The degradation of natural resources is a serious threat undermining economic and social development. Therefore, to achieve sustainable social and human development the environmental dimension needs to be taken fully into account in all development activities.

Despite several EU documents outline that to achieve the overall objective of poverty reduction all development activities should be environmentally sustainable, the reality is that most Country and Regional Strategy Papers (CSPs/RSPs) include neither an analysis of the economic, social and environmental value of natural resources nor an analysis of the impact that other development sectors (i.e. roads and large macro-economic projects) have on the loss of natural resources – and the subsequent problems caused for the people who depend on them to survive.

EU aid will not meet its own goal unless a proper analysis of the best ways to relieve poverty, including the need for a healthy environment, is part of every Country and Regional Strategy Paper. Civil society actors should engage in the programming process to ensure that the next round of CPSs/RSPs include environmental integration or recognise that adequate natural resource use is vital for a country’s survival.

“The perception remains in some quarters that environmental protection is something of a luxury in Africa. Yet, evidence shows that environmental degradation often contributes to poverty and when forests disappear and water is exhausted or polluted, it is often the poor of Africa, especially children and women, who suffer most. Promoting sustainable natural resource management is thus politically, socially and economically sound development strategy for Africa.” Therefore, “(m)aking Africa’s development sustainable is the only way to protect the livelihood of Africa’s poor in the medium and long term.”
EU Strategy for Africa

Background documents

•  WWF Newsletter (October 2006) ACP - EU/Cotonou/10th EDF
• WWF (2006) The importance of poverty-environment linkages in EU development aid. Feb 2006, Brussels.
• WWF (2005) Streamlining poverty-environment linkages in the European Community’s development assistance. Dec 2005, Brussels.
• WWF (2005) Alleviating poverty by improving environmental health. Nov 2005, Brussels.
• WWF (2005) Security in Africa through a sustainable environment. Nov 2005, Brussels.
• WWF (2005) Reducing poverty through Sound Environmental Governance. Nov 2005, Brussels.
• FERN, WWF, Birdlife, CI, IFAW, CAN & ICCO (2005) The Review of the EC's Development Policy Statement: Ensuring Environmental Sustainability. Jun 2005, Brussels.
• FERN (2004) Forest Loss and Human Health in the policies, programmes and projects of the EU. May 2005, Brussels.
• WWF (2004) EU Aid: Reducing Poverty Through A Sustainable Environment: Why Should EU Aid Properly Address the Link Between Poverty and the Environment? Sep 2004, Brussels.

For further information on environmental mainstreaming in EC aid, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Development campaigner, FERN.