Project

Developing Air Quality Management Community of Practice in Southern Africa to increase action for clean air solutions

Active project

2024–2026

Project contact

The project is focused on enhancing regional cooperation to combat air pollution and climate change in Southern Africa, consistent with UNEA Resolutions aimed at improving air quality on a global scale. By establishing a sustained Community of Practice (CoP) in the region, the initiative builds upon the 2008 Lusaka Agreement, which SEI York helped to coordinate the development through the Global Atmospheric Pollution Forum and seeks to align with similar efforts in other areas. The project will look to aid the implementation of the Africa Clean Air Program (ACAP), which draws from the findings and recommendations of the Integrated Assessment of Air Pollution and Climate Change for Sustainable Development in Africa, which was also coordinated by SEI York.

The project has several objectives to achieve this, including strengthening Southern Africa’s capacity to monitor and manage air quality effectively through the newly formed CoP. This entails enhancing the skills and knowledge of institutional stakeholders in target countries, equipping them to utilize air quality data in crafting informed policies. A tailored training curriculum will be developed to meet countries where they currently stand regarding air quality management capabilities.

Additionally, the project aims to improve coordination and engagement among key stakeholders at local, national, and regional levels, reinforcing the implementation of air quality management frameworks. It will build on existing UNEP and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) activities, focusing on collaboration with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for capacity building and support in implementation efforts.

The project in Southern Africa aims to combat air pollution by establishing a Community of Practice (CoP) and enhancing the development of the ACAP in the region. To achieve this project’s objectives, SEI collaborates with UNEP and other partners to enhance regional capacities in southern Africa. Key activities include a technical workshop on the Low Emission Analysis Planning (LEAP) tool, which is vital for integrating climate and clean air assessments and developing emissions inventories. SEI will utilize existing CCAC-funded projects in Eswatini, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo as case studies to inspire other SADC nations to create emission inventories.

Additional training for government institutions will focus on effectively using the LEAP tool for emissions analysis and planning, providing participants with valuable insights for improving air quality management and national climate policies.

Under the AUC’s and UNEP’s leadership, SEI will also support the establishment of a CoP towards the Africa Clean Air Program (ACAP). SEI will engage with UNEP, the AUC, the SADC Secretariat and the CoP to shape and draft actions for the ACAP that align with the needs of Southern African countries.