Strategy and framework

Strategy toward gender mainstreaming in the environment sector, 2016

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SIP 19: Ecological Infrastructure for Water Security, 2015  

The Strategic Integrated Project known as SIP 19: Ecological Infrastructure for Water Security is the proposed second water-related SIP and provides a framework for the integration of a number of impactful water-related ecological infrastructure investments and interventions into a coordinated, coherent and focussed project specifically aimed at improving South Africa’s water resource quality and quantity. Thus, the purpose of SIP 19 is to make a significant contribution to the overall goal of ensuring a sustainable supply of fresh, healthy water to equitably meet South Africa’s social, economic and environmental water needs for current and future generations through the integrated implementation of projects within identified priority water catchments.  

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National Environmental Impact Assessment and Management Strategy (EIMS), 2014

The EIAMS for South Africa has been developed in order to address the shortcomings within the current integrated environmental management (IEM) system and processes as identified in the ‘Review of Effectiveness and Efficiency of EIA in South Africa’ (REE) (DEAT, 2010). The current environmental management system provided for in chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), Act 107 of 1998 and subsequent amendments, promotes environmental impact assessment (EIA) as the main compulsory tool to ensure integrated environmental management in South Africa, through a regulated environmental authorisation process. In addition to this focus on EIA, environmental management frameworks (EMFs) have been used since 2008 as a strategic environmental instrument to provide a strategic context for project-level decision making and the processes involved in the issuing of environmental authorisations. The EIAMS aims to provide a more effective and efficient IEM system that is supported by a range of EM instruments and tools.

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Environment Sector Research, Development and Evidence Framework, 2012

An approach to enhance science-policy interface and evidence-based policy making

This document addresses the need for a common framework for the collection of solid evidence that can be used in support of environment sector policy decisions and for the achievement of sector priorities. In response to the pressing environmental issues of our times the framework is seeking to develop a more rigorous approach that gathers, critically appraises and uses high quality research evidence to inform policy-making and professional practice.

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South African Manual for Outoor Advertising Control (SAMOAC), 2010

If not managed correctly outdoor advertising may have a major impact on the environment, and not only the aesthetic environment. It may also contribute to environmental problems such as sound and light pollution and may influence road safety. On the other hand it cannot be denied that outdoor advertising fulfils an important role in present-day life and provides us with various benefits. SAMOAC forms the backbone of outdoor advertising control in South Africa. It serves as a national guideline document to controlling authorities on national, provincial and local level and also guides the outdoor advertising industry. The main aim of SAMOAC is to initiate and co-ordinate the control of outdoor advertising. It is aimed at minimising the impacts of outdoor advertising while maximising the benefits of this advertising medium at the same time. 

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Environmental Sector Skills Plan (ESSP), 2009

The ESSP – first of its kind in South Africa – describes the current status quo with regard to demand and supply of environmental skills, and provides the best available information on scarce and critical skills in the sector at present from a supply and demand perspective.  It also identifies new trends influencing skills development needs in the sector (e.g. new socio-ecological issues and directions, such as climate change; mainstreaming of environment into development; new science and technology directions in South Africa; and the green economy). It further provides guidance on improving environmental sector skills development planning and implementation within the national education, training and skills development system. It sets objectives for Human Capital Development Strategic Planning for the Environmental Sector, and provides guidelines for Human Capital Development Planning

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Human Capital Development Strategy Environmental Sector, 2009

A systems approach to skills development to support the Environmental Sector Strategic Plan

This Human Capital Development Strategy (HCDS) arises out of the constitutional imperative for a clean, healthy environment that benefits current and future generations, and the impetus to strengthen opportunities associated with a green economy for South Africa. Its time frame is 2009-2014, which is aligned with the MTSF of 2009-2014. The MTSF prioritises skills development in South Africa, and emphasises the importance of quality in the education, training and skills development process. South Africa has developed a suite of legislation associated with the National Environmental Management Act No. 102 of 1998. The implementation of this legislation remains a work in progress and cannot be done without adequate attention to human capital development. The National Human Resources Development Strategy for South Africa (2009-2014) identifies the importance of implementing skills development initiatives that respond to South Africa’s social and economic needs, and development of skills that improve service delivery.

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Integrated Environmental Management Information Series (IEM), 2004

This document describes the concepts, principles and tools of Integrated Environmental Management (IEM). The purpose of the document is to inform all stakeholders who are involved in making decisions that could have an impact on the environment about the range of tools available to align their endeavours with the principles of sustainable development. It should be noted that this document is not intended as a detailed users guide, but rather to convey the overall framework for integrated environmental management. It is recognised that integrated environmental management provides a set of underpinning principles and a suite of environmental assessment and management tools that are aimed at promoting sustainable development. Many of these tools, such as environmental impact assessment, are well developed and mandatory world-wide. Other tools, such as sustainability analysis, are still in an emergent stage. With this suite of tools, IEM has the potential to play a major role in the imperative of guiding all sectors of society along a pathway to sustainability.

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