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The overall aim of the project was to improve the quality of environmental protection and environmental decisions by incorporating public interests. It provided assistance to public officials, NGOs, the media and other sectors of civil society to continue to implement the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention). The project was implemented
in each country by a national team of experts in partnership with a regional
team and the project partners, environmental ministries, the Aarhus Convention
focal points and leading NGOs. The national teams included a team leader
who coordinated project activities in each country, a team trainer working
on the development and improvement of Aarhus Convention training systems,
and up to eight team members who provided expert input, guidance and advice
on project activities. National team members included officials, NGO members,
the media, academic representatives and other relevant people in each
country. Approach and Impact Overall, the project has had a real and positive effect on the implementation of the Aarhus Convention in the countries in which the project was implemented. Achievements include excellent training materials and improved systems of training for officials and members of civil society; an increase in the number of practical tools and procedures necessary to implement the Convention; environmental improvements and increased implementation of the Convention through the actual use of these tools and procedures in environmental protection activities; an increase in trust and cooperation between civil society and officials so they are better able to collaborate to protect the environment; greater awareness of the Convention among the public and more use of the rights it gives them; increased understanding among journalists of the benefits of the Aarhus Convention for the media and for the public; and an increase in media coverage of these issues. These results were achieved through
a variety of strategies and activities. Project offices were located with
the ministries of environment so there was daily interaction between ministry
officials and project staff. Each provided the other with useful advice
and assistance when needed. The project team consulted widely, and collaborated
closely, with officials and NGOs on overall strategy, project activities
and the materials produced during the project. Finally particular attention
was paid to training and supporting journalists so they could learn about
the Convention and the opportunities it offered them for their work. This
also resulted in greater media coverage of the Convention, which in turn
informed and encouraged the public to make greater use of the Convention.
Achievements Experts from the REC, together with national experts, have developed comprehensive and interactive Aarhus Convention user guides for officials at national and local level, and also for civil society. The guides include information, step-by-step procedures, best practices and case studies. The guides were produced at regional and national level. The regional publications, Implementing the Aarhus Convention: A User Guide for Civil Society in the Eastern Europe and Caucasus Region, and Implementing the Aarhus Convention: A User Guide for Officials in the Eastern Europe and Caucasus Region, are available in Russian and English and can be used as a resource by officials, individuals and organisations in all EECCA countries. National user guides were produced in each country in the local language and in Russian. These publications add to the regional guides the specific legislation, procedures and conditions in each country. Both the regional and national guides provide an interpretation of the provision of the Convention and explain the obligations officials have under the Convention and what rights the Convention gives to the public. They provide some practical tips and examples of how certain provisions of the Convention can be implemented by officials and used by NGOs, communities and other stakeholders. The Guides also contain comprehensive training materials and detailed instructions for the delivery of training on the Aarhus Convention. Some examples of methodologies for public involvement and collaboration between authorities and the public also have been included.. The user guides are available from the ministries of environment in each country or via the REC's website.
The guides were the resource materials for training delivered to the national team members on how to give training on the Aarhus Convention to officials, NGOs, the media and the public. The guides were also used as resource material for the delivery of training by the national team members at six training seminars in each country. A total of 195 local officials, 193 national officials and 210 members of civil society received training during the project training seminars. Knowledge and experience gained during the training process were incorporated into the guides. The guides and accompanying training materials have been integrated into existing training programmes for officials and civil society. The training materials are being used by institutes for the professional development of staff from environmental ministries, other educational institutes for civil ervants, NGO training centres and international training centres. Team members are regularly invited to deliver lectures and training on the Aarhus Convention at different seminars and educational institutions. During national and local pilot projects, practical tools and procedures were developed to assist in the implementation of the Convention. In each country, the principles of the Aarhus Convention were followed in the actual development and testing of the tools and procedures. Pilot project activities included the dissemination of information, consultations, round tables, seminars and public hearings. The newly developed practical tools include procedures on public participation, a database for the collection and dissemination of environmental information, and regulations for improving access to information. The good practices developed and implemented during the pilot projects are outlined in this publication, which will be circulated in English and Russian for use by officials and civil society throughout the region and in other countries.
An overview of progress towards the implementation of the Aarhus Convention was produced at the start and at the end of the project to give an indication of how things have changed over the ensuing two and a half years. In conjunction with the follow-up overview, assistance was given to the Aarhus Convention focal points to complete implementation reports to be presented at the 2nd Meeting of the Parties to the Convention to be held in Kazakhstan in May 2005. Many of the results of the project are being included in these implementation reports.
The project has paid particular attention to the media coverage of Aarhus Convention issues though the work of journalists included on the national teams. During the project there were numerous articles, as well as radio and TV programmes on the benefits of access to environmental information, public participation and the methods used. The project established good national and international networks of officials, NGO representatives and journalists who have supported each other in the implementation of the Aarhus Convention. During the project, the national team members met regularly to share their experience, to learn from each other and to create new and interesting solutions to common problems. |
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