Division Of Early Warning And Assessment MODULE 4: MANAGING THE ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING PROCESS.
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MODULE 4:MODULE 4:
MANAGING THE MANAGING THE ASSESSMENT AND ASSESSMENT AND
REPORTING PROCESSREPORTING PROCESS
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Introduction
This module discusses the involvement of various groups of people in the IEA process. It highlights:
the Importance of the IEA process,who should get involved and the level of involvement for different groups of people, how important issues should be decided, andhow the IEA process could be managed.
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IEA ProcessIEA Process
IEA is a continuous process
Its organization and management should allow scientists from various fields of environmental pursuits (transdisciplinary) to decide the important issues for analysis in collaboration with a broad but manageable range of civil society
The institutional setting that is entrusted with the leadership should have a legal mandate to conduct or provide leadership in all aspects of environmental assessment and reporting, and to expect the participation of other institutions as an necessary obligation
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Importance of the IEA ProcessImportance of the IEA Process
It is a learning process for all that get involved assisting to build capacity on knowledge about the environment
It provides a broad basis for: Supporting sustainable development Exploring linkages between policy, the
economy, society and environment Developing appropriate policy packages Encouraging good governance and
ownership of the report Bringing together fragmented
knowledge and streamlining issues of policy formulation
Facilitating cooperation of policy makers across government and beyond
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Involvement in the IEA processInvolvement in the IEA process
Communication in Africa with different social groups is particularly difficult. Involvement in the IEA process should not be taken for granted for any social group
Planners of the process should make extra effort to include poorer communities which are commonly overlooked
Contribution of poorer marginalized communities may be unique, e.g may add indigenous knowledge.
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Involvement in the IEA process Involvement in the IEA process may be on three major levelsmay be on three major levelsInformation dissemination – civil
society is informed of environmental policies either already made or about to be made and is allowed to comment. Their comments may not influence the outcome.
Consultation – at some time before or after the environmental policy is drawn up, the opinions of civil society are solicited. Its opinions and views are expected to influence the final policy formulated.
Participation – continuous communication between civil society, policy drafting groups and decision makers. Final environmental policy is the outcome of direct and complete involvement of the three groups.
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Involvement in the IEA process in Involvement in the IEA process in practicepractice
Different groups of civil society are involved at different levels depending on their level of interest and relevance for a particular issue of the report
Only a number of manageable representatives are involved, not everybody relevant
Some suggestions on levels of involvement in different issues:Issue Section of civil
societyLevel of involvement
Agriculture Farming communitiesTaxi drivers
ParticipateInform
Water resources All Participate
Deforestation School teachersUrban communitiesMining communities
ParticipateConsultinform
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AEO Process uses all three levelsAEO Process uses all three levels
In the development of the AEO, all three levels are used
Participation – special working groups (e.g on policy, capacity-building, data, etc.)
Consultation – with thematic groups
Information dissemination – general public
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Deciding important issues in the Deciding important issues in the process process
The whole range of issues relevant to environmental assessment cannot be included in a report. Early selection of a manageable list of the most important issues is important.
Importance of issues will differ with scale of analysis (regional, sub-regional, national, etc.) and among different countries or other regions of analysis
It is advisable to start with a long list of relevant issues drawn up by experts from which a manageable list may be selected by a wide range of stakeholders.
This process was used to decide on important issues for AEO-2
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Management of the process at the Management of the process at the national levelnational level
Existing structures at the national level may be difficult to modify to accommodate the IEA process; the process normally is made to fit into existing structures.
No overall “best” management structures are agreed on but best practices in many African countries show the importance of a key existing department in a ministry or a new department or authority.
The coordinating role of the key department or authority requires a level of clout over other departments
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Possible organizational chartPossible organizational chart
S take ho lde r o r fo cu s g rou ps
A d v iso ry G rou ps
S take ho lde r o r fo cu s g rou ps
A d v iso ry G rou ps
E N V IR O N M E N T A L A U T H O R IY
M in is try o f E n v iron m e nt O the r re lev an t m in is tr ies
C A B IN E T
PARLIAMENT
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Possible organization Possible organization
At the national level in an African country, it has been considered appropriate to put environmental assessment and reporting directly under cabinet responsibility. One possible organization:
Parliament – legislative, policy making body Cabinet – final decision making authority Relevant Ministry – e.g. Ministry of
Environment, champions the cause of the IEA process but works in close collaboration with other ministries
Environmental Authority – the workhorse on environmental matters in the Ministry of Environment
Expert technical advisory groups – participants with specialised knowledge
Stakeholder focus groups – representatives of various social organizations
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Management of the process at the Management of the process at the sub-national levelsub-national level
More analytical assessment of an independent or semi-independent agency may be made because it may have more advantages than would be the case at the national level:Will start with a clean slate
avoiding inter-departmental bickering
May be more independent in getting funds in addition to funds from government
May more easily link with NGOs
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The legal mandateThe legal mandate
IEA requires that many departments and organizations work together attending to specific responsibilities under tight time budgets
Each participant must have the legal responsibility to carry out what is expected and the authority to demand others’ inputs
Legislation at the national level required to define relationships, responsibilities, authority and expectations for a successful IEA process.
Beyond national level, governments should provide mandates to the appropriate reporting institution.
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Legislation could be particularly used Legislation could be particularly used at the national level for:at the national level for:Setting the stage for
collaboration expected between government agencies
Encouraging data sharing and harmonization
Defining rules for external consultation and participation
Defining the rules for sustainable local capacity building to replace external assistance
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