To mark the start of BIOPAMA’s second phase, regional inception workshops were held in Eastern and Southern Africa in 2018, with the aim to identify government priorities in terms of protected area governance and equity and protected area management effectiveness.

Government also provided capacity building and data needs related to these regional priorities. Workshops with technical partners then identified potential areas for collaboration with respect to these priorities and the related capacity building and data needs.  Analysis was then done on the identified priorities and needs from Eastern and Southern Africa to prepare regional priorities for ESA and proposed activities aligning with these. The five focal areas identified for BIOPAMA in the ESA region, as well as potential activities for 2019-2023 are:

  • Policy and legislation related to protected area governance and equity, and protected area management effectiveness
  • protected area governance and equity, and protected area management effectiveness assessments  (management planning and implementation)
  • practical action in terms of governance, equity and management effectiveness
  • Innovative financing solutions and business capacity
  • Strengthening the integration of protected area governance and equity, and protected area management effectiveness into multiple sectors, relevant policies and across political boundaries.

The BIOPAMA activities including the implementation of the Regional Resource Hub, capacity development support, and development of reports such as “State of Protected Areas” will be aligned with those areas of work.

The Eastern and Southern Africa region implements the three BIOPAMA components: the Reference Information System, the BIOPAMA Regional Resource Hub (the regionally-tailored identity of the BIOPAMA Observatory) and the BIOPAMA Action component, the grant-making facility.

Regional Implementing Partner

In Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), as part of BIOPAMA engagement at a regional level, the programme collaborates with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs):  East African Community (EAC), Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). Their role is to assist with the development of priorities for the RECs needs and the operationalisation of the Regional Reference Information System (RRIS) within their respective RECs.

The Regional Observatory hosted at RCMRD is known as the Regional Resource Hub (RRH). The RECs also provide contacts and support to IUCN, JRC and the RRH host to identify the region’s main data needs and information requirements, collection of relevant data from partner countries. In addition, they collaborate to determine useful analytical and decision making tools and products for their region together with the preparing of policy briefs and determining thematic areas for the regional State of Protected Areas (SoPA) report. The RECs also assist with communication to higher level decision-makers, ensuring that the RRH products play an important role in policy.

The Vision

"The vision of the Regional Resource Hub is to be a leading resource centre that supports (local, national and regional) effective decision making and governance on protected areas and biodiversity and their link to sustainable development objectives."

What RRH offers

Regional Reference Information System
The ESA HUB has a regional reference information system that is free, secure and built using open source technologies. It hosts a broad range of data that can be stored and used, such as field data, indicators, satellite imagery, maps, photos, surveys and documents.

Knowledge Products
The ESA HUB provide information and knowledge products that allow conservation actors, donors and decision makers to access the most updated and comprehensive information on protected areas and natural resources management at regional, national and site levels.

Capacity Building
We develop the capacity of stakeholders on protected and conserved area management effectiveness, governance, equity and data management. Most of the training opportunities are offered at Regional Level and the dates are announced at the Upcoming Events section.

RRH in Numbers

24
Countries Covered
4
Regional Economic Communities
100
Trained People

Stakeholder Map

EU - European Union
OACPS - Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States
IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature
JRC - Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
WCMC - World Conservation Monitoring Center

EAC - East African Community
SADC - Southern African Development Community
IOC - Indian Ocean Commission
IGAD - Intergovernmental Authority on Development
RCMRD - Regional Centre For Mapping Of Resources For Development

Intervention Area

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

The Regional Resource Hub (RRH) publishes content on a regular basis. Subscribe and stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends on Biodiversity and Conservation. 

SUBSCRIBE

Powered by Amazing-Templates.com 2014 - All Rights Reserved.