The main aim of the project is to take stock of Zambia’s existing capacities and specific capacity development needs and priorities related to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
The Project will through a country-driven and highly participatory process, analyse capacity gaps and capacities needed for implementing national activities under the three conventions. Capacity gaps and needs will be assessed at the individual, institutional and systemic (policy and legislative framework) levels, including assessments of vertical (between local and provincial authorities and national levels of government) and horizontal (between government agencies, NGO/CBO and private sector organisations) arrangements for planning and executing needed activities. The NCSA will place a strong emphasis on identifying opportunities for synergies, co-ordination and collaboration among capacity development efforts related to these three Environmental Conventions and between these efforts and broader capacity development initiatives, particularly related to the country’s poverty reduction strategy and MDGs. The NCSA in Zambia will serve as a catalyst, stimulating national actions to meet capacity development needs related to the three conventions in a coordinated and planned manner, ensuring development of both a long-term national strategy and a shorter-term action plan to launch implementation of the strategy.