NCSA AS A TOOL FOR NCSA AS A TOOL FOR INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

((ARMENIA EXPERIENCEARMENIA EXPERIENCE) )

Anahit SimonyanAnahit Simonyan14-16 June, 200414-16 June, 2004

BratislavaBratislava

UNDP ARMENIAUNDP ARMENIA

To help to reduce economic, social and To help to reduce economic, social and political inequality political inequality

UN will work in UN will work in four areas of cooperation: four areas of cooperation:

• Economic Equity Economic Equity • Social Equity Social Equity • Democratic Governance Democratic Governance • Environmental Governance Environmental Governance

UNDAF OVERARCHING GOAL AND UNDAF OVERARCHING GOAL AND AREAS OF COOPERATIONAREAS OF COOPERATION

UN has adopted a rights-based strategy for the UNDAF which will be implemented at three levels

In each area of cooperation, the UN will:

help duty-bearers protect the rights of Armenian citizens

create an environment that enables the achievement of rights

help Armenian citizens to exercise their rights

UNDAF RIGHTS-BASED UNDAF RIGHTS-BASED APPROACHAPPROACH

NCSA NCSA PROJECT PROJECT OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE

Determine priority capacity needs and elaborate plan of action for developing country capacities to meet commitments to the global conventions in synergetic manner

at the

systemic

institutional and

individual

levels.

LINKAGES WITH ONGOING LINKAGES WITH ONGOING PROCESSESPROCESSES

Millenium Development Goals Millenium Development Goals

Poverty Reduction Strategy Poverty Reduction Strategy

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development Strategy Strategy

East-West Environmental PartnershipEast-West Environmental Partnership: : EnvironmentEnvironmental Strategy for EECCAal Strategy for EECCA

PROJECT PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATIONCOORDINATION

High level consultations and technical High level consultations and technical assistance from UNDP/GEF at inception stageassistance from UNDP/GEF at inception stage

Ensuring Ensuring country ownership country ownership through:through: nomination of the Project National Director nomination of the Project National Director establishment of high-level Project Steering establishment of high-level Project Steering Committee (20 members from ministries, Committee (20 members from ministries, NGOs, NGOs, donors, Convention Focal Points)donors, Convention Focal Points)

Backstopping by CO and NCSA Regional Backstopping by CO and NCSA Regional CoordinatorCoordinator

Regular monitoring and reportingRegular monitoring and reporting NCSA regional networkingNCSA regional networking

GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND ADOPTED GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND ADOPTED APPROACHES FOR NCSA PROCESSAPPROACHES FOR NCSA PROCESS

Strong country ownership through involvement of high Strong country ownership through involvement of high level decision makers and Convention Focal Points level decision makers and Convention Focal Points

Broad stakeholder participation in the assessment and Broad stakeholder participation in the assessment and evaluation of the resultsevaluation of the results through targeted surveys and through targeted surveys and participatory discussionsparticipatory discussions

Support and participation in the programmatic Support and participation in the programmatic activities of the relevant ministriesactivities of the relevant ministries

NCSA “intervention” in relevant on-going programmes, NCSA “intervention” in relevant on-going programmes, including GEF enabling activities.including GEF enabling activities.

Creating environment for attractive partnership Creating environment for attractive partnership

MAIN CHALLENGESMAIN CHALLENGES

Pioneering NCSA in Armenia and in the region

Multi focal areas to be covered

Dynamic nature of Conventions

NCSA methodology is under testing

NCSA outputs are for long-term perspective

Innovative approaches applied by NCSA are not easily understood by technical experts.

National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD) is not functioning

Absence of the National Sustainable Development Strategy

Frequent rotations and changes within the Government and relevant authorities

MAIN CHALLENGESMAIN CHALLENGEScont.cont.

MAIN FINDINGSMAIN FINDINGS

Lack of institutional capacity and coordination Lack of institutional capacity and coordination between the Ministries and agencies between the Ministries and agencies

Weak cooperation between the Convention Focal Weak cooperation between the Convention Focal Points and overlap of activities Points and overlap of activities

Weak enforcement and implementation Weak enforcement and implementation mechanisms mechanisms

Weak institutional linkages between the central Weak institutional linkages between the central and local governing bodies and local governing bodies

Tension and polarization between the centre and Tension and polarization between the centre and provincesprovinces

Absence of proper environmental monitoring and Absence of proper environmental monitoring and impact assessment indicatorsimpact assessment indicators

Lack of enabling environment for using new financial Lack of enabling environment for using new financial instruments and mechanisms in the sectorinstruments and mechanisms in the sector

Weak national capacities for multi-sectoral and Weak national capacities for multi-sectoral and coherent social-economic planning with coherent social-economic planning with mainstreamed environmental issuesmainstreamed environmental issues

Insufficient integration of environmental concerns Insufficient integration of environmental concerns into the agricultural practicesinto the agricultural practices

Weak institutional capacity to develop proposals and Weak institutional capacity to develop proposals and raise funds.raise funds.

Not clear state policy on using NGOs and mass media Not clear state policy on using NGOs and mass media capacities to increase environmental awareness.capacities to increase environmental awareness.

MAIN FINDINGSMAIN FINDINGScont.cont.

Lessons learnedLessons learned(substantive)(substantive)

NCSA is an effective tool for diagnosis of gaps for NCSA is an effective tool for diagnosis of gaps for integrated environmental management.integrated environmental management.

Stocktaking identified baseline situation for the Stocktaking identified baseline situation for the implementation of Conventionsimplementation of Conventions

Thematic assessments were useful to examine Thematic assessments were useful to examine Conventions in broader context, linking them with Conventions in broader context, linking them with other Conventions and processes (MDG,PRSP,etc.) other Conventions and processes (MDG,PRSP,etc.)

Cross-cutting assessments: Cross-cutting assessments:

- independent experts are not able to fully - independent experts are not able to fully examine inside problems and constrainsexamine inside problems and constrains

- specialists from the ministries and affiliated - specialists from the ministries and affiliated agencies are less critical to own institutional and agencies are less critical to own institutional and human capacity gapshuman capacity gaps  

Lessons learnedLessons learned(substantive)(substantive)

NCSA Action Plan has to complement to NCSA Action Plan has to complement to already existing implementation plans of 3 already existing implementation plans of 3 conventions.conventions.

Low level of government commitment for Low level of government commitment for integrated environment policies may impose integrated environment policies may impose a risk on financing and implementation of a risk on financing and implementation of NCSA Action Plan.NCSA Action Plan.

The cross-cutting capacity building is equally The cross-cutting capacity building is equally important to be applied in linking NCSA important to be applied in linking NCSA with MDG, PRSP and Environment for with MDG, PRSP and Environment for Europe processes.Europe processes.

cont.cont.

Lessons learnedLessons learned(methodological aspects)(methodological aspects)

The methodology has to be further tuned to The methodology has to be further tuned to guide the NCSA process on targeted outcomes guide the NCSA process on targeted outcomes Capacity Building through:Capacity Building through: Broad stakeholder consultations and participation Broad stakeholder consultations and participation in assessment in assessment Active partnership creationActive partnership creationDevelopment and publication of analytical and Development and publication of analytical and informational materialsinformational materialsProviding forum for information exchange between Providing forum for information exchange between governmental entities, civil society and donor governmental entities, civil society and donor community community

PROJECT STAGES AND PROJECT STAGES AND STATISTICSSTATISTICS

Febr 2003Febr 2003 Commencing dateCommencing dateAug 2004Aug 2004 Completion dateCompletion dateMay - Oct 2003May - Oct 2003 Thematic ProfilesThematic ProfilesNov 2003 – Apr 2004Nov 2003 – Apr 2004 Cross cutting assessmentCross cutting assessmentMay –July 2004May –July 2004 Integrated reportIntegrated reportJuly 2004July 2004 National Action PlanNational Action Plan

Participatory process:Participatory process:– 32 major workshops and seminars, from which 12 in 32 major workshops and seminars, from which 12 in partnership with different agencies, NGOs, private sector, donorspartnership with different agencies, NGOs, private sector, donors– 68 national expert representing 34 organizations, from which 7 68 national expert representing 34 organizations, from which 7 NGOs and one private companyNGOs and one private company– 88 surveysurveyss, , 521 respondents, representing 155 institutions 521 respondents, representing 155 institutions (ministries and agencies, educational and scientific institutions, (ministries and agencies, educational and scientific institutions, NGOs, media private sector)NGOs, media private sector)

http:// www.nature.am

http://www.nature.am/Env_Projects/

EnvProjects.htm

http://www.biodiv.am

Thank you !Thank you !