By Hon. Prof. Kariuki Muigua, OGW, PhD, C.Arb, FCIArb is a Professor of Environmental Law and Dispute Resolution at the University of Nairobi, Member of Permanent Court of Arbitration, Leading Environmental Law Scholar, Respected Sustainable Development Policy Advisor, Top Natural Resources Lawyer, Highly-Regarded Dispute Resolution Expert and Awardee of the Order of Grand Warrior (OGW) of Kenya by H.E. the President of Republic of Kenya. He is The African ADR Practitioner of the Year 2022, The African Arbitrator of the Year 2022, ADR Practitioner of the Year in Kenya 2021, CIArb (Kenya) Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 and ADR Publisher of the Year 2021 and Author of the Kenya’s First ESG Book: Embracing Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) tenets for Sustainable Development” (Glenwood, Nairobi, July 2023) and Kenya’s First Two Climate Change Law Book: Combating Climate Change for Sustainability (Glenwood, Nairobi, October 2023), Achieving Climate Justice for Development (Glenwood, Nairobi, October 2023) and Promoting Rule of Law for Sustainable Development (Glenwood, Nairobi, January 2024)*
Capacity-building has long been recognized as one of the means of implementation for the achievement of Sustainable Development. This is reflected in the outcome documents and action plans adopted by major international conferences on Sustainable Development. Agenda 21 recognizes the role of capacity building in the Sustainable Development agenda. According to Agenda 21, the ability of a country to follow Sustainable Development paths is determined to a large extent by the capacity of its people and its institutions as well as by its ecological and geographical conditions.
Capacity-building as envisaged under Agenda 21 encompasses a country’s human, scientific, technological, organizational, institutional and resource capabilities. In addition, Agenda 21 states that the fundamental goal of capacity-building is to enhance the ability to evaluate and address the crucial questions related to policy choices and modes of implementation among development options, based on an understanding of environmental potentials and limits and of needs as perceived by the people of the country concerned.
Agenda 21 requires all countries to develop and improve national and related subregional and regional capacities and capabilities for Sustainable Development, with the involvement of the non-governmental sectors. In addition, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), adopted at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development also recognizes the importance of capacity-building for the achievement of Sustainable Development. The JPOI requires governments as well as relevant regional and international organizations and other relevant stakeholders to support capacity needs for training, technical know-how and strengthening national institutions in all countries for Sustainable Development. It also urges developed countries to support capacity building efforts for Sustainable Development in developing countries through the urgent mobilization of financial resources and technological assistance and the development of human and institutional capacity.
The role of capacity building in Sustainable Development is also enshrined in the outcome document of the Rio +20 Conference. The document emphasizes the need for enhanced capacity-building for Sustainable Development and calls for the strengthening of technical and scientific cooperation, including North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation. It also urges countries to build capacity for Sustainable Development through human resource development, including training, the exchange of experiences and expertise, knowledge transfer and technical assistance for capacity-building, and strengthening institutional capacity, including planning, management and monitoring capacities.
Further, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes capacity building as a key mechanism for achieving sustainability. Each SDG contains targets relating to means of implementation, including capacity- building. Further, SDG 17 seeks to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for Sustainable Development. Capacity building is one the targets under SDG 17 which seeks to inter alia enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the sustainable development goals, including through North-South, SouthSouth and triangular cooperation.
Building capacity is therefore necessary for the achievement of Sustainable Development. It has been observed that capacity building activities are aimed at strengthening and maintaining the capabilities of states and societies to design and implement strategies that minimize the negative impacts of current social, economic and environmental crises and emerging challenges. Further, it has been pointed out that capacity building activities can promote the integration of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs into local, national, regional, continental and global Sustainable Development planning frameworks.
Capacity building therefore represents a fundamental approach in the implementation and achievement of the SDGs. According to the United Nations, capacity building is a fundamental strategy that underpins the entire framework of the Sustainable Development agenda. Its holistic approach ensures that efforts in one area support and reinforce progress in others, creating a more integrated and effective path towards Sustainable Development. The United Nations points out that capacity building requires a concerted effort from various stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, the private sector, civil society, and local communities, to share knowledge, expertise, and resources. It is therefore necessary for all countries to build capacity in order to achieve sustainability.
*This is an extract from the Book: Promoting Rule of Law for Sustainable Development (Glenwood, Nairobi, January 2024) by Hon. Prof. Kariuki Muigua, OGW, PhD, Professor of Environmental Law and Dispute Resolution, Senior Advocate of Kenya, Chartered Arbitrator, Kenya’s ADR Practitioner of the Year 2021 (Nairobi Legal Awards), ADR Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 (CIArb Kenya), African Arbitrator of the Year 2022, Africa ADR Practitioner of the Year 2022, Member of National Environment Tribunal (NET) Emeritus (2017 to 2023) and Member of Permanent Court of Arbitration nominated by Republic of Kenya. Prof. Kariuki Muigua is a foremost Environmental Law and Natural Resources Lawyer and Scholar, Sustainable Development Advocate and Conflict Management Expert in Kenya. Prof. Kariuki Muigua teaches Environmental Law and Dispute resolution at the University of Nairobi School of Law, The Center for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP) and Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies. He has published numerous books and articles on Environmental Law, Environmental Justice Conflict Management, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Sustainable Development. Prof. Muigua is also a Chartered Arbitrator, an Accredited Mediator, the Managing Partner of Kariuki Muigua & Co. Advocates and Africa Trustee Emeritus of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators 2019-2022. Prof. Muigua is a 2023 recipient of President of the Republic of Kenya Order of Grand Warrior (OGW) Award for his service to the Nation as a Distinguished Expert, Academic and Scholar in Dispute Resolution and recognized among the top 5 leading lawyers and dispute resolution experts in Band 1 in Kenya by the Chambers Global Guide 2024 and was listed in the Inaugural THE LAWYER AFRICA Litigation Hall of Fame 2023 as one of the Top 50 Most Distinguished Litigation Lawyers in Kenya and the Top Arbitrator in Kenya in 2023.
References
Africa Legal., ‘Advancing the Rule of Law in Africa.’ Available at https://www.lexisnexis.co.za/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/901948/LN_Rule-ofLaw_Report_Final.pdf (Accessed on 29/12/2023).
Africa Union., ‘Africa’s Human Capacity.’ Available at https://au.int/en/auc/priorities/africa%E2%80%99s-human-capacity (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
Africa Union., ‘Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.’ Available at https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/33126-doc-framework_document_book.pdf (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
Africa Union., ‘Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.’ Op Cit 67 Ibid 68 Ibid 69 Capacity for Health., ‘8 Examples of Capacity Building Activities for Health Service Organizations.’ Available at https://capacity4health.org/examples-of-capacitybuilding-activities/ (Accessed on 29/12/2023).
African Development Bank Group., ‘About African Development Institute.’ Available at https://www.afdb.org/en/knowledge/african-development-institute/about-adi (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
African Development Bank Group., ‘About African Development Institute.’ Op Cit 75 Kabbaj. O., ‘Capacity Building, Governance, and Economic Reform in Africa.’ Available at https://www.elibrary.imf.org/downloadpdf/book/9781589060722/ch002.xml (Accessed on 29/12/2023).
African Development Bank Group., ‘African Development Bank supports Capacity Building in Nutrition and Food Security in the ECOWAS Region.’ Available at https://www.afdb.org/fr/news-and-events/african-development-bank-supports- capacity-building-in-nutrition-and-food-security-in-the-ecowas-region-17265 (Accessed on 29/12/2023).
African Development Bank Group., ‘Capacity-Building.’ https://www.afdb.org/en/knowledge/african-development-institute/capacity-building (Accessed on 27/12/2023).
African Development Bank Group., ‘Human Capital Development.’ Available at https://www.afdb.org/en/topics-and-sectors/sectors/human-capital-development (Accessed on 29/12/2023).
African Development Bank Group., ‘Human Capital Development.’ Available at https://www.afdb.org/en/topics-and-sectors/sectors/human-capital-development (Accessed on 29/11/2023).
African Development Bank Group., ‘The Way Forward to Achieving Sustainable Development in Africa.’ Available at https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/ADR15_chapter_8.pd f (Accessed on 27/12/2023).
African Union., ‘Three Decades of Capacity Building in Africa: ACBF Looks Back at 32 years of Service.’ Available at https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20230403/threedecades-capacity-building-africa-acbf-looks-back-32-years-service (Accessed on 29/12/2023).
Capacity building for better health in Africa., Available at https://funccet.es/capacity-building-for-better-health-in-africa/ (Accessed on 29/12/2023).
Centre for Strategic and International Studies., ‘The Rule of Law and Sustainable Development.’ Available at https://www.csis.org/analysis/rule-law-and-sustainabledevelopment (Accessed on 29/12/2023).
Ezeh. A., & Lu. J., ‘Transforming the Institutional Landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa: Considerations for Leveraging Africa’s Research Capacity to Achieve Socioeconomic Development.’ Available at https://www.cgdev.org/sites/default/files/transforminginstitutional-landscape-sub-saharan-africa-considerations-leveraging-africa.pdf (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
Fitzmaurice. M., ‘The Principle of Sustainable Development in International Development Law.’ International Sustainable Development Law., Vol 1.
Giovannoni. E., & Fabietti. G., ‘What Is Sustainability? A Review of the Concept and Its Applications.’ In: Busco, C., Frigo, M., Riccaboni, A., Quattrone, P. (eds) Integrated Reporting. Springer, Cham. Available at https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02168- 3_2 (Accessed on 27/12/2023).
International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa., Available at https://www.iicba.unesco.org/en/about-us (Accessed on 29/12/2023) 60 African Union., ‘Capacity Building for the Energy Sector.’ Available at https://auafrec.org/capacity-building (Accessed on 29/12/2023).
Suri. S., ‘African Human Capital Investment: Crucial to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.’ Available at https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/african-humancapitalinvestment#:~:text=Investing %20in%20human%20capital%20in,and%20a%20lack%20of %20infrastructure. (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
Sustainable African Strategies., ‘Strategies-for-Sustainable-Development-inAfrican-Capacity-Building.’ Available at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/strategies-forsustainable-development/?trk=organization_ guest_main-feed-card_feed-article-content (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
The Royal Society., ‘Africa Capacity Building Initiative case study – Challenges and benefits for PhD students.’ Available at https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemesawards/grants/africa-capacity-building/challenges-benefits-phdstudents/#:~:text=The%20ACBI%20programme%20at%20a,achieving% 20Sustainable%20 Development%20Goals1 (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
United Nations Climate Change., ‘Capacity-Building Portal: Africa.’ Available at https://unfccc.int/topics/capacity-building/workstreams/capacity-buildingportal/complementary-resources/capacity-building-portal-africa#Adaptation (Accessed on 29/12/2023).
United Nations Development Programme., ‘2020 Africa Sustainable Development Report.’ Available at https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/africa/RBA— ASDR-2020—updated—03032022.pdf (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
United Nations Environment Programme., ‘Environmental Rule of Law: Tracking Progress and Charting Future Directions.’ Available at https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/43943/ Environmental_ru le_of_law_progress.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
United Nations General Assembly., ‘Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.’ 21 October 2015, A/RES/70/1., Available at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/21252030%20Agenda%20for%20 Sustainabl e%20Development%20web.pdf (Accessed on 27/12/2023).
United Nations., ‘Capacity Development.’ Available at https://sdgs.un.org/topics/capacity-development (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
United Nations., ‘Capacity-Building.’ Available at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/capacitybuilding#:~:text=Sustainable%20Development%20Goal%20Target%2017.9,to%20impleme nt%20all%20the%20sustainable (Accessed on 27/12/2023).
United Nations., ‘Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.’ Available at https://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/documents/WSSD_POI_PD/English/WSSD_PlanImpl.pdf (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
United Nations., ‘United Nations Conference on Environment & Development Rio de Janerio, Brazil, 3 to 14 June 1992: Agenda 21.’ Available at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Agenda21.pdf (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
United Nations., ‘United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development’: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 20-22 June 2012.’ A/CONF.216/L.1., Available at https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/13662/N1238164.pdf?sequence=1&a mp%3BisAllowed= (Accessed on 28/12/2023).
World Commission on Environment and Development., ‘Our Common Future.’ Oxford, (Oxford University Press, 1987).