Overview : United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for leading and coordinating action on environment matters within the UN system. Within its mandate, UNEP aims to promote environmental sustainability while contributing to a balanced integration of the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. UNEP, with support from the Government of Flanders and in close collaboration with the South African National Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DFFE), is implementing a project that seeks to “Increase Resilience and Reduce Vulnerabilities of rural communities to the Effects of Climate Change: Promoting Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EbA) in South Africa”. With adaptation efforts taking place in unequal power contexts, the project aims to address vulnerabilities to climate change impacts by integrating critical gender and human rights considerations into all aspects of EbA to meet the priorities and needs of all community members. The outcome of the project is for the Government in South Africa to use evidence-based policy and decision making for integrating ecosystem-based management into climate adaptation planning and action to address drivers of vulnerability. In order to realize this outcome, UNEP will develop gender sensitive EbA training material and roll out training, including through a Training of Trainers, to equip and inform target stakeholders. The project will also work to improve monitoring and evaluation processes in order to help improve the EbA evidence base and serve to better inform policy makers and planners in the future. |