SECURING A FUTURE FOR NATURE IN AFRICACreating Solutions for Nature, People and Future Generations

Eastern & Southern Africas

The decisions and recommendations that emerge from the RCF will be presented

at the World Conservation Congress in 2020.

INTRODUCTIONThe IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Eastern and Southern Africa Office (ESARO), working closely with the Regional Committee of Members and IUCN Regional Councilors from Eastern and Southern Africa will hold a 3-day Regional Conservation Forum (RCF) in Johannesburg, South Africa from 23 – 25 July 2019 under the theme of “Securing a future for people and nature in Eastern and Southern Africa.”

GOALSThe goal of the forum is to consolidate a common agenda to position and safeguard the region’s long-term conservation interests while delivering results for people and nature.

OBJECTIVES1. Show-case innovation and practices from

conservation programmes around the region.2. Concretize input on IUCN’s Programme of work in

the region for 2021-2024.3. Generate motions to be submitted to the World

Conservation Congress in 2020.4. Generating input for Eastern and Southern Africa’s

commitments to CBD COP 15 in 2020.

VENUEJohannesburg, South Africa

LANGUAGESThe event will have simultaneous translation for English, French and Portuguese speakers.

AUDIENCE AND PARTICIPANTS• 170 people;• High-level Ministers and government representatives

from ESARO countries;• IUCN member organizations from the Eastern and

Southern Africa region;• Experts and scientists from IUCN Commissions;• Donors, including philanthropic foundations,

bilateral and multilateral donors, International Non-governmental Organisations and other investors;

• Local opinion makers and academia;• Investors / private sector; and• National and international media channels.

RCF FORMAT, CONTENT AND AGENDA

The event will include a mix of panel discussions, presentations and networking opportunities through an open dialogue session where representatives from government, donors, private sector, and international non-government practitioners can discuss innovation, research and broker new collaboration opportunities.

The Forum will be structured in two key segments:I. Open dialogueII. Members Forum

Day 1: Open DialogueThe Open Dialogue will comprise of a high-level panel debates, round table discussions, workshops and partnership building events aimed at identifying critical emerging trends and policy recommendations that contribute to forming the African voice on environmental sustainability and conservation.

The participants from different sectors will engage in and stimulate a debate around the different views to contemporary societal values and implications for biodiversity as well as policy and investment decisions. Special attention will be given to the state of conservation in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Themed Sessions Round table sessions will be centered on the following 4 themes aligned to the IUCN draft programme 2021- 2024:1. Healthy Lands and Waters

What type of actions or levers can tackle the underlying drivers of land degradation and generate transformative change?How can we ensure that water-related and water-dependent ecosystems survive and flourish? Building partnerships with private sector2. Healthy OceansHow can we better address pollution, notably plastics and chemicals, and improve marine spatial planning to ensure that the diversity of marine life is sustained?What are the conditions for successful protection measures, and how can we strengthen frameworks and collaboration across borders and beyond national jurisdictions? Maximizing role of the private sector.3. Climate Change Mitigation and AdaptationRisks posed by climate change to the natural world and human communities are on the rise. How can we expand environmental knowledge, learning and capacity on climate change, reduce pressures, and help people better adapt? What is the role of public and private investments?

4. Equitable Governance of Natural ResourcesHow can we improve engagement and representation of women, youth, indigenous people and other underrepresented groups in all governance-related issues? How can we ensure “Sustainable utilization of Natural Resources” for the benefit of communities living closest to the resources? What role does the private sector play directly & or through their CSR programmes?

Day 2 & 3: Members’ Forum

These days involve government and civil society members of IUCN in taking joint decisions in preparation for the World Conservation Congress (WCC) 2020. Discussions will include:

• Input and feedback from Members on the draft IUCN Programme 2021-2024 to be submitted for approval to the 2020 Congress.

• Identifying mechanisms for Members involvement in the implementation of the IUCN Programme in the region at all levels (the ‘One Programme Charter’).

• IUCN’s evolving position on the post 2020 global biodiversity framework with Members.

• Input and feedback from Members on the proposals for governance improvements and reforms including possible amendments to the Statutes.

• Motions to be submitted by Members to IUCN Congress, that should be phrased by 28 August 2019;• Update on implementation of IUCN Resolutions and Recommendations• Engagement strategy for members and commissions• Information session on IUCN Knowledge Products including the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and Synthetic Biology

• Members’ participation at the Congress as a region and how they can use the different opportunities provided by the Forum/Congress to achieve this.

Healthy lands & waters

Healthy Oceans

Climate Change Migration and Adaptations

Equitable Governance of

Natual resources

.......for Nature people and future generations

Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office

P. O. Box 68200 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254 20 2493561/65; www.iucn.org

Join the Open DialogueInteract with leading figures from governments, non-governmental organizations, business and science in the region.

Learn from leading environmental and development experts as well as the business community from across Eastern and Southern Africa.

Develop new partnerships for sustainability across a wide range of sectors and countries.

Get involved in local, national and regional initiatives.

Build long-term partnerships with IUCN to add value to your organization’s activities.

Get involvedParticipate: The IUCN ESARO Regional Office Secretariat and the South African Government through the Department of Environmental Affairs are facilitating this meeting in collaboration with the IUCN Members and Commissions. The event welcomes participation of all IUCN Members and Partners. To find out more about how you can participate, please contact: IUCN ESARO Regional Programme Coordinator: Charles.Oluchina@iucn.org

Spread the word: Regional media representatives will be invited to attend the opening session of the Open Dialogue/Forum. Members and partners can play an active role in raising awareness of the Forum through their own websites and social media accounts. To secure media accreditation for Day 1 of the Forum, please contact: IUCN Regional Communications and Outreach Officer: Caroline.Nyamamu@iucn.org.

Sponsorship and active engagement in the Open Dialogue will allow your organizations to demonstrate its commitment to conservation to a highly diverse and representative audience. To find out more about how you can get involved in this exciting event, please contact: IUCN Regional Strategic Partnerships and Programme Development Coordinator:Kaori.Yasuda@iucn.org

IUCN’s Eastern and Southern Africa region comprises 24 countries in the Horn of Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean; namely: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, The Kingdom of Eswatini, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

IUCN currently has 103 Members spread across Eastern and Southern Africa. The region has over 1,200 experts as members of the six IUCN Commissions namely:• Commission on Education and Communication (CEC);• Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social

Policy (CEESP);• Commission on Environmental Law (CEL);• Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM);• Species Survival Commission (SSC); and• The World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

Through the “One-Programme” approach, IUCN offers the unique opportunity for IUCN Members, Commissions, and Secretariat staff to work together using their collective strength to address the environment and development issues pertaining to the region.

IUCN Members Countries in Eastern and Southern Africa

Sponsors & Partners: