Partnerships in environmental management
The challenge of sustainable development requires partnerships among all stakeholders. Agenda 21 Chapter 7 states that “formal and informal organizations, as well as grassroots movements should be recognized is partners in the implementation of Agenda 21.”
Partnerships guided by a sense of common purpose, willingness to participate in genuine social partnership and dialogue. Partnerships should recognize independent roles, responsibilities and special capacities of each stakeholder
NEMA has initiated partnerships in execution of its 5 core functions i.e:
- Coordination,
- Environmental Education, Information and public participation,
- Compliance and enforcement,
- Research and planning
- The Domestication of MEAs.
Partnerships are critical in environmental management since they:
- 1. Refine the concept and application of sustainable development – no single intervention suits needs of all.
- 2. Build on existing competence to create synergy – combine complementary knowledge, skills and resources
- 3. Demonstrate commitment – development of unified approaches to SD
- 4. Ensure implementation – develop policies and appropriate support structures
Partnership areas - The development of environmental regulations and standards is done though wide stakeholder consultation to ensure that their views are addressed.
- The EIA/EA licensing process is a partnership between NEMA, the District Environment committees and the lead agencies.
- In addition, EIA/EA experts outsourced. enforcement of environmental regulations requires collaboration with provincial administration and the police force. Further, licensed laboratories help in determination of environmental quality standards.
- Environmental planning and the preparation of the State of environment report is done in a consultative process through a team of experts drawn from different institutions.
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