Reducing Trans-boundary Degradation of the Kura-Aras River Basin (UNDP; GEF; SIDA)

1. Reducing Trans-boundary Degradation of the Kura-Aras River Basin (UNDP; GEF; SIDA) Juerg Staudenmann Water Governance Advisor Environment & Security Meeting Bratislava, 29/30 September 2005

2. First Stage: PDF-B • Project Type: GEF PDF-B (Project Development Facility) with 2 sub-components • Countries involved: GEORGIA, ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, IRAN (Turkey is invited) • Time frame: October 2003 – June 2007 • Partners: GEF, SIDA, UNDP-BRC, UNOPS (Executing A.) • Funding PDF-B: US$ 1.6 m • GEF: US$ 723 k • Governments: US$ 145 k • SIDA: US$ 690 k • UNDP: US$ 125 k  SECOND STAGE: 2007 ff. Full-Size Project (predicted US$ 5.0m GEF-funding) UNDP Regional Centre for Europe & CIS – Bratislava SK

3. Vision & Objectives • Long-term Objective: “To ensure that Water Quality & Quantity throughout the Kura and Aras Basins meets short- and long-term requirements of communities & ecosystem functions” • Subsidiary Objective: “Reduced Contaminant Load into the Caspian Sea; Improve its Water Quality” UNDP Regional Centre for Europe & CIS – Bratislava SK

4. Lead Country Agencies • Armenia: Ministry of Nature Protection • Azerbaijan: Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources • Georgia: Ministry of Environmental Protection • I.R. Iran: Ministry of Energy UNDP Regional Centre for Europe & CIS – Bratislava SK

5. PDF-B “Architecture” 3 Components: • GEF-sponsored Umbrella Project (all countries): • Analysis & Priority Finding (TDA/SAP) • Set-up of Transboundary Comm. & Coord. Mechanisms • Development of Full-Size Proposal for Implementation. • SIDA-sponsored sub-component (Geo, Arm, Azb): • Legal-institutional & policy needs, national analysis • National Action Plans & capacity building • UNDP/Bratislava-sponsored sub-component (all countries) : • Stakeholder Analysis • Public Participation & NGO Forum UNDP Regional Centre for Europe & CIS – Bratislava SK

6. Expected Outcomes • Fostered regional information exchange and cooperation for enhanced River Basin Management; • Increased regional and national capacities regarding IWRM & Water Q&Q issues; • Key improvements at specific points in River Basins; • Sustainable institutional & financial coordination arrangements; • Reforms initiated/promoted in economic sectors that cause pollution, water shortage, habitat degradation. UNDP Regional Centre for Europe & CIS – Bratislava SK

7. “Roadmap” Phase I: PDF-B (2005-2007) • Stakeholder Analysis  Public Involvement Plan & NGO Forum • Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) • Priority transboundary issues  Causal Chain Analysis • Shared “Basin Vision” and prioritization of issues • Draft Strategic Action programme (SAP) • SAP Implementation Plan & Financing Mechanisms • National Acton Plans • Institutional framework and options for SAP coordination & monitoring mechanisms • Development of demonstration projects for Full-Size Project • Training & Capacity Building Activities • Partnership Conference & Full-size Project Phase II: Implementation of SAP ( Full-Size project, 2007-?) UNDP Regional Centre for Europe & CIS – Bratislava SK

8. The Environment-Security Link The project initiates a multilateral dialogue on the protection of the environment: • Assists in the creation of a vision for the sustainable development of the Kura-Aras basin to the benefit of all five basin countries • Encourages greater stakeholder participation in the decision making process in natural resource management • Encourages the implementation of existing multilateral environmental agreements in the basin • Through pilot projects, the project will encourage creation and implementation of regional and community agreements on natural resource sharing.  Simultaneously contribute to safeguarding the environment and fostering human security UNDP Regional Centre for Europe & CIS – Bratislava SK

9. Conclusions • The UNDP/GEF project is the first transboundary initiative to involve four of the five Kura/Aras basin countries. • The project will develop a (cross-border) sustainable development vision for a significant area of Southern Caucasus, including a Strategic Action Plan for priority interventions during a second phase. • Although entitled a “GEF international waters” project, it addresses the whole basin environment including water, land and biological resources, as well as socio-economic aspects. • Using environment & natural resources as an entry-point, it promotes a multi-stakeholder dialogue – inside & across borders. • If acceptable to the countries, the project may initiate discussions on a multi-lateral agreement and management framework for the protection of the Kura-Aras environment. • Vision: Enhance security and living conditions for population in the two River Basins, while benefiting the environment. UNDP Regional Centre for Europe & CIS – Bratislava SK

10. Thank You!