Promoting the Nexus Approach of Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods in Africa through China-Africa Cooperation

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1 May, 2018 Journal of Resources and Ecology Vol. 9 No.3 J. Resour. Ecol (3) DOI: /j.issn x Promoting the Nexus Approach of Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods in Africa through China-Africa Cooperation WANG Guoqin 1,2, FU Chao 1,2,*, LIU Jian 3, ZHANG Linxiu 1,4,5, Ayub M.O. Oduor 1,6, Dagne Mojo 1,2, Mulubrhan Balehegn 1,2 1. International Ecosystem Management Partnership, United Nations Environment Programme, Beijing , China; 2. Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing , China; 3. United Nations Environment Programme, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi 00100, Kenya; 4. Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing , China; 5. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing , China; 6. Department of Applied and Technical Biology, Technical University of Kenya, P.O. Box 52428, Nairobi 00200, Kenya Abstract: Africa is facing both challenges and opportunities in pursuing sustainability. The nexus approach of Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods (CEL) is a promising way to seize the power of integration for achieving sustainability of the African continent. Based on taking stock of the work of various organizations especially the United Nations Environment Programme International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP) in the Africa, this article explores the demands and opportunities for delivering the CEL approach in Africa and provides perspectives on how to promote it in the framework of China-Africa cooperation in future. It concludes that Africa is one of the focal regions in the delivery of the CEL nexus approach; UNEP-IEMP has launched several major initiatives that lay the foundation for delivering the nexus approach of CEL in Africa; however, more ambitious cooperation should be taken through a broad China-Africa partnership, based on existing institutions, networks and ongoing programmes in both Africa and China, to support future China-Africa cooperation on the nexus approach of CEL. Key words: Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods (CEL); nexus approach; sustainable development; China-Africa cooperation 1 Introduction Africa is challenged by such problems as environmental degradation, poverty, inequality, youth unemployment, low financial capacity, corruption, poor infrastructure and many other problems that arise from these (Ojo and Oluwatayo, 2016). These challenges may jeopardize Africa s efforts of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially those on poverty eradication and attaining food security. Nevertheless, Africa is a vast land of hope with favourable weather, rich natural and cultural resources, biodiversity and a prosperous young population. The continent has 65% and 10% of the world s arable land and inland freshwater resources, respectively (African Union Commission, 2015). There are abundant renewable energy sources (such as hydro and solar power) nearly in all countries of the continent, regardless of the current mixed energy uses and policies (Bugaje, 2006). If properly harnessed, agro-value chains in Africa can reduce poverty up to four times faster than any other sector (Munang and Mgendi, 2017). In view of this, the African Union highlights as the first of its aspirations for the year 2063 a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development, where the environment and ecosystems are healthy and preserved, and Received: Accepted: Foundation: National Natural Science Foundation of China ( ; ) *Corresponding author: FU Chao, chao.fu@unep-iemp.org and fuchao@igsnrr.ac.cn Citation: WANG Guoqin, FU Chao, LIU Jian, et al Promoting the Nexus Approach of Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods in Africa through China-Africa Cooperation. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 9(3):

2 WANG Guoqin, et al.: Promoting the Nexus Approach of Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods in Africa through China-Africa Cooperation 233 with climate resilient economies and communities (African Union Commission, 2015). This push for integrated approaches to development is now among the dominant concepts of sustainability of the African continent. It s notable that the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) has launched a decade-long flagship programme on Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods (CEL), supported by China and designed to assist developing countries to improve livelihoods through ecosystem restoration, conservation and sustainable development in the context of climate change. The programme focuses on the nexus of climate change, ecosystem services and sustainable livelihoods as the primary priority of its work, with an aim to seize the power of integration for achieving SDGs and climate targets under the Paris Agreement in the global South. During its duration , the programme is being led by UN Environment s International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP) to provide countries with assistance in ecosystem monitoring and assessment, capacity building, technology demonstration and science for policy. In order to promote the nexus approach of CEL as a promising pathway to sustainable development in Africa, this article explores the demands and opportunities for the implementation of the CEL programme in Africa and provides perspectives on how to promote it in the framework of China-Africa cooperation in future. The study was based on taking stock of the work of various organizations ad hoc UNEP-IEMP in the African continent. 2 Needs for the nexus approach of Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods in Africa Although many organizations have been working on projects and programs aimed at achieving SDGs in Africa, little is known of how many of them integrate all the three components of CEL. In August 2017, we performed a web based literature survey with the objective of understanding what proportions of the organizations pursue SDGs within the framework of CEL and the challenges they face in doing so. We synthesized information on detail activities of the programmes and projects executed by various organizations. The lessons drawn from this synthesis will inform future endeavors to achieve both the SDGs and climate targets under the Paris Agreement. The results of the survey indicate that only 15% of the sample 48 major agencies working in Africa that we surveyed are financing or implementing projects that integrate all the three components of CEL programme; the rest work only on one or two components of CEL (Fig 1). The projects that integrated all the three CEL components experienced stronger local community ownership and participation, and were more cost effective and conferred greater benefits to local communities than initiatives that focused on only one or two CEL component. These benefits of the limited existed Fig.1 Proportion of organizations (N = 48) working in Africa on the nexus approach of Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods (CEL) examples of practices of integration, calls for a need to further promote the CEL approach in Africa. Nevertheless, most organizations including those that integrate all the three components of CEL face significant challenges, some of which are: Incomplete understanding of local cultures, traditions and practices regarding holistic resource management. Many traditional African societies including pastoralists and agrarians have developed age-long integrated resource management strategies and that integrated approach is not a new concept for them. Africans have been using such approaches throughout history (Nyong et al., 2007; Fairhead, 2018). However, capitalizing on these traditional strategies and benefiting from already known and easy to be adopted strategies is rarely seen in the activities of surveyed agencies. Lack of coordinated action among different actors: some agencies/organizations work on very similar goals concurrently, sometimes even with the same local communities. This challenge may be resolved through concerted and coordinated actions among the organizations that may result in a better output. Inefficient information sharing among actors: After years of efforts in implementing climate change adaptation programs, many agencies show little to disseminate their experience. Whenever information is documented, it is difficult to understand and learn from. Limited technological options in practice: Despite the fact that technological options such as civil engineering for disaster protection, data and geo-spatial technologies for weather information prediction and communication have been utilized in other corners of the world, most of the initiatives in Africa continue to be low level, less technical interventions.

3 234 Journal of Resources and Ecology Vol. 9 No. 3, 2018 Institutional and legislative fragmentation of the landscape: Traditional institutions and binding legislatives have sectoral approaches of implementing different initiatives. For example there is less coordination between ministries of environment and infrastructure development or rural development in most of the countries. These existing sectoral approaches are one of the main challenges to implementing the integrated initiatives adopting the local planning frameworks. Low participation of women and youth: Youths comprise the majority of Africa s population while women are the most vulnerable to effects of environmental degradation in African societies, and yet there is a low participation of these two groups of people in most of the CEL-related projects. If younger generations and women are empowered, they can speed the transition towards sustainable green economies. 3 Existing initiatives and opportunities for China-Africa cooperation on the nexus approach of Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods China-Africa cooperation has a long history dating back to the 14 th century, and was reinforced vastly with a new type of strategic partnership since 2006, as reflected in the Johannesburg Action Plan of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People s Republic of China, 2015). The partnership helps to share development experiences and resources between China and the African continent. It has a plan to play a significant role in achieving the Agenda 2063 the Future We Want for Africa, in particular with the fuel from the famous Belt and Road, an international connectivity and cooperation initiative proposed by China (Lin, 2015). Since its inception, UNEP-IEMP has provided a platform to advance collaboration between UN Environment and the Chinese government within the framework of the China- Africa cooperation. Below, we present here some major examples of initiatives facilitated by UNEP-IEMP that lay the foundation for implementing the CEL programme in Africa: The ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) South project is being implemented by UN Environment and executed by the National Development and Reform Commission through Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) over the period of , with project management services from UNEP-IEMP. The project is sharing global and Chinese experiences and piloting concrete, on-the-ground ecosystem-based adaptation interventions in Mauritania and the Seychelles, representing vulnerable dryland and coastal ecosystems, respectively. In 2013, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) initiated a collaborative research programme with UN Environment to support research projects jointly undertaken by Chinese scientists and their counterparts from other developing countries in the domain of environment and sustainable development. As of December 2017, six research projects have been funded and implemented in Africa, focusing on climate change and ecosystems. In 2016, the CAS initiated the International Partnership Program (IPP) to enhance science and technology cooperation with other developing countries. As part of the IPP, the Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme (Global-DEP) was initiated in August 2017 with an aim to provide a platform for global research collaboration on dry land ecosystem. UNEP-IEMP is part of the secretariat of Global- DEP interim scientific committee. In the first half of 2017, the CAS approved the proposal of Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) Initiative under its Strategic Priority Research Programme. UNEP-IEMP has been engaged as an international cooperation platform of DBAR to facilitate science and policy dialogue over the world. More opportunities are also emerging for the implementation of the CEL programme within the framework of China-Africa cooperation. The Belt and Road Initiative has been engaging UN Environment with various stakeholders from China to explore various opportunities to jointly build the green Silk Road. For example, UN Environment is in collaboration with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China to establish an International Coalition for Green Development on the Belt and Road, which has a potential to share knowledge, experience and other resources with Africa for green development. With an ambitious amount of funding pledged by Chinese government, the Assistance Fund for South-South cooperation and the South-South Climate Cooperation Fund may also provide significant support to address the challenges of Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods in Africa. 4 Perspectives for China-Africa cooperation on the nexus approach of Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods UNEP-IEMP convened Conference on Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods for Africa, co-sponsored by the UN Environment, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), NSFC and CAS, in Nairobi, Kenya on 4-5 th September The overall goal was to strengthen the Africa-China partnership for further South-South and multi-lateral cooperation on sustainable development issues in Africa, especially focused on the nexus of climate, ecosystems and livelihoods. It was attended by 70 scientists and policy leaders from 10 African nations and China, representing about 40 national

4 WANG Guoqin, et al.: Promoting the Nexus Approach of Climate, Ecosystems and Livelihoods in Africa through China-Africa Cooperation 235 and international organizations. During the conference, there were focused discussions on priority areas for potential research and China-Africa collaboration. All the key findings and conclusions of group discussions were taken back to the plenary, giving rise to the Nairobi Communiqué for the conference (The World Academy of Sciences, 2017). At the conclusion of the conference, participants agreed on the following points: 1) to ambitious cooperation on climate, ecosystems and livelihoods in Africa. 2) Future cooperation should be based on existing institutions, networks and ongoing programmes in both Africa and China, including centres of excellence. 3) Those institutions, networks and programmes should join forces to pursue three goals: (1) promote awareness and knowledge of the CEL nexus; (2) build capacity for the implementation of the CEL programme in pursuing the objectives of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement; and (3) develop policy recommendations including innovative, integrative solutions to support the work of policymakers and to strengthen the science-policy interface. To achieve these goals, the participants advocate a China- Africa partnership aligned with the ten-year timeframe of CEL, with a two-year pilot phase. It would create a standing mechanism under which UN Environment would provide a platform to support future China-Africa cooperation on CEL. Specifically, the partnership would work to: 1) synergise existing programmes and explore possibilities of collaboration within the CEL programme; 2) identify CEL relevant programmes on short- and long-term time scales; and 3) bring scientific support to policy makers within the China- Africa cooperation, in harmony with the Belt and Road Initiatives. 5 Conclusions Africa is one of the focal regions in the implementation of the CEL programme. Although many organizations are working towards achieving SDGs in Africa, only a small portion of them are financing or implementing projects that integrate the three components of CEL programme. These gaps in integration of sustainable development dimensions calls for a need to promote the nexus approach of CEL in Africa. The existing long history of China-Africa cooperation is a unique opportunity and has a high potential of promoting the nexus approach of CEL in Africa. With great support from the UN Environment and Chinese government agencies such as the NSFC and CAS, UNEP-IEMP has launched several major initiatives that lay the foundation for implementing the CEL progamme in Africa. However, more ambitious cooperation should be taken through a broad China-Africa partnership, based on existing institutions, networks and ongoing programmes in both Africa and China, including centres of excellence. It is necessary to create a standing mechanism for the partnership to support future China-Africa cooperation on the nexus approach of CEL. References African Union Commission Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want (Final Edition, April 2015). Addis Ababa: African Union Commission, Bugaje I M Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development in Africa: A Review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 10(6): Fairhead J Technology, inclusivity and the rogue: bats and the war against the invisible enemy. Conservation and Society, 16(2): Lin J One Belt and One Road and Free Trade Zones-China s New Opening-up Initiatives. Frontiers of Economics in China, 10(4): Ministry of Foreign Affairs the People s Republic of China The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Johannesburg Action Plan ( ). Munang R and R Mgendi Paris Agreement on Climate Change: One Year Later, How Is Africa Faring? Africa Renewal, 31(1): Nyong A, F Adesina, and B Osman-Elasha The Value of Indigenous Knowledge in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies in the African Sahel. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 12(5): Ojo A O and I B Oluwatayo Drivers and Challenges of Sustainable Development in Africa. In: 3rd International Conference on African Development Issues (CU-ICADI 2016). Lagos: Covenant University Press, The World Academy of Sciences African, Chinese Researchers Reach Accord.

5 236 Journal of Resources and Ecology Vol. 9 No. 3, 2018 王国勤 1,2, 付超 1,2, 刘健 3, 张林秀 1,4,5,Ayub M.O. Oduor 1,6,Dagne Mojo 1,2,Mulubrhan Balehegn 1,2 1. 联合国环境规划署国际生态系统管理伙伴计划, 北京 ; 2. 中国科学院地理科学与资源研究所生态系统网络观测与模拟重点实验室, 北京 ; 3. 联合国环境规划署, 内罗毕 00100, 肯尼亚 ; 4. 中国科学院地理科学与资源研究所农业政策研究中心, 北京 ; 5. 中国科学院大学, 北京 ; 6. 肯尼亚理工大学应用和技术生物学系, 内罗毕 00200, 肯尼亚 摘要 : 非洲的可持续发展面临挑战与机遇 对于非洲大陆来说, 气候 生态与生计 (CEL) 综合途径是通过整合力量实现可持续发展的一种有效方式 本文在对多个机构特别是联合国环境规划署国际生态系统管理伙伴计划 (UNEP-IEMP) 在非洲开展的工作进行总结的基础上, 探讨了非洲在实施 CEL 综合途径方面的需求及机会, 提出了未来在中非合作框架下如何推动实施 CEL 途径的看法 主要结论是, 非洲是实施 CEL 途径的重点地区之一 ;UNEP-IEMP 已经开展了几项重大行动, 为在非洲实施 CEL 途径打下了基础 ; 但应在中国和非洲现有的合作机构 网络和项目基础上建立广泛的合作伙伴关系, 以支持未来关于 CEL 综合途径的中非合作 关键词 : 气候 生态与生计 (CEL) ; 综合途径 ; 可持续发展 ; 中非合作