As described in Guideline 14(b)
, numerous MEAs require or encourage Parties to elaborate National Implementation Plans (NIPs). This Guideline reiterates the importance of national implementation plans in integrating (or “mainstreaming”) an MEA’s obligations into domestic legal, policy, and institutional frameworks. It also provides additional detail on the process for developing the implementation plans.
NIPs can identify policies, programmes, and plans in related sectors through which specific measures may need to be taken in order for the MEA to be effectively implemented. For example, long-term national development plans in various States (e.g., Iran) that articulate a national vision for economic, social, and environmental development now highlight environmental issues and MEA obligations.
In many instances, NIPs would do well recognize national priorities placed on poverty reduction and consider potential synergies and conflicts with the national Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). For example, the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) is working to mainstream MEAs into PRSPs. Armenia’s NCSA process (described in Guideline 41(n)) linked to the discussions regarding the State’s PRSP. Similarly, the Government of Belgium is supporting a four-year programme (2004-2007) by which UNEP will enhance the capacity of four States – Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique, and Tanzania – to integrate and institutionalise environmental management into national poverty reduction programmes and related activities. This programme has three components: (1) integration and mainstreaming of key environmental issues into Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs); (2) capacity building to alleviate poverty through synergistic implementation of Rio MEAs; and (3) capacity building for the development of national legislation implementing Rio MEAs taking into consideration the impact of implementation of poverty reduction. Through this programme, development and implementation of national environmental related laws to implement the Rio Conventions – namely the CBD, UNFCCC, and UNCCCD – UNEP will seek to implement MEAs while also promoting poverty reduction. For another example of linking to poverty reduction and alleviation, see the case study on “Cameroon’s National Project for Participatory Development” following Guideline 41(k).