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Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Report
NationalCapacitySelfAssessmentNSCA
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Ministry StaffIng. Yuviri Ortega LoveraMinister
Ing. Miguel L. RodríguezDeputy Minister of Environmental Conservation
Lic. Lissett HernándezGeneral Director of Management and International Cooperation
Ing. Rodolfo RoaGeneral Director Watershed
Dr. Jesús Ramos OropezaGeneral Director of Office for National Biodiversity
Project Staff
Lic. Lissett HernándezProject National Director
Ing. Ricardo PetitProject Coordinator
Lic. Aleidi SangronisProject Technical Assistant
T.S.U. Joimi QuintanaProject Administrative Assistant
Biol. Janin MendozaUNDP Official
Experts inBiodiversity:
Lic. Francisco Barroso
Desertification:Ing. Roberto Hidalgo
Climate ChangeIng. María Teresa Martelo
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Consulted InstitutionsUniversidades: Bolivariana de Venezuela, Carabobo, Guayana, Los Andes, Margarita, Oriente, Experimental Bolivariana Cardozo, Experimental Rómulo Gallegos, Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho, Nacional Experimental de las Fuerzas Armadas, Nacional Experimental del Táchira ,Nacional Experimental Politécnica Antonio José de Sucre, Pedagógica Experimental Libertador, Rey Juan Carlos, Experimental de los Llanos Ezequiel Zamora, Central de Venezuela - Facultades y sus Programas Regionales. Centro de Investigación de Cetáceos. CIDIAT. CIEPROL. CUAM. Escuela Básica Antonio Estévez. Escuela Técnica Agropecuaria Francisco Tamayo. Estación de Investigaciones Hidrobiológicos de Guayana. Fundación La Salle. Estación Investigaciones Marinas Margarita. FLASA. IUTEMAR. UNIMAR. Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela. Instituto Forestal Latinoamericano. Institutos Universitarios de Tecnología: Antonio José de Sucre, Amazonas y Los Llanos. IUTEPAL. IUTIRLA. Liceo Humboldt. Museo de la Estación Biológica de Rancho Grande. Museo del Instituto de Zoología Agrícola. UEN. Antonio García Rojo y Meregoto. UCLA. UCMA. UGMA. UNIMAR. Zonas Educativas de los Estados. Asociaciones y Cooperativas: M. E. Loma del Carmen, Agropecuaria Sirizzotti, Servicios Ecológicos, Agua Dulce 013, ASOPROCO, AGROBOCA, ASOPROCUENCA, Auropiel. Azul Ambientalistas del Zulia, y Bersoc Brigada Ambientalista Comunitaria Alí Primera. Cátedra de La Paz y DDHH Monseñor Oscar A. Romero. Centro de Ingenieros Táchira. Comité Conservacionista Primaveral. Comunidad Sabanota – Quebradón. Fundaciones: Caribe Sur, Aguaclara, Bolívar Sucre, La Era Agrícola, Tierra Viva, FUNDAPREVI, La Negra Matea y Loma de Pió - Chorro del Indio. Mesas Técnicas de Agua: El Corozo, La Capilla, Llanilamus y San Agustín. Oficina Técnica - Vicariato Apostólico de Puerto. Ayacucho. Parque Zoológico Bararida. Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD). PROVITA. Red de Promotores Ambientales de Aragua. VITALIS. FUNDAPATRIA. Ministerios del Poder Popular para: el Ambiente, Industrias Básicas y Minería, Turismo, Agricultura y Tierra, Educación Superior, Energía y Petróleo, Infraestructura, Salud, Educación Superior, Planificación y Desarrollo, Relaciones Exteriores, Industrias Básicas y Minería, Turismo, Educación, Ciencia y Tecnología, Economía Popular, Alimentación, Participación y Desarrollo Social representantes nacionales y regionales, especialmente las Direcciones Estadales del MINAMB (DEA). Gobernaciones de los Estados, sus Direcciones Ambiente, Educación Agrícolas, Protección Civil, Salud, Cultura, Asuntos Indígenas e Institutos Autónomos. Alcaldías de los Municipios: Alto Orinoco, Atures, Autana, Antolin del Campo, Arismendi, Carlos Arvelo, Cárdenas, Guasimos, Torbes, Plaza, San Cristóbal, San Fernando, Bolívar, Caroní, Heres, Jáuregui, Libertador, Marcano, Bolívar, Juan Germán Roscio, Libertad, Libertador, Aricagua, Independencia, José Félix Ribas, José Tadeo Monagas, Miranda, Samuel Darío Maldonado, San Sebastián, San Francisco, Pedro María Ureña, Santa Rita, Santos Marquina, Sucre, Bejuma, Andrés Bello, Barinas, Junín y sus Institutos Municipales. Consejo Nacional Electoral. Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales, Base Aérea “G/J José Antonio Páez”, Comando de Guardacostas, Destacamento Nº 28 y 65, Guardia Nacional - Comando de Vigilancia Costera, Guardería Ambiental, Comandos Regionales. Asamblea Nacional. Corporación Venezolana de .Guayana – Electrificación del Caroní, PROFORCA, TECMIN, VENALUM. CADELA. CARBOSUROESTE. Aguas de Mérida. Compañía Nacional de Reforestación. CORPOANDES. Corporaciones de Turismo de los Estados. Cuerpos de Bomberos de los Estados. Defensoría del Pueblo. DESURCA Uribante Caparo. FUDECO. FUDENA. Fundación Centro Espacial Venezolano. Fundación CIARA. Fundación del Niño. FUNDACITE. HIDROCARIBE. HIDROLAGO. HIDROLARA. HIDROPÁEZ. IAPEC. Instituto para la Conservación del lago de Maracaibo. Instituto Geográfico Venezuela Simón Bolívar. Instituto Nacional de Pesca. INCE. Instituto Nacional de los Espacios Acuáticos e Insulares. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas. Instituto Nacional de Parques. Instituto de Canalizaciones. Instituto Nacional de Tierras. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas. Misión Sucre y Vuelvan Caras. Parlamento Andino. Parque Nacional Cinaruco – Capanaparo. Petróleo de Venezuela SA. PALMAVEN. Policía Estadales y Municipales. SASA. SIDOR. Sistemas Hidráulico Yacambú. Consejo Comunal Páramo La Laja y San José de la Montaña. Consejo Legislativo de los Estados: Amazonas y Mérida. Centro Venezolano de Producción Más Limpia. Contacto 93.7. Corporación Inlaca C.A. Diario El Oriental. Diario de Los Andes. ENVAFOIL. R.L. FEDECAMARAS. Fundación Empresas Polar. Fundación Estación Piscícola San Fernando. Inversiones INTI C.A. Lafarge Cementos Táchira. Matancera 990. NetUno Channel Canal 10. Owens Illinois. Promotora Minera de Guayana – PMG. Samguesa, C.A. Schlumberger Venezuela S.A. Sevaintsa S.R.L. Transporte y Construcciones Tacarigua. Tropical Stereo 1007 AM.
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PrefaceWe are in the twenty-first century and ensuring the welfare of communities is an elementary principle, guided by the Venezuelan State in a democratic, humanist and self-managed framework, bolstering equal opportunities so the enjoyment of the environment becomes a right for all the inhabitants of the country. For this reason, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is actively involved with the Self-evaluation Program on Capacity Strengthening and, in a constant struggle, wants the participative society to be aware of important environmental issues such as Climate Change, Biodiversity and Desertification and Drought.
That is why this Self-evaluation was conducted as a country to analyze to what level environment-related issues needed to be improved and help strengthen the management of environmental issues within a national sustainable development context thus ensuring a level of sociopolitical commitment, with an economic plan performed by a group of Venezuelan experts to ascertain with the organized community, national priorities for capacity building. Thus strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats were analyzed, and Development Capacity actions are recommended. Also, cross-cutting themes of skills and synergies promotion are identified.
Thus, Venezuela integrates its plans, ensuring to follow its actions within the framework of the environment at national and global levels. We want to deeply thank a broad group of experienced professionals in their specialties, the staff of the Ministry for the Environment, various public and private institutions, the citizens of different regions that participated in this activity, to mayors and governors as well as the United Nations Program for Development and the Global Environment. It is worthwhile to ponder that it is a matter of conscience to continue acting selfishly; we must project for tomorrow, for our children and grandchildren, since the demand of society against the environment increases dramatically. Let’s think of the legacy we leave to other generations.
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Index
Pág.
1.- Introduction ................................................................................................................ 9
2.- National Implementation of the Self-Evaluation and Results Achieved ...................................................................................................................... 12
2.1.- First Phase: Theme Profiles and Situation Analysis ............................................. 12
2.2.- Second Phase: National Consultation ................................................................. 20
2.3.- Third Phase: Methodology Design for the Capacity Strengthening National Plan (CSNP) ......................................................................................... 29
3.- Conclutions .................................................................................................................. 35
CHARTS1. Major Commitments to the Countries of Environmental Conventions ................................... 102. Priority Issues in the Three Thematic Areas ......................................................................... 153. Level Limitations on Biological Diversity, Desertification and Drought and Climate Change ................................................................................................................ 174. Activities for the Strengthening of Capacities ....................................................................... 195. Synergy and Action Priorities ............................................................................................. 206. Categories and Topics to Organize the Opinions in Regional Workshops .............................. 217. Limitations on the Systemic Level and More Related Categories (Thematic Profiles Integrated Summary, Situation Analysis and Workshops) ........................ 238. Limitations at the Institutional Level and More Related Categories (Thematic Profiles Integrated Summary, Situation Analysis and Workshops) ........................ 249. Opportunities in the Systemic (A) and Institutional (B) Levels and More Related Categories (Thematic Profiles Integrated Summary, Situation Analysis and Workshops) ........ 2510. Synergies in the Systemic (A) and Institutional (B) Levels and More Related Categories (Thematic Profiles Integrated Summary, Situation Analysis and Workshops) ........ 2611. SWOT Strategies by Categories .......................................................................................... 2712. Summarizes the Action Plan for this Sub-strategy ............................................................... 3113. Instructions for Implementing the Action Plan ..................................................................... 33
National Self-Evalution of Needs Capacity Strengthening
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1. Introduction
Venezuela has recognized, at a national level, the need to implement a new development model based on the establishment of a humanist, self-managed, competitive and sustainable economy that promotes productive activities directed to meet the basic needs of the population as well as to preserve the environment.
In all development processes the participation of the society indicates the model to be followed, and therefore we say that without a participative society there is no real democracy. This is the premise that Venezuela proposes to achieve with a substantial increase in our economy at the national and international levels in a sustainable manner. This is possible, because for the first time in our history the environmental policy of the Venezuelan state is confirmed as a Right in the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (1999), with the awareness of the population on the subject being a basic requirement for the proper use of the environment. Therefore, the concept of accountability and social auditing in included in the Constitution and the Venezuelan State policy of increasing the participation of citizens through various modalities (technical working groups, community councils, groups of endogenous development among others). These are necessary breakthroughs for the country in order to achieve this objective, highlighting today’s great participation and relevance of the Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ambiente (Ministry of the Environment) as a guarantor of adequate environmental management and as the trustee of these resources.
With regard to the environmental policy, Venezuela has attained, after the publication of the Environment Act (Gaceta Oficial No. 31.004, July 16, 1977) important achievements such as: territory management, environment evaluation, definition and expansion of protected areas, the definition of modern technical standards, the signing and ratification of international instruments (regional and global) governing international environmental policies and the participation, in some cases, of NGOs and civil society organizations.
Also, at an international level, pressure for environmental protection was emphasized particularly during 1992 in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) which adopted the Agenda 21 as the official environmental action program for global development of the 21st century. Some specific agreements were also signed. In this way, Venezuela continues in its constant struggle to educate society about participatory environmental issues and negotiations under the themes of climate change, biodiversity, desertification and persistent organic pollutants among other topics as illustrated in Chart 1, where we note that among the major commitments made at the various conventions are:
S To establish protected areas and promote their sustainable development;S To recover endangered species;S To respect and, above all, to preserve the ancestral knowledge of traditional and indigenous
communities;S To promote the participation, education and awareness of the importance of conservation of
the biodiversity;S To encourage the conservation of water and land resources; S To include and integrate strategies for poverty eradication;
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S To develop programs and take measures to mitigate climate change;S To reduce emissions of greenhouse effect gases and prepare national inventories of the
same.
All of these commitments and more must be strengthened in several ways: improving relevant legislation, establishing policies and action programs in the short and long term, educating and sensitizing the population, promoting research, including commitments in the state policies at social, economic and environmental levels. It is also essential that the disclosure in all spheres of the goals is achieved so that society is increasingly participatory and therefore achieves a real sustainable development.
Chart 1. Major Commitments to the Countries of Environmental Conventions.
Biodiversity (B) Desertification and Drought (DD) Climate Change (CC)
To identify and monitor the biodiversity components.
To analyze the physical, biological and socioeconomic aspects of D&D.
To prepare national inventories of greenhouse effect gases.
To establish protected areas and promote sustainable development in adjacent areas.
To encourage the conservation of water and land resources.
To develop programs and measures to mitigate climate change.
To recover threatened species and degraded ecosystems.
To include strategies and priorities on desertification in national sustainable development plans.
To reduce emissions of greenhouse effect gases and promote drainages for them.
To respect and preserve traditional knowledge (indigenous and communities).
To take care of the basic causes of desertification with emphasis on socio-economic factors.
To prepare the population for its adaptation to climate change.
To prevent the introduction of dangerous exotic species and control them.
To strengthen the legislation and establish policies and action programs in the long term.
To include climate change in social economic and environmental policies.
To control the risks posed by biotechnology.
To promote awareness and facilitate the participation of social groups in the fight against desertification.
To promote research and systematic observation of climate change.
To promote public participation in evaluating projects that might threaten the biodiversity.
To integrate the strategies to eradicate poverty in an effort to fight against desertification.
To promote education, training and awareness on climate change.
educate and raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity conservation.
To prepare a national action plan to address the problems of desertification.
To provide the public with information and awareness campaigns.
To report about the goals accomplished.
To report about the goals accomplished.
To report about the goals accomplished.
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Through the project “National Self-evaluation on Needs Strengthening Capacity” (NSNSC) VEN/43149, a project from the Global Environment Fund (GEF) managed by the PNUD and carried out by the Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ambiente – MINAMB (Environment Department) the strengths, weaknesses, needs and proposals were recognized regarding the nation’s capacity to deal with the areas of biodiversity, desertification and drought and climate change. Synergies were also established between different areas in order to identify the capacity development activities with the maximum impact in managing the global environment.
In order to adapt the project to the national situation, a methodology that ensured the participation of different sectors locally, regionally and nationally was used, which facilitated its acceptance and inclusion of the results obtained in public policy.
The following objectives were specifically pursued with the implementation of the NCSA:
i) Identification of priority areas in which measures are needed in the areas of biodiversity, de-sertification and drought and climate change and collateral themes;
ii) Consider the needs of strengthening the common capacity to all three areas and for each of them individually;
iii) Disseminate information on the challenges and opportunities provided by international agreements related to the three areas;
iv) To strengthen the dialogue between the key players in each sector: governmental, academic, non-governmental and private;
v) To link the measures taken by the nation in a broader context of environmental management and sustainable development, and
vi) To establish mechanisms for funding and assistance applications from international cooperation.
Thus, there was a national vision of the current situation of individual institutional and systemic skills to effectively and efficiently implement the three UN environmental conventions, including the synergies between them, which serve as a basis for designing the National Plan for Strengthening Capacity for Environmental Management.
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2. National Implementation of the Self-Evaluation and Results Achieved
In exercising the National Self-evaluation Program, several stages were implemented to deal with the areas of Biological Diversity, Desertification and Drought and Climate Change, developed as follows:
2.1. First Phase: Theme Profiles and Situation Analysis
The first phase of the project was to develop two tools: Theme Profiles and Situation Analysis for each of the areas on Biological Diversity, Desertification and Drought, and Climate Change, based on surveys and interviews with experts in the field.
The information collected in surveys and interviews was organized according to the Open System model. This model was used because it was easy to understand, which was considered very useful in the field of organizational systems and it allowed users to understand the dynamics and changes that occur, based on the individual and existing nature. Five aspects were analyzed:
1. INPUTS These cover human, financial, information and technology resources.
In the area of human resources, it was concluded that there is a need for specialized human talent in different areas; education and training programs; community involvement; opportunity to provide tools and information policies and disclosure of the same.
In regard to financial resources, these are currently scarce, so it becomes necessary to appeal to international non-repayable funds.
In relation to the existing information, currently it does not cover the expectations, since it is either scattered or is not easily accessible because there is not a coordinated multi-sector program where economic resources play a major role.
In the technological area, there are also differences due to its high costs; it is necessary to make investments in universities, research centers and especially to increase the exchange of human resources between public and private institutions to manage these technologies.
2. PROCESSESThey are essentially three: administrative, technological and human-Social, through which inputs are processed into finished products to be offered to the environment.
The Administrative Process consists of the plans, goals, organizational structures, policies, management information and control systems, among others, and provides the legal, economic, policy and institutional framework.
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Regarding the legal framework we can say that the country needs to update the set of laws and regulations, and in other cases it should develop and include legal instruments to properly legislate, and establish laws and regulations that are applied with force and not by ignorance at the managerial level in a way that is detrimental to nature.
In regard to the economic framework, measures must be taken to include activities related to the fulfillment of commitments in the budgets of the various institutions dealing with the three environmental areas.
The policy framework showed that it is the most developed of all frames covered by the Administrative Process since the participation and responsibility established in the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela were considered.
Regarding the institutional framework it is concluded that commissions should be created to work on the three thematic areas, but the active participation of the population is essential.
The Technology Process includes technology development, technical information, equipment and machinery and system maintenance, and technology transfer being the most critical points for the three environmental areas. It was determined that, in the area of Biodiversity, the use of traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities, and the transfer of this knowledge, is part of the Technology Process. The same happened to the area of Desertification and Drought. However, for the area of Climate Change, a major limiting factor in the country is that there is little or no interest, and there are few resources that institutions have to disseminate technological efforts, in addition to the enormous diversity of processes to be carried out.
The Human-Social Process included experiences, skills, leadership, interpersonal relationships, expectations, communication, conflict management, teamwork, sense of belonging, responsibility and decision-making among others. In linking this process with the three environmental areas, there is great ignorance and a low level of awareness and understanding, and it is necessary to harness the human talent to the fullest in all institutions, both public and private - a fact that is generally unknown, and in general, the generation and renewal of this human talent is not being considered.
3. PRODUCTSThese are obtained once the national capacities are created or strengthened for the three environmental areas. They are grouped in several aspects:
S To conduct regular country reports, which should include national inventories of greenhouse effect gases, as well as the introduction of the Biodiversity, Desertification and Drought and Climate Change topics in the public policies for those topics.
S To strengthen education and awareness of all citizens in the three environmental areas.S To decrease the degradation processes of lands and waters.S To initiate processes of adaptation and mitigation on Climate Change.S To recuperate degraded ecosystems and threatened species.S To reduce the risks associated with biotechnology.
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S Harnessing traditional knowledge, ensuring that indigenous and local− communities have a benefit, and
S To reduce poverty through progress on the path of sustainable development.
4. SETTINGThis consists of users of the system, suppliers, government agencies, community and the different guilds in general. By including practically all stakeholders, there is a need to clearly define duties and powers. To achieve effective and permanent ties between institutions it is essential to have a knowledgeable management of the three environmental areas.
5. FEEDBACK MECHANISMIn Venezuela, this mechanism is still very weak in the three environmental areas, so it is very important to have indexes and indicators to actually measure the fulfillment of the goals for each area, thus ensuring that the environmental management is effective, and ensuring the interaction between institutions and citizens in general.
Moreover, experts in the three environmental areas analyzed a number of priority issues, summarized in Chart 2, which encompasses a group of identified problems that usually arise from ignorance, lack of information, lack of technological tools, weaknesses in aspects concerning the implementation of plans and programs as well as low participation by the institutions.
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Chart 2. Priority Issues in the Three Thematic Areas.
PROBLEMSIgnorance of the value of Biological Diversity.
Ignorance in high levels of national, regional and local governments of environmental problems and considering them the exclusive jurisdiction of the Environmental Department.
Weak policies for the in situ conservation and recovery programs, improvement and expansion of centers of ex situ conservation.
A general lack of plans, programs and policies for sustainable use of biodiversity.
Weak programs to comply with international commitments.
There are no biotrade programs, through the sustainable management of biodiversity, to ensure the participation of all sectors, especially the indigenous.
Low participation of different sectors in biodiversity management.
Weakness in preventing, mitigating and controlling man-made impacts on the biodiversity.Weakness of the institutions responsible for the management and conservation of the biodiversity.
Weak implementation of the National Action Program to Combat Desertification and Drought in Venezuela.
Poor training in middle and upper staff positions.
Few methodologies to study desertification and drought.
Shortage of techniques to stop and correct the effects of desertification.
There are no figures for the socio-economic impact, which makes it difficult to convince the socio-economic sector to invest in solving the problem.
Uncertainty about future climate scenarios and lack of national economic scenarios. Uncertainty in vulnerability analysis.
Management ignorance on technical-financial requirements for the area.
Lack of basic environmental, social and economic information on a suitable scale for vulnerability and adaptation studies.
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In addition to the problems identified in the three areas, environmental experts in each field found capacity constraints at different levels: individual, institutional and systemic. These situations were identified according to the urgency presented in each area, and then covered in Chart 3, where the more common troubles at different levels are shown.
Regarding the information obtained, the experts thought that the largest numbers of limitations are in the institutional and systemic levels, in the areas Biodiversity and Desertification and Drought, while in the area Climate Change limitations at the individual level are more common because there are not any institutions to deal with in that area. Summing up each level, we can appreciate the following:
At the INDIVIDUAL level:S Unstructured staff training; there is little technical training.S Clearly established guidelines are needed in the short term.S There are still myths and habits in the peasantry today, it is necessary to train them.S To improve the professional staff it is indispensable to develop capabilities.S Awareness programs, environmental education and information for most of the population are
required.
At the INSTITUTIONAL level:S In general, there is a lack of processes to develop the quality of management, monitoring and
evaluation activities.S There are no organizational and / or functional structures to coordinate consistent and auditable
actions.S Intra and institutional processes are disarticulated. Coordination mechanisms should be
improved.S Human resources are highly trained in their respective areas but it is insufficient.S Financial resources are not properly allocated.S The public administration generally requires changes, especially in the organizational aspect.
At the SYSTEMIC level:S There is a policy framework for all areas but there are no efficient mechanisms for monitoring
the plans.S There is no interaction between the institutions so that responsibilities are spread among
government agencies.S The legal framework should be updated to include all responsible sectors.S The human resources are dispersed and are also scarce.S The basic information is generated in a disorderly manner, and there are no mechanisms for
its management.
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Chart 3. Level Limitations on Biological Diversity, Desertification and Drought and Climate Change
Urgent Problems ThemeLevel Limitations
Systemic Institutional IndividualDisarticulation of public institutions Biod. X X
Undefined policy guidelines for Biodiversity Biod. X X X
Undefined strategies to develop national priority programs Biod. X
Undefined strategies for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity Biod. X X X
Outdated legal framework Biod. X X
The Biodiversity National Strategy and its plan of action are not applied Biod. X X X
The desertification and drought national action plan is not applied D&D X
Shortage of methodologies for desertification studies D&D X
Shortage of techniques to stop and correct the effects of desertification D&D X
Obtaining basic information (common with CC) D&D X X X
Weak implementation of policies for improving human resources (common with Biod.) D&D X X X
Uncertain political guidelines for adaptation and mitigation issues CC X X X
Uncertain strategies for the adaptation of water resources in the agricultural sectors and strategies in vie of the sea level rise
CC X X X
Uncertain mitigation strategies, including strategies for the development of clean energies CC X X X
Inexistent legal framework CC X X
Obtaining information on vulnerability and impact CC X X X
Biod: Biodiversity.; D&D: Desertification and Drought; CC: Climate Change.
Once the experts identified the limitations, they proceeded to detail the obstacles to overcome these limitations at the systemic, institutional and individual levels, defining the following:
S The erroneous perception, at all levels, that the three environmental areas are problems that affect only the environment, in addition to the ignorance about their socio-economic impact.
S The complex skills to be developed to involve the MINAMB (Environmental Department), other Ministries, mayors, governors, legislators, private companies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and community organizations.
S The lack of the political will to create the Institutions in each of the thematic areas.
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S The low participation of communities due to their ignorance on environmental activities. S The absence or scarcity of financial resources to streamline projects.
From this analysis another no less important aspect is the approach that was given to the activities that lead to Strengthening Capacity, summarized in Chart 4. For example, some of the actions that can be applied include:
S The coordination of information;S The training of staff;S The design and coordination of information campaigns;S The determination of what types of technologies are needed for each environmental area;S The institutionalization of technology transfer; S Undertaking specific studies in each area, such as the socio-economic impact of climate
change; y S One of the most important activities is the awareness of all the staff from all ministries involved,
(Environment, Agriculture, Energy, Science and Technology, Planning and Development, etc.) and of the academic sector.
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Chart 4. Activities for the Strengthening of Capacities.
Limitations Activities for the Strengthening of Capacities
Basic information production
S Coordinate a bank of “metadata” that allows anyone to determine what kind of basic information exists and where it is located.
S To know the experience of Latin American countries in implementing their national action programs to combat desertification and drought.
Information management S Training in the design and implementation of systems for environmental monitoring and early warning in several aspects.
Ignorance of the subject among the public
S To coordinate information and education campaigns that show the relationships between the 3 conventions.
Lack of institutionalization S To coordinate with the MINAMB (Ministry of Environment) the crea-
tion a group for the three conventions to begin identifying common actions.
Technology transfer
S To determine types of “light” and clean technologies that allow adapting to climate change and, at the same time, an improvement on desertification conditions and a minor impact on biodiversity.
S To institutionalize the transfer of technology and knowledge on good agricultural practices.
Knowledge of the economic and social impacts
S To begin studies on the socio-economic impacts of climate change, the increased area under desertification and biodiversity loss.
S To raise awareness of staff of the Ministry of Environment (senior management and technical personnel), the senior management of the ministries of Agriculture and Lands, Petroleum and Energy, Science and Technology, People’s Economy, Planning and Development, and the academic sector on the need to implement the Convention on Desertification and Drought, making use of the experience of Focal Point and the Regional Committees.
S To provide training in socio-economic assessments of natural re-sources.
As the experts analyzed and acknowledged capacity constraints, strengthening obstacles and opportunities, they also identified, within all of this diverse information, a synergy within the three environmental areas, defining joint Action Priorities, as well as mechanisms for coordination, potential parties to participate in the project, types of contribution and funding agencies. This information is summarized in Chart 5.
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Chart 5. Synergy and Action Priorities.
National policies, international cooperation and financing
1. Defining an inter-sectoral environmental policy.
2. Managing the synergy of international environmental agreements.
3. Joint management of resources for the implementation of the conventions.
4. Defining an aggressive and ongoing communications policy.
Information sistems and training
5. Make an inventory of who we are, what are we doing and where we are.
6. To define the established common ground in the conventions plans, through a working group made up with the focal points of the same, for the purposes of producing a document covering these points in the implementation of the conventions in Venezuela.
7. To increase the number of participating sectors through publications and training.
8. Lead the communities into awareness campaigns, training and education to increase their level of participation.
9. To establish inventories of available information and identify “gaps” of information.
10. To organize an integrated system to generate processed information and exchange information that is common to the conventions, which requires the organization of inter-agency processes. It is strongly recommended to formalize the regular publication of environmental indicators.
11. To organize courses and workshops to strengthen the negotiating capacity in each convention.
12. To establish coordination mechanisms within the ministry, between international conventions and agencies and also within the communities.
Other 13. To assess the common elements in the plans of the conventions.
2.2. Second Phase: National Consultation
The second phase consisted of a broad national consultation, conducted through 10 regional workshops, in which some 600 participants presented more than 1800 views on various aspects of the regional situation in the areas of Biodiversity, D&D and CC.
These views were categorized through an analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT). The results of the consultation helped validate the Thematic Profiles and provided the regional vision for the Situation Analysis. Additionally, this national consultation led to the involvement and awareness on environmental issues, and helped to reinforce some existing regional information and environmental education networks.
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A presentation on the Thematic Profiles and Situation Analysis was prepared, with emphasis on the country’s obligations with respect to each convention, inputs available to meet those obligations and processes through which these obligations are fulfilled, so that the participants in regional workshops have an overview of the country’s current capacity to meet the three environmental conventions. However, to avoid having an external influence and to ensure its independent criteria, the views of experts on capacity constraints were not displayed, nor were the existing obstacles and opportunities to overcome these limitations.
To summarize the information gathered at the national consultation two concepts were used:
“Categories” (eleven in all) represent the order of ideas often handled by the participants and are reflected in Chart 6A. These are largely, though not exactly the aspects discussed in the Inputs “open systems” model (human, financial, information and technology), and Processes: administrative (legal, economic, political and institutional), technological and human – social.
“Themes” (eight total) required for an SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) and, given that many of the interventions in workshops related to the description of major environmental problems, as well as directly to the solutions to these problems, those two items were included and displayed in Chart 6B.
Chart 6. Categories and Topics to Organize the Opinions in Regional Workshops.
A. Categories: B. Topics:
1. Awareness and education. 1. Environmental Problems.2. Commitment and political will. 2. Proposed Solutions.3. Participation and Empowerment. 3. Strengths.4. Institutional Framework. 4. Weaknesses.5. Legal Framework. 5. Opportunities.6. Economic Framework and Financial
Resources. 6. Threats.
7. Relations with the environment. 7. Synergy.8. Diagnosis and basic information. 8. Priorities for Action.9. Planning and management.10. Technology and Research.11. Other.
Over 1800 opinions were collected and grouped by categories for each topic, allowing an overview about: the most important Categories in each area; relationship to the systemic, institutional or individual levels; similarities and differences between the three conventions and Topics that, according to the regional vision, are most worrisome. The opinions were summarized in each category and reduced to 800 since, inevitably, there are repeated ideas, similar ideas expressed in various ways, and partial ideas that assembled to form a coherent whole.
22 23
Finally, the thematic profiles and Situation Analysis were integrated with the opinions of the national consultation. The topics Weaknesses, Threats and Environmental Problems were compared with the characterization of structural and economic constraints, sectoral and inter-sectoral at systemic, institutional and individual levels. The topics Strengths, Opportunities, Synergy and Priorities for Action were compared with the opportunities for capacity building to correct the identified constraints, the priorities for action and the synergistic aspects.
Due to the length of the contents of each subject area they were not developed comprehensively in this document, however, they can be reviewed more extensively on the web page www.ncsa.undp.org. Here is a summary of the achievements made in the workshops:
S relation to the three thematic areas there were more views on Biodiversity (622) than on D&D (422) and CC (480).
S There is a great ignorance of the Climate Change topic, at all levels.S Most opinions are focused on: Solutions, Weaknesses and Threat. This indicates a major
concern at the regional level.S Awareness and education, the institutional framework as well as relations with the environment
are the most significant categories among the attendees and participants for both Biodiversity and D&D.
S Environmental problems were identified by the participants as causing negative effects on Biological Diversity and increasing Desertification and Drought.
S The solutions were identified as useful for solving problems, including conducting environmental education workshops for mayors and communities.
S Regarding the weaknesses, the participants found that the institutional level is the weakest of all, locating the MINAMB as the representative body of the environment.
S As for the strengths identified by attendees as positive for resolving environmental problems, institutions are mentioned with greater emphasis.
S The threats were identified as negative for solving environmental problems but especially at the systemic level and occasionally at the institutional and individual levels.
S The opportunities were identified as positive; however the systemic level was less reliable because of the few opinions.
The summary shows, through a key of colors, the collection done, indicating the constraints, opportunities and the related synergies.
22 23
Awareness and Education (A&E) Participation and Empowerment (P&E)Institutional Framework (IF)Relations with the Environment (RE)Technology and Research (T&R)Legal Framework (LF)Planning and Management (P&M)Diagnosis and Basic Information (DBI)Economic Framework (EF)Commitment and Political Will (CPW)Other (Oth)
Categories Key to Charts 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Chart 7. Limitations on the Systemic Level and More Related Categories (Thematic Profiles Integrated Summary, Situation Analysis and Workshops).
1. Ignorance about the overall Environmental Conventions .
2. Lack of institutional frameworks that incorporate all the participants.3. The managerial levels are not aware of the socio-economic interrelations of
environmental problems, which limits the creation of linkages between institutions required to solve problems of origin and multifactor consequences.
4. The functions, powers and environmental responsibilities are scattered among several government bodies, and new institutional duties have not been assigned nor have mechanisms for monitoring and controlling inter-agency activities and their accountability been established.
5. The legal framework is weak due to a lack of regulations.
6. The generation of basic information is very weak.7. There is no linkage between demand (type of officer required) and supply (type of
environmental education received).8. Lack of political will to build the necessary institutions and allocate the necessary
resources.9. Low participation of communities in defining any type of environmental activity.
10. Ignorance of local authorities and communities on these issues.
11. Uncertainty in the regional powers on planning and the allocation of farmland.
12. Difficulty in achieving inter-agency coordination.13. Lack of effective mechanisms for community participation in all planning and decision-
making phases, not only in the implementation phase.14. Limited use of regional and capacity of local authorities to issue regulations and
ordinances, and the obsolete penalties for environmental crimes.15. No relationships between institutional requirements in technological matters,
development and research, support of decision-making processes, and the support of those who represent the research and academic sectors.
24 25
Chart 8. Limitations at the Institutional Level and More Related Categories (Thematic Profiles Integrated Summary, Situation Analysis and Workshops).
1. A group of serious weaknesses are: (a) lack of management indicators, (b) uncertainty of intra-institutional powers, especially to track and control internal activities, (c) lack of internal processes to develop the quality of management, (d) inappropriate methods of staff monitoring and evaluation.
2. In any institution there are organizational and / or functional structures that coordinate internal actions in the three themes, reflecting lack of political will in senior management.
3. Human resources are insufficient.4. Weak capacity to identify, evaluate, acquire, develop, adapt and integrate technologies in
different action fields.5. Lack of well-defined mechanisms for monitoring and controlling domestic action.
6. Lack of clear regulations governing interaction modes between institutions.7. Lack of organizational structures and regulations to integrate community involvement
between the everyday activities in institutions.8. Shortage of staff in general, with emphasis on the shortage for the role of supervision and
control, especially in the ABRAEs.9. Deterioration in the generation of basic and processed information to support decision-
making.
24 25
Chart 9. Opportunities in the Systemic (A) and Institutional (B) Levels and More Related Categories (Thematic Profiles Integrated Summary, Situation Analysis and Workshops).
1. The awareness, information and informal education programs are a synergistic issue, since many public, private and NGOs carry out such activities.
2. The current state policy is aimed at increasing community participation, so modalities and regulations requiring environmental social comptrollership, must be urgently defined and provide the necessary capacities in the communities so they can perform this function efficiently.
3. The training of human resources in environmental issues is a synergistic activity, but agreements must be established with the academic sector to bring about the adequacy
of such training in the environmental area.4. The increase, as state policy sponsored by the national government, of all forms of civic participation.5. The possibility of using the Community (technical working groups, community councils,
missions, etc.) for environmental management shared through: (a) the exercise of the environmental social comptrollership by controlling and monitoring the actions of the public authorities, (b) acting as a multiplier for awareness, environmental awareness and informal education, (c) implement some type of basic information.
6. Examples of effective inter-institutional relations, whose characteristics could be exported to other regions.
1. The diffusion by the MINAMB of reports on the three themes, to senior politicians, academics and organized community.
2. It is clearly known what information needs to be generated as soon as possible in the three thematic areas.
3. The experience in implementing programs within developed communities by both the MINAMB as well as by NGOs and some mayors.4. The existence of specific programs such as the rescue of “babas” (small alligators)
and Arrau turtles, and the implementation of conservation techniques such as the construction of dams to control torrents.
(A)
(B)
26 27
Chart 10. Synergies in the Systemic (A) and Institutional (B) Levels and More Related Categories (Thematic Profiles Integrated Summary, Situation Analysis and Workshops).
1. Define a sectoral environmental policy.
2. Synergetic management of multilateral environmental agreements.
3. To make an inventory of all available information and identify the information “gaps”.4. Organize an integrated system for generating processed information and exchange
of information common to the conventions, which requires the organization of inter-agency processes. It is strongly recommended to formalize the periodic publication of environmental indicators.
5. To organize courses and workshops to strengthen the negotiating capacity on each convention; this is evidenced by the low negotiating capacity.
6. Mass information and outreach to communities on the three themes, advocating a comprehensive vision of the environmental theme, through the community councils, incorporating mass media, community and alternative media and broadcasting, which would strengthen the social comptrollership.
7. Strengthening the formal and informal environmental education plans at all levels of schooling and human resource training in the institutions on the three themes suited to environmentally sound development models.
1. Joint management of resources for the implementation of the conventions.
2. Defining an aggressive and ongoing communications policy.
3. Make an inventory on who we are, what we are doing and where we are.4. To define the established common ground in the plans of the conventions, through
a working group made up with the focal points of the same, for the purposes of producing a document covering these points in the implementation of the conventions in Venezuela.
5. To strengthen the inter-and intra-institutional integration to achieve consistent missions and visions, and maximize the use of resources. The following methods were suggested: (a) to unify criteria for the design, evaluation and presentation of indicators for projects, (b) to promote a pilot plan that would incorporate all sectors on the three themes and would harmonize the policies, (c) to expand the network cooperation inter-MINAMB and with other players, (d) to develop a flowchart together with institutional powers and their actions on the three themes; (e) to strengthen communication and information programs in each institution, (f) to strengthen the inter-communication policy; ( g) to strengthen strategic alliances; (h) to promote continuity in programs and projects; (i) to create regional units to ensure the compliance with international agreements, (j) to strengthen the integration of media institutions.
6. To strengthen the generation, maintenance and management of basic information, including its systematization in SIGs in all the related instances.
Based on the SWOT analysis, four types of SWOT strategies were established for each of the eleven categories. In total, 62 major strategic lines (summarized in Chart 11), subdivided into 242 strategic sub-lines. The results of the SWOT analysis serve as a basis for carrying out the National Self-evaluation on Needs Strengthening Capacity Plan.
Even under these considerations, there is a partial set of actions that the MINAMB can and must begin to make to advance the process of capacity strengthening for environmental management, the first of which is to implement the areas of Biodiversity, D&D and their respective National Action Plans, which were defined in the years 2000 and 2004, respectively.
(A)
(B)
26 27
Chart 11. SWOT Strategies by Categories.
CATEGORIES WEAKNESSES – THREATS (95)
STRENGTHS – THREATS (56)
WEAKNESSES – OPPORTUNITIES (58)
STRENGHTHS – OPPORTUNITIES
(33)Awareness and Education (31)
1. To raise the level of awareness and knowledge of environmental matters at three levels: institutional, community and formal education. (9)
1. To strengthen and expand regional integration processes for environmental education. (5)
2. To improve and expand formal and informal. environmental education. (5)
1. To inform on environmental issues in the productive sectors. (3)
2. To integrate the dissemination of environmental information in the social organization. (5)
1. To strengthen environmental issues within disciplines. (4)
Participation and Empowerment (29)
1. To create and strengthen mechanisms to enhance the empowerment of communities on environmental issues. (11)
1. To expand forms of community participation in the environmental area. (7)
1. To strengthen community experiences in the environmental area. (7)
1. To foster the implementation of community actions in the environmental area. (4)
Institutional Framework (33)
1. To strengthen inter-institutional environmental management. (9)
2. To strengthen intra-institutional environmental management. (8)
1. To implement the National Plans in the environmental area. (5)
1. To strengthen the environmental social comptrollership. (7)
2. To develop the organizational framework for Climate Change. (3)
1. To develop plans and programs for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. (1)
Relations with the Environment (26)
1. To develop and strengthen inter-agency integration for environmental issues. (7)
2. To strengthen the interaction between ministerial cabinets on environmental issues, with emphasis on economics. (2)
3. To include items of the 3 Environmental Conventions as analysis variables in the National Strategic Plan. (2)
1. To strengthen decentralization of environmental issues. (4)
2. To strengthen social interaction between industry and community. (3)
1. To sensitize the authorities that approve the budget on socio-economic impacts and not having timely financial resources for environmental projects and plans. (1)
2. To introduce the integrated management of risks as an instrument of integration. (4)
1. Integrar las consideraciones socioeconómicas del tema ambiental en instancias a nivel local y regional. (3)
Technology and Research (27)
1. To strengthen transversal research and technological development for the environmental area. (6)
2. To develop and strengthen policies for research and technological development in Biodiversity, D&D and CC (5)
1. Design and implement training programs for staff in the environmental area. (2)
2. Encourage environmental research aimed at solving problems in Biodiversity, D&D and CC. (3)
1. To strengthen the endogenous processes in research and technological development for the environmental area. (7)
1. To develop and strengthen the Framework Conventions for the environmental issue. (4)
Legal Framework (26)
1. To strengthen the legal capacities in the environmental issue. (3)
2. To strengthen the legal environment in general. (5)
3. To strengthen the role of monitoring and control bodies in the environmental area. (4)
1. To publish information on the environmental legal framework at national and local levels. (2)
2. To promote legislation at local level. (4)
1. To develop specific legal frameworks for different aspects in the environmental area. (6)
1. To promote legislation to increase the use of clean energy sources and demands. (2)
28 29
Planning and Management (12)
1. To promote the legal structures to comply with the legal framework for spatial planning. (1)
2. To develop urban planning. (3)
3. To strengthen agricultural planning. (2)
1. To publish information on spatial planning at national and local levels. (2)
1. To strengthen local participation in planning. (1)
1. To update spatial plans with local participation. (3)
Diagnosis and Basic Information (22)
1. To raise awareness about the socioeconomic impact of lack of environmental information. (4)
2. To design policies for the generation of basic environmental information. (4)
1. To develop a policy to transform basic information into processed information. (7)
1. To strengthen the generation of basic environmental information with the support of communities and local governments. (3)
1. To strengthen the use of existing basic environmental information. (4)
Economic Framework and Financial Resources (13)
1. To raise awareness among managerial levels on the socioeconomic impact of inadequate investment in the environmental issue. (3)
2. To develop a policy of financial support for the good use of the environment. (2)
1. To publish information on access to national and international funding for research projects and environmental management. (2)
1. To develop a policy to generate income to support environmental management. (3)
1. To define priorities of funding for environmental projects. (3)
Commitment and Political Will (8)
1. To increase the political support to include the environmental area in the Nation Plans. (2)
1. To reinforce political support for the institutions in the environmental area. (2)
1. To increase the presence of the environmental issue in political projects at national and regional levels. (3)
1. To take advantage of political projects at national level to disseminate good environmental practices. (1)
Other (15) 1. To enhance the quality of public services in the environmental area. (3)
1. To improve socio-environmental conditions to prevent future degradation. (3)
1. To diversify the replication of successful experiences in environmental management. (3)
2. To improve the evaluation and monitoring of participatory activities organized by the MINAMB. (2)
1. To strengthen and expand the extension in good agricultural and environmental practices. (4)
28 29
2.3 Third Phase: Methodology Design for the Capacity Strengthening National Plan (CSNP)
The complexity of the situation detected during the self-evaluation made unworkable the original idea of completing the project with a National Plan of Action. A common conclusion to the situation analysis, thematic profiles and opinions collected at the national consultation, is that it is imperative to establish a hierarchy of problems to solve, obtained by consensus among the different social actors and institutions related to environmental management.
A further complication for the viability of an action plan is the vague existing institutional framework. Although the Ministry for the Environment represents institutions in general, other instances (mayors, governors, agencies of other ministries such as INTI, among them) exercised de facto powers and functions on the environmental issue, and, as MINAMB does not have an appropriate institutional framework, the interaction between all of them are very poor, and even use different criteria, apply regulations, and take contradictory decisions. This situation must be resolved as soon as possible, but it will not be easy, among other reasons, because it implies a change in corporate culture.
In the methodological design of the scheme to reach the Capacity Strengthening National Plan (CSNP), there are three sources of information obtained during the Self-evaluation:
(a) el conjunto de 242 subestrategias FODA; (b) el conjunto de 74 opiniones regionales del Tema Soluciones; (c) el conjunto de opiniones regionales agrupadas del Tema Prioridades de Acción.
The methodological scheme considers this information, and the integration of regional views within the SWOT strategies framework, in three stages:
S a first step to prioritize, through a national consultation, (similar to the Self-evaluation) in order to obtain a representative sample of views in this aspect. The criteria to be used is to be designed;
S a second phase of analysis of priorities obtained in the national consultation to select the final outcome; and
S a third stage to break down the hierarchical sub-strategies and solutions into actions, with lapses of execution, estimation of human, technological and financial resources, and the responsible instance for each activity in each sub-strategy and / or solution.
A “pilot” exercise was carried out to test the methodological design; in the first phase the SWOT sub-strategies were hierarchically arranged in an inter-institutional workshop Inter, according to the importance allocation for each sub-strategy in levels of urgency and importance. The participants also assigned a time for implementation (short, medium, long). The second stage: the hierarchy gathered was analyzed at the workshop to select the sub-strategy with greater importance, and the third stage brought together a multidisciplinary group, which chose one of the sub-strategies, and broke it down into specific activities, time intervals and assigned the responsible parties for each activity.
30 31
The following is a summary of the methodological scheme proposed in its three variants, namely:
a) Ranking, selection and workshops of two days-length;b) Survey ranking, selection by a group of experts and workshops of one day.c) Ranking in workshops, and selection and breakdown by a group of experts.
The sub-strategy elected to be broken down into an action plan belongs to the Category Participation and Empowerment: “To strengthen the municipal environmental offices and create structural elements within the MINAMB to meet the needs of organized communities and the community councils in order to facilitate the coordinated work between these actors.” The Office of Management and International Cooperation of the MINAMB would be responsible for a period of one year or so.
In the completion of this sub-strategy, capabilities will be developed in a systemic level, due to the interaction between the various social actors and the development of the legal framework at local level. On the other hand, there is the strengthening of the institutional capacity in local governments, as well as the development of capacities at the individual level for both decision makers and officials and for members of the organized communities, which will achieve the functioning of the environmental area locally and regionally.
Chart 12 summarizes the Action Plan for this Sub-strategy.
30 31Cha
rt 12
. A
ctio
n P
lan
for
this
Sub
-str
ate
gy.
Pilo
t Act
ion
Plan
- C
ateg
ory:
Par
ticip
atio
n an
d Em
pow
erm
ent
1 N
ame:
Sub
-stra
tegy
: to
stre
ngth
en th
e m
unic
ipal
env
ironm
enta
l offi
ces
and
crea
te s
truct
ural
ele
men
ts w
ithin
the
MIN
AM
B to
mee
t the
nee
ds o
f org
aniz
ed c
omm
uniti
es a
nd c
omm
unity
cou
ncils
, to
faci
litat
e th
e co
ordi
nate
d w
ork
betw
een
thes
e ac
tors
.2
Res
pons
ible
: Min
istry
of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t
3 S
cope
: to
achi
eve,
with
in o
ne y
ear,
that
6 m
ayor
al o
ffice
s (2
urb
an,
subu
rban
and
2 ru
ral)
impr
ove
thei
r env
ironm
enta
l man
agem
ent,
verifi
ed th
roug
h m
anag
emen
t ind
icat
ors,
and
that
the
MIN
AM
B d
evel
ops
a fu
nctio
nal i
nstit
utio
n to
dea
l with
org
aniz
ed c
omm
uniti
es.
4 B
enefi
ciar
ies:
Thi
s pr
ojec
t will
dire
ctly
ben
efit b
oth
orga
nize
d co
mm
uniti
es a
nd lo
cal g
over
nmen
ts, a
nd w
ill s
treng
then
the
inst
itutio
ns o
f the
cen
tral g
over
nmen
t. In
dire
ctly,
it w
ill b
enefi
t the
ent
ire
popu
latio
n of
the
mun
icip
aliti
es, i
mpr
ovin
g th
e en
viro
nmen
tal m
anag
emen
t and
stre
ngth
enin
g th
e lo
ng-te
rm e
ndog
enou
s de
velo
pmen
t.
5 N
o.6
Act
ion
7 D
ate
8 R
espo
nsib
le9
Res
ults
1To
defi
ne th
e es
timat
ed c
osts
of t
his
proj
ect a
nd s
eek
reso
urce
s fo
r its
impl
emen
tatio
n. A
ssem
ble
a m
ultid
isci
plin
ary
team
; de
fine
the
cost
s of
eac
h ph
ase
and
proj
ect a
ctiv
ity. I
dent
ify p
oten
tial s
ourc
es o
f fin
anci
ng; p
rom
ote
reso
urce
allo
catio
n am
ong
pote
ntia
l con
tribu
tors
.
Mon
th 1
MIN
AM
B -
Cen
tral
leve
lM
ultid
isci
plin
ary
team
Bud
gets
, lis
t of c
ontr
ibut
ing
entit
ies.
2To
defi
ne th
e cr
iteria
for s
elec
ting
the
6 m
ayor
al o
ffice
s at
the
natio
nal l
evel
. To
defin
e th
e cr
iteria
fo
r sel
ectin
g th
e 3
type
s of
May
ors
(urb
an, s
ubur
ban,
rura
l); P
re-s
elec
t sev
eral
may
ors
of e
ach
type
; In
terv
iew
ing
repr
esen
tativ
es o
f the
pre
-sel
ecte
d of
fices
; int
ervi
ewin
g re
pres
enta
tives
of t
he D
EA’
s w
hich
are
lo
cate
d in
the
pre-
sele
cted
offi
ces;
sel
ect 6
fina
l offi
ces
(2 o
f eac
h ty
pe);
asse
mbl
e a
inte
r-ag
ency
task
forc
e th
at in
clud
es re
pres
enta
tives
of o
rgan
ized
com
mun
ities
, loc
al g
over
nmen
ts, t
he D
EA’
s, th
e M
INA
MB
Cen
tral
Leve
l and
oth
er re
leva
nt a
ctor
s.
Mon
ths
1 y
2M
INA
MB
- C
entr
al le
vel
Mul
tidis
cipl
inar
y te
amC
riter
ia: p
ossi
ble
May
ors
to b
e se
lect
ed.
3To
mak
e an
inve
ntor
y of
the
orga
nize
d co
mm
uniti
es, c
omm
unity
cou
ncils
and
oth
er a
ctor
s on
the
issu
e, fo
r eac
h of
the
sele
cted
offi
ces.
To
desi
gn s
urve
ys to
gat
her i
nfor
mat
ion
at o
rgan
ized
com
mun
ities
le
vel o
n th
e pr
oble
ms
and
met
hods
of e
nviro
nmen
tal m
anag
emen
t; to
app
ly p
olls
in th
e 6
offic
es; c
ompi
le
info
rmat
ion
abou
t the
inst
itutio
nal m
anag
emen
t of l
ocal
gov
ernm
ents
in th
e en
viro
nmen
tal a
rea;
to o
rgan
ize
data
base
s w
ith th
e co
llect
ed in
form
atio
n.
Mon
th 3
Inte
r-in
stitu
tiona
l te
amM
ultid
isci
plin
ary
team
Dat
a ba
se o
f rel
evan
t act
ors
(num
ber,
resp
onsi
bilit
ies,
loca
tion,
le
ader
s, e
tc).
4To
des
ign
and
impl
emen
t a p
rogr
am o
f bas
ic tr
aini
ng in
env
ironm
enta
l man
agem
ent f
or d
iffer
ent
leve
ls: d
ecis
ion
mak
ers
at th
e lo
cal l
evel
, civ
il of
ficia
ls a
nd m
embe
rs o
f the
org
aniz
ed c
omm
uniti
es.
To d
esig
n an
d im
plem
ent t
rain
ing
prog
ram
s fo
r dec
isio
n m
aker
s, c
ivil
offic
ials
, and
org
aniz
ed c
omm
uniti
es.
Mon
ths
2 a
3In
ter-
inst
itutio
nal
team
Mul
tidis
cipl
inar
y te
am
Trai
ning
pro
gram
s, tr
aini
ng
activ
ities
.
5To
revi
ew th
e le
gal f
ram
ewor
k, to
geth
er w
ith th
e ac
tors
, to
supp
ort t
he v
iabi
lity
of th
e re
quire
d in
stitu
tions
, and
cre
ate
the
nece
ssar
y le
gal f
ram
ewor
k at
the
loca
l lev
el. T
o re
vise
the
exis
ting
lega
l fra
mew
ork;
writ
e th
e re
quire
d or
dina
nces
; coo
rdin
ate
mee
tings
with
the
City
Cou
ncil
for a
ppro
val o
f ord
ers;
en
act t
he re
quire
d or
dina
nces
.
Mon
th 4
nter
-inst
itutio
nal
team
Loca
l gov
ernm
ent
Lega
l fra
mew
ork
stat
us in
eac
h m
ayor
’s o
ffice
. Ena
ctm
ent o
f re
quire
d m
unic
ipal
ord
inan
ces.
6To
test
in th
e D
EA’s
whe
re th
e of
fices
are
regi
ster
ed, f
unct
iona
l bod
ies
to s
uppo
rt e
nviro
nmen
tal
man
agem
ent s
hare
d by
all
the
acto
rs. T
o de
fine
seve
ral a
ltern
ativ
es fo
r fun
ctio
nal b
odie
s to
sup
port
shar
ed e
nviro
nmen
tal m
anag
emen
t; to
sel
ect t
he m
ost v
iabl
e an
d ef
ficie
nt a
ltern
ativ
es a
t the
pre
sent
tim
e,
and
the
inst
itutio
nal c
hang
es re
quire
d to
impl
emen
t the
latte
r; in
trodu
ce fu
nctio
nal a
naly
sis
in th
e D
EA’
s.
Mon
th 3
DEA
’s In
ter-
inst
itutio
nal t
eam
Func
tiona
l sup
port
mec
hani
sms.
7To
des
ign
man
agem
ent i
ndic
ator
s fo
r eac
h ty
pe o
f mun
icip
al g
over
nmen
t. To
defi
ne a
gro
up o
f in
dica
tors
of s
usta
inab
le m
anag
emen
t; to
dev
ise
way
s of
col
lect
ing
info
rmat
ion
to c
alcu
late
indi
cato
rs;
to a
ssig
n re
spon
sibi
litie
s in
the
offic
es fo
r cal
cula
ting
thes
e in
dica
tors
; to
assi
gn re
spon
sibi
litie
s in
the
Com
mun
ities
for t
he v
erifi
catio
n of
the
indi
cato
rs.
Mon
ths
3 y
4In
ter-
inst
itutio
nal
team
May
ors,
Com
mun
ity
Indi
cato
rs to
be
used
.
32 33
5 N
o.6
Act
ion
7 D
ate
8 R
espo
nsib
le9
Res
ults
8To
dia
gnos
e en
viro
nmen
tal p
robl
ems
in e
ach
of th
e of
fices
. To
defin
e th
e di
agno
sis
met
hodo
logy
; to
appl
y th
e m
etho
dolo
gy fo
r the
dia
gnos
is o
f env
ironm
enta
l pro
blem
s; to
prio
ritiz
e de
tect
ed e
nviro
nmen
tal a
nd
envi
ronm
enta
l man
agem
ent i
ssue
s.
Mon
th 4
Inte
r-in
stitu
tiona
l te
amPr
oble
m tr
ee fo
r eac
h m
unic
ipal
go
vern
men
t.
9To
impl
emen
t in
the
vario
us c
omm
uniti
es, a
met
hod
of p
artic
ipat
ory
plan
ning
to d
efine
the
solu
tion
to m
ajor
pro
blem
s. T
o se
t com
mun
ity p
artic
ipat
ory
met
hod(
s) in
eac
h of
fice;
To
appl
y th
e m
etho
dolo
gy fo
r de
finin
g th
e so
lutio
n to
maj
or p
robl
ems;
To
choo
se th
e m
ost u
rgen
t and
/ or
impo
rtant
pro
blem
to b
e so
lved
; To
defi
ne a
n ac
tion
plan
to s
olve
the
prob
lem
sel
ecte
d, e
nsur
ing
the
hum
an re
sour
ces,
tech
nolo
gica
l and
fin
anci
al re
quire
men
ts.
Mon
th 5
Inte
r-in
stitu
tiona
l te
amSo
lutio
n tr
ee; d
esig
nate
d re
spon
sibi
litie
s
10To
impl
emen
t pilo
t pro
gram
s fo
r env
ironm
enta
l man
agem
ent b
ased
on
the
resu
lts o
f the
pre
viou
s ite
m, t
o st
reng
then
the
mun
icip
al e
nviro
nmen
tal o
ffice
s. T
o as
sign
resp
onsi
bilit
ies
at in
stitu
tiona
l an
d co
mm
unity
leve
ls; t
o pe
rform
the
vario
us a
ctiv
ities
sch
edul
ed in
the
actio
n pl
an; t
o en
forc
e so
cial
co
mpt
rolle
rshi
p fo
r var
ious
env
ironm
enta
l act
iviti
es, a
nd p
roje
ct m
anag
emen
t.
Mon
ths
6 a
12Lo
cal g
over
nmen
t M
ayor
s, D
EA’
s,
Com
mun
ities
Exec
uted
pro
gram
s.
11To
eva
luat
e m
anag
emen
t with
the
desi
gned
indi
cato
rs (i
tem
7).
To
impl
emen
t sys
tem
atic
man
agem
ent
indi
cato
rs fo
r the
var
ious
pha
ses
and
activ
ities
of t
he a
ctio
n pl
an to
sol
ve th
e pr
oble
m s
elec
ted;
eva
luat
e th
e be
havi
or o
f man
agem
ent i
ndic
ator
s.
Mon
ths
6 a
12Lo
cal g
over
nmen
t M
ayor
s, C
omm
uniti
esEv
alua
tion
repo
rt o
n th
e le
vel
of c
apac
ity s
tren
gthe
ning
for
envi
ronm
enta
l man
agem
ent.
12To
eva
luat
e th
e ex
perie
nce
in th
e 6
Offi
ces
in o
rder
to e
xten
d th
e pr
ojec
t nat
ionw
ide.
To
anal
yze
the
resu
lts a
t eac
h m
unic
ipal
gov
ernm
ent i
n te
rms
of s
ucce
sses
and
failu
res;
est
ablis
h a
patte
rn o
f cos
ts
- ben
efits
of t
he p
roje
ct th
at in
clud
es s
ocia
l, in
stitu
tiona
l and
fina
ncia
l iss
ues;
to d
efine
are
as fo
r im
prov
emen
t in
the
proj
ect b
efor
e ex
tend
ing
it na
tionw
ide.
Mon
ths
11 y
12
MIN
AM
B -
Cen
tral
leve
lM
ultid
isci
plin
ary
team
Eval
uatio
n re
port
on
Sub-
stra
tegy
N
º 9.
10 D
ate:
Jul
y 20
08
11 E
xecu
tion:
MIN
AM
B –
Pro
ject
: “N
atio
nal S
elf-e
valu
atio
n on
Nee
ds S
treng
then
ing
Cap
acity
(NS
NS
C) -
Offi
ce o
f Man
agem
ent a
nd In
tern
atio
nal C
oope
ratio
n. T
he N
SN
SC
dra
ft id
entifi
ed 2
42
SO
W s
ub-s
trate
gies
to s
treng
then
the
coun
try’s
cap
acity
for e
nviro
nmen
tal m
anag
emen
t at t
he s
yste
mic
, ins
titut
iona
l and
indi
vidu
al le
vels
. Thi
s A
ctio
n P
lan
is o
nly
one
of th
e 24
2 su
b- s
trate
gies
. W
ith it
s im
plem
enta
tion,
cap
aciti
es a
t the
sys
tem
ic le
vel w
ill b
e de
velo
ped
due
to th
e in
tera
ctio
n be
twee
n va
rious
act
ors,
as
wel
l as
deve
lopm
ent o
f the
lega
l fra
mew
ork
at lo
cal l
evel
. The
mai
n ob
ject
ive
is to
stre
ngth
en th
e in
stitu
tiona
l cap
acity
at l
ocal
gov
ernm
ents
, and
als
o to
dev
elop
cap
aciti
es a
t ind
ivid
ual l
evel
s, fo
r bot
h de
cisi
on m
aker
s an
d pu
blic
offi
cial
s (w
hich
in tu
rn w
ill c
ontri
bute
to
impr
ove
the
inst
itutio
nal l
evel
) and
the
mem
bers
of o
rgan
ized
com
mun
ities
, the
reby
als
o he
lpin
g to
impr
ove
the
func
tioni
ng o
f the
are
a en
viro
nmen
tal m
anag
emen
t at t
he s
yste
mic
leve
l.
12 T
echn
olog
y R
esou
rces
: To
carr
y ou
t thi
s A
ctio
n P
lan
to s
treng
then
cap
aciti
es fo
r env
ironm
enta
l man
agem
ent a
t loc
al le
vels
, it i
s re
quire
d to
hav
e so
cio-
econ
omic
, env
ironm
enta
l and
m
anag
emen
t inf
orm
atio
n, fr
om b
oth
may
ors
and
orga
nize
d co
mm
uniti
es. I
n m
any
case
s, s
uch
info
rmat
ion
is n
ot a
vaila
ble,
so
it m
ust b
e ob
tain
ed th
roug
h fie
ld w
ork,
whi
ch m
eans
the
need
to
mob
ilize
reso
urce
s. O
bvio
usly,
tech
nolo
gica
l res
ourc
es a
re n
eede
d, a
nd to
redu
ce c
osts
and
mob
iliza
tion
time
com
pute
rs c
apab
le o
f tel
econ
fere
ncin
g be
twee
n co
mm
uniti
es, m
unic
ipal
ities
, th
e D
EA’
s an
d th
e M
INA
MB
Cen
tral L
evel
sho
uld
be u
sed.
Dep
endi
ng o
n th
e ty
pe o
f pro
blem
that
is u
sed
as a
pilo
t in
each
mun
icip
al g
over
nmen
t to
test
the
mod
el d
esig
ned
for e
nviro
nmen
tal
man
agem
ent,
othe
r spe
cific
tech
nolo
gica
l res
ourc
es m
ay b
e re
quire
d.
13 F
inan
cial
Res
ourc
es: I
t is
wel
l kno
wn
that
one
of t
he m
ost s
erio
us in
stitu
tiona
l pro
blem
s in
the
envi
ronm
enta
l are
a is
the
shor
tage
of p
erso
nnel
, so
the
MIN
AM
B m
ultid
isci
plin
ary
team
s an
d th
e ta
sk fo
rce
will
pro
babl
y ha
ve to
hire
som
e pr
ofes
sion
al p
art-t
ime
and
full
time
staf
f or fi
nanc
e so
me
activ
ities
of o
ther
maj
or a
ctor
s su
ch a
s th
e N
GO
s, fo
r exa
mpl
e. R
esou
rces
mus
t als
o be
co
nsid
ered
for m
obili
zing
(tra
vel e
xpen
ses,
tick
ets,
etc
.), fo
r bot
h of
ficer
s an
d of
ficia
ls a
nd m
embe
rs o
f org
aniz
ed c
omm
uniti
es. I
t als
o sh
ould
incl
ude
finan
cial
reso
urce
s to
obt
ain
mat
eria
ls a
nd
offic
e eq
uipm
ent,
inpu
ts re
quire
d by
the
plan
to s
olve
a s
peci
fic p
robl
em, a
nd s
o on
.
14 H
uman
Res
ourc
es: T
o de
velo
p th
e ca
pabi
litie
s th
ere
is a
nee
d fo
r diff
eren
t typ
es o
f hum
an re
sour
ces.
The
MIN
AM
B, f
or e
xam
ple,
mus
t inc
lude
in it
s m
ultid
isci
plin
ary
team
at t
he c
entra
l lev
el,
envi
ronm
enta
l edu
catio
n, L
egal
, Fin
ance
, and
Pla
nnin
g A
dvis
ors,
and
obv
ious
ly fr
om d
iffer
ent T
echn
ical
are
as. I
t als
o re
quire
s pe
ople
ski
lled
in re
latio
ns w
ith c
omm
uniti
es. I
t is
espe
cial
ly c
ritic
al
that
the
desi
gn a
nd im
plem
enta
tion
of a
bas
ic tr
aini
ng p
lan
in th
e ar
ea fo
r env
ironm
enta
l dec
isio
n-m
aker
s (m
ayor
s) is
dev
elop
ed, w
hich
war
rant
s th
e hi
ring
of e
xper
ts. T
he p
robl
em is
per
haps
mor
e ac
ute
in th
e of
fices
, man
y of
whi
ch d
o no
t eve
n ha
ve a
n en
viro
nmen
tal u
nit,
and
even
in th
e D
EA’
s th
e nu
mbe
r of s
taff
avai
labl
e fo
r suc
h pr
ojec
ts is
ver
y lo
w. T
he g
reat
est s
treng
th li
es w
ithin
the
area
of e
nviro
nmen
tal e
duca
tion,
sin
ce a
lmos
t all
the
DE
A’s
had
posi
tive
expe
rienc
es w
ith c
omm
uniti
es.
32 33
It is worth noting that socio-economic, environmental and management information is required from both the mayor’s office and organized communities, which also must have resources assigned for mobilization (traveling allowances, lodging, tickets, etc.); for the technological area (computers capable of teleconferencing); for the area of human resources (recruitment of professionals and skilled personnel in each area), and also include financial resources to obtain materials and office equipment, information campaigns or to solve a specific problem.
As an example, Chart 13 includes the directions for the Action Plan.
Chart 13. Instructions for Implementing the Action Plan.
Action1. To define the estimated costs of this project and seek resources for its implementation.
2. To define criteria for selecting mayors´offices at the national level.3. To make an inventory of organized communities, community councils and other social actors
involved, for each of the selected offices.
4. To design and implement a basic training program in environmental management for the different levels: decision makers at the local level, officials and members of organized communities.
5. To review the legal framework, together with all the actors, to support the viability of the required institutions, and to create the necessary legal framework at the local level.
6. To test functional bodies to support environmental management in the DEA’s where the offices are registered.
7. To design management indicators for each type of municipal government.8. To diagnose environmental problems in each of the offices.9. To implement in the various communities, a method of participatory planning to define the
solution to major problems.
10. To implement pilot programs of environmental management based on the results of the previous items, for the strengthening of municipal environmental offices.
11. To evaluate management using the indicators designed (item 7).
12. To evaluate the experience of mayors in order to expand the project nationwide.
34 35
34 35
3. Conclusion
Once this great informative effort has been achieved and classified, which will represent an invaluable example for both the staff at MINAMB as well as for other public institutions at local, regional or national levels, very punctual aspects are to be established in defining the Action Plan, and the first approximation is summarized below.
Regarding the systemic and institutional level: There is a widespread ignorance regarding the Environmental Conventions (Biological Diversity, Desertification and Drought and Climate Change) therefore the MINAMB, as Technical Focal Point, has to carry out campaigns and provide information at all levels, (Ministries, mayors, governors, etc.) supporting and fostering, through coherent policies and plans and organized programs, the scope, objectives and usefulness for the country. This work must be known at both the public and private levels.
Regarding the training and development of human talent: The limited knowledge of senior management in the environmental area causes a low allocation of financial resources, so it is necessary to raise the level awareness in all of the Ministries, in order to definitely consolidate Environmental Management as an instrument of social- humanist policy, analyzing the socio-economic impact in the community and thereby safeguarding the natural heritage of the population in Venezuela.
Regarding raising awareness:It is necessary to update the legal framework and urgently raise the awareness of the National Assembly, the Comptroller, the Public prosecutor’s office and the schools of law on environmental issues. These aims would achieve the collective welfare incorporating awareness campaigns in communities. Thus Venezuela faces a difficult challenge to consolidate achievements in environmental matters, but it is surely making a great effort in this area, as shown through this Draft of Self-evaluation.
