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Participants of the Sustainable Industries Conference in Pretoria

Sustainable Industries Conference, Pretoria, South Africa: Charting the way for global eco-industrial solutions

Written by a.linke on . Posted in Countries, South Africa.

Global leaders unite at 2024 Sustainable Industries Conference to drive eco-industrial innovation

The 2024 Sustainable Industries Conference held in Pretoria, South Africa, brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts from around the world to discuss cutting-edge strategies for creating sustainable and efficient industrial spaces. Hosted by the National Cleaner Production Center – South Africa (NCPC-SA), along with its partners, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the South African Department for Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), the three-day event showcased the future of industrial efficiency through various Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) related topics.

Participants from various organisations and sectors attended the conference ©LM Photography

A platform for cross-sectoral collaboration, innovation and transformative ideas

The event was part of a larger conference on “Industrial Efficiency and International Eco-Industrial Parks & Areas” by the NCPC-SA. It took place from 11 to 13 September 2024 in Pretoria at the International Convention Centre of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in conjunction with the NCPC-SA’s biennial conference on industrial efficiency. This was more than a conference – it was a platform for cross-sectoral collaboration, innovation, and transformative ideas. The conference was split across three action-packed days. The first day focused on industrial efficiency at a national level, the second day covered EIP-related topics, culminating in a site visit on the third day to the Rosslyn Industrial Area, in the northern outskirts of Pretoria, which is the production site for major multinational companies such as BMW, Nissan, Tata, South African Breweries and Nampak. Speakers addressed a wide array of topics such as resource efficiency, circularity, digitisation, performance management, localisation and environmental sustainability.

Opening words by Liteboho Makhele, NatuReS Country Coordinator South Africa ©Jonas Kertscher

NatuReS driving the international dialogue on eco-industrial development and Just Transition

As key partners of the conference, the GIZ’s Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NatuReS), played a pivotal role in broadening the international dialogue on eco-industrial development. NatuReS facilitated the attendance of 18 international delegates, including speakers  from its partner countries Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia to share insights, knowledge and experiences on how stewardship multi-stakeholder partnerships are advancing a Just Transition to greener, more sustainable industrial practices, while expanding the network of experts and stakeholders involved in sustainable industrial space activities.

Here are some of the key presentations:

Eng. Miriam Esanju from the Wami Ruvu Basin Water Board in Tanzania, presented on “Improving Environmental Sustainability and Compliance for Special Economic Zones (SEZ) through a Stewardship Multi-Stakeholder Partnership (SMSP).” Her talk highlighted how Tanzania is using collaborative approaches to enhance environmental standards in industrial spaces.

Presentation by Eng. Miriam Esnaju from the Wami Ruvu Basin Water Board, Tanzania ©Jonas Kertscher

Mr. Mergia Kuma, Head of the Environment, Health, and Social Safeguard Department at Ethiopia’s Industrial Park Development Corporation (IPDC), delved into the “Engagement of an Industrial Park with Multiple Stakeholders through the Stewardship Approach.” His case study of Ethiopia’s industrial parks demonstrated the power of cross-sectoral partnerships to drive sustainable development.

Bernd Oellermann of NCPC presented an innovative approach to industrial sustainability with his talk, “Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Industrial Parks – Increasing Sustainability and Resilience of Industrial Spaces.” He shared best practices in operational guidelines that enhance the long-term viability of eco-industrial areas.

In a dual presentation, Dr. Faith Lawrence from the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) in Scotland and Sarah Beerhalter, Head of the GIZ’s NatuReS Programme in Germany, explored the synergies between different sustainability frameworks in their talk, “Eco-Industrial Parks Framework (EIP), Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard (AWS Standard), and the Natural Resources Risk and Action Framework (NRAF).”

Sarah Beerhalter, Head of GIZ´s NatuReS Programme, presenting the Natural Resources Risk and Action Framework (NRAF) ©Jonas Kertscher

Reem Mahmoud Abdel Aziz from GIZ Egypt and Mark Jaeger from GIZ’s Sustainable Industrial Areas Working Group in Germany wrapped up the sessions with “Sustainable Industrial Area Transformation: GIZ Tools and Approaches,” providing a deep dive into practical tools that industries can use to transition toward more sustainable operations.

Building a greener, more sustainable future

To provide the chance for more in-depth exchange between the delegates, the NatuReS programme organised a networking event on the evening of 12September. This event allowed participants to build on initial discussions held earlier this year at the the 12th Zambian Water Forum and Exhibition (ZAWAFE) which took place on 11to 13 June 2024 in Lusaka, Zambia, and laid the foundation for cooperation and knowledge sharing between the partners. The event also enabled the partners to deepen their understanding of the stewardship approach and opened up new avenues for the replication of the NatuReS stewardship partnership approach and tools across the different sectors and countries. Building on these discussions, plans are underway for further exchange meetings to take place in Ethiopia and Tanzania in the future, where stakeholders will continue to develop partnerships and share knowledge that can help scale sustainable practices in industrial areas across the continent.

The 2024 Sustainable Industries Conference was more than just a meeting of minds – it was a catalyst for change, offering a blueprint for how countries and industries worldwide can collaborate to build a greener, more sustainable future.

Building a Water Secure Future: Highlights from the NRAF Workshop with LuWSI Partners

Written by a.linke on . Posted in Zambia.

NRAF Participants group picture Copyright@GIZ

An intensive three-day training workshop was held for Lusaka Water Security Initiative (LuWSI) partners from the 22nd to the 24th of May at Twangale Park in Lusaka. This diverse group of participants, spanning public, private sectors, and civil society, gathered to deepen their understanding of the Natural Resources Risk and Action Framework (NRAF), a cornerstone of GIZ’s Natural Resources Stewardship (NatuReS) programme and a comprehensive approach to multi-stakeholder partnership development.

The primary objective of the workshop was to equip LuWSI partners with a deep understanding of the NRAF partnership development process and its various components.Through a series of interactive sessions, discussions, and hands-on activities participants were provided with practical insights on how the NRAF framework can be applied to establish new multi-stakeholder partnerships or strengthen existing ones such as LuWSI. The goal of these partnerships is to sustainably safeguard natural resources.

The training was tailored to address the unique needs and challenges faced by multi-stakeholder partnerships such as LuWSI, ensuring a relevant and impactful learning experience.

Comprehensive Understanding of NRAF

Participants were introduced to the foundational principles of the NRAF, exploring its theoretical underpinnings and practical applications. The framework emphasizes a collaborative approach to managing natural resources, integrating diverse stakeholder perspectives to address complex environmental challenges effectively.

Group Work Copyright@GIZ

Practical Application Sessions

A significant portion of the workshop was dedicated to hands-on sessions where participants practiced applying NRAF principles and tools to real-world scenarios. These practical sessions were particularly well-received, allowing attendees to translate theoretical knowledge into actionable strategies. By working through selected scenarios, participants gained valuable insights into the intricacies of partnership development and resource management.

Group Work Copyright@GIZ

Collective Leadership and Shared Experiences

Another key component of the workshop was the focus on collective leadership. Participants engaged in sessions that highlighted the importance of collaborative leadership in driving successful partnerships. These sessions were also enriched by experiences and case studies from other NatuReS countries and partnerships, providing a broader perspective on the application of NRAF in diverse contexts.

Participant Feedback

The training workshop was met with enthusiastic feedback from participants, who appreciated the comprehensive and practical nature of the sessions. The opportunity to delve into the NRAF elements and practice their application was highlighted as a standout feature of the workshop. Additionally, the collective leadership session and the sharing of experiences from other NatuReS initiatives were praised for their relevance and inspiration.

By providing a thorough understanding of the NRAF and facilitating practical application, the workshop has empowered participants to contribute more effectively to the stewardship of natural resources in Lusaka and Zambia. This collaborative effort underscores the critical importance of integrated, multi-sectoral approaches in addressing water security and other environmental challenges related to natural resources.

Sharing Insights on Stewardship Partnerships at the Climate Smart Agriculture Policy Dialogue in South Africa

Written by Support on . Posted in South Africa, Tansania Editor, Uncategorized.

Participants at the Climate Smart Agriculture Policy Dialogue . Copyright: FANRPAN 

From 13-15 March 2023, stakeholders from the public sector, representatives of regional economic communities (RECs), academic and research institutions, the scientific community, and civil society gathered to share knowledge, and experience in the “Climate Smart Agriculture Policy Dialogue, transitioning to resilient farming in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).”  

At the conference, our NatuReS colleague, Aristarick Mkenda, shared insights from stewardship partnerships in the Pangani Basin in Tanzania. The dialogue was convened by the Transforming Smallholder Irrigation in Southern Africa (TISA) consortium in collaboration with the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Campus in Pretoria, South Africa. The conference theme was “Transitioning to Climate-Resilient Farming Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA),” focusing on the next generation of research, smart technology, policy development and best practices.

Plenary session at the Climate Smart Agriculture Policy Dialogue . Copyright: FANRPAN 

The Climate Smart Agriculture Policy Dialogue Goals:

The Policy Dialogue aimed to accomplish the following: 

  • Share data demonstrating the value of climate-smart farming in SSA’s transition to resilient farming communities. 
  • Provide suggestions on how to scale up the development of climate-smart and resilient farming systems in SSA. 
  • Networking and encouraging collaborations and action 

Social inclusion in the context of agriculture and food systems, water resources use, and climate action, was one of the conference’s important sub-themes. Communities, women and youths crucially contribute to agriculture and SSA catchments as farmers, workers and entrepreneurs.  Depending on the regions, these groups face distinct constraints that reduce their productivity and limit their contributions to agricultural production, family livelihoods, and economic growth. As a result, the importance of context-sensitive and inclusive approaches to support them was emphasized. 

Stewardship partnerships presentation during the 5th plenary session. Copyright: FANRPAN

Presentation on: Addressing Water Security through Water Stewardship Partnerships. Experiences from the Pangani Basin in Tanzania

NatuReS colleague Aristarick Mkenda shared perspectives on stewardship partnerships as a possible solution to increase effective stakeholder participation and representation to address shared challenges in water-stressed catchments. Sustainable and participatory water management, thereby, is fundamental to sustainable agriculture. His presentation was based on his co-authored scientific article (Richards et al., 2022) for the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) that analysed the partnership approach as a solution for inclusive participation. The partnerships facilitated by NatuReS in the Pangani River Basin in Tanzania served as empirical data. 

Stewardship partnerships answer other IWRM implementation gaps. For example, additional financing from private sector partners can overcome the need for more funds to implement projects. 

A productive discussion with the participants followed the presentation, in which challenges and their possible solutions of stewardship partnerships were discussed, such as costs of participation and balanced involvement of the private sector.  

Collaboration to Address the Growing Complexity in the Agricultural Sector

In the concluding remarks of the conferences, Prof. Jammie Pittock from Australian National University (ANU) highlighted that the objectives in the agricultural sector have become much more complicated since they have grown from simply producing food to cover diverse societal needs and adapting to climate variability. The complexity of the issues and topics in agriculture is making collaborations and partnerships between individuals and sectors more important now than ever.  

We thank the “Climate Smart Agriculture Policy Dialogue” and its inspiring participants for the invitation and the productive conference days and are looking forward to more valuable exchanges. 

For more information about addressing water security through water stewardship partnerships, you can access the research article here. 

Stewardship for Armenian Lake Sevan: 3-day training for cross-sectoral cooperation

Written by Support on . Posted in Uncategorized.

The Armenian Lake Sevan is the country’s most important source of fresh water, irrigation, aquaculture, and hydropower. Armenia’s economic, social, and environmental potential is linked to the lakes’ ecological conditions. However, the lake is severely endangered by unsustainable water management, pollution, rising water demands, environmental degradation, and climate change.

Lake Sevans’ crucial functions are impeded by unsustainable water management


Recognizing Lake Sevan’s socio-economic and environmental importance and the necessity to manage better this essential natural resource, stakeholders from Armenians’ public, private sector, and civil society decided to join forces. They sought guidance on how to effectively build multi-stakeholder partnerships to improve natural resources management around Lake Sevan collectively.

Copyright: American University of Armenia

Enabling collective action to address water issues

From the 25th – 27th of January 2023, NatuReS, on behalf of the program ‘Environmental Protection of Lake Sevan’ (EU4Sevan), conducted a three-day online training for 24 participants. The training was about natural resources stewardship and collective, cross-sectoral action. The aim was to enable stakeholders to jointly set up a partnership for improved environmental management of Lake Sevan.

Participants in the virtual training to improve sustainable water management. Copyright: NatuReS, GIZ

Interactive exercises and showcasing of the Natural Resources Risk and Action Framework

The participants were introduced to the NatuReS guiding framework to set up and accompany stewardship partnerships, the Natural Resources Risk and Action Framework (NRAF) By testing a set of NRAF tools within interactive breakout room discussions, they practiced the development of their own multi-stakeholder partnership around Lake Sevan.

Trainees’ exchanged perspectives and analyzed joint risks

Throughout the event, the participants exchanged their knowledge and perspectives on risks affecting their different sectors. Putting themselves in the situation of another sector, the participants discover joint risks resulting from the pollution and mismanagement of resources around the lake. Trainees, for example, discussed water pollution as leading to health risks, income losses for fishermen and tourism, and public dissatisfaction, among others. This displays, that while water pollution affects all sectors, it leads to different risks. They can be operational, reputational or regulatory, for the different sectors. This in the past has often represented a hurdle for coming up with good solutions. However, only by addressing challenges across sectors can effective solutions be developed, implemented and maintained in the long term.

Participants discussing joint natural resource risks. Copyright: NatuReS, GIZ

A foundation for a partnership at Lake Sevan

Participants were also trained in best practices to ensure efficient division of responsibilities for their future partnership based on NatuReS approach. The training created a foundation for the participants to identify relevant stakeholders and set up their own partnership. 

NatuRes thanks all participants and the EU4LakeSevan team for the productive days and the exciting insights into the environmental situation in Armenia. We wish them success in their future endeavors!