Lusaka Agreement Task Force how LATF is operating as a network established by a treaty between countries Lusaka Agreement Task Force Presentation at the Second Global Meeting of Wildlife Enforcement Networks, Johannesburg, 28-29 September 2016

Lusaka Agreement (LA) A Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) registered as UN Treaty Series, adopted in 1994, entered into force in 1996; Currently a family of 10 states (7 parties, 3 signatories) Open for accession to all African states; The accession /ratification process is similar to those applicable to other MEAs and in accordance with state policy; The treaty creates a permanent inter-governmental task force for cooperative wildlife enforcement, the Lusaka Agreement Task Force on Cooperative Enforcement Directed at Illegal trade in Wild Fauna and Flora, or LATF.

LA - INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATION Governing Council Ministerial level: Policy and Decision making body. determine the general policies of the Task Force National Bureau National implementing body/focal point (TWD) provide to and receive from the Task Force information on illegal trade; coordinate with the Task Force on investigations that involve illegal wildlife trade; networking and collaboration at national level with relevant national agencies Task Force (LATF) Secretariat and Law Enforcement Operation Arm of the Agreement facilitate and monitor the implementation and enforcement of the agreement

How LATF networks with member countries LATF is the secretariat and operational arm of the Lusaka Agreement hosted by the Republic of Kenya in Nairobi; Through LATF, LA member states have created strong collaborative enforcement links with each other in fighting wildlife crime; LATF and national bureaus report on regular basis to the intergovernmental ministerial policy and decision making body, the Governing Council of the Parties; LATF investigates violations of wildlife laws, and undertake intelligence and conduct joint wildlife-related, investigations and enforcement actions within and across its borders; This is done in collaboration with wildlife/forestry agencies designated as national bureaus (NB) to the Agreement by member states; LATF also works with Police, Customs, Anti-Corruption and Anti-money laundering, NCB Interpol, WCO RILOs, prosecutors and other specialized law enforcement agencies and arms of the judiciary, as well as conservation organizations.

How LATF networks with member countries LATF also works on building synergies and bridges with other networks e.g. building bridges with Asia mainly through ASEAN WEN and SAWEN LATF, ASEAN-WEN, SA-WEN, China-WEN and other countries and IGOs organized Operation Cobra 1, 2 & 3 in 2013, 2014 and 2015 which led to successful cross-continental law enforcement actions

LATF’s Regional mandate LATF is legally established: with seconded officers from its member states who retain their enforcement powers and physically join with Law enforcement Officers in NBs to conduct joint operations in one another’s countries; LATF is focused primarily on coordinating national and regional wildlife law enforcement activities including intelligence exchange, field operations and capacity building programs; LATF forges continental links with other networks and Inter Governmental Agencies e.g., with ASEANWEN on Africa – South East Asia connections Currently establishing linkages with newly created WENs such Horn of Africa and wishes to cooperate with the yet to be formed Southern Africa-WEN

Supportive role to member states LATF provides training and advisory support to member states on regional law enforcement. LATF has demonstrated experience from decades of lessons learned from national, regional and trans-continental operations. LATF and its international partners develop and conduct tailored training programs; Experience and expertise on cross-border enforcement operations and fostering inter-agency collaboration; Technical support on capacity needs in terms of specialized equipment and enforcement units; LATF maintains a Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) database. LATF continues to build a wildlife criminal and intelligence database to support enforcement actions and information sharing among countries

Partnerships LATF already maintains memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with IGOs such as INTERPOL, WCO, CITES, UNODC, COMIFAC, GRASP and RECSA. Also NGOs such as IFAW and working partnership arrangements with ASEAN WEN and Freeland Foundation;

Partnerships LATF participates in joint programs of mutual interest with partners as well as reciprocal participation in each others’ events; Partnerships arrangement has enabled LATF to undertake Joint law enforcement activities; capacity building programs e.g. Inter agency workshops, focused and targeted training, provision of specialised LE equipment etc. These activities have boosted LATF’s performance at national, regional and international levels in combating wildlife crime

Conclusion Networking among Lusaka Agreement member states and partners has enabled LATF continue to achieve the following Build capacity in member states in combating wildlife crime Create strong links with partners e.g. partnership with ASEAN- WEN in fighting wildlife crime Enhance mutual understanding and practical cooperation Share and develop best practices Identify gaps in control mechanisms and cooperation Management of enforcement data/information