Third Interministerial Conference on Health and Environment in Africa
Libreville, November 2018
Background: The first IMCHE
In August 2008, more than 300 participants from 52 African countries gathered in Libreville, Gabon to attend the first Interministerial Conference on Health and Environment in Africa (IMCHE).
The main outcome of that historic meeting was the adoption of the Libreville Declaration, which recognised that human health is intimately linked to the state of the environment. Participating nations committed themselves to 11 priority actions for addressing the continent’s top health and environmental challenges. This commitment was reaffirmed during their second joint meeting in Angola in 2010 through the Luanda Commitment on Health and Environment. These agreements have paved the way towards a more integrated approach to policy-making in the health and environment sectors.
The third IMCHE conference in Libreville, Gabon in November 2018 aimed to build on the progress of its predecessors in addressing the interlinkages between health and environment as a means of attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
IMCHE3 objectives
Building on the progress recorded and valuable lessons learnt since Libreville 2008, the conference aimed to address the significant challenges that continue to limit the impact of interventions on ecosystems and the health of vulnerable populations.
The overarching objective of the meeting was to catalyse action by stimulating policies and investments for the health and environment sectors to help achieve the SDGs in Africa.
Outcome goals
The aim of this conference was for participating countries to have reached the following objectives at the conclusion of the meeting:
- Produce a strategic plan for the increased coverage of health and environment interventions for primary prevention in public health and preservation of ecosystem integrity.
- Achieve commitment from member states and stakeholders to scale up joint policies and action on health and environment in Africa.
- To identify opportunities for accessing investments and mobilising domestic resources for health and environment priority actions.
A full report of the proceeding of IMCHE3 and the outcomes achieved is available for download here.
IMCHE3 Outputs
A number of IMCHE3 outcome documents, communication materials, and other resources are now available for download on the Resources page.
Reports and Publications:
- The Libreville Declaration on Health and Environment in Africa: 10 Years On, 2008 – 2018
- Strategic Action Plan to Scale Up Health and Environment Interventions in Africa 2019 – 2029
- A Framework for Scaling Up Investments in Priority Health and Environment Interventions
- Health and Environment Joint Interventions in Africa: The Costs of Inaction
- IMCHE3 Conference Proceedings and Outcomes
Communication materials:
Or visit the Health and Environment Strategic Alliance (HESA) website to view the original IMCHE3 conference site.
