Armenia is a party to numerous MEAs, including the UNCBD, UNFCCC, and UNCCD. With the assistance of GEF and UNDP, Armenia has undertaken a National Capacity Self-Assessment (NCSA) to identify what measures to implement these MEAs have worked, and where there are legal, regulatory, and institutional gaps. In addition to considering these MEAs, Armenia sought to place the MEA issues in the context of national development priorities and poverty reduction strategy. Particular attention was paid to identify critical national capacity needs across the three MEAs and recommending measures to address those needs.
A variety of Armenian national experts conducted the NCSA studies, with general guidance from UNITAR on the content, structure, approaches, and focus of the assessment. The experts helped to ensure that a diverse range of approaches were applied in the analyses.
In order to successfully implement project activities, ensure sustainability of results and encourage wide participation, a Project Steering Committee (PSC) was established. The PSC was established by the decision of the Minister of Nature Protection and comprises a total of 20 representatives from the stakeholder ministries, UNDP, international organizations, MEA focal points, donors, and NGOs. The high-level support significantly helped to coordinate the process and incorporate stakeholder comments, and ultimately ensured solidarity of outcomes. Thematic needs assessments were undertaken to identify capacity needs for implementation of commitments under the three MEAs. Three thematic workinggroups were established, with 23 national experts and MEA focal points. The working groups conducted stocktaking through extensive consultations with state institutions, local governments, and key stakeholder organizations. Based on the thematic assessments and capacity gaps identified, the NCSA undertook an in-depth and integrated analysis of 7 cross-cutting issues, where capacity needs across all three conventions were similar and further in-depth analysis was required. These included: environmental policy and legal frameworks; institutional management; monitoring and access to information; financial instruments and mechanisms; inter-sectoral, integrated, and coherent planning of natural resource use; public awareness and environmental education; and scientific information, research, and available technologies.
Based the analysis, an integrated final report and National Action Plan was developed and presented at a national seminar in September 2004 for stakeholder comments. The National Action Plan has identified measures, funding sources, and timeframes for activities, as well as responsible and cooperating agencies. It seeks to address identified constraints and meet capacity building needs.
The NCSA process was innovative and flexible in a variety of ways. In Armenia (and elsewhere), NCSA allows the State to critically examine its own needs and develop appropriate recommendations. Armenia’s NCSA process identified a number of needs, which if left unmet could constitute significant barriers to effective implementation of MEAs. These included the need to strengthen the currently weak institutional linkages between the central and local governing bodies; strengthening monitoring and information management capacities and coordination among different agencies and institutions; and developing new financing instruments for addressing priority environmental measures.
This assessment process helped to establish partnerships, raise awareness, and promote dialogue among government agencies as well as between government agencies, international institutions, and various private and civil society organizations. The NCSA Armenia team also recognised the importance of education and awareness issues for implementation of the MEAs, and it highlighted opportunities posed by the UN Decade for Sustainable Development Education.
Armenia’s experience with the NCSA process has highlighted a number of methodological approaches that were effective in assessing capacity needs. Targeted surveys were effective as an objective assessment tool as well as an educational tool. Identification of the primary stakeholders and determination of common interests and benefits among stakeholders was crucial, although there was a need to establish a balance in terms of global and local priorities. Armenia was able to ensure cost effectiveness in achieving project goals by establishing appropriate networks and cooperative mechanisms with the private sector, NGOs, and donors. Finally, the broad participatory process helped to foster ownership of the NCSA process and its recommendations.
For more information, see http://www.nature-ic.am or contact ncsa@nature.am or ncsa@undp.am