5 2 S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N declaration of 2001), in practice at the strategic level, no serious implementation took place. D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M U N I T Y 3.8 ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 3.7.4 Challenges in the Policies and Strategies 3.8.1 While a sound policy framework and commitment for the Review of Current Policies and Strategies development of ICT in the Region is in place, the following challenges need to be addressed in order to create an enabling environment for this to happen: 1. The need to create a permanent ICT Task Force comprising all stakeholders to ensure cross-sectoral coordination of ICT issues; 2. The need for a legally binding mechanism or a The policies of Environment and Land Management are designed to assess environmental conditions for sustainable development; reduce threats to human health, ecosystems and future development; promote sustainable development; manage shared natural resources on an equitable and sustainable basis; and accelerate regional integration and capacity building. protocol to drive ICT issues at a very high level in order to facilitate implementation and follow-up and to commit stakeholders to reforms in their respective sectors. 3. The need to undertake reforms that will underscore the convergence of infrastructure usage for telecommunications and broadcasting under the To achieve these objectives, measures have been taken to monitor and guide all sectors on the implementation of environmental policies, strategies and programmes; promote sound environmental management through pollution control, waste management and environmental education; and to ensure effective implementation of multi-lateral environmental agreements and gender mainstreaming. broad umbrella of ICT. Some Member States have already taken the lead by bringing reforms in those 3.8.2 sectors at their national levels. 4. There is also a need to develop standards and procedures for ICT in SADC. This will facilitate the monitoring of progress among Member States. The need to standardize on one computerized customs system for instance will help in creating a seamless Evaluation of Current Policies and Strategies Almost all policies and strategies of Environment and Land Management directly address the policies of promoting sustainable utilization of natural resources and, indirectly, address the promotion of agriculture development. The achievements of the sector include the setting up interface and better and faster integration among Member States. 5. Technology is in a state of constant change or evolution, as a result, regulating technology can prove to be very difficult and sometimes unnecessary. While market forces can sometimes of an institutional framework, infrastructure and networks for co-ordination and programme implementation, capacity building and institutional strengthening through training programmes in Member States, and partnership building with other development institutions. The sector has co-ordinated the positions of Member decide the way forward, Member States must be able to monitor progress in technology. SADC can States and coordinated action plans for the international learn from the experiences of others by constantly conventions such as the UN Convention to Combat monitoring technological evolution and apply those Desertification (UNCCD), the Persistent Organic Pollutants technologies that are more stable, proven and (POPs), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). appropriate for its Member States. 6. The need to build capacity and create awareness on 3.8.3 the benefits of technology as an essential condition Challenges in Current Policies and Strategies for the success of ICT. This implies that SADC, has to • through land use planning. among other things, put priority on an educated and healthy population, which will form the basis of this new society. Prioritising the promotion of good land management • Inadequate professional guidance to other sectors such as Trade, Mining and Tourism.