as well as to other stakeholders by facilitating environmental assessments and developing and strengthening partnerships to contribute to environmental data generation, monitoring and assessment, as well as raising awareness and disseminating environmental information
to bring critical environmental issues to the attention of decision-makers at the regional, sub-regional and national levels as well as to other stakeholders by facilitating environmental assessments and developing and strengthening partnerships to contribute to environmental data generation, monitoring and assessment, as well as raising awareness and disseminating environmental information;
to encourage and facilitate policy dialogue and cooperation between countries in the region, including south-south cooperation, promote peace and sustainable management of trans-boundary natural resources and to address environmental issues in the region by catalyzing and providing substantive and organizational support to intergovernmental consultations and initiatives in the region such as the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD);
to provide broad policy advice and guidance for the implementation and coordination of environmental activities in the region by working with the African Union, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and other UN agencies working in the region;
to facilitate and support governments, business and industry, as well as civil society organizations to enable them address environmental issues and sustainable development challenges facing the region;
to support African governments with respect to the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and promote interlinkages and synergies between the MEAs;
