BirdLife and the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN)

Paul Matiku, NatureKenya's Director and member of Birdlife Global Council and the Africa Regional Committee, represented BirdLife at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) during the second Partners Conference on the implementation of the action plan for the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) in Dakar, Senegal, in March 2005. The meeting was opened by his Excellency the President of Senegal and discussed key environmental issues in Africa. These centered on the progress made in implementing NEPADs action plan, the necessary financial mechanism for this to happen and adoption of the Dakar declaration for enhanced partnership for the plan's implementation.

The meeting agreed to establish an Africa Environment Facility to be hosted by the African Development Bank (ADB).

Paul Matiku made a presentation to Africa Environment Ministers on how BirdLife's work is currently supporting NEPADs action plan and the possibility for future collaboration. His presentation was later circulated to all delegates.

New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is a VISION and STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR AFRICA's RENEWAL. It strategic framework document arises from a mandate given to the five initiating Heads of State (Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa) by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to develop an integrated socio-economic development framework for Africa. The 37th Summit of the OAU in July 2001 formally adopted the strategic framework document. One of the key goals of NEPAD is environmental sustainability and poverty alleviation globally. BirdLife International will link into and support NEPAD processes.