STWLB-AFRICA

The Stewardship Leadership Board for Africa (STWLB-AFRICA)

1- ABOUT

The Stewardship Leadership Board for Africa (STWLB-AFRICA) within the Global Center for Risk and Innovation (GCRI) is dedicated to ensuring strategic coherence and operational synergy between Africa's national initiatives and GCRI's global objectives. Comprising the chairs of all Specialized Leadership Boards (SLBs) focused on the continent, along with the regional leadership team including the President, Secretary, and Vice President of STWLB-AFRICA, this board plays a crucial role in integrating and amplifying GCRI's activities across Africa. It aims to foster a unified strategy that effectively bridges local actions with international standards, promoting innovation, risk management, and sustainable development throughout the continent.

2- VISION

STWLB-AFRICA envisions Africa as a leading force in aligning national efforts with global sustainability and innovation goals. It seeks to establish GCRI as a key player in driving transformative changes across the continent, leveraging Africa's unique strengths and opportunities to contribute significantly to addressing global challenges.

3- MISSION

The mission of STWLB-AFRICA is to streamline GCRI’s initiatives across Africa, ensuring that global standards are seamlessly integrated with national strategies. It is dedicated to enhancing Africa's role in global governance regarding risk management, security, privacy, and sustainability through collaborative and innovative approaches.

4- COMPOSITION

• Chairs of SLBs: Representing the Industry, Academic, Engineering, Strategic, and Legacy Leadership Boards specific to Africa, offering a wealth of multidisciplinary expertise.

• Regional President: The primary leader of STWLB-AFRICA, steering the board's strategic direction and ensuring alignment with GCRI’s overarching goals.

• Secretary: Tasked with the administration, coordination, and documentation of STWLB-AFRICA’s endeavors and decisions.

• Vice President: Aiding the President in strategic planning and operational execution, focusing on maximizing GCRI’s impact within Africa.

5- FOCUS AREAS

• Establishment and Governance of National Working Groups (NWGs): Creating and managing NWGs to adapt GCRI’s global initiatives into effective national strategies.

• Supervision of National Councils: Ensuring these councils operate in alignment with GCRI's mission, facilitating their contributions to global governance frameworks.

• Direction for National Technical Councils: Overseeing technical councils to address local challenges while enriching the global knowledge base.

• Strategic Uniformity: Achieving strategic consistency across GCRI’s operations within Africa, ensuring efforts contribute towards common goals.

6- OPERATIONS

• Strategic Planning Sessions: Conducting regular meetings to discuss strategic alignment and implementation.

• Collaboration Platforms: Implementing systems for efficient cooperation between national and global initiatives.

• Performance Evaluation: Assessing the impact and efficacy of initiatives and strategies across the continent.

7- RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic Planning and Implementation: Guiding GCRI’s activities in Africa to align with regional needs and global objectives.

• Building Collaborative Networks: Leading the formation of partnerships and alliances to enhance GCRI’s influence across Africa.

• Promoting Innovation and Sustainability: Advocating for the incorporation of innovative solutions and sustainable practices within Africa’s national strategies.

• Facilitating Knowledge Exchange: Encouraging the sharing of insights and successful strategies among national working groups and councils.

• Developing Capacities: Strengthening the capabilities of NWGs, National Councils, and Technical Councils to effectively tackle local challenges and contribute to global goals.

8- STEWARDSHIP

West Africa

Beyond the Sahel, coastal rainforests, and the Niger Delta, West Africa is also characterized by the Guinean forest-savanna mosaic, an area of transition between the coastal forests and the interior savannas. This region is rich in biodiversity, including endemic species and significant water resources like the Volta River basin, crucial for hydropower and irrigation. Key environmental challenges include overgrazing, deforestation, and the loss of habitat. Conservation efforts are thus also directed towards sustainable land management, protecting key biodiversity areas, and enhancing community-based natural resource management.

East Africa

In addition to the Ethiopian Highlands, the Great Rift Valley, and savannas, East Africa encompasses the unique ecosystems of the Albertine Rift, home to numerous endemic species and critical for Africa's freshwater supply. The region's coastal areas, particularly the Swahili Coast, face threats from coral bleaching and overfishing. Climate adaptation strategies are extended to include the management of marine resources, conservation of coral reefs, and the promotion of sustainable fishing practices. Furthermore, the conservation of montane forests in areas like Mount Kilimanjaro and the Rwenzoris is crucial for maintaining regional hydrology and biodiversity.

Central Africa

Central Africa's ecological significance extends beyond the Congo Basin rainforest to include the Miombo woodlands, stretching across Angola, Zambia, and Tanzania. These woodlands are vital for carbon sequestration and support a wide range of wildlife. The peatlands of the Cuvette Centrale in the Congo Basin, significant carbon sinks, are increasingly recognized for their role in climate regulation. Conservation strategies in Central Africa also focus on sustainable management of these woodlands and peatlands, alongside efforts to combat illegal logging and wildlife trafficking in the Congo Basin.

Southern Africa

Southern Africa's ecological diversity includes the Succulent Karoo and the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspots, alongside the Kalahari and Namib deserts, and the Cape Floristic Region. These areas are renowned for their unique flora and fauna, with a high degree of endemism. The Okavango Delta, an inland delta in Botswana, is another key bioregion, supporting diverse ecosystems and significant wildlife populations. Water resource management is critical across this arid and semi-arid region, with efforts focusing on the sustainable use of shared river basins like the Limpopo and Zambezi. Conservation and sustainable development strategies prioritize habitat restoration, the protection of endangered species, and the integration of ecosystem services into regional development plans.