Africa report on institutional and strategic frameworks for sustainable development: summary for policy makers

Abstract

This study assesses the institutional and strategic frameworks for sustainable development at regional,subregional and national levels on the basis of data gathered through desk review and field visits. The desk review covered published and unpublished material and online resources of a wide array of institutions at the global, regional and national levels. The field visits covered the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union Commission, the ECOWAS Commission, AMCOW Secretariat and SADC Secretariat. In addition, direct teleconference was held with officials from UNEP Africa Regional Office, which also acts as the interim Secretariat of AMCEN, the African Development Bank, and the ECA subregional Office for North Africa. And direct interview was conducted with the Head of the Environment Programme of NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency (NPCA). The objective of the study is to show how relevant are effective institutional and strategic frameworks in promoting the integration of the three pillars of sustainable development in a balanced manner, enhancing institutional linkages and encourage multi-stakeholder participation and decentralization in the planning and implementation of programmes. The study also assesses how these frameworks cater for intra-generational and intergenerational equity through long term planning and strategies that bridge the equality gaps. The report focuses on the institutional and strategic frameworks for sustainable development at the regional, subregional and national levels. It is understood that the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) is leading the review of the frameworks at the global level. Therefore the coverage of the few UN organizations in this report is limited to their regional activities and to the linkages they foster at regional, subregional, and national levels.