Overview

The Africa Natural Capital Accounting Community of Practice is a regional learning and knowledge platform that brings together professionals from governments institutions, nongovernmental organizations and academia that are interested in or working on Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) in Africa. It was initiated in November 2019, following the first Africa Forum on Natural Capital Accounting in Kampala, Uganda. Attended by representatives from 18 African countries, participants expressed unanimous support for the creation of a community of practice on NCA in Africa. Responding to this demand, the Global Program on Sustainability, the Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa, the United Nations Statistics Division, and the United Nations Environment Programme, committed to provide technical support to this community over the coming years. 

Objective 

The Africa Natural Capital Accounting Community of Practice aims to build momentum and mainstream NCA into statistical production and policy in all African countries by supporting best practices through capacity building and knowledge sharing. To that end, and over the next few years, the community of practice intends to hold regular forums at regional and international fora; share information through a newsletter; produce joint communications including case studies; share experiences through south-south exchanges and joint trainings; and build technical expertise through themed working groups, among other activities. A interim volunteer working group has been convened to coordinate the development of a workplan to guide the implementation of these activities. It will also coordinate the appointment of focal points in countries across Africa who will be responsible for connecting their colleagues in government to the activities of the community of practice.

Webpage

The official website of the Community of Practice is hosted by UNECA. The site includes more information about the activities under the CoP and resources relating to NCA in Africa. It also features a Discussion Board where you can post questions and participate in discussions.

New Partnerships 

The Africa Natural Capital Accounting Community of Practice welcomes new partnerships that align with ongoing initiatives both in Africa and at the global level. Institutions interested in sharing information, sponsoring activities, or collaborating with us, can get in touch using the contact form below.

Focal Points

The community of practice welcomes the participation of institutions and governments through the nomination of Focal Points, who act as a liaison with the Community of Practice. Institutions and governments interested in nominating Focal Points can contact us through the contact form.

Individual Membership 

The community of practice is open to all individuals interested in natural capital accounting in Africa, though its activities are geared primarily to supporting individuals working on accounts within governments. Individuals can sign up to join the Community of Practice to participate in the dialogue.
 

Sign up to join the Community of Practice

 
Have a question? Contact us here:  CONTACT FORM
 
 
Working Groups
 
Under the CoP, working groups on specific topics can be formed by interested partners. A first working group has just been launched, headed by Professor Ken Findlay at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Find out more about the working group here 
 
Resources

Events

African NCA Community of Practice Webinar Series:

  1. July 29, 2021  Living in Harmony with Nature: Lesson from Ethiopia's Experience on Nature-Based Solution and Green Legacy Initiative
  2. April 29, 2021 The FAO GEF Riverine Forest Restoration, Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Improvement in Sudan 
  3. March 25, 2021 Leveraging Earth Observations for Ecosystem Accounting: A NASA - CI effort to pilot ecosystem mapping in Liberia
  4. February 25 ,2021 Botswana - Using NCA data to inform sectoral policies/strategies and monitor SDGs
  5. January 28, 2021 Towards a National Plan for Advancing Environmental -Economic Accounting
  6. December 10,2020 The Shifting Nature of South Africa's Landscape : A 24 Year Snapshot of Land and Ecosystem Change
  7. November 24, 2020 Uganda: Building a Comprehensive Landscape for NCA and Policy Application
  8. October 29, 2020 The Use of Natural Capital Accounts in Policy Scenario Analysis
  9. September 03,2020 Combining Forces on Natural Capital: Working with the Private Sector
  10. July 30,2020 Ocean Accounting – Novel approaches to Ocean Governance
  11. June 4, 2020 Revision of the SEEA EEA statistical standard
  12. May 28, 2020 Linking natural capital accounting to policy in Africa

Partners