About ROA
The continent has seen a steady improvement in economic performance with growth projected at 4.6% in 2011. It still however continues to face considerable challenges in addressing issues of climate change, the energy crisis, the persistent extreme poverty, food insecurity, inadequate health services, political and social crisis in most cases linked to governance issues and unsustainable use of natural resources.
UNEP’s Programme in Africa aims at assisting African governments and major stakeholders in addressing these challenges, as part of its mandate. The programme ensures that there is better coherence and coordination in the effective delivery of environmental capacity-building and technical support at all levels in response to country needs and priorities. The Strategic Framework for Africa (RSFA) provides strategic direction and defines modalities for the analysis of environment and development challenges, opportunities as well as the providing a delivery mechanisms for the region that will ensure effective implementation of UNEP’s work in Africa.
In the 2010-2011 biennium, the major activities in the region at both programme and project level are responsive to the regions priorities and in accordance with UNEP’s vision and mandate as 'The leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, that promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and that serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment'.
The Activities are guided by the Medium Term Strategy (MTS) which is clear and results-based and implemented through the UNEP Programmes of Work (PoW) with its six cross-cutting thematic priorities. Which are: Climate change; Disasters and conflicts; Ecosystem management; Environmental governance; Harmful substances and hazardous waste and Resource Efficiency – (sustainable consumption and production).
Programme Coordination and Organisation
The Regional Office for Africa (ROA) is headed by the Regional Director and Representative has a Deputy Director, Programme and Policy Coordinator, Sub Programme Team Leaders (Technical Experts), each heading a Sub Programme and/or technical units. In addition there are five Sub Regional Coordinators for each of the Sub Regional blocks (Central Africa, Eastern Africa, West Africa, North Africa and Southern Africa. In addition are the Delivering as One, Kenya Country Programme and Poverty and Environment Initiative Coordinators, Head of Communication and Outreach, the Coordinators for the two Conventions (Nairobi and Abidjan ) and the MEA Focal Points and various divisions
The UNEP Regional Office for Africa (ROA) has played a central role in coordinating UNEP’s Programme of Work in the region with the view to ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of interventions, in response to regional, sub-regional and national needs. The delivery of this programme in Africa is a collective effort by UNEP and various partners, Governments institutions and Ministerial fora, non governmental agencies, regional economic communities, other sister agencies, Major groups and stakeholders including Civil Society organizations, the private Sector, local Authorities and others, as well as regional Centers of Excellence.