PREVIOUS REGIONAL PROJECT ACTIVITIES

In view of many successful ZERI research initiatives in Africa, and in recognition of the poverty challenge confronting the continent, UNDP began to develop interest in ZERI whose initiatives, indeed, trigerred thoughts of developing Africa, perhaps, a little differently. As a result, a series of meetings of UNDP Resident Representatives based in Africa were made, including extensive consultations between the Assistant Administrator and Director of UNDP Africa, the UNESCO/UNU ZERI Chair for Africa based at the University of Namibia, the ZERI Foundation based in Geneva and the UNDP Resident Representative in Namibia. This was followed by a series of visits to Benin, The Gambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Nigeria, Senegal, etc, from which a project document was compiled under the theme "Promoting sustainable Human Development in Africa through Optimal use of Africa's Biota, Other Natural Resources and waste: Total Productivity and Zero Emissions Initiatives for Africa". This Document was presented to a meeting of UNDP Resident Representatives for Africa in Cotonou, Benin in February 1999. In that meeting, the Resident Representatives committed to spearhead initiatives that will suggest doing development in Africa differently. The ZERI project document was accepted as one of the initiatives to receive support from UNDP. Various highlights of ZERI related initiatives which were a source of new hope for Africa were presented. These included the experience of the Songhai Centre in Porto Novo, Benin, where, through the efforts of Father Godfrey Nzamujo, the application of the anti-waste Concept to enhanced agricultural production, is already in practice, where the Centre is generation 30% of its electricity needs from biogus produced from waste, where 90% of the water is re used by applying mainly biological process, and where housefly maggots are produced for protein chicken feed. A presentation was also made on the successful farming of Seaweeds in Tanzania where over 40 000 villagers have found employment by farming Seaweeds in Zanzibar where its export generates as much foreign currency earnings as what comes from other major sectors of the economy. Another interesting project was the case of Tuweni Brewery in Tsumeb, Namibia where spent grain and waste from a Sorghum Brewery are being used as a basis for producing biogas energy, mushrooms, and feed for Pigs using and Integrated Biosystem (IBS) pioneered as a joint venture between the University of Namibia and Namibia Breweries. Most of these initiatives were spearheaded by the University of Namibia.

Following the Cotonou meeting in Benin, a team comprising the UNESCO/UNU ZERI Africa Chair at the University of Namibia, Prof Keto Mshigeni, the Director of the ZERI Foundation in Geneva, Mr Grunta Pauli, and the then Resident Representative in Windhoek, Dr Stephen Adei, was tasked to put together a document to define how the project will be carried forward.
That document which was submitted and approved in year 2000, proposed UNDP support to facilitate the implementation of Research and Development (R&D) Projects in selected African countries to demonstrate the productivity of zero emissions, and to promote sustainable human development. The project will additionally provide support to identified African institutions to enable them to adopt the application of the Concept of total productivity and zero emissions-based activities, in a variety of selected high priority important sectors. It will also assist participating countries to design strategies for further expansion of the application of the ZERI Concept, in response to their specific needs and priorities. Countries identified for this programme are Namibia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Lesotho, Senegal and the Gambia. It is envisaged that when the project is fully operations some 10 to 15 Countries in Africa will be involved.
The University of Namibia was selected to host the Project Management Unit (PMU) because it already had several on-going ZERI Projects. The Unit will be responsible for the implementation of the project under the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as the Executing Agency. Professor Keto Mshigeni, who is also the UNESCO/UNU ZERI Chair for Africa was selected to be the Project Coordinator to run the PMU. As Steering Committee for the Project is also required. The Project Steering Committee includes members from UNDP Africa (Chair); the Executing Agency (UNOPS); UNDP Namibia, UNESCO/UNU ZERI Africa Chair; the Songhai Centre, the University of Namibia and three SERI experts (inclusive of a member from the ZERI Foundation).

Africa Participating Countries
ZERI is currently active in the following countries:

Lesotho Malawi Namibia Senegal Swaziland Tanzania The Gambia Zambia