Constraints on implementing environmental impact assessments in Africa

Kakonge, John O.; Imevbore, A. M. A.

doi:10.1016/0195-9255(93)90021-3

Cited by 22 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…1992; Kakonge 1995; Lee and George 2000). However, EA capacity and practice are largely lacking in this region because of low public awareness about EA and the perceived priority of economic need, insufficient environmental data, a shortage of trained personnel and inadequate financial resources (Hirji and Ortolano 1991; Kakonge and Imevbore 1993; Kakonge 1995).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The focus is on community projects, as EA of megaprojects has been reviewed elsewhere (Hirji and Ortolano 1991; Hocutt et al . 1992; Kakonge and Imevbore 1993; Kakonge 1995, 1996; Lee and George 2000). Community projects are characterized by local groups organizing their own knowledge, skills and resources to satisfy basic and livelihood needs.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Originating with the United States' National Environmental Policy Act in 1969, EA policies, legislation and procedures have since spread to many countries, including some in sub-Saharan Africa (Hocutt et al 1992;Kakonge 1995;Lee and George 2000). However, EA capacity and practice are largely lacking in this region because of low public awareness about EA and the perceived priority of economic need, insufficient environmental data, a shortage of trained personnel and inadequate financial resources (Hirji and Ortolano 1991;Kakonge and Imevbore 1993;Kakonge 1995).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…This paper describes innovations in the application of EA to community projects implemented by Canadian nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and their partners in sub-Saharan Africa. The focus is on community projects, as EA of megaprojects has been reviewed elsewhere (Hirji and Ortolano 1991;Hocutt et al 1992;Kakonge and Imevbore 1993;Kakonge 1995Kakonge , 1996Lee and George 2000). Community projects are characterized by local groups organizing their own knowledge, skills and resources to satisfy basic and livelihood needs.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Innovation in environmental assessment of community‐based projects in sub‐Saharan Africa

Spaling

2003

Canadian Geographies / Géographies canadiennes

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Although environmental assessment (EA) has been applied to large resource and infrastructure projects in developing countries, recent innovations in EA concepts, processes and tools have facilitated its application to small projects focused on basic human and livelihood needs. This paper describes innovations in the application of EA to community projects implemented by Canadian nongovernment organizations and their partners in sub‐Saharan Africa. Innovations include: (1) the dovetailing of environmental constructs in neopopulism with a conceptual shift in EA toward participatory, transactive planning; (2) assessment methodologies adapted from participatory rural appraisal; (3) development of grassroots EA capacity; and (4) linkage of community EA with project planning. Community EA is demonstrated for five cases involving agriculture and charcoal retail in Uganda, water supply and flood control in Niger and integrated rural development in Zambia. Future prospects and challenges include cultural adaptation, community empowerment through realignment of power relationships, mutual development of local and national EA capacity and increased training and resources for enhancing grassroots EA capacity.

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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Innovation in environmental assessment of community‐based projects in sub‐Saharan Africa

Spaling

2003

Canadian Geographies / Géographies canadiennes

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“…As several scholars have noted, there is no generic approach on how to integrate environmental considerations into the development process other than through EIA (see, for instance, Schrage, 1999;Kakonge and Imevbore, 1993). The member countries of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) take environmental issues seriously, and most of them see it as good business.…”

Section: Measures To Address the Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water scarcity and related environmental problems in parts of sub-Saharan Africa: the role of the transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment Convention

Kakonge¹

2002

Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal

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Developing an evaluation approach to consider the influence of country context on environmental impact assessment performance, from a southern African perspective

Aljareo

Watson

Schwaibold

2023

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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Environmental impact assessment (EIA) as an environmental policy has been adopted in some countries. However, in terms of achieving its stated objectives in the developing country context, EIA system performance often falls short compared with the developed country context. Evaluation of EIA system performance has gained considerable attention with the aim of ensuring the achievement of its purpose, most recognizably the promotion of sustainable development through informed decision‐making. Different evaluation approaches have been developed and applied to explore areas of inadequacy in the EIA system components, EIA implementation, and EIA report. Researchers have considered the context of the EIA system as the underlying cause of its limited performance in developing countries. However, the literature has not rigorously explored the relationship between EIA system performance and country context, and it is the subject of ongoing debate. Our aim in this article is to contribute to the practical analysis of the influence of country context on EIA system performance. Drawing on the conceptual frameworks and evaluation methods in the literature, we propose an evaluation approach to the EIA system performance that combines the importance of considering the country context in the evaluation process. It consists of EIA system components, EIA report, and an indicative set of country context indicators. The developed evaluation approach was validated by applying it to four case studies from southern Africa. The South African case study results are presented here. The outcome is a practical evaluation approach that promotes understanding of the relationship between EIA system performance and country context and can improve EIA system performance. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;00:1–15. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

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Constraints on implementing environmental impact assessments in Africa

Cited by 22 publications

References 6 publications

Innovation in environmental assessment of community‐based projects in sub‐Saharan Africa

Innovation in environmental assessment of community‐based projects in sub‐Saharan Africa

Water scarcity and related environmental problems in parts of sub-Saharan Africa: the role of the transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment Convention

Developing an evaluation approach to consider the influence of country context on environmental impact assessment performance, from a southern African perspective

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