Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region & Europe (CEDARE)

From TrustAfrica wiki - African Regional Organizations

2 El Hegaz Str., Cedare Bldg
P.O. Box 1057, Cairo 11737, Egypt

Tel: (202) 451-3921/2/3/4
Fax: (202) 451-3918

E-mail Address: email@cedare.int
Web Address: http://www.cedare.int

Description

The Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE) was established in 1992 as an international inter-governmental Organization with diplomatic status. This was in response to the convention adopted by the Council of Arab Ministers responsible for the environment (CAMRE) in 1991 and the initiative of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Arab fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD). Its mandate is to promote the advancement of environmental action for development through investing in human capital, releasing potential creative energies with the aim of building qualified human cadres able to lead the development process, especially in the fields of CEDARE’s work priorities, with an emphasis on empowering women and youth and mobilizing their potentials and creative capacities.

CEDARE's vision has been translated into a target-oriented Plan of Implementation (2005–2010), focusing on five priority areas:

• Water Resources Management—CEDARE strives to maximize the economic, social and environmental benefits of water utilization through the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).
• Land Resources Management—The center acts as a facilitator and advocate promoting the wise management of land resources in partnership with other institutions. Emphasis is placed on land degradation and desertification issues which are addressed through dialogue, stakeholder involvement and exchange of best practices.
• Dissemination of Knowledge and Information Technology—CEDARE has a strong tradition of providing access to reliable environmental data, knowledge and information technology to institutions and other bodies, thereby supporting the environmental decision making process for sustainable development.
• Trade, Investment and the Environment—The center works with business enterprises to implement the concept of corporate responsibility (social and environmental), to enhance voluntary self-compliance and adherence to international environmental standards and laws to reinforce their competitive edge in world markets.
• Areas of Special Concern—CEDARE addresses current and emerging environmental issues in the areas of climate change, coastal zone management, waste management, genetically modified organisms, etc. The program also focuses on cross-cutting themes such as public participation.

With the determination and sound resolution to evolve into a centre of excellence, one that is more responsive to global, regional and national priorities, CEDARE has chosen to streamline its programs, linking them directly to the major global goals and targets such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and the Arab Initiative for Sustainable Development. Governance: CEDARE has a strong governance structure comprising of a Board of Trustees, the highest governing organ, that oversees the center’s function, its budget and evaluates its performance. A Technical Advisory Committee composed of specialists advises the Executive Director on programs, budget needs and potential sources of financing for each program.

CEDARE’s donors include the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, African Ministers Council on Water, Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, Care International, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, European Environment Agency, European Commission, International Fund for Agricultural Development, League of Arab States, Islamic Development Bank, World Bank, World Resources Institute, UNESCO, UNEP, UNDP, UNCCD among others.

Track Record

CEDARE was the first organization to introduce e-mail conferencing in the Arab region. Three e-mail conferences on desertification in the Arab Region have been held: Management of Salt-Affected Soils, (4-8 December, 1994) focusing on the innovative techniques of assessing, reclaiming and managing salt-affected ecosystems in the Arab Region. The second was titled Studies of Wind and Water Erosion in the Arab Region (30 October–3 November, 1996) which focused on several case studies highlighting the environmental and socio-economic impact and techno-economic feasibility of control measures and needs for capacity-building pertinent to the problems of wind erosion / deposition; water erosion; and soil pollution. The final one was titled Pollution of Land Resources in the Arab Region. (3-12 May 1999) and discussed various topics including natural and synthetic solid amendments, chemical fertilizers, pesticide, herbicides, petroleum products, industrial wastes, sewage effluents, wastewater and traffic pollutants, effective techniques to combat soil pollution and rehabilitation techniques of polluted land resources with particular reference to the modern techniques of bioremediation.

CEDARE has also organized regional training workshops to build capacity for partners to engage on varied environmental themes both from a practical point of view with technical training sessions as well from a theoretical policy point of view.

The workshops have focused on diverse subjects such as developing national environmental action plans, and implementation and financing of global policy themes such as the International Convention to Combat Desertification.

Further sessions on technical use of methodology for research and assessment have also been held such as the training workshop on Implementation of Soils and Terrain Databases (SOTER) in 1998 which trained participants on the applications of SOTER data. Further trainings have been held on the use of IGS and Integrated Information Systems for land degradation.

CEDARE’s research component has generated reports and publications on a number of sectors from both a regional and national viewpoint. A major accomplishment is the study and report on the state of the environment in the Arab world looking at the state of the water, land, biodiversity, forests, marine and coastal environment resources.

The steering committee for combating desertification in its 12th meeting held in Cairo (2-4 July, 2001) recognized the important role and successes of CEDARE. It recommended that the organization take on the role of the regional Coordinator in establishing a regional system for the exchange of information on desertification in the Arab Region through coordination and contacts among the national institutions and regional organizations concerned. CEDARE has since presented a progress report including a survey of the networks acting in the Arab regions with basic information on its objectives and themes to the steering committee.

CEDARE has collaborated with METAP, MEDCITIES and the European Waste Club in submitting a proposal on urban waste management to the European Commission. The project proposal covers three cities in the region—Alexandria, Egypt; Limassol, Cyprus; and Zarqa, Jordan—at a total estimated cost of 1,221,189 ECU. The EC will provide 721,000 ECU. There is additional focus on a project to build the capacity of the Alexandria Governorate to enable it to carry out its new role of monitoring the SWM private company responsible for waste management.

The First Urban Environment Forum - Arab States ’98 was held in Ismailia, Egypt and was organized by UNCHS (Habitat), and the Ismailia Governorate of Egypt in collaboration with the Sustainable Cities Program of UNCHS/UNEP and the Sustainable Ismailia Governorate Project (SIGP). It showed the power of information exchange, created a platform for sustained dialogue and partnership and allowed exchange of valuable experiences on best practices in urban environmental management among cities of the Arab region. The momentum created in the region built a sense of ownership of the concepts and ideas pertaining to the Urban Environment Forum. The meeting was a gateway to new partnerships with development practitioners and decision-makers from the Arab World, neighbouring countries and the world.

In December 1999, CEDARE began implementing a two-year project on air quality management in cities. The project focused on transfers of innovative practices in partnership with cities and the private sector. It targeted win-win investment-based solutions where the private sector could be motivated by profits, expanded markets and improved corporate image on the one hand while improving air quality in cities on the other hand.