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ERITREA
Red Sea
ARAB STATES
DJIBOUTI
MDGs
ETHIOPIA
DJIBOUTI
Tadjoura
Progress Towards Environmental Sustainability
Djibouti
The high incidence of poverty in Djibouti, water scarcity and desertification
– all of which are aggravated by both human practices and natural environmental
degradation – point towards serious urban and rural environmental
problems. Rapid population growth has led to an increase in
SOMALIA
Lake Abbe
urbanization that occupies more and more land. Inadequate sanitation
services have left the problem of pollution unresolved and contribute to poor hygiene conditions, which in turn
affect the health of inhabitants.
While the lack of access to water is one of the principal difficulties facing Djibouti, there is a general lack of access to basic services.
Electricity, produced in highly polluted thermal centers, is poorly distributed due to ruptures in production caused by the absence
of modern equipment. The use of wood for cooking is prevalent notably in rural areas and is a primary cause of deforestation and
desertification. Rural living is made more difficult because of the scarcity of water points and unavailability of water – almost 50%
of inhabitants do not have access to a sustainable water point. In rural areas, 30% of households rely on traditional wells that are in
poor hygienic conditions.
For MDG global Target 11 – significantly reducing the number of slum dwellers by 2020 – Djibouti aims to reduce costs of construction
of secure tenure and to increase the proportion of the population
that owns property. Only 50% of households are inhabited by their
owners.
QUICK FACTS
CURRENT PORTFOLIO BUDGET
Total UNDP-GEF and Co-Finance: $1,399,700
Total MPU and Bilateral: $176,463
Total: $1,576,163
Cumulative Total ODS Phased-Out:
5.7 ODP tonnes
Resource mobilization and the prioritization of environmental sustainability
at the political level are essential in order for progress to be
made in achieving the MDG 7 targets in Djibouti. Improvement in
sanitation, better distribution of water and the proper use of natural
resources for productive ends are some of the priorities that need to
be undertaken by the public and in cooperation with external donors
and partners in development. 1
NCSA Fosters National Dialogue on Environmental Conservation 2
SPOTLIGHT
Djibouti is situated on one of the most frequented sea routes in the world – the Red Sea and Gulf of
Aden – an uncontestable strategic position. At the same time, climatic and physical constraints and
additional human pressures hamper the sustainability of productive areas, threatening those who most
depend on them for their livelihoods. Currently 66% of the population resides in the capital city, increasing
the need for sound capacity to deal with environmental stresses.
Aware of the long-term advantages of sustainable natural resource management, the Government of Djibouti has
made environmental and biodiversity conservation a national priority. As early as 1991, within the framework of the 1992 Rio Earth
Summit preparation process, the Government produced a national report on the state of the environment, and in 1997 began discussions
on a National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) and the improvement of national capacities in environmental management.
In 2004, with the assistance of GEF funding of US$ 225,000, a National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment for Global
Environmental Management (NCSA) was developed with UNDP. The strategy includes priority actions related to environmental education,
capacity building, combating desertification, environmental impact assessment, waste management, pollution control, biodiversity
conservation, and other environmental initiatives, such as the use of environmentally-oriented technologies and the development
of private sector initiatives.
In April 2005, UNDP supported Djibouti’s National Dialogue, hosted by the Ministère de l’Habitat, de l’Urbanisme et de
STRATEGIES
l’Environnement. Over 60 stakeholders participated, representing national and local government, civil society, the private sector,
the donor community and the media. The main focus of their dialogue was to continue to raise awareness on actions linking
global environmental commitments to Djibouti’s national priorities, as outlined through their climate change and energy,
biodiversity and land degradation strategies.
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