The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification: constraints to implementation in Eastern Africa

Abstract

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) and mitigate the effects of drought and desertification was adopted in June 1994. Despite the United Nations Resolution for Urgent Action for Africa, the implementation of the CCD in the rangelands of Eastern Africa has been constrained by the often intricate patterns of land use and cropping exacerbated by drought, civil strife and famine (Anon., 1997; Guturo, 1997; Njuki, 1997). There have been a number of attempts to implement the CCD at subregional, national and local level. Experiences gained from these attempts have identified major constraints specific to each level. Overcoming these constraints will improve implementation of the CCD and reverse or slow the degradation of Eastern African rangelands. At the subregional level, the main constraints to the implementation of the CCD were related to poor communication and information brokerage (Anon., 1995), inadequate technical and human resource capacity, lack of political goodwill and low commitment of subregional intergovernmental organisations; ineffective famine early warning and drought monitoring (Henricksen and Durkin, 1986; Cutler 1985); insufficient capacity to monitor and control pests and pestilence (Gathuru et al., 1991; Latigo et al., 1989; Onchere and Scott, 1989; Onchere and Odiyo, 1993); and scanty or faulty donor support for subregional and cross border initiatives. At the national level, the main constraints to the implementation of the CCD were related to inadequate or draconian legislation (Abdalla, 1993); an unfavourable economic and funding climate; low priority accorded to environmental and pastoral-related issues (Rutten, 1992; Dransfield, 1994); debilitating civil strife; sporadic famine; inadequate technical and personnel capacity; lack of political goodwill and low commitment of national consultative structures and mechanisms; poor infrastructure; and inappropriate or unclear donor policies (Guturo, 1997). At the local level, the constraints to the implementation of the CCD include drought; civil strife and livestock rustling; famine; poverty; unfavorable economic climate and legislation; cultural and gender barriers; poor technical and human resource capacity of local populations; inappropriate technologies; and top-down government policies.