23 October 2018: The UN Environment Programme-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) launched the Development Corridors Partnership, an international collaboration that will support the sustainable growth of development corridors in East Africa through funding from the UK Research Council’s Global Challenges Research Fund until 2021.

The project represents the first of UNEP-WCMC’s major project launches in China, and brings together research institutes and government think tanks from the UK, China, Kenya, and Tanzania. The goal of the initiative is to ensure that decision making along development corridors in East Africa is based on sound scientific evidence, effective planning tools and procedures, and enhanced in-country capacity.

Providing opening remarks at the launch event, Corli Pretorius, UNEP-WCMC Deputy Director, noted that China remains among the most significant investors for Africa, underscoring that “it is of interest to both China and African countries to prevent negative impact and find ways to direct investments to contribute to the sustainable development for Africa.”

Han Meng, UNEP-WCMC China Representative, added that since the start of UNEP-WCMC China initiative in 2015, UNEP-WCMC has explored ways to support the sustainable development of Chinese overseas investment. [UNEP WCMC Press Release]