Background to the Abidjan and Nairobi Convention

In 1981 and 1985, the adoption of the Convention for Cooperation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment in the West and Central African Region (Abidjan Convention) and the Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern African Region (Nairobi Convention) generated great hopes for the people and communities that share the marine and coastal resources in all coastal states in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, by 1998, due to inadequate finances and unpredictable contributions to the trust funds of the two Conventions, it became clear that there was need for an innovative approach to sustain the two sub-Saharan Regional Seas Conventions. UNEP reorganised the Secretariat for the two Conventions and created a Joint Implementation Unit for the Nairobi and Abidjan Conventions.

The causative relationship between poverty, human health, unsustainable consumption and production patterns, unsustainable social and economic development, and the degradation of coastal and marine environments are most evident in Africa. It is also clear that most of the marine and coastal resources are shared; consequently, the management of such resources must be addressed through regionally integrated and cooperative action by governments and other stakeholders. Fortunately, UNEP’s Regional Seas conventions provide a legal framework for collaborative action.

Introduction to the Joint Conference of Parties for the Abidjan and Nairobi Convention

1. Background to the Abidjan and Nairobi Convention
2. Political Commitment: Gathering momentum
3. Coordination and Partnerships.
4. Financing
5. Organisation of the Joint COPs.
6. Themes for the COPs.
7. Outputs and Impacts of the Joint COPs.
8. Requirements.

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