Environmental Assessment in Sub-Saharan Africa—Innovation, Perspectives and Practice
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 19 September 2025 | Viewed by 10
Special Issue Editors
Interests: EA; sustainability; environment; ESG; CSR; carbon accounting
Interests: EA; sustainability; environment
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Since 1970, over 190 countries have adopted environmental assessment (EA) as a formal and legally enforceable tool to support environmental protection and sustainable development. Sub-Saharan African countries have adopted different forms of EA, often mirroring western systems, despite differences in socio-economic development, climate change vulnerability, and environmental and sustainability concerns. It is within this context that this Special Issue aims to showcase innovative practices, perspectives, and multifaceted approaches to EA in Sub-Saharan Africa, providing a reference point for reflecting on the wealth of EA approaches and experiences in SSA and exploring the role of this unique context in influencing them. For the first time, EA thinking, practice, and performance will be illuminated vis-a-vis the international literature.
Original research, review, and conceptual papers are welcomed, including case studies covering, for example, the following:
- Perspectives on EA considerations of environmental issues in Sub-Saharan Africa, including climate change (renewable energy, sustainable energy, energy transition, and net-zero), indigenous peoples’ rights, culture, heritage, and biodiversity;
- Perspectives on the relationship between local and international expectations for EA theory and practice in Sub-Saharan Africa;
- Perspectives on EA treatment of the relationship between formality, informality, and customary processes;
- Perspectives on evolution and improvements in EA, as well as its practice and capacity, in Sub-Saharan Africa, including strengths and weaknesses;
- Perspectives on transboundary EA and the consideration of transboundary resources;
- Perspectives on different interests (indigenous communities, local land, and cultural and heritage issues) and values through EA;
- EA practice in large-scale and nationally significant projects, zones with refugees, or resettlements, and areas which are protected or affected by armed conflicts;
- Participatory processes within EA, and the involvement of youth, women, marginalized and indigenous communities, and the informal sectors;
- EA within legal challenges or contested and controversial projects.
Dr. Vincent Onyango
Dr. Paola Gazzola
Dr. Phathu Mukwevho
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- sub-Saharan Africa
- environmental assessment
- EIA
- ESIA
- SEA
- innovative approaches
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