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Air Pollution Information Network for Africa (APINA)


Table of Contents

[top] [end]Introduction

Air pollutants cause many environmental problems which until recently were considered to be confined to Europe and North America. It is now clear that regional air pollution is a serious and growing problem in parts of the world, particularly in developing countries. In many developing regions emissions are increasing and are set to rise dramatically in the next century if the conventional development path is followed. The impacts associated with sulphur and nitrogen will then become widespread and severe in these countries unless steps are taken to prevent or control them. In aspiring to higher living standards, developing countries have choices and opportunities to avoid emissions and impacts and learn from the mistakes made in Europe and America. These pages are designed to share information on Air Pollution in Africa and what is happening in Regional networks involved in air pollution information.

[top] [end]Structure

To address the issues related to air pollution, a regional network of scientists, policy-makers and non-governmental organizations, known as the Air Pollution Information Network for Africa (APINA), has been established and currently covers Southern Africa. These activities form part of a Programme on Atmospheric Environment Issues in Developing Countries coordinated by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) under a project entitled "Regional Air Pollution in Developing Countries (RAPIDC). The countries currently involved include; Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Scientists involved in air pollution studies in Africa please contact us so that we share knowledge and information.

[top] [end]Main objectives

The main role of APINA is to form a strong link between the air pollution scientific community and policy makers at national and regional levels. It acts as a conduit of knowledge and data derived in the scientific programmes and existing research to influence policy and decision-makers in matters related to air pollution. APINA acts as a link between different networks and programmes on air pollution in Africa.

The APINA partnership involves capacity building and raising of awareness in partners and national implementation agencies through the collection of data on ambient air quality, collection of data on health, their integration into relevant studies, and dissemination and awareness-raising activities.

[top] [end]Policy initiatives

[top] [end]Regional Policy Dialogue, September 29th to 30th 1998, Harare, Zimbabwe

APINA has been working closely with partners involved in the environment to come up with policies that will protect the environment. APINA, under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community Environment and Land Management Sector (SADC ELMS), convened a policy dialogue meeting on the Prevention and Control of Regional Air Pollution in Southern Africa and its likely Transboundary Effects from 29-30 September 1998 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Participants in the workshop were policy makers drawn from various national ministries (e.g. health, environment, natural resources, mines and energy), decision makers from industry and representatives from the scientific and research communities. The policy dialogue aimed to present the problems of regional air pollution to policy makers and to encourage broad discussion with regional and international experts and scientists.

The main outcome of the two-day Policy Dialogue was the resolution called "The Harare Resolution on the Prevention and Control of Regional Air Pollution in Southern Africa and its likely Transboundary Effects"

[top] [end]Regional Policy Dialogue, September 22nd to 24th 2003, Maputo, Mozambique

The Air Pollution Information Network – Africa (APINA) held a Regional Policy Dialogue (RPD) during 22nd to 24th September, 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique. The seven participating countries (Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) sent at least two government representatives as policy makers. The SAFARI 2000 project also supported attendance of some participants who shared their scientific results with policy makers. Zambia was represented by Hon. Nedson Nzowa, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources. The Minister of Environment of the Republic of Mozambique, Hon J. Kachamila officially opened the Policy Dialogue. Mrs Sara Stenhammar, the Sida Advisor on Environment and Mr. Stephen Karekezi, the PAG representative were aslo in attendance at the RPD. Scientific information derived from APINA activities and SAFARI 2000 programme was presented at the Dialogue. Policy makers also presented air pollution activities in their respective countries.

The outcome of the RPD was a draft declaration the "Maputo Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution in southern Africa and its likely Transboundary Effects". A road map is being formulated to have the draft declaration endorsed by SADC ministers and to feed it into the activities of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

Country contact points (from ministries of environment) are to be appointed with an organisational structure, which facilitates information flow to ministries of environment, was formulated at both national and regional levels.

The declaration awaits further approval by SADC Ministers on the environment and the African Ministers Conference on Environment (AMCEN).

[top] [end]APINA Phase III

APINA is now in Phase III, the planning workshop for Phase III and a questionnaire administered at the end of Phase II both emphasized the need for capacity building in tools and techniques required for relevant data collection, emissions inventory building and impact assessment. Furthermore, network members indicated the paramount importance of information on air quality and its impacts in Southern Africa to be generated and disseminated.

The need for good science to stimulate and influence the development of effective policy in the region was also emphasized. Hence, APINA plans to carry out focused and relevant studies which can feed into the policy development process. Ten Task Teams were formed to tackle the various air pollution issues:
  • Emissions Inventories
  • Atmospheric Transport
  • Monitoring of Deposition
  • Impacts on Health
  • Impacts on Crops
  • Impacts on Ecosystems
  • Impacts on Corrosion
  • Harmonization of Regulatory Tools
  • Socio-Economic Impacts
Training courses for the various Task Teams started beginning of 2006 in collaboration with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) in a Regional Air Pollution in Developing Countries (RAPIDC) programme. The training workshops are financially supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

Data collected, analyzed and manipulated using the tools and techniques imparted to the Task Team Members during the training courses are expected to be developed in to relevant case studies, fact sheets etc. The products of the Task Team work will be used to inform the policy making process, raise civic society awareness and form the basis of in-depth case studies in the region.

[top] [end]Further information

For more information please Email: apina@... or

Write to: APINA Coordinator. School of Mines, University of Zambia. P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.

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Page created: 03 June 2006; Last edited: 03 June 2006; Version: 0
Knowledge Bank text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

Pagename: AirPollutionInformationNetworkForAfrica @HEDON: MDDA