Transcript Water and Environment Cooperation Platform (WECOOP) Project

Water and Environment Cooperation Platform
(WECOOP) Project
Lessons Learnt
Project Objective
“To promote and support
enhanced regional co-operation
on environment and water both
between EU and Central Asia
and within Central Asia as called
by the EU CA Strategy”
Project started February 2012 and will end July 2014. A follow-on
project is planned.
3 Components
1. The EU-CA Platform for Cooperation
on Environment and Water
2. Strengthening of institutional and
development capacities of the
regional institutions
3. Mapping, networking and
communication
EU-CA Platform for Cooperation (Component 1)
Activities
 Annual High Level Meetings
4th High Level Meeting, Bishkek, February
2013
 Working Group Meetings – linked to High
Level
2nd Working Group Meeting held in
Almaty, September 2012
EU-CA Platform for Cooperation (Component 1)
Lessons
 Members of Working Group need to be formally
appointed for a minimum period of 2 years –
stable membership is important.
 Strengthen the link between the High Level
Meetings and Working Group agenda – more
regular contact.
 Working Group agenda needs greater focus and
tangible, clearly defined outputs and
responsibilities.
 A Working Group reporting system is required.
EU-CA Platform for Cooperation (Component 1)
Lessons (cont’d)
 Consider providing Continuing Professional
Development programme for permanent Working
Group Members.
 Use project resources to generate interest and
competition for regional environment activities e.g. a
set of challenge grants for most interesting proposals
– public call for proposals across the region.
 Combine policy aspirations with concrete technical
activities – mutually reinforcing.
 Do not underestimate logistical challenges of working
regionally.
Strengthening of institutional and development
capacities (Component 2) Activities
 Study tour to European Climate Change
Adaptation Conference 2013
 Project training activities – EIA, SEA,
Climate Change, Green Economy
 Participation in relevant seminars,
workshops, national policy dialogue
Strengthening of institutional and development
capacities (Component 2) Lessons
1
Regional institutional framework for cooperation on
environment, water and climate change is not strong.
2
Members of the Working Group itself could form the
basis for regional cooperation – direct linkage
between relevant ministries – decision making
powers.
3
Other regional institutions (CAREC, IFAS) integrated at
a technical level e.g. to implement pilot activities or
participate in ‘challenge grants’ or training activities.
4
Strengthen links with NGOs in region.
Communication, Mapping, Networking
(Component 3) Activities
1 Preparation of communication and
visibility strategy
2 Develop website focused on regional
environmental matters
3 Map projects that are active in the region
4 Ongoing networking activities –
participation in meetings, workshop and
conferences
Communication, Mapping, Networking
(Component 3) Lessons
1.
Communication is essential at all levels and across all
channels
2.
A clearer Working Group agenda would create greater
focus for communication activities
3.
Strengthened feedback mechanisms to Working Group
members at a national level would be valuable –
national level communication plans are required
4.
Working Group members would benefit from training
in communication and in using the project website
tools.
Background. Typical project flow
Workaround. Cloud services
 Developers move
applications to
clouds
 Small businesses
and workgroups
actively use cloud
services
(applications)
 Enterprises or
workgroups use
cloud services - do
not need their own
IT infrastructure
Our proposal: Cloud Services for Projects
Four main clouds
services ready to
use for any project
Applications
WECOOP uses:
 Website based on a flexible system
 The project portal allowed joint work of
participants, including the project Team,
experts, and Working Group
Applications. Meeting challenges
 Training materials
developed for each
function
 Video materials in both
English and Russian are
on the public website
General Lessons
1
Multiple communication lines add complexity to regional
cooperation – rationalisation and focus would help.
2
Green Economy, Climate Change, water and environment
cooperation remain common regional concerns and
validate continued support.
3
Greater focus on specific Working Group agenda items
would help to generate specific tangible results that are
aligned with both national and regional needs.
4
More attention to specific indicators of achievement,
responsibility and timelines is required.
Find out more at the project Website
(www.wecoop-project.org)
Thank you