June 2006
Enhancing Access to Information and Public
Participation in Environmental Decision-
making in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
3rd Progress Report
AUTHORS
PREPARED BY:
New York University of Law,
Regional Environmental Centre
Resources for Future
PREFACE
This Report is prepared for component 3.4 of Objective 3 of the Danube Regional Project
(phase 2).
The overall focus under Objective 3 is to enhance awareness-raising in civil society and
reinforce the participation of NGOs and other interested parties in water management and
pollution reduction (nutrients and toxic substances) with particular attention to transboundary
cooperation and river basin management in the context of the Water Framework Directive.
3rd Progress Report
page 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE........................................................................................................................... 3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... 5
1.
ACTIVITIES OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS.................................................................... 6
1.1. SECOND ROUND OF NATIONAL WORKSHOPS........................................................................6
1.2. DISSEMINATION AND COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES ..............................................................7
1.3. CARRYING OUT COUNTRY ACTIVITIES ...............................................................................8
1.4. CARRYING OUT DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS...................................................................... 12
1.5. SECOND STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING ........................................................................ 15
1.6. LESSONS LEARNED ................................................................................................. 16
2.
ACTIVITIES TO COME IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS ....................................................... 18
2.1. FINALIZING COUNTRY ACTIVITIES AND REPORTING .............................................................. 18
2.2. FINALIZING DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS AND REPORTING ....................................................... 18
2.3. FINALIZING COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY ........................................................................ 19
2.4. BASIN WIDE DISSEMINATION MEETING.......................................................................... 19
2.5. LAST STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING............................................................................. 20
2.6. FINAL REPORT ON THE PROJECT ................................................................................... 20
2.7. WORK PLAN AND SUGGESTED CHANGES .......................................................................... 21
3.
FINANCIAL REPORTING .......................................................................................... 25
3.1. EXPLANATION OF FINANCIAL REPORT ............................................................................. 25
NYL / REC / RFF
Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
page 5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of Component 3.4 is to support emerging processes of improved public participation in
environmental decision making, with emphasis on better access to environmental information and
public participation in decision making on hot spot prevention and cleanup. The project builds
capacity in government officials who are the "front lines" of access to information and responsible
for implementing public participation, using targeted training and technical assistance activities
carefully tailored to the needs and circumstances of each country. National and local NGOs and the
public involved in the Danube and water-related issues are considered critically important
stakeholders and partners of the officials. Engaging all of them actively in capacity building will
support full and effective public involvement in planning in the context of the EU Water Framework
Directive (WFD) and cleanup and prevention of future Danube hot spots. As noted by the funder,
these impacts should last long after the Danube Regional Project (DRP) has been completed.
This report covers the period mid December 2005 through June 2006 (the previous report was
completed in December 2005). In this six-month period, the major accomplishments of the
Consortium of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), Resources
for the Future (RFF) and New York University School of Law (NYU) are:
>
Continued work on country activities in each of the five countries;
>
Continued work on demonstration (pilot) projects in each of the five countries;
>
Completed a second round of national workshops in all five countries;
>
Conducted a Steering Committee meeting;
>
Initiated various activities for communication and dissemination of the results of the
project including a final Basin-Wide Dissemination Meeting; and
>
Engaged in other planning activities for future phases of the project.
In all these, the Consortium has completed a number of milestones and deliverables, and reached
substantial results.
This report has three parts. The first part describes in detail the activities over the past six months
since mid-December 2005, the period covered by the second progress report. It does not deal with
those activities which have been already covered in the Inception report submitted in December
2004 or the first and second progress report. Part I will provide the project donors and the overall
DRP and ICPDR management with an overview of the most important steps taken, findings and
decisions made, and results achieved in the past six months of the project.
The second part of the report describes the activities that will be undertaken in the last six months
and the various work products or deliverables that are prepared for these activities or will result
from them. Part II starts with a short description of these activities. It also provides an overview of
the detailed work plan, which lists all the activities, those that have been already completed and
those ahead, as well as the proposed changes in their timing.
Part III includes an explanation of the financial report for the period of December 1, 2005 to May
31, 2006. This report is added as an annex.
UNDP/GEF DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT
3rd Progress Report
page 6
1. ACTIVITIES OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS
1.1. Second round of national workshops
The second round of national workshops took place in March and April 2006. Members of the
Consortium were involved in all preparations, helped to design the final agenda and the list of
participants and participated in all of the workshops. Representatives of the Danube Regional
Project, Rayka Hauser and Marcella Fabianova, also participated in all but the BiH workshop. The
workshops served as an opportunity to meet with the members of the national teams in each
country and discuss the progress they are making with regard to country activities and
demonstration projects. In each country, the meeting brought together relevant government
officials at the national, regional and local level, NGO representatives and in some cases
representatives of business and media.
The following activities took place during all of the workshops:
>
progress of the overall project was presented and discussed;
>
information was provided about recent developments in the Danube Regional Project;
>
progress and the results of the country activities and demonstration project were
reviewed;
>
demonstration projects were presented for discussion and recommendations were
made for future work;
>
drafts of key products were commented and analyzed in small working groups;
>
problems and difficulties for the successful implementation of the country activities and
the demonstration project, as well as lessons learned and best practices gained during
the project were identified;
>
future steps of the project as well as the dissemination of the results of the country
activities were designed and agreed;
>
possibilities for the sustainability of project results were discussed including the
possibilities of official endorsements.
Below, we mention specific issues that were discussed in particular national workshops:
Bosnia and Herzegovina national meeting, Brcko, March 27-28
>
review of drafts of the manual for officials and the brochure for NGOs;
>
analysis of the new draft water law and recommendations on preparing a by-law on
access to information and public participation;
>
presentation and review of draft of meta information system/data base.
NYL / REC / RFF
Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
page 7
Bulgaria national meeting, Sofia, March 30-31
>
presented and discussed an assessment comparing practices of some EU countries and
draft recommendations for overcoming access to information barriers created by claims
of document or data confidentiality;
>
identified topics for a capacity building workshop for officials;
>
discussed a survey of the existing web sites of River Basin Directorates and proposals
for improvements/unification of such sites to provide relevant information to the public;
>
reviewed a brochure for NGOs and the public on on-line water related information
sources.
Croatia national meeting, Varazdin, March 23-24
>
reviewed manual for officials and booklet for NGOs;
>
discussed draft proposal for trainings;
>
shared good practices for access to information developed by Croatian institutions
(specifically, Varazdin city council);
>
shared relevant developments regarding the EU accession and redesigning of Croatian
Water Information System.
Romania national meeting, Sinaia, 10-11 April:
>
reviewed drafts of manual for officials and brochure for NGOs/public ;
>
shared and discussed results of survey conducted to address the communication-
related activities of River Basin Committees (RBCs);
>
provided input on recommendations for NGO representation on RBCs;
>
collected ideas to improve the agenda of the capacity building workshop for improving
the skills of RBC members.
Serbia and Montenegro national meeting, Kanjiza, March 14-15:
>
reviewed drafts of the manual for officials and brochure for NGOs/public;
>
discussed topics and venue for the capacity building workshops for officials and NGOs.
1.2. Dissemination and communications activities
In the past reporting period, the Consortium worked with Rayka Hauser and Paul Csagoly of the
DRP to formalize a plan for dissemination and communications activities so as to assure wide
understanding of the goals, purposes and results of the project and its various activities. As a kind
of catalogue of what has actually transpired in the project and a guide for future activities, the
draft report notes activities including the usual means of communication and dissemination such as
email, phone calls and conference calls and use of the Project listserv. New documents such as
country products and reporting on the demonstration project were added to the project webpage
on the REC website and to the closed webpage (a webpage only accessible to project participants).
An article about Component 3.4 was placed in the most recent version of Green Horizon, the REC
UNDP/GEF DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT
3rd Progress Report
page 8
magazine. It is the third of such articles giving the readership of the magazine updates on the
progress and achievements of Component 3.4. Project communication was further facilitated by the
active participation of Consortium members in national workshops in each of the participant
countries (March-April 2006).
The Communications Strategy, which is being developed, will record and categorize all these
communications and dissemination activities. In the Strategy, the communications and
dissemination activities of the project have been divided into five sub-strategies:
>
internal communications;
>
communications on and dissemination of government manuals;
>
NGO and public awareness;
>
increasing awareness and participation of local stakeholders at demonstration project
sites;
>
dissemination of project results to a basin-wide audience.
For each of the sub-strategies a background, a desired outcome, one or more target audiences and
a list of products and activities is given.
1.3. Carrying out country activities
Since the last Progress Report, each participating country has been focused on carrying out the
activities agreed in the country activity plans and on carrying out the demonstration projects,
reported in section 1.4.
Country activities are implemented under the guidance of the operational teams and the
Consortium. Country consultants have prepared various draft materials and products based on
agreements made in national meetings and incorporated into the agreed terms of reference.
Drafts have been, and will in some cases continue to be, commented by the Operational Team,
REC Country Offices, the Consortium, and a working group of officials, experts and NGOs who have
relevant expertise in the field. The Consortium also has participated in major events, such as the
second round of national workshops discussed above, and provides examples in the form of options
and other input to make the country products more complete. REC, RFF and NYU have been in
constant phone and email contact with the various efforts and some Consortium members traveled
to the countries to provide assistance outside of official meetings, or when it might be useful to
advance the aims of the country activities. The Consortium has also provided assistance for
designing and implementing capacity building activities.
The following progress has been made on country activities in each specific country:
Bosnia and Herzegovina
1. Contribution to development of bylaw(s) and procedures to implement relevant
provisions of the new Water Law
BiH has chosen to institute a process to improve access to information and public participation
through a bylaw to the Federal Law on Waters. The specific process included preparing a draft
analysis and potential solutions which was discussed in the March national workshop as well as the
preparation of a draft bylaw, which continues to undergo analysis and comment from a variety of
NYL / REC / RFF
Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
page 9
experts and interest groups. When comments are concluded at the end of June, the draft will be
finalized and submitted to the ministries.
2. Contribution to the development of Water Data Base
A meta information system/data base has been constructed to respond to a need to identify which
are the authorities holding water-related environmental information and the ways of accessing this
information. The process began with an assessment of available water related information and data
collected by responsible authorities. The findings and system were discussed in the BiH national
workshop with governmental officials, experts, NGOs and the Consortium. The meta database and
the narrative report are being finalized and will be uploaded to the REC CO web site with a short
introduction and guidance for its use.
3. Manual for authorities
The first draft of the Manual for Officials for providing public access to water related information
was discussed in the second national workshop. More recent drafts reflect comments received then
and afterward. The final draft has been prepared in June and has been circulated for comments by
the Operational team, National team and the REC CO. The draft will be finalized afterwards and
published in September.
4. NGO brochure on access to information
NGO and country partners and the Consortium provided feedback on drafts of the informational
brochure on good practices on access to information and public participation in environmental and
water related issues for NGOs. A new draft is currently undergoing comment. The brochure will be
finalized afterwards and printed in September.
Bulgaria
1. Assessing and improving rules and regulations for confidentiality of environmental
and water related information
The Bulgarian country team is engaged in a systematic process to overcome barriers to access to
information that are presented by claims of confidentiality. An assessment, including a survey
among authorities, NGOs and businesses, and a comparison with practices of some EU countries,
concluded in draft recommendations. These were presented and discussed in the second national
workshop and discussed in the Operational Team. The resulting draft has been submitted to the
relevant departments of the Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) for comment.
2. Capacity building for authorities
The survey referenced above identified the need for developing good practices and means to
overcome failures to implement the existing procedures for active/passive access to water related
environmental information. Discussions in the national workshop identified potential topics for
training sessions for officials involved in handling such information and requests. The training will
be organized in September or beginning of October.
3. Enhancing the active dissemination of information on environment and water through
the web page for the River Basin Directorates (RBDs)
The web sites of RBDs are an important form of communication. A survey showed some needs for
improvements. Initial discussions including recommendations for improvements took place between
UNDP/GEF DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT
3rd Progress Report
page 10
representatives from RBDs and MoEW in January 2006 and were discussed also in the second
national meeting. The recommendations include the unification of the up-loaded data format by all
directorates and the development of the Danube Region Basin Directorate's (BD) web site. As a
result, the web page of the Danube Region BD's web site is being upgraded by using a similar
structure as other RBDs. The Danube Region BD's web site was launched on Danube Day, on June
29. Later an on-line section for frequently asked questions will be added. The web sites of two
other directorates (Plovdiv and Varna) will also be upgraded with a section regarding project
activities. Experts providing information from RBDs, MoEW, etc. have been involved in the
process.
4. Brochure for NGOs and the general public
The first draft of a brochure to provide NGOs and the general public with information on what are
the on-line resources (including major categories of institutions and organizations which process
and provide information about water resources through their web sites) was discussed in the
second national workshop. Workshop participants, experts and NGOs provided comments,
specifically suggesting that the brochure should also include information and useful tips on how to
access environmental and more especially water related information. It was also decided to
develop an on-line version of the brochure. After the workshop, a final draft was prepared and
comments were collected for further improvements. The printed and on-line versions of the
brochure will be published in July.
Croatia
1. Development of the Water Information Manual a model of accessing and
disseminating the water related information
A draft manual was created that draws on experience from EU countries (Netherlands, Poland,
Hungary) and the USA. It was discussed by a working group and during the second national
workshop. The draft was put on the web site to collect further comments and a new draft,
incorporating comments and suggestions, will be ready in August and published in September. The
manual is aimed primarily for use by the Directorate for Water Management and Croatian Waters
employees and other local/regional bodies that manage water related information. The manual will
be presented and used during planned training sessions (activity 3).
2. Development of the Access to Water Information Booklet (for the general public and
NGOs)
Based on a questionnaire, main target groups and their problems with access to water related
information were identified and a first draft for the Booklet was prepared by NGO experts. This
draft was discussed by a working group and during the second national workshop. The draft
contains information on relevant laws, conventions, regulations and web pages, as well as an
explanation of the right to access to information, cases and practical examples, a description of the
role/opportunities of civil society, and a tool kit on how to participate in decision-making processes,
and how to write requests.
The Booklet will be finalized by September and the coordinating NGO is planning to promote the
brochure through a series of media events. Additionally, video material will be produced which is
going to be used for educational purposes.
3. Institutional capacity building program for public officials and relevant stakeholders
NYL / REC / RFF
Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
page 11
The concept and agenda for three 1-day interactive trainings were discussed in the second national
workshop and then designed and discussed by the Operational team, the REC CO and the
Consortium. The training sessions will be held in September 2006 in Zagreb, Sisak and Slavanski
Brod, focused on the practical implementation of the requirements presented in the Manual
(Activity 1).
Romania
1. Improvement in the functioning of the River Basin Committees (RBCs)
A survey addressed to RBC members and to those groups that are represented by elected
members on the RBC, gained valuable insights into how RBCs are currently functioning with regard
to communication, information dissemination and public participation. The findings were shared in
the second national workshop, input was collected and recommendations were made. Based on
this, topics for a capacity building workshop were identified. The workshop will take place in
September 2006. Members of all Romanian RBCs will be participating in the workshop. The
workshop will focus on practical examples of consultation, access and participation, with a special
focus on obligations arising from the EU Water Framework Directive.
2. Development of manual for authorities
A first draft of the manual was prepared and was commented on by the country team, the
Consortium and the participants at the second National Meeting. The second draft was recently
submitted and it will undergo a second round of comments from officials, NGOs and the
Consortium before finalization. The draft will be finalized and published in September.
3. Development of brochure for wider public and NGOs
A first draft was circulated for comment on the general website for NGOs in Romania
(www.ngo.ro), and commented extensively by the Consortium. Input was also collected from all
participants to the second national meeting. The second draft will also be circulated for comments,
finalized and published in September.
The brochure will have two parts: a simple brochure for the general public covering issues that will
facilitate access to information and give assistance to where and how information can be found and
how the public can be part of the decision making process, including useful tips and examples. The
second part provides an extended and more in-depth textual version for NGOs. The materials will
be also put on CDs. The CDs will also include a compilation of updated legislation.
Serbia and Montenegro
1. Development of Manual for Officials
The first draft was discussed in the second national workshop. The text was finalized based on
discussion and comments provided by the workshop participants and the Consortium. The draft
includes a description of relevant national, European and international rules and regulations and
provides advice and good examples on practical implementation. A second draft was put on the
website for comments for members of Operational team, workshop participants and REC CO at the
end of May. The final version will respond to all useful comments and will be published in
September.
UNDP/GEF DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT
3rd Progress Report
page 12
2. Development of a Brochure for NGOs and Public
The first draft of the brochure containing practical tips and good practice examples was presented
and discussed in the second national workshop. The second draft was prepared in May taking into
account the comments provided by officials, NGOs and the Consortium in the workshop and after.
Both versions were put on the web site for comments. After finalization, the draft will be published
in September.
3. Capacity Building workshops for officials
A two-day capacity building workshop will be held in September to provide experience and practical
tools for day-to-day implementation to officials that will be using the manual. They will be trained
in how to use the new laws and draft laws related to access to environmental and water
information. The workshop will also provide opportunity for final comments on the draft manual.
4. Capacity Building workshop for NGOs
A one-day capacity building workshop for NGOs will be held back-to-back with the workshop for
officials, with one joint session including both officials and NGOs. Issues covered in the draft
brochure will be presented including practical knowledge for NGOs concerning implementation of
the new laws. There will also be a final possibility for NGOs to provide input on the text of the
brochure. Also, the preliminary lessons from the Demonstration Project and good practices on
sharing water related information and public participation from Slovenian and Hungarian NGOs will
be presented.
1.4. Carrying out demonstration projects
Along with the Project Managers in the REC Country Offices, the Consortium plays a continuing
strong role in the implementation of the Demonstration Projects. After selection and the process of
setting up the projects, one part of this is close monitoring, facilitated by phone and email
communication and by face to face meetings that took place in the second round of National
Meetings, which included, as noted, country officials, stakeholders and NGOs including those
responsible for the Demonstration Projects. The Consortium attends the most important events
that have significance for the success of the Demonstration Projects. Regular briefings about the
progress of the implementation process ensures communication and enables the team to provide
appropriate fine-tuned assistance on issues as they come up, particularly incorporating lessons
learned in the NGO brochures and the other country products or activities. The Consortium also
responds to requests that come up on an ad hoc basis.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
"Inclusion of citizens, NGOs, industry and relevant authorities in making decision
process related to water information in Lukavac" carried out by the Ecological
Association of Citizens, "Eco-Green" Lukavac
This project assesses obstacles to public access to water pollution-related information and works to
achieve improvements in the process of information flow among authorities as well as between the
authorities and the public. Public participation is one of the tools for developing these
improvements.
NYL / REC / RFF
Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
page 13
Since the last progress report, with assistance from the REC Country Office and the Consortium,
Eco-green Lukavac has:
>
convened and facilitated discussions on the findings concerning access to water related
information;
>
assisted the design of roundtable discussions for brainstorming and for identifying
options and possible solutions;
>
provided input for skills and knowledge-building capacity activities on participatory
approaches for representatives of authorities, NGOs and the community in general;
>
begun the process of transferring the lessons learned and useful approaches into
materials for the NGO community on the national level, and incorporating good
practices and other recommendations into the materials for the authorities.
Bulgaria
"The Right to Know and to Participate in Water Management" carried out by the
Association for useful activities "Ecomission 21 century," Lovech
The project plans to accomplish a variety of activities and initiatives for improving Access to
Ecological Information in Lovech/Troyan Region, involving support of River Basin Directorates (with
special emphasis on Directorate websites as a vehicle for conveying information).
Since the last Progress Report, with assistance from the REC Country Office and the Consortium,
Ecomission 21 century has accomplished the following:
>
questionnaires were sent to five regional and local institutions in order to identify what
types of information they retain;
>
17 requests for environmental information provision were sent to local and national
institutions responsible for information on the Osam river;
>
answers to the information requests have been analyzed and barriers to access to
water-related information have been identified;
>
public and media outreach activities were organized;
>
planning for a capacity building workshop (July 6-7 in Apriltzi) has started. The
workshop is meant to increase the knowledge of institutions, local authority
representatives and NGOs on methods and measures for improved information access
and participation.
Croatia
Osijek Water Forum Enhancing public involvement in wastewater management, carried
out by the Green Osijek Ecological Association
The project establishes a broad stakeholder body, the Water Forum, to improve communication
within the community and with the relevant authorities and institutions about the development of a
waste water treatment plant. Additionally, the activities will further the implementation of the
Croatian Water Law consistent with the EU Water Framework Directive and will improve current
practices under the Law of the Right to Access to Information.
UNDP/GEF DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT
3rd Progress Report
page 14
Since the previous progress report, with the support of Country Office and the Consortium,
Ecological Association Green Osijek implemented the following activities:
>
roundtables and trainings were organized to establish the Osijek Water Forum. The
training components include the development of a public communication and
participation plan for the process of designing/fundraising/building and managing a
waste water treatment plant;
>
experience from other countries was shared;
>
public and media outreach activities were organized, with Danube Day as the main
promotional event.
Romania
"Taking Care of the River together with its Beneficiaries" carried out by Focus Eco
Center, Tirgu Mures
Unique among the demonstration projects, this models a process (the Mures River model) for
improved NGO participation in River Basin Committees (RBC) and improving the flow of information
to, and involvement of, represented interest groups and the public in RBC water management
issues, using the EU WFD as a starting point.
Since the previous progress report the NGO Focus Eco Center, with the support of Country Office
and the Consortium, has implemented the following activities:
>
the communication problems within the Mures River RBC have been identified;
>
a process and methodology have been developed so as to ensure improved
representation of NGOs through elected representatives;
>
a capacity building seminar has been organized to tackle issues of cooperation of sub-
basin stakeholders, NGOs and RBC members on water-related decision making;
>
water-related information, good practice examples and lessons learned at the national
level were transferred into draft products.
Serbia and Montenegro
"Demonstration Project in Bor" carried out by the Association of Young Researchers
The aim of the project is to increase public access to information about wastewater problems and
the utility of public participation in the successful resolution of these problems. To this end, an
emissions database has been established, awareness raising campaigns were organized, as well as
electronic networking and sharing of information to improve the capacities of NGOs and local
authorities to request and give access to information and developing concrete methods and
procedures for securing such public access to information.
NYL / REC / RFF
Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
page 15
During the period that passed since the previous progress report the Association of Young
Researchers of Bor, with the support of Country Office and Consortium, implemented the activities
listed below:
>
set up a wastewater/drinking water information database and attached network for
sharing information;
>
designed instructions on how to establish collection points for gathering, processing and
distributing information;
>
carried out public and media outreach activities and established a web site;
>
planned for a capacity building event for local authorities and local NGOs.
1.5. Second Steering Committee meeting
The 2nd Steering Committee Meeting for project component 3.4 was held on March 13, 2006 at the
Regional Environmental Center Country Office for Serbia and Montenegro in Belgrade.
The meeting objectives were to:
>
review and discuss the progress of the project component;
>
inform about the upcoming component tasks in the next 7 months;
>
discuss the concept of the Danube River Basin Wide Dissemination Meeting;
>
provide support and strategic direction for the implementation of the project
component.
The meeting, chaired by Rayka Hauser from DRP, was attended by the Heads of Delegation or their
representatives from Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Serbia and Montenegro, the DEF
representative, the representative of DRP and ICPDR and members of the Consortium including the
REC Country Office. Two DRP and two ICPDR representatives were unable to attend due to a
snowstorm and therefore Rayka Hauser represented them. Bosnia and Herzegovina was unable to
send a representative.
In the first half of the meeting, the Consortium presented a summary update of the activities
undertaken in the previous 10 months, discussing the implementation of country activities and
demonstration projects, the results of the 2nd regional workshop and efforts made to date by the
Consortium concerning communication of activities and results. Also, an overview was provided of
lessons learned in the Study Tours and, more generally, in the course of implementation of the
project. Finally the activities to be expected in the remaining time of the project (until December
2006) were described.
The Consortium's presentations were followed by a discussion among the members of the Steering
Committee evaluating the progress to date. Meeting participants were unanimous in expressing
their satisfaction with the progress to date and their support for the ongoing activities. The meeting
then turned to discussion and approval by the Steering Committee of upcoming activities.
Specifically, the group discussed what should be the structure and purposes of the anticipated
Basin-Wide Dissemination Meeting and how best to make the products and outcomes of the
component in each country sustainable beyond the termination of the Component and of the DRP.
A number of excellent ideas were discussed and commitments were heard from all participants
concerning ways the considerable work to date could be continued and extended. The activities
UNDP/GEF DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT
3rd Progress Report
page 16
during the past 10 months, the plans for the next period as well as the financial report were
approved by the Steering Committee.
1.6. Lessons learned
The first progress report listed 10 lessons learned in the first 9 months of the project. In the
second progress report 9 more lessons were added. The following supplements those previous lists.
These lessons were presented at the most recent Steering Committee meeting in Belgrade.
Subject-wise there may be some overlap between this list and the previous lists of lessons learned.
Lessons learned by participants
>
Government agencies on all levels need concrete and clear procedures for accepting,
processing and responding adequately to information requests,
o Useful examples of such procedures are available in other countries, and from
earlier projects,
o The art is to understand how best to adapt these examples to the specific
national/local conditions.
>
It is important for government agencies to know what kind of information they have
and where this information can be found within the agency:
o Databases and other ways of gathering and organizing information are essential.
>
Setting clear rules and procedures for what information is legitimately confidential will
make release of other information less difficult.
>
Advocacy for change by NGOs can be a combination of criticism and partnership with
the government, depending on specific issues.
>
In developing alliances with each other, NGOs should look for points of agreement even
with groups they might otherwise disagree with, acknowledging that the areas of
agreement might be limited.
>
Engaging the broader public in issues of access to information and public participation
requires significant outreach, clear language and inclusiveness.
>
Without the trust, confidence and interest of the public, government agencies are
isolated and their decisions may not be optimal.
>
Government agencies need public allies at every stage of regulation and
implementation in order to strengthen these regulations and this implementation.
>
Involvement of the public leads to increased essential practical, local and sometimes
technical knowledge.
>
Access to information and public participation can increase respect for rights and laws.
Project related lessons
>
Sharing of lessons and practices between countries can ensure better progress in each
country.
>
Collaborative efforts of government officials and NGO representatives reduce mutual
suspicion and help build government-NGO-bridges.
>
Iterative processes help build solid and sustainable results.
NYL / REC / RFF
Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
page 17
>
Learning-by-doing is critical to build long lasting capacity with government officials and
NGOs and ensures that they feel ownership of the issues they have been working on.
Lessons for the Consortium
>
Change that involves altering the thinking and behavior of human beings is a step-by-
step process, where small successes can breed more success.
>
Participants are predominantly interested in practical ideas, less in theory.
>
The Consortium is in a unique position to facilitate learning:
o It has in-depth knowledge from other countries
o It is able to build bridges between sectors within countries, and between
countries
o It assists with "cultural interpretation" to make lessons relevant to local
circumstances.
UNDP/GEF DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT
3rd Progress Report
page 18
2. ACTIVITIES TO COME IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS
2.1. Finalizing country activities and reporting
The participants in the five countries are currently completing their commitments. Their timetables
and tasks depend, as noted above, on the decisions made in each country and is indicated in
Section 1.3. Depending on the country, the "products" expected include citizen brochures, manuals
to assist government officials in their understanding of their duties with respect to access to
information and water-related environmental public participation, capacity building workshops for
government officials and NGOs providing practical tools to work on a day-to-day basis in access to
information and public participation issues, as well as various draft regulations and/or by laws.
The products and lessons gained in their development will be reported in papers that the
Consortium, in cooperation with the country partners and demonstration project managers, will
prepare for the October Basin-Wide Dissemination Meeting. Lessons derived from those
experiences will be distilled out for purposes of discussion and basin-wide sharing.
2.2. Finalizing demonstration projects and reporting
Parallel with the Country activities (and in some cases, coordinated with them), the five countries
are currently completing their commitments to the demonstration projects. Their timetables and
tasks depend, as noted above, on the decisions made in each country. Most countries either have
completed or will soon complete various planned training efforts. Depending on the country, the
expected "products" include:
>
information brochures on what and how information is available;,
>
databases (including information sources, substances, emissions, stakeholders
contacts, etc.);
>
improved local understanding of water-related pollution and its local impacts ;
>
the establishment of various tools (local committees, websites) to provide a platform
for on-going discussion and resolution of issues raised;
>
recommendations on improvements for public access to water related pollution
information at the local community level;
>
recommendations on how the NGO sector can influence decision making processes as a
model for other stakeholders.
As with the Country Activities, the products resulting from the demonstration projects and the
lessons gained in their development will be reported in papers that the Consortium, in cooperation
with demonstration project partners, prepares for the October Basin-Wide Dissemination Meeting.
Lessons derived from those experiences will be distilled out for purposes of discussion and basin-
wide sharing.
NYL / REC / RFF
Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
page 19
2.3. Finalizing communications strategy
The Communications Strategy developed in partnership with Rayka Hauser and Paul Csagoly from
DRP will be finalized in the next reporting period. Most of the activities mentioned in the Strategy
are already underway. Some of them, especially those communications and dissemination activities
that involve the final products of the country activities and demonstration projects, will take place
in the last reporting period of Component 3.4.
2.4. Basin Wide Dissemination Meeting
Dissemination of project results and lessons-learned is an important part of Component 3.4. A
considerable amount of effort has gone into planning a Basin-Wide Dissemination Meeting, "Access
to water information and public participation in the Danube River Basin", scheduled for October 16-
17, 2006 in Szentendre, Hungary at the REC headquarters. The Consortium proposed a plan and
agenda which was commented by and discussed with the DRP and the ICPDR and now has been
finalized.
This one and half-day long meeting, based on the lessons learned from Project Component 3.4 in
each of the participating countries, will share relevant experiences and good practice
recommendations among all Danube-basin countries (Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Bulgaria,
Moldova and Ukraine).
Through the meeting, Component 3.4 will promote public participation and access to information
by showing what obstacles and difficulties have been identified, how they have been overcome,
and what were the practical results and best practice models achieved in each of the project
countries, explaining appropriate tools and applied methodologies. Experience sharing will provide
new ideas for the entire Danube Basin to promote these concepts further in each country's own
national circumstances.
Participants will include representatives of governments responsible for water management and for
the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in the Danube countries, representatives
of the non-governmental sector engaged in related activities at different levels, and other
stakeholders or experts who have good experience in a relevant topic or in a relevant aspect of a
topic discussed during the meeting. ICPDR Public Participation Experts from all Danube countries
will be invited (if not already included in the group mentioned above), as well as representatives of
the DRP, of ICPDR, and as appropriate - of the European Commission.
Key lessons-learned that are common to all or most participating countries in the project will be
distilled before the workshop, and based on this, conclusions and practical recommendations will be
presented and debated during the workshop.
The format will be an interactive, `give and take' workshop, with three opportunities for parallel
smaller group sessions (two on the first day and one on the second day of the workshop), followed
in each case by reporting back to the plenary workshop. This would allow in-depth discussion of
from 6 to 8 key recommendations, with ample opportunities for project participants to share and
discuss their experience and wisdom with the broader group of workshop participants.
The use of professional facilitator/s for plenary sessions will allow the Consortium, ICPDR and DRP
to fully participate in the discussions, each providing input from their specific perspective.
UNDP/GEF DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT
3rd Progress Report
page 20
The final session will discuss the summary conclusions and recommendations based on the results
of the break out groups.
The results of the workshop will include summary conclusions and recommendations for all Danube
countries that can also be discussed and used as input to the ICPDR Public Participation Expert
Group which will have its meeting back-to-back with the Dissemination Workshop in the afternoon
of the second day.
During that same time period after the end of the main workshop, a separate special session is
planned for the participants from project component 3.4 about how to make the project results
sustainable by securing national commitment and discussing specific follow-on tasks.
Although the full scope of lessons from component 3.4 will not be available until late summer (or
September) based on which the exact recommendations can be developed, the Consortium
provided ICPDR and DRP a preliminary list of topics for recommendations. These topics will be
further specified in the summer and discussed with DRP and ICPDR.
2.5. Last steering committee meeting
The third and last Steering Committee (SC) meeting is planned to take place during the October
16-17, 2006 Danube Basin Wide Dissemination Meeting, most probably during the afternoon of the
first day. The invitations to the SC meeting will be sent out together with the invitation to the Basin
Wide Meeting, which will be attended by the representatives of all project countries, DEF, DRP,
ICPDR and the Consortium.
The objectives of the meeting will be to:
>
review and discuss the overall progress of the project component to date;
>
inform the Steering Committee about the achievements of the country activities and
demonstration projects in the past 6 months;
>
present and discuss activities planned until the closure of the project component
including the final report;
>
present the Communications Strategy for the dissemination of results and the lessons
learned of the project component;
>
provide and discuss plans for the sustainability of project results and possible follow up
plans for the period after the project component has ended.
The draft agenda will be proposed to the DRP and ICPDR at the beginning of September, and after
discussion and agreement will be sent out to the country Heads of Delegations, DEF, ICPDR and
DRP.
2.6. Final report on the project
Following the Basin-Wide Dissemination Meeting, the Consortium will consolidate the experience
gained in the implementation of the project and all its parts (country activities and demonstration
projects as well as the various national and plenary meetings), along with additional thoughts
gained in the Basin-Wide Dissemination Meeting. This will form the basis for our final report which
will memorialize lessons learned, best practices and recommendations for on-going implementation
of the principles of the project.
NYL / REC / RFF
Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
page 21
2.7. Work plan and suggested changes
This work plan lists activities for the entire duration of the project. Activities completed so far have
been marked with **. Changes of dates, most of them pertaining to the last 6 month period of the
project, June 2006 December 2006 (compared with the work plan as provided in the first
progress report of 15 July 2005 and subsequently adapted in following progress reports), have
been highlighted.
ACTIVITY RESPONSIBLE
DEADLINE
SELECTION AND HIRING OF NATIONAL CONSULTANTS:
Feedback on draft TOR
DRP
23 November 2004 **
Finalized TOR
Consultant
30 November 2004 **
Collection of CVs and proposal on selected
Consultant
5-10 December 2004 **
experts to DRP
Approval of nominated experts
DRP/ICPDR
A week after submission **
Contracting of experts
Consultant
Upon approval **
ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL TEAMS:
Serbia and Montenegro national workshop
Consultant
12 October 2004 **
Bosnia and Herzegovina national workshop
Consultant
14 October 2004 **
Croatia national workshop
Consultant
22 October 2004 **
Romania national workshop
Consultant
16 November 2004 **
Bulgaria national workshop
Consultant
26 November 2004 **
Letters to key institutions with workshop
Consultant
1-22 December 2004 **
minutes and requests for nominations
Nominations of members for national and
Stakeholder
31 December 2004-January 31 2005 **
operational teams
organizations
NATIONAL NEEDS ASSESSMENTS:
Feedback on draft NA outline
DRP
23 November 2004 **
Submission of draft questionnaire
Consultant
5 December 2004 **
Feedback on draft questionnaire
DRP
15 December 2004 **
Finalized NA outline
Consultant
5 December 2004 **
Finalized outline
Consultant
10 December 2004 **
Guidance for local experts
Consultant
December 2004 **
Draft NA reports, BG, SiM
Consultant
31 January 2005 **
Draft NA reports, HR, RO and BiH
Consultant
15 February 2005 **
Translation, distribution, national consultations
Consultant
February, mid- to end of March 2005
**
Final Needs Assessment Reports
Consultant
31 March 2005 1st week of June 2005
**
INCEPTION REPORT:
Draft Report
Consultant
17 December 2004 **
Feedback from DRP
DRP
January 7, 2005 **
Final Report
Consultant
End of second week of January 2005 **
ICPDR ASSESSMENT:
Draft review and analysis of models for
Consultant
31 December 2004 **
Observers and PP
Feedback from ICPDR on draft
ICPDR
January 13, 2005 **
Draft observer questionnaire
Consultant
1 December 2004 **
Feedback from ICPDR on draft observer
ICPDR
17 December 2004 **
questionnaire
Final draft paper on PP models with
Consultant
27 February 2005 **
recommendations to the ICPDR
(NYU)
Draft ICPDR assessment of access to
Consultant
31 December 2004 **
information mechanisms
(RFF)
UNDP/GEF DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT
3rd Progress Report
page 22
ACTIVITY RESPONSIBLE
DEADLINE
Final ICPDR assessment of access to information Consultant
20 February 2005 **
mechanisms
Final design of reform measures for ICPDR
Consultant
No longer required by ICPDR
Assistance to ICPDR in implementing
Consultant/IC
No longer required by ICPDR
recommendations on access to information and
PDR
observer/PP models
FINALIZATION OF LOGFRAME AND INDICATORS:
Comments on TOR for TA
Consultant
26 November 2004 **
Feedback from DRP
DRP
10 December 2004 **
Start of cooperation with TA
Consultant,
January 2005 **
DRP
Methodology for indicator development and
Consultant,
15 January 2005 **
other TA planned
NHL
Draft logframe with outcomes and outputs
Consultant,
24 May 2005 **
NHL
Completed logframe and indicators
Consultant
January 2006 **
LOCAL DEMONSTRATION SITES:
Selection criteria and a concrete proposal for
Consultant
Inception Report **
selection, planning and implementation process
Feedback on selection criteria and processes
DRP
15 January 2005 **
Review of potential hot spots and project ideas
Consultant
29 February 2005 **
Discussion at national workshops
Consultant
February and April 2005 **
Submission of proposals to 3.4 SC
Consultant
April 2005 **
Selection of local sites and demonstration
3.4 SC
April-June 2005 **
projects
Draft TORs for local experts
Consultant
July 2005 **
Feedback on TORs
DRP
July 2005 **
Contract local experts
Consultant
July 2005 (Upon approval) **
Implementation Plans for demonstration
Consultant
September 2005 **
projects
Start of demonstration projects
Consultant
October / November 2005 **
Capacity building workshops at local sites
Consultant
October / November 2005 September
2006 (on an ongoing basis)
Technical Assistance to demonstration projects
Consultant
October / November 2005 September
2006 (on an ongoing basis)
End of demonstration projects
Consultant
September 2006
Preliminary overview of lessons learned from
September 2006
demo projects (ready for Basin Wide
Dissemination Meeting)
Final lessons learned from demonstration
Consultant
October -November 2006
projects (to be part of final report)
MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS:
Plan/prepare for first set National Workshops
Consultant
January-February 2005 **
National workshops--first set
Consultant
February-April 2005 **
Plan/prepare for second set National Workshops
Consultant
January-February 2006
National workshop--second set
Consultant
March April 2006
Plan/prepare for First Plenary Meetings
Consultant
March-April 2005 **
Regional Plenary Meetings--First
Consultant
25-26 April 2005 **
Plan/Prepare for Second Plenary Meetings
Consultant
September-October 2005 **
Regional Plenary Meeting --
Consultant
5, 6 December 2005 **
Second
List of objectives for Basin Wide Dissemination
Consultant
February 2006 **
Meeting for discussion with DRP/ICPDR
Plan/Prepare for Basin Wide Dissemination
Consultant September
2006
Meeting
Basin Wide Dissemination Meeting
Consultant
16-17 October 2006
3.4 Steering Committee Meeting--first
Consultant/DR
27 April 2005 **
P
3.4 Steering Committee Meeting--second
Consultant/DR
March 2006 **
P
3.4 Steering Committee Meeting--Final
Consultant/DR
16 or 17 October 2006
NYL / REC / RFF
Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
page 23
ACTIVITY RESPONSIBLE
DEADLINE
P
Kick-off Meeting of Project Partners/DRP
Consultant/DR
November 2004 **
P
Meeting of Project Partners
Consultant
28 April 2005 **
Meeting of Project Partners
Consultant/DR
7 December 2005 **
P/ICPDR
Meeting of Project Partners/ICPDR/DRP, as
Consultant/DR
16 or 17 October 2006
needed
P/ICPDR
STUDY TOURS:
Selection of participants for U.S. and EU Study
Consultant/Na
February 2005 and September 2005 **
Tours
tional Teams
DRP feedback on participants
DRP
February 2005 and September 2005 **
Final agenda for U.S. Study Tour
Consultant
15 June 2005 **
U.S. Study Tour
Consultant
11-24 June 2005 **
Draft agenda for EU Study Tour
Consultant
October 2005 **
DRP/ICPDR Comments on agenda
DRP
October 2005 **
Final agenda for EU Study Tour
Consultant
October 2005 **
EU Study Tour
Consultant
November 2005 **
U.S. Study Tour lessons learned reports
Country teams September 2005 **
EU Study Tour lessons learned report
Country teams January 2006 **
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE / CAPACITY BUILDING:
Technical assistance to national teams as
Consultant
September 2005-September 2006 on an
needed
ongoing basis
Report on design of national capacity building
Consultant
Second progress report **
activities
Practical Work Products (e.g., Best Practices
Consultant
To be determined based on needs
Materials)
identified in national workshops and
regional plenary meetings **
Practical work products completed
Consultant
October 2006
NATIONAL MEASURES / PRODUCTS:
Identification of measures/products
National
February-March 2005, in national
teams/Consult
workshops **
ants
Preliminary design of measures/products National 30 June 2005 **
teams/Consult
ants
TORs for local consultants
Consultants
Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and
Montenegro: December 2005 **
Bosnia and Herzegovina: January,
February 2006 **
Local consultants contracted
Consultants
Serbia and Montenegro: December 2005
**
Bosnia and Herzegovina: February 2006
**
Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania: January-
February 2006**
Draft measures/products
National
September 2006
teams/Consult
ants
Final measures/products
National
November 2006
teams/Consult
ants
Lessons learned from the national activities (to
National
October/November 2006
be part of final report)
teams/Consult
ants
DISSEMINATION:
Draft dissemination / communications plan
Consultant
May 2006
Final dissemination / communications plan
Consultant
September / October 2006
Dissemination of project products Consultant
Ongoing
UNDP/GEF DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT
3rd Progress Report
page 24
ACTIVITY RESPONSIBLE
DEADLINE
WEBSITE:
Project website established
Consultant
November 2004 **
Closed project website open for participants
Consultant
February 2006 **
Posting of project products (including
Consultant
November 2004-December 2006
background materials), articles and periodic
updates
FINAL REPORT / LESSONS LEARNED:
Draft Final Report (including lessons learned
Consultant November
2006
from national activities and demonstration
projects, recommendations based on lessons
learned and best practices)
Final Report
Consultant
December 2006
REPORTING:
First 6-month report
Consultant
15 July 2005 **
Second (Annual) 6-month Report
Consultant
December 2005 **
Third 6-month report
Consultant
July 2006 **
Fourth 6-month report (part of final report)
Consultant
December 2006
External mid-term evaluation
Indep.
December 2005
Contractor
ARTICLES:
Draft articles
Consultant
Ongoing
Finalize/begin to place articles for publication
Consultant
Ongoing
NYL / REC / RFF
Enhancing Access to Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro
page 25
3. FINANCIAL REPORTING
3.1. Explanation of financial report
The spending of the project budget is according to the plans. (See excel spreadsheets containing
the financial report is sent as separate file along with this document as an Annex.)
As the Consortium reported in the first and second progress report, during the finalization process
of the country activities it became apparent that in order to ensure an appropriate impact of the
project activities, the reallocation of 49.897 USD were proposed from the item local consultancy to
direct costs so country activities can be implemented according to the proposals by the country
partners. The request was approved by the DRP based on more detailed information provided
about the reallocation.
An amount of 30,000 USD is reserved for the last Basin wide dissemination workshop which is
allocated in the budget under the item regional workshops.
The Project Manager also informed the Steering Committee on its meeting on March 13, 2006
about the status of financial issues related to the project, the status of budget spending and the
proposed reallocations from the item local consultancy to direct costs so country activities can be
implemented according to the proposals by the country partners. The Financial Report was
approved by the Steering Committee.
ANNEX: Financial report (a separate document sent as a separate file)
UNDP/GEF DANUBE REGIONAL PROJECT