QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT 1/09

Transcription

1 UNEP DISASTERS Disasters AND and CONFLICTS Conflicts PROGRAMME Programme QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT JANUARY-MARCH / 2009 QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT 1/09 POST-CRISIS ENVIRONMENTAL RECOVERY Based on the outcomes of environmental assessments, UNEP works to develop recovery programmes that encompass environmental governance, clean-up and rehabilitation, and ecosystem management projects. These programmes provide an initial anchor for UNEP in crisisaffected countries, which can be used as a basis for wider programming involving other priority areas. UNEP also acts as the focal point for environmental issues within the UN Country Team and works to integrate environmental needs into UN recovery programmes. Sudan country programme Programme development Efforts during the first quarter focused on the completion of a three-year funding proposal to UK DFID for Phase II of the UNEP Sudan programme. The proposal, completed with key Sudanese stakeholders and project partners, was approved internally in March and is now undergoing final discussion with UK DFID. Once confirmed, the funding will enable the implementation of numerous project activities to support the delivery of the recommendations of the UNEP Sudan Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment (2007), as well as the establishment of coordination offices in Southern Sudan (Juba) and Darfur (El Fasher). In its second phase, the programme will continue to focus on capacity-building and effective management of natural resources, primarily water and forestry, to help build community resilience, address poverty issues and support peacebuilding in the region. Timber and energy project Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in the amount of USD 750,000 between UNEP and FAO during the previous reporting period, the joint project initiated its second implementation phase in Q1. This amount is expected to fund major activities under the project in 2009, including the roll-out of 300,000 fuel-efficient stoves, the production of an additional 1.8 million tree seedlings, a natural resources assessment with a focus on forestry, and the introduction of agro-forestry as a land use management system in Darfur. As part of the natural resources assessment, a desk study was completed during Q1 and is expected to be finalized in the following quarter. Additional partnership agreements were finalized, including with Sudan s Forests National Corporation, Samaritan Purse International Relief and national and international NGOs. The final report on the review of the design and efficiency of fuel-efficient stoves was released in December; its recommendations will provide the basis for the roll-out. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) project The expulsion of sixteen critical NGOs working in the water sector including Oxfam, CARE and the IRC, many of whom were UNEP implementing partners, had significant repercussions for UNEP s Integrated Water Resources Management project in the first quarter. As a result, UNEP adapted its drought preparedness strategy for the potentially vulnerable internally displaced persons camps to work increasingly with government and local counterparts, many of whom have taken on the responsibilities of the NGOs that were expelled in March. In addition, progress continued during Q1 on a report reviewing community-based water management in Sudan and historical links between drought and conflict in Darfur. Finally, particular efforts were made to help sensitize communities on UNEP s IWRM programme, and to identify partners for the technical secretariats in South and North Darfur. Aid and environment project Following the launch of the 2009 Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) for Sudan in Geneva on 20 November 2008, UNEP initiated work on the Aid and Environment project in Nyala, Khartoum and Geneva. The report Livelihoods, Power and Choice. The vulnerability of the Northern Rizaygat, Darfur, Sudan examining the livelihoods of the northern camel herding pastoralist tribes of Darfur was also released during the reporting period. The report, produced by Tufts University with significant input from UNEP, has already had an important impact, particularly in raising awareness of the environmental dimension of the Darfur conflict. In addition, the report also helped in the development of a more inclusive government approach towards consulting communities in conflict, as demonstrated by the decisions of The Council for the Development of Nomads, appointed by the President, to commission a similar piece of work for cattle herding tribes of South Darfur. In addition, progress was made in Khartoum towards establishing a strategy for the USD 1 million environmental allocation under the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF). UNEP worked with prospective applicants to develop projects for implementation under the allocation. In Khartoum and Nyala, finally, UNEP provided advice to the UN Country Team and partnering NGOs on a range of issues including the regional political context of sharing the Nile waters, in order to help the UN develop an effective approach towards dam-building on the Nile within Sudan.

2 CHILDREN VISIT BAMIYAN PROVINCE, WHERE UNEP WILL ESTABLISH A PROJECT OFFICE DURING THE SECOND QUARTER OF Afghanistan country programme Institutional capacity-building The start of 2009 was marked by a further deterioration in the security situation in Afghanistan. Thanks to effective forward planning and implementation of appropriate mitigation measures however, the impact on UNEP s programme was minimal. During the reporting period, UNEP successfully developed work plans for the five technical divisions of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), which were approved and finalized in both Dari and English. The work plans will guide NEPA activities for 2009, as well as international support to the various NEPA divisions. UNEP also established a permanent office presence in the Natural Resources Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL). On a rotational basis, members of the UNEP CBNRM and protected areas teams will spend 1-2 days per week at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) to help facilitate the training and mentoring of technical staff. Environmental coordination In Q1, UNEP initiated the establishment of a Natural Resource Management (NRM) coordination group consisting of all the international agencies supporting the Natural Resources Directorate of MAIL. The purpose of the group is to improve coordination and sharing of information, as well as explore synergies in project implementation, and create a platform for a CBNRM practitioners network to develop a best practice model adapted to Afghanistan. UNEP also developed a progress report and 2009 work plan for the Natural Resources Directorate of MAIL. In addition, as the co-chair (together with FAO) of the Livelihoods Working Group, UNEP called a meeting to review the first draft of the UNDAF, and developed a standalone annex on environment. UNEP also participated in the inception workshop for the FAO Participatory Forestry project, which is closely related to UNEP s work on forests and rangeland policy, and related laws. With regard to gender issues, UNEP participated in the annual retreat of the UN Gender Working Group, and lobbied for the inclusion and mainstreaming of environment in gender-related documents. Environmental law and policy Following extensive discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), UNEP developed a new draft of the Forest Law, which retains at its core a community-based approach to forest management. A brochure in Dari and Pashto on the Forest Law was also developed for distribution throughout the spring planting (Ashar Day) celebrations. In addition, a new draft of the Rangeland Law was developed by MAIL officials, which UNEP translated into English and began reviewing. UNEP also monitored and informed relevant parties of the progress of the Water Law in the Parliament, and translated it into English. Additionally UNEP reviewed and commented on drafts of the Medicinal Plants Law, the Wildlife Trade and Protected

3 Species Trade Regulations, and the Fauna Conservation and Hunting Regulations, and translated into English a draft of Cash Penalty Regulations developed by NEPA. Finally, the Protected Areas Procedures were signed into law by NEPA and MAIL in March, and translated into English and Dari. With regard to policy developments, the 2008 State of Environment Report was printed in English and Dari. UNEP also recruited a consultant to develop a National Environmental Action Plan for Afghanistan. The outline of the document has been agreed, and consultations on the first draft are expected to take place in April Additionally, the first draft of the Strategy for Conflict Resolution of Competing High Pasture Claims of Settled and Nomadic Communities in Afghanistan, which is linked to UNEP s work on the Rangeland Law, has now been developed. The strategy outlines short- and medium-term steps that can be taken to avoid rangelandrelated conflicts during the summer, as has occurred in recent years. With regard to training and outreach activities, UNEP developed training manuals on the enforcement of environmental laws and a training booklet for environmental inspectors. Finally, UNEP continues to provide weekly training sessions to the Division of Implementation and Enforcement on Environmental Law. EIA and pollution control In Q1, the pollution control policy, pollution control standards and air quality standards developed by UNEP during the last reporting period were translated into Dari and submitted to NEPA for review and comment. UNEP also reviewed the draft waste management policy developed by a UNEP consultant, and commenced translation of the policy into Dari. With regard to air quality, UNEP participated in a donor conference, hosted by the national Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 14 January, where donors expressed some initial interest in funding activities in relation to air quality. As a follow-up, UNEP will be working with NEPA to develop a concept note for funding. During the reporting period, UNEP continued to provide assistance on the fulfillment of Afghanistan s EIA regulatory requirements. The EIA package, consisting of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, the policy and the guidelines, have now become legally binding and are available in Dari and English. Finally, UNEP assisted the Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln project, which encourages the use of clean technology for the brick manufacturing sector, which is one of the major contributors to poor air quality in Kabul, to work with NEPA. Multilateral Environmental Agreements The Dari translation of the final report of the National Capacity- Self Assessment for Global Environmental Management (NCSA) and National Plan of Action (NAPA) projects was finalized and the English version printed. The Biodiversity Profile of Afghanistan 2008 was printed in English and distributed, and the Dari translation has been finalized and will be printed during the next quarter. With regard to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), UNEP worked with MAIL to develop Afghanistan s Fourth National Report, which was finalized and submitted to the CBD Secretariat. Three workshops were held during February and March to discuss and refine the draft. In relation to ozone treaties, a training workshop on good practices and refrigeration was held on February in Herat. Twenty workshop technicians participated. As part of the National Phase-out Plan, a custom officers training workshop to control trade of ozone depleting substances and HCFCs was also held in Kabul from 2-3 March, with a total of twenty five participants. Environmental education and outreach Progress was made on numerous education and outreach activities, including the development of an environmentthemed edition of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan s quarterly publication Afghan Update, which will be distributed in English, Dari and Pashto in April 2009; an awareness-raising brochure on water and energy conservation in Dari and Pashto; and the translation of the IUCN paper on environment and Islam into Dari and Pashto. In addition UNEP, together with four UN partners, developed a national programme to celebrate the annual tree-planting Ashar Day, and facilitated celebrations in the Bamiyan and Badakhshan provinces, in which provinces UNEP has CBNRM projects, as well as in most of the insecure eastern provinces (Gardez, Khost, Nuristan, Kunar and Paktika provinces), where most of Afghanistan s remaining forest resources are located. UNEP developed a brochure in Dari and Pashto on the Forest Law, as well as banners and other awareness-raising materials. These were distributed along with materials developed by other UN agencies, including posters and calendars. Additionally, to ensure the correct management of the 796 Farsi environmental science and educational books for NEPA s library, UNEP facilitated the training of a recently recruited librarian. Finally, filming took place in mid-january for a short documentary film on air quality and related urban issues, which film was screened at the UNEP Governing Council meeting in Nairobi. Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Following on from consultations with communities in the Zinda Jan district in the Herat province, UNEP developed concept notes, undertook financial planning and identified potential partners during the first quarter. In Bamiyan province, where UNEP is developing CBNRM projects in two districts, namely a river management and wetland programme in Yawkalang district and rangeland, treeplanting and land use (farmlot allocation) projects in and adjacent to the Shah Foladi proposed protected area, two site visits were conducted in Q1, and concept notes, logical framework analyses, financial plans and community maps were developed for each project area. In regard to the two project sites in Kishim district of Badakhshan province, UNEP similarly developed concept notes, logical framework analyses and financial plans, and met with various potential project implementation partners. Travel to the sites was not possible during the reporting period due to the winter condi-

4 tions. Additionally, in January, UNEP received approval from its principal donor, the European Commission, to develop the Shah Foladi mountain area as the programme s flagship protected area. The area is an important source of water for the Kunduz River Basin watershed, and will be the first instance of a landscape approach to protected areas in Afghanistan, rather than a national park. It will also be the first instance of integrating CBNRM projects into a protected area. Proposals were developed and submitted to both MAIL and NEPA, both of which formally approved the project in March. Two site visits to the project area were undertaken during the reporting period, including community consultations and the initial delineation of the protected area. With regard to capacity-building activities, UNEP hosted a three-day orientation course on CBNRM for ten MAIL technical staff members in February Finally, in light of the increasing security restrictions on road missions from Kabul to the provinces, UNEP will be establishing a small project office in Bamiyan City in April 2009, which will be permanently staffed by a national programme officer and a driver/ logistician. The office will manage the Shah Foladi protected areas project, as well as the CBNRM projects in the province. Climate change In January, UNEP hosted an intergovernmental workshop on climate change to discuss the implications of the National Adaptation Plan of Action for Climate Change (NAPA), and the findings of a recent UK DFID study on the projected impacts of climate change on the agriculture and water sectors in the 21st century. In addition, UNEP participated in a donor meeting on climate change to increase awareness of climate change impacts and the need for adaptation and encourage donors to climate-proof projects in Afghanistan. As a follow-up, UNEP worked with DFID to develop a strategy in agriculture and the livelihoods sectors to target donors. The agriculture and livelihoods sector, in which DFID is a lead donor, will be the pilot sector, followed by the water resource sector. Programme development During the reporting period, recruitment was completed for three new international staff positions: a Protected Area Expert, an Environmental Impact Assessment and Pollution Control Expert, and a CBNRM and Protected Areas National Programme Officer. Recruitment is ongoing for a CBNRM and Protected Areas National Programme Officer based in Bamiyan, a Sustainable Development National Programme Officer and an Environmental Awareness National Programme Officer. Belinda Bowling, Environmental Law and International Conventions Expert from 2003 to 2008 and the Acting Programme Manager since August 2008 was appointed as the Programme Manager for the UNEP Afghanistan project office on 1 February Finally, utilizing the prize money for their Baobab Team of the Year 2007 Award, the Afghanistan team went on a successful five-day road trip to Tajikistan in January, to visit a national park and witness community-based approaches to protected areas management in action. The mission report was widely circulated within UNEP and featured on iseek. PROJECTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE UNEP COUNTRY PRO- GRAMME IN DR CONGO INCLUDE MITIGATING DEFORESTATION AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RELATED TO REFUGEE AND IDP CAMPS IN THE KIVUS PROVINCES. Democratic Republic of Congo country programme Country programme development The first quarter marked the practical start of operations for the UNEP programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), which was expanded at the request of the national government beyond the delivery of an environmental assessment to a multi-component environmental recovery programme. A UNEP country project office was established in Kinshasa, together with a smaller provincial project office that will service a number of projects that will be developed and commence in stages subject to funding over three years. Programme framework Following on from initial reconnaissance activities undertaken to ascertain project priorities, further development was undertaken during the reporting period on a four-year programme framework and a work plan, based on four of the six MTS thematic priorities (Disasters and Conflicts, Environmental Governance, Ecosystems Management and Climate Change). Development of individual projects and associated fundraising are ongoing.

5 Project development A total of thirteen project concepts have been developed across the four MTS priority areas, three of which are now under implementation thanks to dedicated funding. These are the Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment, Conflict Parks Garamba, and Conflict Parks Kahuzi-Biega. Development work was also undertaken with regard to the following three concepts: Ecosystems Management: transboundary natural resource management, forest energy, integrated water resource management, DR Congo Grasp human livelihood and flagship species for eastern DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, and humanitarian fuelwood/deforestation mitigation in the Kivus provinces; Environmental Governance: environmental legislation development, poverty and environment, environmental awareness-raising, environmental governance capacitybuilding development; and Climate Change: DR Congo UN REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation/Degradation). Development work will continue throughout 2009, with individual projects developed, funded and implemented in sequence. Côte d Ivoire hazardous waste management project Laboratory capacity-building programme From 4-17 March 2009, UNEP delivered the third training module in a laboratory capacity-building programme to a select group of participants from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests Pollution Control Centre (CIAPOL). The programme aims to improve CIAPOL s capacity to conduct sampling and analysis of waste entering the Port of Abidjan from vessels. The third module, which was presented by experts from the Swiss governmental Spiez laboratory, balanced lectures on scientific theory with practical field and laboratory exercises, including a simulation of an inspection of a vessel containing suspected environmental contaminants. Hazardous Waste Management Plan Following consultations conducted during the previous quarter, a UNEP hazardous waste management expert conducted further bilateral consultations with stakeholders in the hazardous waste management sector from February. The first draft of the Hazardous Waste Management Plan was presented and discussed at a multi-stakeholder workshop in Abidjan on 25 February, which was attended by approximately 40 participants from various government agencies, including representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Urban Affairs, and the private sector. A further technical workshop was held on 27 February, to examine the importance of information UNEP S LABORATORY TRAINING PROGRAMME IN CÔTE D IVOIRE AIMS TO IMPROVE THE POLLUTION CONTROL CENTRE S CAPACITY TO CONDUCT ANALYSIS OF WASTE ENTERING THE PORT OF ABIDJAN FROM VESSELS. gathering and sharing in the context of hazardous waste management, and to discuss, among other things, the potential for and possible functionalities of a hazardous waste notification system for Abidjan. The technical workshop was attended by approximately 25 participants from CIAPOL, Ministry of Environment, the Inspection Services for Classified Installations, the Autonomous Port Authority of Abidjan and a petroleum production company. Feedback received from the consultations and workshops will be incorporated in the draft Hazardous Waste Management Plan and the final plan will be presented for discussion at a follow-up consultation workshop in the next quarter. Rwanda country programme/environmental coordination During the reporting period, an initial assessment of opportunities to enhance UNEP s support to the government within the Delivering as One Framework was undertaken, and as a result, UNEP in-country efforts will focus on: enhancing the ability of the UN system to deliver environmental support through the United Nations Development Framework (UNDAF) Environmental Theme Group, which UNEP co-chairs; working with national counterparts to increase the overall coherence and effectiveness of Rwanda s environment and natural resources sector; and laying the foundations for UNEP to mobilize, coordinate and deliver as One UNEP in Rwanda. Haiti country programme UNEP country programme Following a request from the national government and the UN system, UNEP established a transformative country programme in Haiti for the period The programme aims to support the recovery efforts following the passage of three devastating hurricanes and one

6 THREE HURRICANES AND A TROPICAL STORM DEVASTATED HAITI IN OCTOBER 2008, RESULTING IN SEVERE DAMAGE TO INFRASTRUCTURE, LIVELIHOODS AND NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE COUNTRY. major tropical storm in October 2008, which resulted in severe damage to infrastructure, livelihoods and natural resources in the country; and achieve major and sustained improvements in both the environment and the well-being of the country s population. In the first quarter, efforts focused on extensive programme development, including the establishment of a working group comprised of key UN agencies, national government and other relevant stakeholders in the country, and the commencement of a national and international lessons learned study, as well as a comprehensive analysis and screening of potential target sites and regions for early intervention measures. The UNEP country programme will focus on activities that are either environmentally oriented, such as the rehabilitation of water catchments, or that have an environmental impact, such as construction and funding of replacement housing. UNEP is also providing technical assistance on reforestation and revegetation, erosion control, sustainable buildings and solid waste management to implementing agencies and relevant national government counterparts. Haiti Restoration Initiative Progress continued during Q1 on initial development work for a major and very long-term programme known as the Haiti Restoration Initiative. The initiative, which focuses on sustainable development and practical action at the field level, is expected to last from 5-20 years. Potential opportunities for an initiative of such scale include the development and operation of a permanent foundation dedicated to natural resource management in Haiti; the development and operation of a land restoration and management of the organization; the development and operation of large-scale charcoal plantations and processing centres with high efficiency ovens; long-term subsidization of nursery production; or the adoption and management of key protected areas by multi-national organizations are currently being explored. Development and fundraising for this major initiative will be ongoing throughout China earthquake early recovery and reconstruction programme Coordination and technical support During the first quarter of 2009, as part of continued support to the Chinese post-disaster environmental recovery process following the devastating earthquake that occurred in May 2008, UNEP continued to assist the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) to draft and review reports, project proposals and inputs into the national recovery plans. In addition, selected Chinese policies and regulations relating to clinical wastes, hazardous wastes and management of debris wastes were collected and translated

7 landslide risk in Lixian and Bechuan counties, with a view to providing assistance on reducing landslide threat from seismic activity. Several meetings were conducted with stakeholders and site visits were undertaken to earthquakeaffected areas. A report outlining key issues and recommendations will be released later in Reconstruction programme Following the identification of environment as one of the key priorities for the Chinese reconstruction programme in 2008, the national government drafted a planning document entitled The State Overall Planning for Wenchuan Earthquake Restoration and Recovery and Reconstruction. Through its engagement with the UN country team, UNEP assisted in undertaking a comprehensive review of the document during the reporting period, and provided technical comments on developing a broader approach to environmental mainstreaming of the proposed reconstruction activities. Myanmar technical assistance for early recovery AN ASSESSMENT MISSION WAS CONDUCTED BY UNEP IN MARCH 2009 TO ASSESS LANDSLIDE RISK IN TWO EARTHQUAKE-AFFECTED COUNTIES OF SICHUAN PROVINCE. in English for review and inclusion into a Debris Waste Management Plan. This included laws on environmental pollution by solid waste, national catalogue of hazardous wastes, and various standards for solid waste management and disposal. Training Upon request from the national government following the success of the December workshop on waste management in the Sichuan Province, UNEP and the MEP co-hosted a third practical field-level training workshop on debris and waste management in the Sichuan Province from March. The objective was to undertake a number of case studies in debris and waste management, control of waste in municipal settings, practices to deal with asbestos, contamination assessment and remediation of disaster affected sites. In addition, the training aimed to provide protocol and procedures for assessment and mitigation of the disposal of hazardous materials at earthquake-damaged chemical facilities. The workshop was attended by approximately forty participants from national, provincial and county-level environmental authorities, as well representatives from MEP. As a follow-up, it is expected that UNEP will collaborate with the China Environmental Protection Foundation to deliver training to representatives from all affected county Environmental Protection Bureaus and the Sichuan Environmental Protection Service in Q2, which will focus on solid waste management in a post-disaster context. Finally, following a specific request from the counties, a mission was undertaken by UNEP in March 2009 to assess the geohazard and Following the cyclone that struck Myanmar on 2 May, UNEP deployed an expert to provide environmental expertise to the UN disaster recovery programme as part of the UN country team. During the reporting period, the expert continued to facilitate the delivery of Phase I of UNEP s overall assistance to the national government, which entailed undertaking a comprehensive review of national recovery plans, provision of advice for further mainstreaming of environmental considerations into recovery planning, and the review of recovery plans from all UN agencies, and national and international NGOs based in the country. To help address the immediate challenge of clean and safe water supplies in the cyclone-affected areas, UNEP delivered two water safety training modules in the township of Bogale from January to some forty participants form the Ministry of Health and NGOs in the country. Based on the success of the workshop, UNEP has received further requests for capacitybuilding assistance. Nepal early recovery programme Significant progress was made during the reporting period on the UNEP environmental recovery programme in Nepal, which focuses on national parks and protected areas. During Q1, support was provided to Chitwan National Park (CNP) for maintenance and enhancement of infrastructure and habitat management. This increased the mobility of enforcement staff, enhanced wildlife monitoring and tourism activities, and resulted in the apprehension of several wildlife poachers, illegal fisherman and illegal loggers. In addition, advocacy work was undertaken at the national and local levels to help sensitize politicians and decision-makers regarding wildlife management issues. Finally, work on the integration of environmental concerns into the New National Constitution was initiated in partnership with IUCN.