The services would be available to all the potential constituents: NGOs, government and the business community. The latter two services would focus more on NGOs. Providing services to all the sectors of society and bringing the constituents together to address common problems will help build trust and understanding. The needs analysis indicated that NGOs and government often have poor relations and this inclusive approach will address this problem.
As the needs analysis indicates, a plethora of needs exists. A NREC would never have the resources, however, to address all these needs. Moreover, conducting projects such as environmental impact assessments, environmental risk assessments and environmental remediation goes beyond the scope of what a NREC would even want to attempt. A NREC's services will instead serve a catalytic function to bring about innovative changes in CIS societies.
Organizations do exist in the CIS that provide services to address some of the demands identified in the needs analysis. Potential constituents, however, are not always aware of the services available. Consequently, one important role for a NREC would be to serve as an information broker to let potential constituents know of what is available and how to access the various services.
A NREC would conduct an on-going needs analysis that builds on the needs analysis prepared as part of the feasibility study. The needs analysis would be used to prepare a master strategic plan for its activities. In light of its role as an information broker, a NREC would be well positioned to identify needs. After preparing the strategic plan, a NREC would have the following options: (1) identify this need to an organization that would have the resources to provide the service, (2) provide funding to an organization so it could provide the service, (3) provide the service itself.
This chapter identifies organizations that provide similar services as those proposed for a NREC and suggests these organizations as potential partners. These names are drawn from the "Main Environmental Organizations" substudy reports. The reports list addresses and points of contact and provide a brief description of the services these organizations provide. The identified organizations do not represent an exclusive list of potential partners. The list weighs heavily toward western organizations. This reflects a situation where western service providers often have greater resources and thus greater visibility than CIS organizations. When preparing the detailed work plan, the project implementers should make a concerted effort to identify potential CIS partner organizations.
With one or two exceptions, the organizations have not been contacted. The project implementers will need to discuss cooperative relationships with potential partners. While several organizations are identified in this chapter as potential partners and service providers, three organizations warrant particular attention with respect to serving NGO needs.
The services in this chapter are described in the following format: the service is identified and a brief description provided, the objectives listed and finally potential partners are suggested.
The following abbreviations after an organization's name signify the countries in which an organization has an office: Russia - R, Ukraine - U, Moldova - M. In many instances, however, an organization may conduct activities in a country, but not have an office in that country. For instance, ISAR awards grants to Moldovan NGOs, but does not have an office in Moldova. Also, it is reasonable to assume that some organizations could have an office in more than one country, but a substudy report may have missed listing the organization since it delivered services not related exclusively to the environment.