During the 5th Steering Committee meeting held in Tunisia, Kenya was officially appointed as the Third Vice President of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) Board. This marks a significant milestone in the country’s commitment to regional environmental diplomacy, climate action, and the Green Agenda.
The meeting, chaired by H.E. Mr. Alaa Farouk, Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and President of the OSS, brought together representatives from member states and 13 partner organizations. Discussions focused on the 2020–2024 report and the midterm review of the OSS 2030 Strategy.
The Sahara and Sahel Observatory is an international organization that fosters partnerships to address shared environmental challenges, including water resource management, land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change across Africa. OSS supports African member states in sustainably managing their natural resources, with climate change identified as a key priority.
According to Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Kenya’s new leadership role reflects its pioneering position in climate action efforts.
“We look forward to working with member states to advance collective climate action and ecosystem restoration in Kenya and across the continent,” said PS Ng’eno.
Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
The organization’s priorities include implementing multilateral environmental agreements on land degradation, biodiversity, and climate change; promoting international initiatives that address environmental challenges in Africa; and enhancing collaboration between states and sub-regional organizations. Additionally, OSS works to define concepts and unify methodologies for sustainable land and water management.
Knowledge sharing and capacity building are central to OSS’s work. Through its accreditation by the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, the organization also supports African countries in implementing climate resilience projects that benefit both populations and ecosystems
