GreenMatter's History
The need to strategically and comprehensively strengthen and diversify the human capital of South Africa's biodiversity sector is indicated in the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2005) and the National Biodiversity Framework (2007). The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is mandated to lead this process in partnership with key role players.
At the same time, the Lewis Foundation, a conservation non-governmental organisation (NGO), had realigned its funding focus. Through sector engagement, The Lewis Foundation identified that higher level biodiversity skills and general human capital development were poorly capacitated in the sector. This posed a significant risk to the current and future management of biodiversity in the country.
At the same time, the Lewis Foundation, a conservation non-governmental organisation (NGO), had realigned its funding focus. Through sector engagement, The Lewis Foundation identified that higher level biodiversity skills and general human capital development were poorly capacitated in the sector. This posed a significant risk to the current and future management of biodiversity in the country.
SANBI CEO Tanya Abrahamse and Lewis Foundation Chairperson Brian Goodall signing GreenMatter into existence
In 2008 SANBI formed a partnership with the Lewis Foundation, two organisations with similar visions, and commissioned a sectoral analysis undertaken by the Human Sciences Research Council. Developments towards the Biodiversity Human Capital Development Strategy (BHCDS) were supported by both the sectoral analysis as well as sector-wide stakeholder engagement.
The BHCDS was developed at the same time as the Environmental Sector Skills Plan (ESSP), under the auspices of the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), as well as the Department of Science and Technologies (DST) Global Grand Challenge HCD Strategy, and is therefore nationally aligned. Other strategies that support the human capital development vision include the Training and Education Strategy for the Water Sector and WWF-SA's HCD Strategy for Natural Resource Management. All these strategies highlight the need for sector wide platforms to deliberate the common challenges in the HCD pipeline and to collectively work on solutions.
In 2010, government’s Economic Cluster convened the first Green Economy Summit, to map out a green growth pathway that creates jobs while reducing pollution and using South Africa’s natural resources wisely. There was growing recognition that economic growth cannot be at the expense of ecosystems, as reflected in Strategic Priority 9 of the Medium Term Strategic Framework for 2009-2014: Sustainable use and management of natural resources. Ministerial Performance Agreements include the protection of environmental assets and natural resources. To deliver on these imperatives, it was recognised that our country needs biodiversity skills and historically skills development in this area excluded the majority of our population.
Consequently, the BHCDS supports the development of a robust green economy. It has a strong focus on broad-based transformation in the sector through a shared network cause now referred to as GreenMatter. GreenMatter is the implementing programme and puts the BHCDS into action.
In 2008 SANBI formed a partnership with the Lewis Foundation, two organisations with similar visions, and commissioned a sectoral analysis undertaken by the Human Sciences Research Council. Developments towards the Biodiversity Human Capital Development Strategy (BHCDS) were supported by both the sectoral analysis as well as sector-wide stakeholder engagement.
The BHCDS was developed at the same time as the Environmental Sector Skills Plan (ESSP), under the auspices of the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), as well as the Department of Science and Technologies (DST) Global Grand Challenge HCD Strategy, and is therefore nationally aligned. Other strategies that support the human capital development vision include the Training and Education Strategy for the Water Sector and WWF-SA's HCD Strategy for Natural Resource Management. All these strategies highlight the need for sector wide platforms to deliberate the common challenges in the HCD pipeline and to collectively work on solutions.
In 2010, government’s Economic Cluster convened the first Green Economy Summit, to map out a green growth pathway that creates jobs while reducing pollution and using South Africa’s natural resources wisely. There was growing recognition that economic growth cannot be at the expense of ecosystems, as reflected in Strategic Priority 9 of the Medium Term Strategic Framework for 2009-2014: Sustainable use and management of natural resources. Ministerial Performance Agreements include the protection of environmental assets and natural resources. To deliver on these imperatives, it was recognised that our country needs biodiversity skills and historically skills development in this area excluded the majority of our population.
Consequently, the BHCDS supports the development of a robust green economy. It has a strong focus on broad-based transformation in the sector through a shared network cause now referred to as GreenMatter. GreenMatter is the implementing programme and puts the BHCDS into action.