Bio-diversity

The primary objective of the proposed project is to enable adequate environment for ensuring efficient involvement of national NGO sector to the works of the Interdepartmental Commission, established for implementations of the recommendations of Rio+20 Summit, particularly in working out the national strategic document - National Program Post-Rio+20 for 2015-2025 on implementation of Rio+20 recommendations. Rationale for the project Established by the Prime Minister decision (N 1147- , December 09, 2013), the Interdepartmental Commission for implementations of the recommendations of Rio+20 Summit, is entrusted to develop the National Program Post-Rio+20 , base components of which are Concept and Action Plan on implementation of Rio+20 recommendations. Nevertheless, the Commission, with 13 NGO representatives on board (half of the membership), has limited capacity to solve possible difficulties during working process. The proposed project is extremely important for overcoming the following problems: i) Inadequate information flow: often, the dialogue between the NGOs and the government is not taking place because of the lack of the adequate flow / exchange of information from both sides and reluctance for compromise. It is believed that the participation of qualified experts capable to work with both sides and propose scientifically proven compromising and balanced solutions, objectives is vital for ensuring a successful and continuous dialogue. (Association has experience in mitigating the confrontation between the government and non-governmental sectors - during preparation of the national assessment report Rio+20 such confrontation was minimized due to analytical conclusions of experts). ii) Low capacities of NGOs to interact with the government: as a practice, NGOs have not enough experience in carrying out effective dialogue with authorities and this circumstance may marginalize NGOs role in the Commission s works. iii) Marginalization of regional-level stakeholders: Regional-level stakeholders are usually not adequately involved in the national policy dialogs due to the lack of financial resources. The EU funding will allow engaging the representatives from the regions/communities in this process through broader outreach activities. The value added of the EU funding is the increase of awareness and potential/capacities of NGOs, involvement of larger public groups and independent experts to ensure a comprehensive and fair dialogue between the government and the NGO sector for effectiveness of making joint decisions. The proposed project will be implemented with the involvement of the wider layers of society. It includes visits to the regions and discussions and consultations with regional authorities, communities and NGOs. As a whole, the project enable to strengthen the capacity for engagement of broader civil society groups and NGOs from the regions and local communities in the development of the National Program. The project is important because it allows increasing the awareness and potential/capacities of NGOs, involvement of larger public groups and independent experts to ensure a comprehensive and fair dialogue between the government and the NGO sector for effectiveness of making joint decisions To contribute to the Commission s work and aiming to raise the efficiency of public sector input in the process within the project will be: i) updated and analyzed the information on environmental situation in the country (particularly in the areas of interest within Commission s mission), its priorities and resources with relation to improvement of the environmental governance and preconditions creation for sustainable development; ii) ASHD and NGOs will organize the seminars/consultations in 6 environmentally unfortunate regions of Armenia and in the capital of the country. The collected information, its analysis will underline the work of Commission on development of proposals for Concept and Action Plan the base components of the National Program Post-Rio+20 . The proposals will be discussed at 11 thematic round-table meetings with leading experts, representatives from governmental sector and other stakeholders. The draft National Program Post-Rio+20 elaborated on the basis of the consultations will be distributed via e-networks to governmental structures, local communities, NGOs, Aarhus centers, Academia, private and public sectors for comments. On the basis of feedback received via e-communication the final version of draft National Program Post-Rio+20 will be completed by invited experts and members of Commission under coordination of ASHD. This document will be submitted to the Commission for adoption and included in published brochure. Within the project will be improved the web-site of the ASHD, enabling accumulate and present the information regarding environmental governance, sustainable development, national policy and actions in these fields. Web-site will serve as the major source of information regarding implementation of the project, its development and results/outcomes. In Armenia it will be the important e-database where information in the mentioned fields will be brought together. During implementation of the project member-NGOs will collaborate with numerous social groups and local NGOs, visit areas of special interest for Commission s activity, will organize the e-consultations with stake-holders, prepare and distribute printed papers, etc. So they should be mobile and prop

Armenia