Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Defending Economic Livelihoods and Threatened Animals Act

or the

DELTA Act

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)The greater Okavango River Basin, which ranges from the highland plateau of northern Angola to northeastern Namibia and northern Botswana, is the largest freshwater wetland in southern Africa. (2)The greater Okavango River Basin is the main source of water and livelihoods for over a million people, and the effective management and protection of this critical watershed will help advance important conservation and economic growth objectives for such countries, local communities, and the broader region. (3)The greater Okavango River Basin is home to the largest remaining elephant population in the world, as well as other threatened wildlife species. (4)Poaching and trafficking of threatened wildlife species in the greater Okavango River Basin has increased in recent years, and has the potential to undermine regional stability by disrupting local governance and management of resources, and supplanting key economic opportunities for community members.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that it is in the strategic interest of the United States to engage with the Governments of Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, along with donors, regional organizations, nongovernmental organizations, local communities, and the private sector, to advance conservation efforts and promote economic growth and stability in the greater Okavango River Basin.

Statement of policy

It is the policy of the United States to promote inclusive economic growth through conservation and biodiversity programs that facilitate transboundary cooperation, improve natural resource management, and build local capacity to protect and preserve threatened wildlife species in the greater Okavango River Basin.

Strategy

(a)

In general

The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in coordination with other relevant Federal agencies, shall seek to work with the Governments of Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, and in partnership with donors, regional organizations, nongovernmental organizations, local communities, and the private sector, to develop a strategy to— (1)create and advance a cooperative framework to promote sustainable natural resource and wildlife management practices in the greater Okavango River Basin; (2)protect traditional migration routes of elephants and other threatened wildlife species; (3)combat wildlife poaching and trafficking; (4)address human health and development needs of local communities; and (5)catalyze economic growth in such countries and across the broader region. (b)

Elements

The strategy established pursuant to subsection (a) shall include a description of efforts to— (1)promote cooperative and sustainable natural resource and wildlife management policies and practices within and among the countries of Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, with a particular focus on the greater Okavango River Basin; (2)protect and restore wildlife habitats and traditional migratory patterns of elephants and other threatened species; (3)combat wildlife poaching and trafficking in Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, including within regional and national parks and reserves, by building the capacity of the governments of such countries, local law enforcement, community leaders, and park rangers to detect, disrupt, and prosecute poachers and traffickers; (4)promote conservation as a foundation for inclusive economic growth and development within a comprehensive assistance strategy that places Angola, Botswana, and Namibia on a trajectory toward graduation from the need for foreign assistance; (5)identify opportunities and mechanisms to leverage public-private partnerships to contribute to support the implementation of this strategy; and (6)establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, to include measurable goals, objectives, and benchmarks of success, that are included in grants, contracts, cooperative agreements to ensure the effective use of United States foreign assistance.

United States support for responsible natural resource management and elephant conservation

(a)

In general

The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in coordination with other relevant Federal agencies, are authorized to prioritize and advance ongoing efforts to— (1)promote inclusive economic growth through responsible natural resource management and wildlife protection activities in the greater Okavango River Basin; (2)provide technical assistance to governments and local communities in Angola, Botswana, and Namibia to create a policy-enabling environment for such natural resource management and wildlife protection activities; and (3)build the capacity of local law enforcement, park rangers, and community leaders to combat wildlife poaching and trafficking. (b)

Coordination with private sector

The Secretary, the Administrator, and other relevant Federal agencies are authorized to work with the private sector and nongovernmental organizations to leverage public and private capital to promote sustainable resource management, combat wildlife poaching and trafficking, and support inclusive economic growth and local livelihoods in the greater Okavango River Basin. (c)

Monitoring and Evaluation

The Secretary and the Administrator shall establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, to include measurable goals, objectives, and benchmarks, to ensure the effective use of United States foreign assistance to achieve the objectives of this Act.

Report

(a)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in coordination with other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of this Act. (b)

Matters To be included

The report required under subsection (a) shall include a description of the strategy required by section 5, including— (1)the monitoring and evaluation plans and indicators used to measure performance under the strategy; (2)any legislative impediments to meeting the objectives of such strategy; (3)the extent to which Angola, Botswana, and Namibia have demonstrated a commitment and willingness to cooperate to advance efforts described in section 5(b); and (4)progress made to date in meeting the objectives of such strategy. (c)

Definition

In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (1)the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (2)the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.