The Caspian Environment Programme (CEP) aims to safeguard the Caspian Sea environment through inter-governmental cooperation. It was launched in 1998 and is funded by various international partners. The CEP works to enhance public participation in Caspian Sea management. It employs public participation advisors and establishes Caspian Concern Groups. The CEP's public participation strategy seeks to facilitate involvement in decision-making through awareness raising, stakeholder analysis, and establishing legal/institutional frameworks for participation. It identifies interventions at different levels and stages to engage stakeholders such as NGOs. Challenges to public participation include it being new to the region, building capacity, language barriers, and budget constraints.
TDA/SAP Methodology Training Course Module 2 Section 5
Caspian Environment Programme Public Participation (Melina Seyfollahzadeh)
1. Caspian Environment Programme
Public Participation
Melina Seyfollahzadeh
Grants & Public Participation Manager
Information Management & Public Participation Wksp in
Transboundary Water Cooperation
June 2005 - St. Petersburg
2. Caspian Environment Programme
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
• Caspian Environment Programme ( CEP)
- inter-governmental umbrella Environmental Programme
- assisted by International partners
- safeguarding the marine environment of the Caspian Sea
• Funded by GEF/EU TACIS/Industry
• CEP launched in 1998 in Ramsar
• Started in 1999 in Baku
• Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) first in Baku and now in
Tehran
• Works with countries through national Focal Points (NFPS)
4. Caspian Environment Programme &
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
OBJECTIVE
Enhanced and Informed Stakeholders & inter-
sectoral participation in the management of the
Caspian environment
• CEP places emphasis on Public Participation
• In the Project Document Phase I and II
• Highlighted in the Strategic Action Programme (SAP)
5. Caspian Environment Programme &
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION TEAM
•Matched Small Grants and Public Participation
Advisors (MPPAs) in each Caspian countries;
•Two persons in Programme Coordination Unit
•Stakeholder Analysis Advisor
•International Public Participation Advisor (IPPA)
•Caspian Concern Groups (CCG)
7. Caspian Environment Programme &
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION STRATEGY
Process
- Participatory
- Drafting
- PCU Discussion
- Consultation/discussion at regional/national/local
level:
- Final regional feedback
- Principal agreements
Regional Ownership
- Voluntary Guidelines/Strategy
- Flexible framework
8. Caspian Environment Programme &
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION STRATEGY
Objectives
• Generally, facilitate the establishment of an effective
mechanism for public participation in environment
management of the Caspian Sea
• Specifically, involve public in decision-making,
planning/design, policy formulation, implementation &
monitoring of CEP activities
Pillars
Awareness raising and facilitating a systematic and transparent
information flow
establishing and strengthening the legal and institutional basis
for participation
9. Caspian Environment Programme &
INTERVENTIONS
Interventions
Issues at different levels
Actions to be taken
Stakeholders involved
Levels:
-Regional
-National
-Local
Stages:
-Diagnostic
-Design
-Implementation
-Monitoring
10. Caspian Environment Programme &
Public Participation Strategy
Objectives Pillars Interventions
PP
Mechanism
Awareness
raising/Info
flow
Public
Involvement
Capacity
Building
Interventions
at different
stages and
different
levels
Monitoring
-NGOs
-CEP
-Secretariat of Convention
11. Public Participation
CHALLENGES
• New in the region
• Has to be bought by the Govts
• Capacity Building issues
• Language barrier
• Networking issues
• Budget Constrains
Phase I
GEF8.5 m/US$
EU/TACIS5 m./Euro
Industry0.4 m/US$
Phase II
GEF 6.2 m/US$
EU/TACIS6 m/Euro
Voluntary Guidelines/Strategy for potential activities that could be undertaken by Govt., NGOs, CBOs, Private Sectors, … to rehabilitate the Caspian region
Flexible framework to build a system for PP in the process of rehabilitation & protection of the Caspian Sea environment