Technical Co-operation
between the FRG and the program on Environment Information Systems in sub-Saharian Africa

1. Objectives
   
   To strengthen the capacities of African professionals and institutions for sustainable development using and managing environment information
2. Activities / contents
   
   The program was initiated by the World Bank in 1989 together with other bilateral (GTZ, NORAD, USAID) and multilateral donors and African partners. The context was the recognition that the national strategies for sustainable development drawn up by African countries can not be implemented without effective Environmental Information Management.
   
   Major activities include:
   • develop principles and practices for EIS development
   • facilitate the co-ordination of national and international programs related to EIS
   • provide a forum for sharing information on EIS activities, development and lessons learned in Africa, through workshops, publications and newsletters
   • provide an annual "State of EIS Development in sub-Saharian Africa" report as an input for debates on EIS policy and implementation.
   • reinforce and work with complementary initiatives in Africa
   The implementation of the program is co-ordinated by an international advisory committee of 20 members from Africa and international institutions with the support of a chairman and a coordinator both from African countries and a secretariat in Africa.
   
   The program has established 6 working groups to help focus its objectives.
   
   It is intended to act as a clearing house on environmental information systems in Africa. The program is building a network of institutions, organisations, experts and people interested in EIS activities in sub-Saharian Africa. A newsletter is circulated four times a year to 1000 professionals mainly in Africa.
3. Expected outcomes / impacts
   
   
   • Guidelines for designing and implementing EIS and training programes for EIS
   • Technical papers
   • Studies on Best Practices and lessons learned in implementing EIS in Africa
   • Documentation of national and international programes and activities
   • Improvement of transparency and access to information through the news letter (four times a year) to 1000 professionals and the Web site http/web.grida.no/eis-ssa/eissa.htm
   • Concept for setting up regional EIM networks at SADC, REIMP, IGAD, CILSS
   • Permanent learning from each other and capacity building
4. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
   
   The program will contribute to African capacity building for sustainable development and environmental management by means of south-south and north-south co-operation.

EIS Program Secretariat Pretoria, South Africa
Or: GTZ OE 4547