The East African Community (EAC), in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU), has launched a project to promote sustainable natural resource management in the region.
The EAC4Nature Project is a three-year initiative funded with a total of €8 million, with €5.5 million from BMZ and €2.5 million from the EU, and will be implemented from January 2025 to June 2028.
The project, launched at Imperial Resort Hotel in Entebbe, is designed to integrate Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) into regional policies, enhance cooperation among EAC member states, and improve the management of shared natural resources.
The overall objective is to bolster the capacity of key actors within the EAC to implement climate-resilient and gender-responsive nature-based solutions, ensuring regional environmental policies address both climate adaptation and community resilience.
Speaking at the launch, Eng. Richard Gatete, the Executive Director of the EAC CASSOA, who represented the EAC Secretary General, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in addressing climate challenges.
He highlighted the need to integrate nature-based solutions into EAC climate policies and strategies, ensuring they are inclusive and gender-sensitive.
Gatete pointed out that the EAC region is highly vulnerable to climate change, facing increasing temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events.
He stressed that sustainable solutions that work with nature, rather than against it, must be adopted to tackle these challenges.
“Nature-based solutions offer a promising pathway to address these complex environmental and climate challenges. By harnessing the power of ecosystems, we can enhance climate resilience, restore degraded landscapes, and secure the livelihoods of our people,” he said.
He further explained that the EAC4Nature Project will create a cooperative framework for implementing these solutions, particularly in the Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika basins and other critical transboundary ecosystems.
“This project is not just about conservation; it’s about integrating nature-based solutions into our regional policy frameworks and practices to ensure sustainable natural resource management and climate resilience,” he added.
Gatete stressed that the project’s success will depend on collaborative efforts involving the EAC Secretariat, partner states, development organizations, and local communities. He also acknowledged the financial support from Germany and the European Union.
Alicia Van Den Boom, the Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy in Uganda, reaffirmed the commitment of Germany and the EU to supporting sustainable solutions in the region.
She emphasized that collaboration, monitoring, and capacity-building are essential for the project’s success.
She highlighted the need for strong partnerships.
“Through GIZ, we will support capacity development, policy integration, and investment in nature-based solutions to create lasting change.”
Alicia also emphasized that nature-based solutions are at the heart of the initiative, as they aim to work with nature rather than against it, fostering climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
“I’m delighted that this important project is not only supported by Germany but also by the European Union. This, again, shows you how regional integration works in other areas of the world. We’ve got a boost for nature-based solutions now also at Lake Tanganyika, thanks to the European Union. This launch is just the beginning,” she added.
Jean Baptiste Havugimana, the Director of Productive Sectors at EAC, highlighted the growing frequency of extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, in the region. He noted that many people react to these events with surprise, which he said is part of the problem.
He called on the region to focus on proactive mitigation measures to minimize damage caused by climate disasters.
“We have to ensure that we come up with strong mitigation measures for every extreme weather event that may occur. If it happens, these measures should help us minimize the impact. We must also ensure quality adaptation strategies so that when such events take place, we are prepared to repair the damage and support affected communities in adapting,” he said.
Julius Mwabu, the Director of Productive and Service Affairs in the State Department for EAC, praised the German and EU governments for implementing the program, stating that it aligns with the current challenges of climate change.
The EAC4Nature Project will primarily benefit regional basin organizations, including Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA) and Lake Kivu and Rusizi River Basin Authority (ABAKIR)
By focusing on transboundary ecosystems, the project aims to restore degraded landscapes, enhance climate adaptation, and promote sustainable natural resource management across East Africa.
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