The Inter Agency Environmental Coordinating Committee (IECC) was formed under the auspices of Component 2 of the Copperbelt Environment Project (CEP) with the major objective of fostering and enhancing coordination in enviro

nmental management in Zambia. The IECC is a platform for regulatory bodies in the environmental and related sectors to discuss issues of common concern, and to improve their operations through collaboration and avoidance of duplicity and/or overlaps in institutional mandates. In May 2005, the Environmental Council of Zambia commenced the process of forming the IECC by holding an inception workshop to solicit for national consensus on its formation. The ECZ is mandated by the Environmental Protection and Pollution Act, 1990 section 9 to form committees that the Council deems to be necessary to carry out its function. This is within the ambit of the Council as a corporate body charged with the responsibility to coordinate environmental management in the country.

The IECC also provides an opportunity for identified stakeholders to collaborate the enforcement and harmonization of various environmental and related laws. Its Membership is mainly drawn, but is not limited, to key environmental management and regulatory bodies.