Capacity Building
The Capacity Building Branch aims to support developing countries to develop and enhance institutional and individual capabilities to effectively address environmental challenges. As the focal Division of UNEP’s capacity building activities DEPI develops and nurtures global, regional and national capacities so that regional and national specific environmental programmes can be successfully implemented and sustained. This is achieved by imparting sound environmental practices in every initiative such as institution building, providing technical and substantive support in the implementation of global, regional and national environmental policies.
The activities also aim at improving environmental awareness to enhance public participation in environmental management, and mainstreaming environmental education and training to ensure positive environmentally sustainable lifestyles among current and future generations.
Environmental Education and Technical Training
The Environmental Education and Training Unit (EETU) within the Capacity Building Branch contributes to the fulfillment of UNEP’s mandate; to inspire, inform and enable nations and individuals to achieve sustainable development. The Unit develops and strengthens environmental education and training initiatives that target institutions, government, and all age groups of civil society. Every proposal initiated by the unit is responsive, locally relevant, functional, as well as action driven.
The three fundamental focus areas are:
- Facilitating training programmes and networks;
- Developing environmental learning resources;
- Implementing environmental policies for each of the EETU initiative.
Capacity building and Technology Support Database
UNEP develops capacity of countries and regions in three principal ways namely:
a) facilitating and supporting institution building at regional, sub-regional, and national levels;
b) developing and testing environmental management tools and instruments in collaboration with national governments, as well as regional and sub regional institutions, and other agencies;
c) promoting public participation in environmental management and enhancing access to environmental information.
The Division of Environmental Policy Implementation hosts the UNEP-wide database of UNEP’s capacity building and technology support activities.
Small Islands Developing States
UNEP is assisting the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to implement the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States. The Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) has focused on the following priority areas:
- Water Resources Management;
- Waste Management;
- Development of the Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI) for SIDS - a composite index consisting an economic and environmental components which takes into account the special characteristics of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in response to the Barbados Programme of Action.
UNEP has developed and published the following tools for waste management in SIDS:
- Directory of Environmentally Sound Technologies for Integrated Management of Solid, Liquid, and Hazardous Waste for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific (PDF-2.38MB)
- Directory of Environmentally Sound Technologies for Integrated Management of Solid, Liquid, and Hazardous Waste for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Indian, Mediterranean and Atlantic (IMA/SIDS).
- Strategic Guidelines for Integrated Waste Management in SIDS
IMA-SIDS Waste Management Strategy with Special Emphasis on Minimisation and Resource Recovery