    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 115-353
    115th Congress

    An Act

    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
    of southern Africa. <>

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
    United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
    SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Defending Economic Livelihoods and
    Threatened Animals Act'' or the ``DELTA Act''.
    SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
    (1) The greater Okavango River Basin, which ranges from the
    highland plateau of Angola to northeastern Namibia and northern
    Botswana, and also provides critical natural resources that
    sustain wildlife in Zambia and Zimbabwe, is the largest
    freshwater watershed in southern Africa.
    (2) The greater Okavango River Basin is the main source of
    water and livelihoods for over 1 million people, and the
    effective management and protection of this critical watershed
    will help advance important conservation and economic growth
    objectives for Angola, Botswana, Namibia, 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.
    (5) Governments in the region have taken important steps to
    coordinate through existing conservation frameworks to combat
    trafficking, ensure responsible resource management, support
    local livelihoods, and protect threatened wildlife species.
    SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that it is in the interest of the United
    States to engage, as appropriate, with the Governments of Angola,
    Botswana, Namibia, and neighboring countries, and in partnership with
    donors, regional organizations, nongovernmental organizations, local
    communities, and the private sector, to advance

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    conservation efforts and promote economic growth and stability in the
    greater Okavango River Basin and neighboring watersheds and conservation
    areas.
    SEC. 4. 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 water and natural resource
    management, and build local capacity to protect and preserve threatened
    wildlife species in the greater Okavango River Basin and neighboring
    watersheds and conservation areas.
    SEC. 5. <>  STRATEGY.

    (a) In General <> .--The Secretary and the
    Administrator, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
    agencies, shall seek, as appropriate, to work with the Governments of
    Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and neighboring countries, 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
    responsible natural resource, water, 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--
    (1) promote cooperative and responsible water, 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 and the
    critical headwaters located in Angola;
    (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, Namibia, and those areas of
    Zambia and Zimbabwe that border Angola, Botswana, or 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 United States
    foreign assistance;
    (5) identify opportunities and mechanisms to leverage
    regional organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and
    public-private partnerships to contribute to support the
    implementation of the strategy;
    (6) establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms,
    including measurable goals, objectives, and benchmarks of
    success, that are included in grants, contracts, and cooperative

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    agreements to ensure the effective use of United States foreign
    assistance; and
    (7) <>  coordinate with and build the
    capacity of regional conservation frameworks in order to advance
    regional conservation objectives.
    SEC. 6. UNITED STATES SUPPORT.

    (a) In General <> .--The Secretary and the
    Administrator, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
    agencies, are authorized to prioritize and advance ongoing efforts to--
    (1) promote inclusive economic growth and development
    through responsible water and 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 responsible water and 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 and Integration With Regional Conservation
    Frameworks.--The Secretary and the Administrator, in coordination with
    the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall coordinate
    assistance provided by Department of State, the United States Agency for
    International Development, and such other relevant Federal agencies with
    existing regional conservation frameworks in order to ensure regional
    integration of conservation, wildlife trafficking, and water management
    initiatives, to prevent duplication of efforts, and to advance regional
    conservation objectives.
    (c) Coordination With Private Sector.--The Secretary and the
    Administrator, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
    agencies, are authorized to work with the private sector and
    nongovernmental organizations to leverage public and private capital to
    promote responsible resource management, combat wildlife poaching and
    trafficking, and support inclusive economic growth and local livelihoods
    in the greater Okavango River Basin.
    (d) 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 section.
    SEC. 7. REPORT.

    (a) In General <> .--Not later than 1 year
    after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the
    Administrator, in coordination with the heads of 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;

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    (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);
    (4) progress made to date in meeting the objectives of such
    strategy;
    (5) efforts to coordinate, deconflict, and streamline
    conservation programs in order to maximize resource
    effectiveness;
    (6) the extent to which Angola, Botswana, and Namibia and
    other government in the region are investing resources to
    advance conservation initiatives; and
    (7) the extent to which other funding sources, including
    through private sector investment and other investment by
    Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, have been identified to advance
    conservation initiatives.
    SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
    (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
    Administrator of the United States Agency for International
    Development.
    (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
    ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
    Committee on Appropriations of the House of
    Representatives; and
    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
    Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
    (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
    of State.

    Approved December 21, 2018.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4819:
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    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
    July 17, considered and passed House.
    Dec. 19, considered and passed Senate.