Stepping Up to Sustainability

USAID intends to extend an existing partnership with the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa's (WESSA) to expand WESSA's reach to build local capacity in the environment sector.

The expanded partnership will continue to build capacity for proactively responding to the impacts of climate change through application of lessons learned during the implementation of WESSA's "Stepping Up to Sustainability" program in South Africa.

WESSA will leverage new programs funded by other donors, and a deepened relationship with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to apply lessons learned in South Africa to benefit the Southern Africa region.

With FY 14, WESSA will conduct trainings that build municipal-level capacity to assess local vulnerabilities and undertake appropriate adaptive measures that mitigate climate change impacts in six Southern African countries.