In 2009, UN Environment Programme identified South Africa as a strategically important country to coordinate and support the activities of UNEP in the Southern Africa region. This prompted the opening of the UNEP office in Pretoria, South Africa.
The mandate of the office is to ensure coherence and coordination of the work of UNEP and its strategic partners in South Africa in supporting the implementation of programmes as relates to UNEP's Medium Term Strategy, Programme of Work and the Country Consolidated Programme Framework with South Africa (2017-2021).
Key priority areas:
- Implementation of the Paris Agreement and climate change adaptation and mitigation;
- Domestication of the SDGs;
- Transition to an inclusive and Green economy;
- Protection of ecosystems and biodiversity;
- Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) patterns and the Ten Year Framework Programme (10YFP);
- Sustainable cities including air and water quality, health and sustainable transport;
- Strengthening environmental governance;
- More effective science-policy interface; and
- Improved South-South cooperation.
Currently, UNEP is implementing projects in South Africa covering the above mentioned priority areas. The projects are funded by UNEP and other donors such as the Government of South Africa, European Union, Swiss Economic Cooperation Organisation, Global Environment Facility, GIZ among others.
Contact:
Meseret Teklemariam Zemedkun
Head of office
Southern Africa Sub-regional office
Metro Park Building, Room 729
351 Francis Baard Street
P.O. Box 6541
Pretoria, South Africa
Tel: +27 12 354 8092
