NCSA AS A TOOL FOR INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ( ARMENIA EXPERIENCE )

1. UNDP ARMENIA NCSA AS A TOOL FOR INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (ARMENIA EXPERIENCE) Anahit Simonyan 14-16 June, 2004 Bratislava

2. UNDAF OVERARCHING GOAL AND AREAS OF COOPERATION • To help to reduce economic, social and political inequality • UN will work in four areas of cooperation: • Economic Equity • Social Equity • Democratic Governance • Environmental Governance

3. UNDAF RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH • 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 citizensto exercise their rights

4. NCSA PROJECT OBJECTIVE 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.

5. LINKAGES WITH ONGOING PROCESSES • Millenium Development Goals • Poverty Reduction Strategy • Sustainable Development Strategy • East-West Environmental Partnership: Environmental Strategy for EECCA

6. PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION • High level consultations and technical assistance from UNDP/GEF at inception stage • Ensuring country ownership through: • nomination of the Project National Director • establishment of high-level Project Steering Committee (20 members from ministries, NGOs, donors, Convention Focal Points) • Backstopping by CO and NCSA Regional Coordinator • Regular monitoring and reporting • NCSA regional networking

7. GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND ADOPTED APPROACHES FOR NCSA PROCESS • Strong country ownership through involvement of high level decision makers and Convention Focal Points • Broad stakeholder participation in the assessment and evaluation of the resultsthrough targeted surveys and participatory discussions • Support and participation in the programmatic activities of the relevant ministries • NCSA “intervention” in relevant on-going programmes, including GEF enabling activities. • Creating environment for attractive partnership

8. MAIN 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.

9. MAIN CHALLENGES cont. • 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

10. MAIN FINDINGS • Lack of institutional capacity and coordination between the Ministries and agencies • Weak cooperation between the Convention Focal Points and overlap of activities • Weak enforcement and implementation mechanisms • Weak institutional linkages between the central and local governing bodies • Tension and polarization between the centre and provinces

11. MAIN FINDINGS cont. • Absence of proper environmental monitoring and impact assessment indicators • Lack of enabling environment for using new financial instruments and mechanisms in the sector • Weak national capacities for multi-sectoral and coherent social-economic planning with mainstreamed environmental issues • Insufficient integration of environmental concerns into the agricultural practices • Weak institutional capacity to develop proposals and raise funds. • Not clear state policy on using NGOs and mass media capacities to increase environmental awareness.

12. Lessons learned(substantive) • NCSA is an effective tool for diagnosis of gaps for integrated environmental management. • Stocktaking identified baseline situation for the implementation of Conventions • Thematic assessments were useful to examine Conventions in broader context, linking them with other Conventions and processes (MDG,PRSP,etc.) • Cross-cutting assessments: - independent experts are not able to fully examine inside problems and constrains - specialists from the ministries and affiliated agencies are less critical to own institutional and human capacity gaps

13. Lessons learned(substantive) cont. • NCSA Action Plan has to complement to already existing implementation plans of 3 conventions. • Low level of government commitment for integrated environment policies may impose a risk on financing and implementation of NCSA Action Plan. • The cross-cutting capacity building is equally important to be applied in linking NCSA with MDG, PRSP and Environment for Europe processes.

14. Lessons learned(methodological aspects) • The methodology has to be further tuned to guide the NCSA process on targeted outcomes • Capacity Building through: • Broad stakeholder consultations and participation in assessment • Active partnership creation • Development and publication of analytical and informational materials • Providing forum for information exchange between governmental entities, civil society and donor community

15. PROJECT STAGES AND STATISTICS Febr 2003 Commencing date Aug 2004 Completion date May - Oct 2003 Thematic Profiles Nov 2003 – Apr 2004 Cross cutting assessment May –July 2004 Integrated report July 2004 National Action Plan Participatory process: • 32 major workshops and seminars, from which 12 in partnership with different agencies, NGOs, private sector, donors • 68 national expert representing 34 organizations, from which 7 NGOs and one private company • 8surveys, 521 respondents, representing 155 institutions (ministries and agencies, educational and scientific institutions, NGOs, media private sector)

16. Thank you ! http:// www.nature.am http://www.nature.am/Env_Projects/ EnvProjects.htm http://www.biodiv.am