EDIAIS :Conference papers

The Ghanaian Government has undertaken to review the potential effects of its Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy 2002-2004 (GPRS) by undertaking a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The work is being carried out by a team of six staff members from the Ghanaian Environmental Protection Agency and National Development Planning Commission, supported by local and international consultants. The Royal Netherlands Government and DFID are providing finance and technical support. Similar processes are being considered in Tanzania and Uganda.

This paper will outline the approach that has been taken in developing the SEA methodology and its practical application in Ghana.

Issues to be covered will include:

How is poverty defined for the purposes of the SEA?
What are the links between poverty and the environment?
How can broadly based national policies be vetted to ensure that they will have minimal impact on the natural environment?
What scope is there to introduce benign policies that actually sustain and enhance rather than damage the environment?
Given the requirement to include social, cultural, and local economic conditions under the heading of 'environment' in Ghana, how are these disparate criteria integrated in the SEA?
How are policies translated into action on the ground - and how can SEA help to evaluate the process?
How are key stakeholders and decision-makers persuaded to engage in the SEA?
Who are the decision makers?

The SEA is now entering the 4th month of a 12-month programme. Further questions and issues will be addressed in the full paper.

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