KZN Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development

Company Profile

Our sub-directorate is called “ Environmental Empowerment and Sustainable Livelihoods”

Our Vision

A champion for environmental capacity building and sustainable environmental management practices in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)

Our Mission

In recognition of our clients and stakeholders we as this sub-directorate shall:

•Provide and promote environmental literacy;
•Educate and empower citizens of KZN on environmental practices;
•Increase awareness and concerns for environmental issues; and
•Increase, enhance environmental knowledge, skills, values, commitment and attitudes.

Our Objectives

The strategic objectives of this component are aligned with the legislative mandate and strategic outcome of the department. The aim of this sub-directorate is to ensure the sustainable use and protection of the environment of KZN through appropriate capacity building and empowerment mechanisms. The following are our main objectives:

•Promotion of environmental rights and awareness.
•Promotion and facilitation of integrated environmental management.
•Integrate environmental education into all relevant structures in the province.
•Develop and implement environmental action projects.
•Promoting natural and community based sustainable resource use and management to promote job creation.

A Brief Description

The objective of environmental empowerment services is to empower the citizens of KZB to participate in environmental governance and or decision making. As the awareness of the environmental legislation grows in the province, there is a demand for advice on the requirements and responsibilities from government, business and industry, civil society in order to comply with the current environmental legislature. Moreover, for the people of KZN to make and take decision, a certain level of capacity has to be built and strengthen particularly on the pertinent environmental issues that are affecting this province. It is in this regard that this sub-directorate continuously strengthen its partnerships with various organizations, as well as, institutions of higher education for educational awareness raising and information.

Background

It is the responsibility of this sub-directorate to render advice, empowerment and awareness raising through education of environment technical and legal nature, as well as general matters surrounding the environment, so that there is uniformity in this regard throughout the province. In addition to this, there is growing  awareness among the public of their environmental rights under the Constitution and NEMA while this sub-directorate is required to give advice, educate through awareness raising and give guidance to the citizens in exercising their environmental rights. With rights goes responsibility and this sub-directorate has to inform citizens for these responsibilities.

As the majority of the people in the province are eager to learn through information sharing and be conscientised through educational awareness raising, it presents a challenge for this sub-directorate with it limited resources to reach out to everyone. Therefore, this sub-directorate is mandated to ensure sustainable use and protection of the environment in the province through appropriate capacity building and empowerment mechanisms. Besides the above, this sub-directorate renders a supportive role to other line functionary components in this Chief Directorate “Environmental Management”.

Our Mandate

In recognition of our stakeholders, we shall develop and maintain and environmental empowerment strategy which supports sustainable livelihoods. In doing so, we as a team, are committed to continual improvement and by demonstration of our expertise, professionalism and ethical standards. We shall render efficient and effective service to our clients, be accountable and promote equity in the context of local, national, regional and international obligations.