The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism through

Correspondent | Tuesday May 9, 2017 15:14

 The purpose of this briefing is to sensitize Heads of Departments and institutions on UNCCD implementation and also discuss the role that the various Departments and Institutions play in executing the National Action Programme (NAP), and their input on collecting and compiling data that is necessary to feed the country report.

Botswana signed and ratified the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 1995 and 1996 respectively. As signatory to the UNCCD, Botswana has to fulfill its obligation in accordance with the provision of the convention.  As such, the Department of Forestry and Range Resources (DFRR), as Secretariat to the Convention has put together a UNCCD National Task Committee, which will help the country to implement its National Action Programme (NAP).

In 2016, Botswana produced a sub-standard country report for UNCCD. Stakeholders that are key in providing information to feed the country report expressed concern that they do not know much about the convention. As a result, there was an audit query indicating failure to submit a quality report on time. DFRR as focal point therefore saw it fit to organize a workshop to address the query.

The workshop will be held on Tuesday 9th May 2017 at Cresta Lodge, Gaborone. The workshop targets all members that form the UNCCD National Task Committee, as well as other stakeholders that are imperative in implementation of the convention.

The purpose of this briefing is to;

•sensitize Heads of Departments and institutions on UNCCD implementation

•Discuss the role that the various departments and institutions play in executing the National Action Programme (NAP), and their input on collecting and compiling data that is necessary to feed the country report.