MEMORANDUM: AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION (AHOA)’S POSITION AND CONTRIBUTION TO UNEA-7 ON “ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR A RESILIENT PLANET”

 

 

MEMORANDUM

 

To:

The Executive Director,

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

and

Delegates to the Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7)

Executive Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is unep-executiveoffice@un.org, unep-newsdesk@un.org, UNEP New York Office <unepnyo@un.org>

 

Subject: AFRIHEALTH OPTONET ASSOCIATION (AHOA)’S POSITION AND CONTRIBUTION TO UNEA-7 ON “ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR A RESILIENT PLANET”

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) – a civil society organization and network of over 3,000 community-based, non-governmental, and academic institutions across over 120 countries mainly in Africa and the Global South – extends warm greetings to UNEA-7 and commends the Assembly’s continued leadership in advancing global environmental governance and sustainable development.

 

In alignment with the UNEA-7 theme, “Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet,” AHOA reiterates its commitment to promoting community driven, integrated approaches linking health, environment, energy, climate change, agriculture, and sustainable livelihoods (HEECS) as pathways to planetary resilience, equity, and achievement of sustainable development, including the ‘Agenda 2030’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa’s 2063 Agenda.

 

2. CONTEXT AND RATIONALE

 

Africa and the Global South continue to bear disproportionate burdens of environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, climate change impacts, and health inequities. The intersection of poverty, weak governance, and unsustainable production and consumption patterns further undermine resilience and accelerates vulnerability.

 

AHOA recognizes UNEA-7 as a historic opportunity to strengthen global solidarity, policy coherence, and financing for sustainable solutions that integrate climate adaptation, renewable energy, circular economy, and community health into national and local development frameworks.

 

3. AHOA’S CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPERIENCES

 

Through its thematic programmes and networks – including the Global Civil Society Consortium on Climate Change (GCSCCC) and the Society for Conservation and Sustainability of Energy and Environment in Nigeria (SOCSEEN) – AHOA is implementing initiatives that advance UNEA-7 objectives, including:

 

i. Community Climate Action Hubs: Promoting local adaptation, tree planting, renewable energy use, and climate-smart agriculture in over 200 communities across West and Central Africa.

ii. Health-Environment Integration: Mainstreaming environmental health and climate resilience into public health and SDG implementation strategies.

iii. Policy Advocacy and Research: Supporting evidence-based advocacy for sustainable energy transition, environmental governance, and circular economy.

iv. Youth and Women Empowerment: Building capacity of young people and women for green entrepreneurship, renewable energy innovation, and environmental stewardship.

 

4. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS TO UNEA-7

 

AHOA respectfully submits the following recommendations to the UNEA-7 deliberations:

i. Mainstream Health and Climate Nexus: Integrate health outcomes and equity into all UNEA resolutions and environmental governance mechanisms.

ii. Strengthen Civil Society Engagement: Institutionalize multi-stakeholder partnerships involving local communities, civil society, and youth in UNEP and UNEA frameworks.

iii. Scale up Financing for Local Solutions: Increase access to climate and environment financing for grassroots actors, particularly in Africa and the Global South.

iv. Support Renewable Energy and Circular Economy: Promote policy coherence and incentives for community-based renewable energy adoption and sustainable waste management.

v. Enhance Knowledge Sharing and South-South Cooperation: Establish platforms for the exchange of innovations, technologies, and best practices in sustainable development.

 

5. CONCLUSION

 

AHOA stands ready to collaborate with UNEP, UNEA Member States, and other stakeholders to advance inclusive, evidence-based, and locally anchored sustainable solutions that ensure a resilient planet for current and future generations.

 

We respectfully request that AHOA’s perspectives and civil society inputs be considered in UNEA-7 outcomes, and we express our readiness to contribute expertise, partnerships, and field experiences to UNEA’s implementation processes.

 

Accept, Excellency, the firm assurance of AHOA’s commitment and my highest respects.

 

Signed:

Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA)

Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje

Chief Executive Officer / Programmemes Director