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An update on regional sustainable development policy and practice recently posted to the African Regional Coverage knowledgebase Latest News - 15 May 2012 World Bank Supports Fuel Energy Program for Women in Tanzania 7_May_2012: The World Bank’s Gender and Energy Program for Africa has established a project in Tanzania to aid community women in finding alternative fuel solutions to save them time and money spent collecting wood for fuel. continued... ESMAP’s Annual Report Highlights Progress on Energy Poverty and Realignment of Focus Areas April_2012: The annual report of the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) of the World Bank indicates that, in 2011, the Program built on lessons learned by realigning focus areas and strengthening operational functions. continued... First Stakeholder Forum of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) Convenes 13_May_2012: The First Stakeholder Forum of the Africa-EU Energy Partnership (AEEP) took place from 9-10 May 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa, with the aim of progressing on the AEEP 2020 targets to radically improve African deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy access, and energy security. continued... Global Guidelines on Tenure of Land, Forests and Fisheries Adopted 11_May_2012: The 38th Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) endorsed the new Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security. The new guidelines outline principles and practice for governments to refer to when making laws and policies on land, fisheries and forest rights. They aim to promote food security and sustainable development by improving access to resources and protecting stakeholders' rights. continued... IOSEA E-News Highlights Turtle Release, Capacity-Building Programmes May_2012:_The May issue of  the Indian Ocean-South East Asian (IOSEA) Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) e-newsletter reports on turtle releases in Eritrea and capacity-building in Myanmar. continued... UN-HABITAT Report on the State of Arab Cities Focuses on Urban Transition May_2012:_The UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) has released the 2012 edition of its regional report the State of Arab Cities on the theme “Challenges of Urban Transition.” The report notes that, although urban slums are decreasing and urban innovations are being introduced, the region still faces major challenges, including high youth unemployment rates and climate change. continued... AfDB, FAO Working to Restore Rwandan Fishing Sector 8_May_2012: The African Development Bank (AfDB) has initiated the Inland Lakes Integrated Development and Management Support Project (PAIGELAC) to assist in restoring and improving Rwanda's fisheries sector. continued... AfDB Seminar Highlights Role of Civil Society in Green Growth 5_May_2012: The African Development Bank's (AfDB) second green growth seminar highlighted the involvement of civil society in promoting green growth in Africa. Presenters from Oxfam provided an overview of their initiatives in the region, and offered evidence of inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth in Africa, Latin America, and elsewhere. Participants were also briefed on the AfDB's engagement with civil society. continued... FAO Note Provides Overview of Agriculture in UNFCCC Negotiations 9_May_2012: Ahead of the first UNFCCC climate change negotiations since the Durban Climate Change Conference concluded in South Africa at the end of 2011, the Economics and Policy Innovations for Climate-Smart Agriculture (EPIC) Programme at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has released a note that aims to help participants follow the UNFCCC agenda items relevant to agriculture. continued... Informal Ministerial Roundtable on Climate Change Calls for Building on Durban 8_May_2012: An Informal Ministerial Roundtable on Climate Change brought together representatives from 30 countries, including from least developed countries (LDCs) and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), to build on the achievements of the Durban Climate Change Conference. The meeting, which was hosted by the EU, also provided an opportunity for Ministers to discuss the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). continued... UNFCCC Releases Submissions on Drivers of Deforestation and Monitoring Systems 3_May_2012: The UNFCCC Secretariat has released two joint submissions from Parties containing their views on issues identified in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 72 and appendix II (FCCC/SBSTA/2012/MISC.1/Add.1) on policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+). continued... UNDP Hosts Regional Dialogue on Climate Change Finance in Africa April_2012: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) recently hosted a regional dialogue on climate change finance in Africa that aimed to build the capacities of countries to better plan, access, deliver, monitor, and report on climate finance. The meeting brought together government representatives from Ministries of Finance and Environment from Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. continued... UNFCCC Releases Views on the New Market-based Mechanism 7_May_2012: The UNFCCC Secretariat has released a new submission from Costa Rica on behalf of Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama and Peru, containing their views on the new market-based mechanism (FCCC/AWGLCA/2012/MISC.6/Add.1). continued... UNFCCC Releases Bolivia and Ecuador's Submissions on a Framework for Various Approaches 7_May_2012: The UNFCCC Secretariat has released the submissions from Bolivia and Ecuador containing their views on a framework for various approaches (FCCC/AWGLCA/2012/MISC.4/Add.1). The submissions relate to the agenda item of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA) on the development of proposals to enhance the cost-effectiveness of, and to promote, mitigation actions, bearing in mind different circumstances of developed and developing countries. continued... African Regional Coverage Calendar: Current & Upcoming Events UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues: 11th Session New York, United States of America 7 May - 18 May AEWA MOP 5 La Rochelle, France 14 May - 18 May World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2012 Geneva, Switzerland 14 May - 18 May UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies May 2012 Bonn, Germany 14 May - 25 May Inter-regional Learning Meeting on National Preparations For Rio+20 Dakar, Senegal 15 May - 17 May Interregional Meeting on MDG Indicators Santiago, Chile 15 May - 17 May World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2012 worldwide 17 May 38th Summit of the G8 Camp David, Maryland, United States of America 18 May - 19 May 23rd Meeting of the FAO Committee on Agriculture Rome, Italy 21 May - 23 May First Southern African Solar Energy Conference Stellenbosch, South Africa 21 May - 23 May 2012 International Biodiversity Day worldwide 22 May UNGA Thematic Debate on Preparations for UNCSD New York, United States of America 22 May Fourth International African Renewable Energy Alliance (AREA) Conference Como, Italy 22 May - 26 May    Subscribe to our iCalendar and your computer will gain access to all the events listed in our African Regional Coverage Calendar ( Learn More | Subscribe ) Please send suggestions for articles to Alice Bisiaux, LL.M at alice@iisd.org Generous start-up funding has been provided by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

The Reporting Services division of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), with funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), manages the African Regional Coverage (ARC) project, which aims to deliver news and information on environment and sustainable development negotiations and policy making in Africa. Launched in 2006, the ARC initiative works to improve the transparency of the region's policy discussions on sustainable development and to raise their profile at the international level. Click here for further information on African Regional Coverage