Day: February 5, 2023

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Year 2023 is marked as the mid- point in implementing the Sendai Framework 2015 – 2030 as well as the Paris Agreement, Urban Agenda, and other related agreements, conventions, and agendas. This paper outlines the preliminary reflections from the Midterm Review Sendai Framework (MTR SF) process in SubSaharan Africa on the progress made in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (Sendai Framework). It maps out the achievements, challenges, opportunities, and recommendations as a reflection from 11 African States and Regional Economic Communities as well as the African Union Commission.

The Sendai Framework has been implemented in Africa since 2015, within a context where response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to the Ebola crisis, and to the more frequently occurring droughts and floods have mostly kept the continent in a disaster response mode. Expenditures in disaster response, as well as the economic consequences of epidemics, droughts and floods have considerably reduced the States’ capacities to invest in prevention. Despite many challenges, there has been overall moderate progress in advancing the disaster risk reduction (DRR) agenda in sub-Saharan Africa.

The eleven States surveyed mention that while they have made notable achievements in risk reduction since the adoption of the Sendai Framework in 2015, their efforts have mainly focused on risk governance and on emergency preparedness and response due to the overall context of disaster frequency in Africa. As a result, the African continent is off track at this mid-term point to fully reach the Outcome and Goal of the Sendai Framework by 2030.

The main achievements commonly reported since 2015 through the eleven States surveyed include:

A better understanding of risk, with enhanced capacities developed for risk assessment, especially for food security and health.

Governance mechanisms for DRR such as national legislation, DRR strategy and plans of action aligned to the Sendai Framework were developed, and disaster risk management structures were put in place.

Investments in reducing underlying risk factors were made in various development sectors, although not consciously planned with a DRR vision.

Emergency preparedness and response was reinforced due to the development of preparedness and response plans, and trained responders. Early warning for floods and droughts also saw progress thanks to better equipped hydrometeorological services.

Source: UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Harare – The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Acting Deputy Executive Director, and Director of Corporate Services Ms. Sonja Leighton-Kone will visit Zimbabwe from 06 to 11 February 2023.

During her visit, Ms. Leighton-Kone will meet with His Excellency President E.D. Mnangagwa; and other senior Government officials including Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry; Minister of Energy and Power Development; and Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development. In addition, Ms. Leighton-Kone will be meeting with the UN Resident ad Humanitarian Coordinator Mr Edward Kallon and the UN Country Team.

During her visit Ms Leighton will engage senior Government officials on environmental opportunities and challenges especially issues linked to triple planetary crisis of climate change, loss of nature and biodiversity, and waste and pollution. Her discussions with Government will include on strengthening collaboration with UNEP and marshalling practical solutions to the triple planetary crisis supported by UNEP as part the 2022-2026 Zimbabwe UN Sustainable Development Cooperation.

Ms Leighton will also have consultations with the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Heads of UN agencies in Zimbabwe and the UN Country Team on enhancing coordination and cooperation in the delivery of support to the country.

Facilitated by the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Ms Leighton will also travel to the field to see projects on environmental sustainability.

Ms. Leighton-Kone will be accompanied by Frank Turyatunga, Regional Director, and Representative for Africa; Ms. Meseret Teklemariam Zemedkun, Head, UNEP Southern Africa Sub-Regional Office; and Rami Abdel Malik, Special Assistant to the Deputy Executive Director.

Ms. Leighton’s brief bio is available on: https://www.unep.org/people/sonja-leighton-kone.

Source: UN Environment Programme

Pope Francis, the head of the Anglican Communion and top Presbyterian minister together denounced the criminalization of homosexuality on Sunday and said gay people should be welcomed by their churches.

The three Christian leaders spoke out on LGBTQ rights during an unprecedented joint airborne news conference returning home from South Sudan, where they took part in a three-day ecumenical pilgrimage to try to nudge the young country's peace process forward.

They were asked about Francis' recent comments to The Associated Press, in which he declared that laws that criminalize gay people were "unjust" and that "being homosexual is not a crime."

South Sudan is one of 67 countries that criminalizes homosexuality, 11 of them with the death penalty. LGBTQ advocates say even where such laws are not applied, they contribute to a climate of harassment, discrimination and violence.

Francis referred his Jan. 24 comments to the AP and repeated that such laws are "unjust." He also repeated previous comments that parents should never throw their gay children out of the house.

"To condemn someone like this is a sin," he said. "Criminalizing people with homosexual tendencies is an injustice."

"People with homosexual tendencies are children of God. God Loves them. God accompanies them," he added.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, recalled that LGBTQ rights were very much on the current agenda of the Church of England, and said he would quote the pope's own words when the issue is discussed at the church's upcoming General Synod.

"I wish I had spoken as eloquently and clearly as the pope. I entirely agree with every word he said," Welby said.

Recently, the Church of England decided to allow blessings for same-sex civil marriages but said same-sex couples could not marry in its churches. The Vatican forbids both gay marriage and blessings for same-sex unions.

Welby told reporters that the issue of criminalization had been taken up at two previous Lambeth Conferences of the broader Anglican Communion, which includes churches in Africa and the Middle East where such anti-gay laws are most common and often enjoy support by conservative bishops.

The broader Lambeth Conference has come out twice opposing criminalization, "But it has not really changed many people's minds," Welby said.

The Rt. Rev. Iain Greenshields, the Presbyterian moderator of the Church of Scotland who also participated in the pilgrimage and news conference, offered an observation.

"There is nowhere in my reading of the four Gospels where I see Jesus turning anyone away," he said. "There is nowhere in the four Gospels where I see anything other than Jesus expressing love to whomever he meets.

"And as Christians, that is the only expression that we can possibly give to any human being, in any circumstance."

The Church of Scotland allows same-sex marriages. Catholic teaching holds that gay people must be treated with dignity and respect, but that homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered."

Source: Voice of America