Environmental education and training programmes and strengthening of national institutions in Africa : a note by the Secretariat

UNITEI) NA1'IONS

E(:()NOJ\lI(: ANT) SOCIL\L C{)UNCIL

ECONOMIC COMMcrSSION FOR AFRICA

Third meeting of the Inter-governmental Regional Committee on Human Settlements/

First meeting of the Joint Inter-goverrunental

Regional Committee on Human Sett16nents

and Environment

Addis Ababa, 28 June - 2 July 1982

EIWIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND TRADTmG PROGRAMMES AI~D STRENGTHENING OF NATIONAL

INSTITurIO:NS IN AFRICA

(A NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT)

Dir;tr. : LI1\1ITED

E/ECA/ENV /4

10 June 1982

Original: ENGLISH

I. Introduction .

III. Joint AIHTTR)WHO Feasibility Study for a Centre for Environmental Studies

and

Infrastructure • • • • • •

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

II.

IV.

Joint UNEPjECA

l~ssion

Report on Environmental Education and Training • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Summary

and

Recommendations

. . .

Paragraph

Page

1 -

5

¹

6 - 12

3

13

- 24 6

25

- 26

9

For technical reasons this document has not been edited

I .. II'1TRODfJCTJ01\1

1. Fn~7ironMentalechlcation an(3 traininrr and, -r,h.e neec. for manDO'.~1er

infrastruc~uredevelonrn.ent ^fer environrrental a.ss~s$'!'""'ent and T!"anacreJ'!lent in the rfrica.n reC"ion is ""i(~el~? ~eco0nizerl. Since the Stockholm Con-Feren.ce, on Rurnan

Environment 1972.. sAveral tr·T Oroaniza.tions such as rr~~p,~ rr.rcsco ILO~. {7l"'K) t1r~LC;~.- and MHO have had several activities renardinq environmental education and traininq in the reoion. For exarrln1e;- tJ!TESCO/TrTFP EnvironMental Fducation Prooramme has heen in existence since 1975:, car~{in0 ov.t a variet~l

of

activi ties \~711ich a(~cress

themselves to general en.vironrnental e~ucation of all citizens / throuC'h either the fOrMal or the non·· formal educational s"\Ystems. Ul'-!EPCO Science Sector is concerneo with the education o~ certain nrofessional arouns (e.0. en~ineers) and with the

trainin~of snecialists at nost'-(!ra,(~natelevel. F'itJ1in tlli~~ sector, several

pro~ra~mes'acdress themselves to snecific qroups such as the International

Hydroloqical ~roqraMme which carries out hydrolo~v education activities. A major part of II...O's nrOCTrarrme concerns t11e workinry ~nvironMent which is recocmized

~sbeinq ~art ~f the qeneral environMent.

Based

u~on a 1975 110 resolution

dealinq 'Vlith the improvement of \'!~rkino condi~~ons -For the environPlent tLO has beer:

involved in environr!ental education ^'ann trainincr as i t relate.s to the \:!ork place.

't!orlr "-1eteorolooicalOr'nanization (r!1~~0) ~ un(~ertak.es several specialized. trainin0 ac'tivities for Irteteorolooical a.nd air r'o11utionnersonn~1.. r:rhis traipin⁰ programmes are based on exnert meetinqs to lnG_ie'ate areas for l:~Thich train.ina .i;s required.

There are several ~~ivisions of tIle 1'<.lorlrl. Pealth ()r~anizationconcerned vrith areas ancl activities related to environmental eCJ.ucation such as envirqnrr.ental health'7

faIr.il~r health and. public infor~ationo r-~l~O has also con,,"ened several seminars

dealin0 vIith the inter,:l,iscif'linar~,aSr'\ects of 'heal th ane¹ ec.ucation and has undertaken trainina Y>rO(Trammes 0 f en,vironmental enrrineer.

2. "r'he

ne'eo

for environmental trainino and education is ",li{1el'.1 reco-qnized in Africa. The fir3t Int~r(Tovernmental Conferen~e on Pnvironmental Pducation was held in Thilisi (~eorgian SSR1 tJSSP) from 14 to 26 I~ctor)er 1977. 1/ Th,is global

Conference

'4.

^Tas orqanizer] bv U~JBSCO in co-operation y,7ith tT-·i'F';)o· The Tl.)i·lisi Conference on Environmental :'~(~ucation caller} on me1'!l1:>er f'tatf-::s to'

'Include in their educational nolicies [1,easures (~esinne( to introdtlCe environment?1 concerns activities an~ contents into their educational . sy'stez:ns : .

Invites ed.ucational aut,horities to ~ron"Ote a.n.d intensif~T thinkinr,r, research and innovation in re~ard to environ~entaleducation ⁰

30 Since the 1970s there I-lave [-teen several ¥7orks~10~S seminars., and feasibilit', stuc"1ies relative to the need for en:vi-ronP1ental ecl.ucation arvJtraininn in the r-:CA reg-ion. These inclu1e" fa) ·th.e workshon on Fnvironmental' F'ducation and Trainino in ;Africa lTniversities conveneG. ~"Y the A,ssociation o-f' l~.frican IJniversities.₁₇ snonsored

~/ Bnvironmental Educ'at-:ion in the li.CTht of the T:bilisi Conference_i ur.n:;sco Education on the MOve⁰

E/BClt/E'·JV

I

4 nacre 2

by U!'ffiP and hosted at the University' of rJairobi; 3 to 9 necewber,l~7:,~ 2/ . '<b) the ,;

l\.frican Curriculum Ornanization~ s(~,CO) 'workshop on Environrnerital 'Education in School Curriculum. snonsored b~{ TJ'\!F'P anchoste(1 h~1 the Curricll1um Develonment Centre ^{in Lusakay} ZaIllbia from ~'Toveml":'er 26 t.o Decer'l)er 7? 1979 3/ and (c) the F'orld. Health Oraanizaion"s .(rITIO) feoort on Centre 'for Fnvironmental Stuc'ies and, Infrastructure? (TclFTO/l.r~IrrTRJ Feasibili~cy^{ftuf.vr 19P17 4/} "'-Those observat~~ns ^and.' recomMendations incicatec. the recocri1izea need. for an A,frican Environrr,eri.:tcil

gducation and Trainin~ ""rogramme"

4^Cl In reconnition of t11e importance of m,anrO~ler (levelo'r,ment for the !'t.Janaaernent anc1, protection of the ].\.fric'an environment tbe United. ~~Jation.s ~nvironmentPro9r,an1rne" s

(tJ!'lFP) _C70vernin~ Council h.as Dasse("~. several (1ecisions relative to Environwenta:l.

B(:lucati.on and fT1rainina in the .African r.enion., lr;'J~r/cc.g/12 decision o~ F'ay 1981

identified. environrn,enta.l education

and

traininc^r a.n(~ technical assistance as a nriorit'v for developmento"S/ L'1:~~'/~C.9/20/~,^of '26 _~;av 19R1. GC.9/20/D of ~1ay ^{26 1981 ..,} '~n('. ^. C...c.9/21 also ofP'!ay 26 19R1, all of' th.~se"r!ecis1ons ^maoe r,articular references tq the. irnportance 0 f environmental ec1ucation and traininf"' in ~,frica⁰ Decis.~on. r;,c.

9/20/n

requested the Pxecutive Director of r]'r,JBF to exnlore jointl~l ,~.rith ty\·r::?C7' the .~ossibilitips

of establishin~a reaional institution for environMental trainina and education

withintJle ?\frican reC'ion anc"1 to seek ~]a'Vs an~ f1.eans of r-:-rovid.incr sunnort fqr national insti ttltions for environrnental 'lrotection anc~ manaCTement in 7Jf"rica⁰ r~aain in ^ua ':

1982!~ UN,EP Coverninn Council ~./ at it.s tenth session requ.este~l the Executive

Director to enhance the role of the Environment PrcH·lra~r"e.in .nr-omoting: _co~oJ:c1inatinq andcatalystinq activities in th.e fiel(~ of environrnental educat.i.on and traininer in the African req:i.on includinrr r·ublic awareness' th.e decision also requesten. UN'FP Executive Director in co··o,peration with relevant. interna.tional, oraanizations¹ to continue renderinq sunnort to environmental educati..on and trafriinq nrqc;rarrwes in, the African resion with a vie",rto~

(a) Prlvisina on the incornoration of environmen~al cornnonent.s into.

curricula of all institutions of learninC"'! at all levels of C~(ltlcation an.d into ad111t education"

.<h) Identify, nro~ote and stren~thennationaly regional and subre0ional institutions and nro~rammes offerin0 environ~ental efuc~tion an~ training in the African reqion ..

.?/

S~J7l~,~~;{_~en.~,~~-· ~'~1orks11C'p on :PnvironTl1ent.al ~ducat'ion an(~ Traininn in African Universities I'eccrnr,\er 3 to 9 .. 1978,0 r:'l the 1\ssocia.tion of i'\frican Universities (J'J'tJ).

3/

S.~!":.~~I"L.~:.~J1O!!.on EnvironMe:1tal F\~ucation in School Cllrriculu~ l.'~' th.e Curriculum Develo!",rr'ent Centre ' IJusaka, Zamhia ~,lov'errl-'er 19790

4/ Centre -For Fnvironmental Studies an-4 Infra,structur~ F'easi1.)ilit~T r,tt10\T bv _r·~r. J. Lanoi}~ r"HO Consultant Report ('l\FR/PT"i/191).19nl~ ^{I ,}

51 rr1'f;F ~overninr.r Council ninth session ara-Ft re1JOrt .. tJr.;f''''/Gc.9/1S June,19?lo

.6j

UIIP-'/C.c.lO/IJ" Draft renort of ^th.e rover!'in~ Council at its tenth session 25 ~/7ay 1982.,

r/rCl\/r

^":!\ljl:

paqe 3

50 This note 'by t11e Secretariat'is therefore~. a suw..mary of activities by IT-'7F.,

}~CA and AIHTTP regardin0 enviro:l~,ental education and the' si....renathenin~ o~ national institutions in the African reqion.

II. Joint lrr·IEP/EC~J\ ~'~ission P.epor·t on the Irnnl,ementation on i.n:JEpjGc-:g72ojD-~~··'·~E~;-iro~.;;ent~1-'·~~ducation,~'~,n~-'Traini"i1n

_~._, " . . . - ._ _•, _.._~...", ..•- _ ~•._ _ , _ . _ __ _ '~._,_- ._ -,"d .C'•.. _. . _..'~' ~_.,_, _ . _ _ . _ . . . - - ~ - _ _,~.- '__ _ , - ,

6. ~ursuant to ^trnBP decision (;(". 9/20/D and directi¹Jes reqarc1ino environmental eclucation an<l traininrr in ~frica·a tnrEP/EC}\.. joint ~ission ^l,lI1aS conducted from ~.nril

19 to 30~ 1982. The terms 01= reference of the joint mission were to consider~

(a) The status of envir0nmental trainina and education in African tlniversities;

(b) The status of national institutions responsible for envi.ronp'.enta.l protection and mana~e~ent

(c) To explore the rossihilities of strenqthenino- environmental traininc:

and education and national institutions and

(el) To explore possihilities of estal)1ishinr: a. P,ecional Institution -For :Cn"'"ironrnental Train.inn a.nd F~(l.ucation.

7. The mission \"Jas lir~ited to the _f'eriod 19 to 30 A.T'ril 1982 to consult vJith the followin0 qovernrrlentG t..'.~J.J o:..:"nanizations~

(a) !\Jigerian ,FecJ~~al ~~inistry of I"ousin0 and. j~:nvironment in Lagos"

(b) the l.\ssociation of ~frican t.lniversities (~A.lj) in l\cera1 Ghana~

(e) th~ Senegal fRiniptre d.e 1'urbanisrⁿe, d.e l'b.aJ)i,tat et (le 1 'en"irorinemen't as ~~1ell as~

'(d) -the Environment ana De,relonITtent l'.c~ti.on·Institute (Ji'?\TTJA.) in Dakar"

(e)' ,the I(en:"a' j/'inisJcr:\-" ( ) f En~i.ronm.ent anc1 '\1atural Resources in _T~ai'ror)i includinq the

(f) ~!at;ional T\n,rironmental Secretariat an0 the 'Oennanent f.!1ission of r~eri:,a

to {P-lEn •

Contacts ^\-lere also establi,sh.ec{ 1J~ith. the African ,:1et~,qork o-F Scientific and Technical Institute _(A.r1S~I) in J'~airobi and the ,African Curriculum Or0anization })aseCl. in Il)aeJar ⁰ 8., Reqardinq the S,tate of the art. o:f environroent,al ec1ucation and. train inC! at

e~istinn ~,frican',Univ~rsi..ties." the f!!iss.ion obser\Ted that there are a cross section of environmental1y-relate<:'- (leoree nrocrrammes at most of the existing universities ir~

Africa. ;Fo,r exaMPle the~ TJniversit~!of .~.ssiutt1 l\ssi.ut⁷ Per'nt has a derrree nr6qra~r1'~

cornnrisina of ,,!uJ\lic healt}-.l. aeolomT^r hotc=)nv an(1 incustrial ,nha.rM..3.cy Wllich are all environmentally re1atecl,;' . l'.s: .:t \"lhole'6 most }>.frican tJnj.versities Rhoul0 cover a stud~~

of environmental concerns in the various trar1itiona.l _aca(~e~ic ,....erartwents sl.lch as engineering! medicine~ a0riculture~ qeology, botany;

zoology,

0eoqraphy; etc.

9. The mission al so oi'1Ser"\Te0. that \~lhat is lackin0 in th.e }\.frican reqion^if is an

interdiscinlinary en"\l'ironynental e<111cation and traininrr nqorarnmes which would incon:oratE::

the various relate'd·a;acle;j~c-(;.isci~~~iine~'F-;;~Ju~i-;ersitj.es'-in ·-Africa .. have taken tl1€

E~ /EC;P./FI~1/ 4 oacre 4

interdiscinlihar)' apprc,ach to environm.ental ~~c1.ucation,. such as.; theIJniversit~{of Ja1artou.Jnf r~naster os Science Course in :Rii\lironlnental Stuc.1ies whic·h has been in

existence since July 1979. $rh~ tollowinq are the core courses of the two semesters

r:~aster of Scien~e 'Procrrarr~e in En'vironmental stucies at the tJniversity of Khartollm:' (a) First Semester Core COllrses:

principles of environmental science J\pt:1ied climatoloq5.T ·c.nd ~eornorpholony ." Cartography ane. rerriote Sf:ns tnt;

", Communit~l health and c.emoqra!)hy

Envil"onment,.~l econornics

,.. Pasic statisti.cs for environrrental research

;. (b) Second Semester Core Cou.rses ()

gnv"'ironmental assessP".ent^J man a creyr.ent: and. planninc -- R'ural nr::velopment

.'~ Environ~ent.allat-;

r..p~p1.ied ecolocry

Procl.1.1ction technolo0'V⁷ enqineer~nq aDd the .environment i>jethoG.s of er~"JironMentalresearch .and assessment.

10. The mission also noted. that t.he infrastructure for environmental F;rotection and management does exist in most African countries but the resryonsibilities are spread. out throuoh sC¹18ral .,!o,\remm.ent.al n,crencieso :^Jl1hdt is lacking are centralized national instit'ltions fer en\;.L::0nrr.-~nt;~'l1 "')rotE-~ction al1a management at the national le'Tels. The countries visited h~l the m.ission seem to be the exception in t~lat two of the countries 'hav^t2 a sinrrle centralized environrnental r)rotection and. management fi'achinery. Ghana IlaE tht3 Envircnmental. Protection COlJ.ncil? and Kenya the l·Jational Environmental Sccre·ta.:.:-iet under the r~:inistr~.J of !~r:LvirorlInent and 1\:ratural P.eSOtlrces.:

11. Based on discussions held in countries visited and literature consulted during the missiony the followinn conclusions are 0rawn reaarding the subject matter.

(a) On the possibilities of esta.blishinn a reaional institution for environmental trainino and ecucationq the consensus which emerqen from the consultation is that Dresentl~t. tl1e establishrr.entof a ~e(lionc.l Institlltion for Environmental Training anci Ecluca.tioa is not a !,riority takina into account~'

(i) rrhe decision oftrle Second Ex·traorcipa.r~::"Session of the Heads of States ('=in.a. (~overnments of the Ol'.fJ reaardin~ auit?elines in the. Lagos :Plan of }\ction' retatincf to th2 cstabli.s11m.ent 0.1= ne\rl institutions^;0' was broucrht at tl1~3 attent.ion of "the ~ission and i t reads ~'no ne\-J multinational insti'tu·tions s110ulc1 be created. llnless their

. creati0D has been tn'orouql1ly exafrlined ana after the nossibilities offered' l)~l ~n::'"tional:institutivns or e>l:istincr ~ultinational

instit:u"tionB .h.av9 first heen fully con.sic.erec.~·

FE /EClA/Ei'lV/ 4 :page 5

(ii) It was stressed that because of the interf~iscinlinarynature of environMental t.raininn and edllca'tion" the',establishment of a single nur:r;<)s'e reqional ins~itution. to cater for all fields would not be cost--effective'

(iii) It was also r,ointed out that reoional institutions have a natural tendency to take on the nafional character of the nlace of

location, therefore!, this coulcl. create a nrohlem req-ardint;

financial contributions from other meIl'her states\-!ho could percieve the institution as national instead of reqional.

(b) In the nee0 to strengthen national institutions for environmental protection and manaqemen't¹¹ it l\7as nointed out. to tr~e mission t1.1a.t UNEP1 ~1Ec~. and

OAU could help by:

(i) Providinq technical assistance to establish environmental protection and nana~e~entmachinery ~~here they 00 not exist:

(ii) Encourage governments to centralize environmental ~rotection

and mana"ement activities at the national levels;

'(iii)' Establishino environment.3.1 continuino educat.ion and public service proqra~es ta~~eted to~ extension ~rJork,ers in the building, forestry, a~riculture, and mining industries, health

ana

sanitation^D

(iv) Develo,ping, ,educational pro~raI!lmes in the area of environmental

a'Y7areness for ... qovernJ"'lental officials; cecision makers;J and' the general public. This roint was stressed in all the

countries visited. It was

stated that there is a strong

lack :of ',public a,~areness of environmental protection and

mana~ement as a vn101e in the reqion.

12 . The mission recommends the establishment or a .~i!1cr!~_~~_~o~:?~~Eat~~'r-_!3?~Y (a _s~all secretariat) ~lhose ob;ectives could be

(a) To foster the nevelopment of environ~entaleducation and traininq

DrOarammes to meet the mannower n~e0S of environmental ?rotection and management in the l:eqion"

(b) Create and co~ordinate a net¥Tork of institution at national levels for the nu~ose of providinq t~o distinct environmental education and trainina pro~rammes

in the region] namely~

(i) EnvironMental Continttinq Bducation ancl Pu'nlic Service Proqrarrmes tar~eted to extension \tolorkers and ste..ff of the buil(ling~ minin0~ a~riculture ano. forestry' in.dustries, health and sanitation workers:

(ii) To ident;ify.existino universities an1 institlltions ·of _highe~

ed.ucation at the national levels with suitable infrastructure for the development of interdiscinlinary environmental education and traininrr leac1in~ to :;-rofessiona.l deqrees in Environmental Studies.

E

/ECA /Ew /4

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6

III. Joint AIHTTRldHO feasibility study for a

centre for environmental studies and infrastructure-"'---"-"--'---"''''-''''--''

13 •

Presently·, the Africe.,rt TD.0t·ttrlt.e for Tf1~bpy' ~,1?(~hn~.i.c:al'!'-rain:tng and Research (AIHTTR) located in Nai:robi, Ken.ya,

"'n

UI.iECA-spons·")r' illstitution, has within its planned prog1:'armne a Centre fOl"" E1TvircrJr1.cntaJ_ St·:.ldies alld Infrastructure 'Vlhich

emphasizes enviror.mentaJ.. edu.cati.o:-.l ancl tra,i11iIlg :.:0. the Afl"'icB.,ll region. The planned centre for environmen-caJ. studies a11cl infrastruct,1.u-'e 5.8 one of the ten centres plann.d

within

the framevlork of the

(fltl-IT'rR):>

··che otr:e~ are:

(1)

(2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

(7)

(8)

(10)

(9)

Technic8.1 teach81,,/led'LlCa'GOr/in8t~ruct()r cy.c.llning ce11tre;

Centre for eJ.8ctrbmecha11iea,1 e11gtr.eerj.ng, Centre for engineel~ingo:lld food 'cecll11o}ogy;

Electronics and CO:lllnU11icB..t:i.011S t':;chnology centre;

Inter-disciplinary i11:iu:'3"l~·ric.J_·!1Tod.1).ct5.011 centre;

Business and soeiaJ_ studies .~entI'e ~;I

Physical a.nd medica,l seienees cel1-Gre;

Centre for chernical r111d IlGI1Mmetaliferou.s te.c11nologies;.

Centl.-aeAfor natural F:.:,e::::gy reC01J.:t'cC.:3 f:::.ncl rrdne:rals e~loitationand Centre for environrc.entf\J_ and. inIllL1structu::.'-'al studies.

14^Cl In 1980,~JHO funded. e.. feJ,R:Lbility st1.1.Jy· '( / 1f11ose purpose was to' consult with the Director-Genera]. of t11e Afrie8J1 Inst~_:r11te for Higher Technical Training

and Research (AIHTTR) on the f·u~ther ~plarm..j.rlg cf tJ1e _Cent:t~c for

Environmental

Studies ancl In:frastructu:~·es, to be crct,,'C3d^t, rI'be term.s of reference of the study

were:

(a) '1'0 work out the _g~neral guid_e ...].i.n28; ol\jecti"\rer-; ctnd target groups for training;

(b) To desi.gn all. appr·o?J.~iate ctll'ricv.l"JJ1':';nc~o11tline the scope and

contents of cours'es 'fl,t dif!~eJ::-ent leveJ._s G.C: c2:~ct~tfi.cJ~t:iO:n ^b,11d training, including research;

(c) To recommend approl')r:Lt~te eQLlli])lTI.ent 3 ~nd te5.eh:l..11g aids and the

requiremen~s of the t8aching staff; and

(d_)

To discuss his dxaft prol)o:~,a.JJs ^"\tlit11 otb.er cill"ricuJ_1.w.. development experts, vrho 1'liJ_l be pJ.a.:''lnir.g the othel"t cent~':'~B 511 .ATI-ITTR J_isted above~

15. '.

After discussion 1fitb the Di:r.-ectol' Ge~1e!""al of"' f1.TIIJlliIll~, it ",as agreed that tile consultant 't\Tould cOilceIltrate Oj1 thp HEl·.vir·omnen.tal Studies" component activities, and that, to tbs e:'ctent =~o8sibJ_e (l.r:..d stlbject to available time the consultant .::VTouI.d attenlpt to 'de\relop t.h~ fo.l.lc),'l:tng fl.-·re POi11tS mentioned in

AIHTTR's

brief, concerning:

(a) Types a..nd ccnte!rts of progI\3,rn:nes tc be 8er'\rJ.ced arld operated by the centre in the ligllt of tbe neecl~ :i.ll. thecontiner~J~ ()i.~ l\frica and of the institute's philosophy;

7 / villa

Consultant report A.PRjEli/J-91.,'

]-981

~ Centl")e fOl' Env:tronmental

studies

and .IIifra.st.ructtlre..1Fe~~~~~~.!:~~Jr S·t~d:Y~^.. b~r J ⁿ

L:JJ:l0ix:

. ' ^\

E /ECA

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pag~

7

(b) Faqiliti~s-in ..Kenya ,(Nairobi ~special.q), aJ:.lq..more generally in all

East

African c01ll1~~i~,s·for..the tj-pes and J_c'vels ..of

coupses

:requireq.; "

(c) Avctilabili'ty of tb.e·' ab,j~[2 to tlle inst:ttute arid OJ.'1 what terms and

arrangements;

(d) Supple:menta·i~y.reS0U1~ce8 ,i~o tr1e,· abov"e;

(e) .Provision·s and sel"vices that r;.1a~r be ·reClui.~ed in or shared with other centres.,

In

addition, -t·o the 'AIH;:rTR cloeu¹ueD.ts 3uPl;J_ie(1, "t:.11e 'consultant collected aJ;ld

revie"tved .a'v'olu.mirlo11s do:cume:1ta'/ciorl co·v"ering chiefly the teaching

and

organization' of environm.ental C(J11t:col ^an.d ~:.,~dm.1.l1istrL~tion in Kenya'· and other Afr:l:-~an ~oUntries~

16.

The GOllsuJ.tant rf::commen.d_c~d that;. at the initial

stages

of

the

ce:t:ltr~,

the

following tV10~bl"oad areas stloul(~ be··.. ejnphasized:

(a)

Envirdn.w.e~.lt·a.l

protect::.o.n

(rrlearlin,g

cC.i.1trol and

a~sess~en't) comprisin.g

of:

Envirorillient.J.l 811g:Lne'ering;'W'ater .supply and.

waste'

dispo:sal;

environmental pollution; and

(b )

~nV;irGrul1~ntal m.ar:;.e.g'2me~t cOI11prising of~

;-~', E~~n..:ronme:ntq:Lhes:Lt11', elr\~ircnmenta,l

administrat'ion

'and

control.

Th.e celltr.e:,:shoulO::,·cc.nce-ntra;te· on· a J~imited',ntunber of ·issues,avoiding as far as possible duplice,ti()11 1vith other African training 8..nd research instituti"~ns. The"

centre's

efforts

should

~oncentrate

on technical training,

limiting

its

research and

the

trainipgof, _r~se9..rch .specialistst·o·' the strict ntihimum during its' first.

ten

years of'·operatiqp..,.,The categorie~~:"of'personnel to be

trained

'should'~be as follows:

Environmel1ta':L health u:t.'.~~':c;t.;;~cs;>

o.t

Do0C. lev\~l

:E:nVirbnmentai epgineers:.,,·ratersupp:i,.y aJ?-9.waste. disposal, pollution

.c~ntrol,

at

l'[.1dergl~ad"uate (B"Sco) al1.d gradUat'e.,l~vels (M.Sc.),

. 't.,l.~;~ - • • , '. • • , . , • •

Envil~onrnerr~&~L ;j}a;nagenlent.·SI)ecial:Lsts: En.Vironmental·'adIninistration .and cpntrcl·, a~ld' 'Ct~).vil.,;c:nr{je~:Jt8,1.heaJ_th ~t gracluatelevel(M.Sc.).

100 The gradu?"te i);~'on:l--iJ-tmnes Sh.OtlJ.d cC:>veJ:~·. orJ.e' f"'~ll year, 'with :fulltime attendance, and should include the(:~'rt:Lc .- 8.1nd laboratory classes and demonstrations; field work, seminars and a vlritte~n repol~t,Jna technical illvestigation, Research as

such, should notb~'a.reql1ire:nent for tb.e l1 ...Sc. degree. No "Diploma" course

should be offered by the centre^{0 '}

18.

The COlfsultQJ1t 'p0inted ou)·, .that

memller·States

shoUld·make

arrangements

to train te~hn.iciaps. 1~itb.irl.,rbhe:;.;~ 'o~1Jn coun-bri.es^{c> ,,'} And so:,

a

major effort should ...~~, :Il}.ade , ..:vlithoJx~ de18,Y": by tIle AIHTTR 'in collaboration with<ECA^tS member ~·tates to

carry

out ma,np01ver surveys., SO'

'as

^'to

^as'certain

^{the exact}

E !ECA

lEW /4

page

8

types' 'and,number's of per'sonnel r'equired and the training curric.ula to be adopted0 Besides its

academic

activitied, the cel1tre should ·carry .out a continuir;tg. educattrn prograrnrne and an on ..~the..·job training p:··..og.ramme^e

19~ The centre should establish co~operationagreements with African institutions and Universities engaged in training and utilization of environmental pers,onnel, in order- to achieve co-ordination of programmes, to provide for effectj.,'tre field training of technic8Jl stUdents, to sec,:ure the services of experie:nced, pal't-tiIne visiting lecture:-es and to arrange for cont~nuj.ng edt-lcC\tion ..) In. particulax', agreemen.ts and continuing work

relationsh~pp_{' .}

. .

should

oe

^,developed with the

new

nchooJ. of

environmental

studies being .estaJ>lisl:1ed at ,the, .tJnivers5.ty of Nairobi -with the assistance ,of the Canadian International Development Agency

(eIDA);

the Kenyan Ministry of Environment a~.d Nat~al.Re~ourcesand its National, Envil'onment Secretariat, and wi'th thej.r

counter

parts in

othel:"

.l-\.frican coun,tries; theJ~enyanMinistry'

of

Water Development, especially

'with its 'Water Resources Training Institute, and with its

~o~nter parts in

otqerAfrican countries;

the relevant

Faculties

o~

the University

of Nairobi and of the second Kenyan University

now under establishment;

the

Kenyan

Polytechnic; the

Kenyan Ministry of

Health's Medj7q~1

TTai:.ling

Centre; .the,Kenyatta U!liversity College.

20 • The

consultant

s'.l.ggested that the name ('f^o

the

proposed centre should be changed from nCentre for EnvlronrnentaJ_ studieG and Infrastructures" to

Centre for E~,vironmentalManage;nent aJ1d J..rlfrastructures. A mechanism

should

be set up' for updatin.g 'su~ch sur~Teys on a

regular

basis, so as to enable the AIHTTR^tS

centr~s.to

keep

at~.uned to rapi~y-evolvingenvirorlmental conditions in

the countries

served"

21. ~cc'ording

to

^,i?he

consultan:t,

.t\Vo majol-- categories of environmental problems can t,e id~~tifiedin Afri.can countries~ Those concerned'

with

en,riroll..rnental control and those

concerned

'tv-ith env:ironmenta.l protection.

In controlling the environment, men pursue thelr a:Qcient sec1,~ch for ways of protecting them,Belves agC'..:tnst ttdi.s(~a,ses of 1.v1d.e·rde·'!e]~opmer~-~::;rt,natural hazards and disasters ^\> In pr-otectirlg the environm1ent, they seaI'ch for ways of avoiding ,the danlag'e'ol~ depletion caused "by their ovm denlands on itⁿ In both instances, the appli-ca-cicn of scientific principJ.es of ecology, chemistry and biology, in ·s·upport· of envil'onmental engineering arldof environment·al management measures,. are essential for reaching tIle ob.j~c.tives sought. Among

environmental contr61 measures,

by far the most important in Africa in the prese;t;rt.decade is

t.he

provis~on of saj~e drinking water supply and

sanitation to

co:n1niun~

ties ..,

22. En\li.~onme:r.1talengineering ~s concerned..vIl~h the identification of environmental probJ,ems arld theil-' social impact; the eXalnination of the varJ.ous causes

of

environmental

problems;

tlle eva111ation of tIle engineering

aspect s of man

^f

s .

i.pteractions with

the

natural andlnan-made environment;

participat-ion .in the design of Cl-evelopment strategi.e.s 1Alhich should satisfy

human needs a*d ,protect ~he environment~ anc?. contribution to rl1ulti.-disciplinary·.. ,'.

efforts in r~~tion to .development planning. It

Will

be noted· that the functions;"

E/ECA/ENV /4

page 9 of the

enviro~nentul

engineer under the UNESCO definition are

fully

consonant

with t.hose·.ident':~fied"in

J.974

byWHO~' for the tfhealt·h:~~orient·e·duengineer itl~··the· . asse,s'sin~nt :and~:;jrJ.trol. of,: ·e.n"'"i·rc~tl1neht·al conditions and"haz'ards':that::

affect·'

man's.:.hee"lthh·.···:·

23

⁰ Envirunmen:tal~·.:manag·ement.:describes· the~, acticil1S ·df· ·tho·se

involved'

in decision~niakihg'{!ho'make:a deJ.ib;21~ate:·:ahd 'systematic'

atteml1t to understand'

the effects of tileir acti·v.l..ties on tbe e:i.1vj.ronmerlt and vice versa. Those persons wotLld strive to make e~plicit the vaJ.ue~~ involved, the objective

informaticl1·:~vai]~abJ.c:;alld the tl··ade:....

bfrt

thc!.t··1vOuJ~d·

·be· ·necessary,.::· .

They.

would then atteU'lpt to rezoJ...ve tbe issues 1.vitllj.n the relevant public and private decisio.n:··~r!la}.::i.ng.zp~ere3⁰ SllC.ll.. p"ct.ions are incont:rast to t.hose who pursu~' singj~~^.."rn=·Llj..\:IeQly DI:e sst

'6i-

societaJ.

'objectives"

~Tith"110 considera- tion of'·'e.rl'viron.il.eiri>$;J.~Ya:lilef·:.'JT:-·thos·e who-"pU:iisu~e narrowly':'de'fined conservation goals with··no··'at~Gemptto

analyse:·t;he·maj·or·

'changes that -wouldocc~

'in: . .... .

society as~

a

'''.C'on·8<:Jquen.c·eLdf.~· ra~dica;l:·chaT:tgeg;-in· t'he" _s~t'atus

':C1ucf'of

'human

activities and

societcl1 devel,opnerit.·•..'·T·hua

envl:J?6nmental management

is'

e;

positive concept - not a negatiV'e "Halt progress" or "Back to nature"

concept. St>lhe" df'tl1:e'

k.e:y·-aspects·: :invoJ_ved 'are.:',,;

- .. Identiticat.ioll o,i~the- ~tnesd.stl and .n·~~an~su of man in his individual .'and s?ei~l,_:'_d~V~loPrnent;"

.. ' i.··.

^{.c. . .' . .'}

Identification

of the resources that are needed for such

development;

-: Identiiic~t:Lo~.~f-hyw.~eetlngs0me"need~,~d'~la~rt'~ ,wiJi' _i~AAbit ^or·

.

in.c;t~e~;~e· the

al?:tli'ty to

r;J.eet

others ..

as a.~esUit·of··t·he de.struction, :.q.e/~~9.~~~~on,~.or enhancernelft of :resoui:~?~s~. ::. . . .

Identi:ricaJti.(;~l of ·tlle...

··a·ctors

1fhbhave 'a~':stake'in 'the 'conflicts'

that'

may ari~e between meet~ng ~~ed~.and prot~cting

resources;

Resolu.tiol1 of"these conflicts~

24.

^,To,

conceive}

:pk.n, ~tnrt:'J~er·J.8nt e..nd.',Jlnahage ~11e;'programmes' of·

·environmental

contr'ol

and 6£·erlvir-bllmente.:l rrarlagetnent:vrhich, "With0u:b

the

'shadcw;~'of'a'

doubt,

will contin'lJ.€

to exp'3,nd

durin.g ~Ghe r.lext decades,

.African

countries need to talce ear:L~r e"ction j.n. t~caining tIle In,SJlp01tler required~ The time required

to

prepare proressicnals,

particularly if

the

education facilities

need to be creatRd, j.B so :tong tllat the dev'elopment of the educational facilities, is a m~jJtte):; cf tlle gre;3.tes-G urgency) In this respect, the early establi~bment"by the AIHTTR of its pr-ol1osed centre would help to fill

one

of the greatest needs in Africa today~

IV • SUMMARY Al'lD RECO!·1LI1E:rDATIONS

25. The Se~rets.,rj~:~:J-G is :ceeornm.ending that it is 'now appropriate to establish

a single focal point at the African regional level relating to environmental

education

and training

programines. Tb.e

data has indicated that

environmental

education and trainirlg e"ctivtties (J.t.! 2:Kist 'withirl several United Nations Organizations • ~"'be~t J.s :Le.cking is Vile establishment of an inter-disciplinary

(i) (ii)

E /ECA

/ENV j4 page

10

academic- degree programmes'"either at the regional, subregional or

a.t

existing national

institutions

of higher education'

(universities)

'geared t~ward

tra.ining

the required breed of African envi.romnental managers. The Secretariat" there~ore,

endorses the findings and recommendations Af the joint 'WHO /AnITTR consultant report regarding ,the 1t,Centl~.e for

Environmental

Studies and Infrastructure .

FeasibiUty

Study"~ The

centres,:

programme activities should emphasized and .be limited

to,:

(a) Training of

environmental

specialists at the master and doctorate ,', levels;

(b) 'Promoting

environmental

educational

research and

development;

('c) "the role of acting as a catalyst and focal point at the regional level

for'the

strength~gof national .institutions of 'higher education

(universities ,to provi'de.,~llvironmentaleducation and training activities at the natio;nal levels for the follo~ring clientele~ -

Environmental continuing' education. and public services, (in-service training

and

short'courses); and

Environmental education and training programme leading to the BS level - (undergraduate) and. for technicians.

26 •

The 'Secretariat also

recommends

the establishment

of the Single Co-

~rdinating Body" for environmental education and training in Africa between UNEP, ECA; UNESCO, ILO, 'VMO, 'WHO, AIHTTR and QAT] a.t. this meeting or

as

early as possible. The terms of reference of the cc.t-ordinating body' will be as outlined in .paragl"aph 11 above ,as well as the fal.lowing:

(a)

Exchange

of 'information on activities in

environmental'education

and training in the African region; and

:' .(1;»

By: means of joint act:Lons and activities to implement the findings and recommendations., of the AIHTTR/WHC' ~o,nsultant report ,and

the'

joint UNEP /UNECA mission report •.".