Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. ( Our common future- Brundtland Commission ). The UK Department of Enviroment, Food and Rural Affairs ( Defra) and the British High Commission in South Africa are committed to ensuring development has a positive impact today and tommorrow.

Sustainable development provides a framework within which nations can make informed and balanced choices to achieve economic growth, combat environmental degradation and make social progress at the same time. It also provides a sound basis for securing peace and stability.

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002) (WSSD) and the Millennium Summit (2000) outlined key development challenges facing the world and set an ambitious agenda for the international community in the 21st century.

• In an increasingly interdependent world, achieving progress on the WSSD’s Programme of Implementation and the Millennium Development Goals will require leadership by governments and co-operation at multiple levels.
•  The UK- South Africa  Sustainable Development Dialogue ( SDD) provides a platform whereby the two countries can share progress on development goals and encourage the spread of sustainable development.
• At the national level, both South Africa’s National Framework for Sustainable Development and the UK’s Sustainable Development Strategy aim to ensure that the environmental, social and economic dimensions of development are integrated into national policies in order to meet both national aspirations and our international commitments.
• The challenges are global. Co-operation and shared learning are needed if we are to meet them.

Dialogue in South Africa

This Dialogue is designed to strengthen bilateral ties across a range of policy areas and to provide leadership on sustainable development.

Approved projects

Here you will find all the relevant information about approved and active projects funded by DEFRA