UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITY
Project of the Governments of Bosnia-Herzegovina*, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic,
Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Federal Yugoslav Republic*
____________
PROJECT DOCUMENT
Number:
RER/96/G31/A/1G/31
Title:
Developing The Danube River Basin Pollution Reduction
Programme
Duration:
16
months
UNDP and parallel financing
ACC/UNDP Sector
0400
and
Subsector:
0410
UNDP/GEF: $ 3,900,000
EU:
$ 9,800,000
GEF
Theme: International
Waters
Total:
$13,700,000
Executing Agency:
UN Office for Project
Services
Estimated Starting Date:
15 August 1997
Brief Description: The immediate goal for this project is to prepare for funding pollution prevention and
reduction activities to both restore the Danube River Basin and to protect the Black Sea environment. The main
output will be prioritised pollution projects for co-financing by national and international sources, set within a
strategic policy framework for the Danube and Black Sea Basin. This immediate goal is composed of four objectives
which are to be achieved over a 16 month period: Objective 1: Complete the knowledge base for priority-setting;
Objective 2: Review policy for protection (especially nature protection) of the Danube Basin and Black Sea;
Objective 3: Increase public awareness and participation; and Objective 4: Develop the financing of the pollution
reduction programme within the Danube Strategic Action Plan.
___________________________________________________________________________
On
behalf
of:
Signature
Date
Name/Title
UNOPS:
____________________ ___________ ___________________
UNDP:
____________________ ___________ ___________________
The Government:
____________________ ___________ ___________________
*
These two countries will be invited to participate in the project in mid-1997.
**
$US 3.6 million were approved for 1996. US$ 9.8 million are requested for 1997 and 1998 (see paragraph 149).
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A. CONTEXT
1.
This is the Project Document for the GEF project `Developing the Danube River Basin
Pollution Reduction Programme'. It has been developed from the Project Concept for a GEF
sponsored project which was approved by Senior officials of Danube countries attending the
joint Task Force and International Commission meeting in Vienna on 25 - 26 July 1996. This
Project Document, which received valuable input from the Interim Commission and several
Danube DRPC Heads of Delegations, was reviewed, revised and approved by the Danube
Country Program Coordinators in May, 1997. This project represents the GEF contribution to
Phase 2 of the Danube Environmental Programme, a broad effort in which also Austria and
Germany are involved.
2.
The first phase of the Danube Programme (1992-96) concentrated on building regional
cooperation for water management, evaluating and defining problems, implementing a basin-
wide water quality monitoring strategy and establishing a warning system for accidental
pollution. A major output of the first phase was the Strategic Action Plan (SAP), 1994. The
SAP provides direction and a framework for achieving the goals of regional integrated water
management expressed in the Danube River Protection Convention, also signed in 1994 and
expected to come into force by 1997.
3. Regional assessments such as the ongoing Black Sea Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis
indicate that the Danube River Basin is the largest pollution contributor to the Black Sea in
general and the Western part of the Black Sea in particular. A significant fraction of the
nutrients (58%-nitrogen, 66%-phosphorus) received by the Black Sea come from the Danube
River and these loads have resulted in the occurrence of severe eutrophication problems.
Pollution reduction targets and programmes therefore require to be established in order to reverse
the degradation of the Black Sea environment, in accordance with the goals of the Danube SAP.
The Danube River Protection Convention (Article 8) also foresees the need to develop `joint
action programmes ... aimed at the reduction of pollution loads both from industrial and
municipal point sources as well as from non-point sources'. On the basis of current knowledge,
it is expected that the pollution reduction targets needed to protect the Black Sea ecosystem will
require significant efforts from both Black Sea and Danube countries, and will involve levels of
investment significantly in excess of what is required to safeguard national interests only.
Important instruments to reach this goal are in an advanced state of preparation; the drafts of the
Ministerial Declaration and the Danube Basin Nature Conservation convention, for example. The
first one is already in front of the Ministries concerned.
Expected results
4.
The results of successfully completing the present GEF Pollution Reduction Project for the
Danube River Basin will include:
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· National and basin-wide pollution reduction programmes for substances causing
eutrophication (especially nitrogen and phosphorus ) coming from municipalities, industry
and agriculture;
· National and basin-wide pollution reduction and ecological rehabilitation programmes for
priority wetlands floodplains, and adjacent groundwater resources, and demonstration projects
in cooperation with the European Union's Phare and Tacis Programmes;
· Revised Danube Strategic Action Plan which includes a policy linkages with the Black Sea
Basin and specific pollution reduction targets for nitrogen and phosphorus;
· Increased public awareness and participation in pollution reduction activities related to the
SAP and improved information accessibility and transparency;
· Strengthened capacity of environmental non-governmental organisations involved in Danube
and Black Sea basin issues
· Prepared project documents and financing packages for a series of priority pollution reduction
projects, and mechanisms for attracting additional international support;
· Improved international cooperation in the sustainable management of the Danube River Basin
and Black Sea, including the integration of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia in international management of the Danube River Basin.
THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN
5.
The waters of the Danube River and its tributaries combine to make up a river-related
ecosystem of high economic, social and environmental value. The main river is 2857 km long
and drains a river basin of 817 000 km². At the entrance to the Danube Delta the mean flow of
the river is about 6550 m³/s within a range of 1610 m³/s to 15540 m³/s for extremes of low and
high flow respectively. Within the Danube River Basin are all of Hungary, most of Romania,
Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia, and significant parts of Bulgaria, Germany and the
Czech Republic, Moldova, Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia. The latter two countries were not involved in Phase 1 of the Danube Programme.
The Danube River Basin is shown in the attached Figure 1.
6.
The River Basin includes numerous important natural areas such as wetlands and their
groundwater resources, and floodplains, with a high number of endangered endemic plant and
animal species. Results from Phase 1 of the Danube Programme show that biodiversity and
landscapes (thus including cultural diversity) have declined significantly over the last 30 years
with, for example, 40% fewer species of phytoplankton recorded in 1995 than in 1960. Despite
this, the river basin still provides good habitat in places for `islands' of higher diversity and
abundance (e.g. rich populations of bivalves in the Iron Gates area and the Danube delta).
7. The river network supports drinking water supply (surface and subsurface, e.g. bank
filtered water), agriculture, industry, fishing, tourism and recreation, power generation and
navigation but it also receives the waste waters for a region with a population of about 85 million
in thirteen different countries. During the period of centralised planning the main emphasis of
Central and Eastern European Countries was on production and policies took little, or no
account, of the degradation of the environment. The river system receives and transports
considerable quantities of pollutants across national border and eventually into the Black Sea. In
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the early 1990s, for example, it is estimated that more than 300 000 tonnes/year of nitrogen and
around 40 000 tonnes/ year of phosphorus were discharged into the Black Sea, resulting in
eutrophication of coastal waters, algae blooms, fish deaths, and economic losses to the tourism
industry. Economic transition now on-going, including industrial and agricultural restructuring,
creates an opportunity to change policies and practices to the benefit of the environment and of
peoples' quality of life. The development of public awareness and of environmental policies that
will ensure the sustainable development of the entire society is a challenge to countries in
transition.
8.
According to the Strategic Action Plan, the main problems in the Danube River Basin that
affect water quality use are:
· high loads of nutrients and eutrophication;
· contamination with hazardous substances, including oils;
· microbiological contamination;
· contamination with substances causing heterotrophic growth and oxygen-depletion; and
· competition for available water.
9.
Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia represent special cases in
terms of managing the Danube River Basin. Together with Croatia , they represent around 15%
of the total basin area and account for significant quantities of transboundary pollution loads.
Little is known about the state of the environment in these countries since the outbreak of war in
Bosnia-Herzegovina in the early 1990s. Since the signing and implementation of the `Dayton'
Agreement, there is now an opportunity to broaden the international cooperation required in
order to manage the Danube River Basin and to ensure adequate protection of the Black Sea.
DANUBE RIVER PROTECTION CONVENTION
10. The Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the River
Danube (Danube River Protection Convention - DRPC) was signed by Danube countries and
European Commission in Sofia in June 1994. The Signatories to the Convention agreed on
`conservation, improvement and the rational use of surface and groundwater in the catchment
area', to `control the hazards originating from accidents' and to contribute to reducing the
pollution loads of the Black Sea from sources in the catchment area'. They also agreed to
cooperate on fundamental water management issues by taking `all appropriate legal,
administrative and technical measures to at least maintain and improve the current environmental
and water quality conditions of the Danube River and of the waters in its catchment area and to
prevent and reduce as far as possible adverse impacts and changes occurring or likely to be
caused'.
11. Nine parties must ratify the Convention before it comes into force. To date, six parties
have done so. Until its entry into force, an interim International Commission (IC) was
established to provide an impetus to regional cooperation. A (small) International Secretariat for
the Interim Commission has now been set up in the Vienna International Centre, alongside the
offices of the PCU. The entry into force of the Convention is expected towards the end of 1997
4
or in 1998. Until such date, the IC and its subsidiary bodies will be maximally involved and
consulted by the PCU to the benefit of its projects.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME FOR THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN
12. The Environmental Programme for the Danube River Basin was established in 1991, with
practical action starting in 1992. The aim of the Programme was to build regional cooperation
for water management and to initiate high priority actions which would support the finalisation
and implementation of the Danube River Protection Convention. The Programme is directed by
a Task Force which consists of representatives of 11 Danube countries (Austria, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and
Ukraine), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), bilateral and international donors, and
international financing institutions. Danube countries are represented on the Task Force by a
Country Programme Coordinator (CPC) and the Head of Delegation for the Danube River
Protection Convention. The Task Force is chaired by the European Commission.
13. A joint European Commission/ GEF funded Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) was
established to implement and coordinate the Programme Work Plan approved by the Task Force.
The Work Plan covered institutional strengthening, capacity building, NGO activities, water
quality monitoring, data collection and assessment, accidental warning systems, pre-investment
activities, applied research and preparation of the Danube Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and
National Action Plans (NAPs). The Task Force set up three Sub-Groups to work on the
following specific technical topics:
· to establish a regional monitoring system, including analytical quality control and information
validation and exchange (the `MLIM' programme);
· to set-up an Accident Emergency Warning System (AEWS) to provide international reporting
of pollution accidents and other hazards;
· to create a basin-wide system for exchanging textual information relevant for decision makers
and the general public (`DANIS' - see objective 3.2 below).
14. The main international contributors to the Programme were the European Union's Phare
and Tacis programmes and the GEF. Danube governments provided substantial national
expertise and financial and in-kind contributions to Programme activities. The first GEF
contribution of US$ 8.5 million for the project `Environmental Management in the Danube River
Basin' ended in June 1996. The objectives of this project were to develop adequate institutional
and human resource capacity; management and analysis of data related to the pollution situation
in the Basin, and preparation of pre-investment studies and the Strategic Action Plan for the
River Basin. The World Bank implemented the component related to investments.
15. The Phare Programme contributed MECU 13.4 (US$ 15.2 million) to Phase 1 of the
Programme. These funds supported training, project planning for infrastructure development,
institutional capacity-building, protection and rehabilitation of wetlands and vulnerable
ecosystems, and the preparation of the Strategic Action Plan. In addition, in 1996, the Tacis
Programme allocated MECU 1 (US$ 1.14 million) for monitoring-related activities in Moldova
and Ukraine. Financial contributions to the Programme were also made by the European Bank
5
for Reconstruction and Development, the Governments of Austria, the Netherlands, the USA,
and the private Barbara Gauntlett Foundation. Task Force NGOs contributed to the work
through providing their expertise and making relevant reports available.
THE STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN FOR THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN 1995-2005
16. The Strategic Action Plan (SAP) was endorsed in Bucharest on 6 December 1994 by
Environmental Ministers from the Danube countries and the EU Commissioner responsible for
the Environment. It was prepared by a drafting group including experts from Danube countries,
donors and International Financing Institutions. The Task Force steered the process and finalised
the SAP during an intensive series of meetings in 1994. The whole drafting process included two
rounds of consultative meetings in all countries involving NGOs, representatives of industrial
enterprises and municipal utilities, central and local environmental authorities.
17. The principles underlying goals and actions of the Plan include the precautionary principle;
the use of Best Available Technologies (BAT) and Best Environmental Practice (BEP) for
control of pollution at source; the polluter pays principle (PPP); and a commitment to regional
cooperation and shared information among partners implementing the Action Plan. The SAP
lays out strategies for overcoming water-related environmental problems in the Danube River
Basin. It strongly supports the process of cooperation and collaboration to address
transboundary problems. It provides a framework for actions and policy changes to be
implemented by relevant local and central authorities in Danube countries as well as a
framework to identify environmental activities and investments needs.
18. The SAP has four equally important goals:
· to reduce the negative impacts in the Danube River Basin and on riverine ecosystems and the
Black Sea;
· to maintain and improve the availability and quality of the water in the Danube River basin;
· to establish the control of hazards from accidental spills;
· to develop regional water management cooperation.
19. To achieve these goals the SAP identified short and medium term actions to be
implemented, and provided an inventory of pollution hot-spots, wetlands which benefit water
quality, and problems in most urgent need of attention. The SAP states that `nutrient and
pollution loads coming from the river must be reduced if the health of the whole system,
including that of the delta and Black Sea, are to be restored'. National Action Plans have been
prepared to implement the SAP at the national level. No specific targets for pollution reduction
by priority substances and sectors were set in the SAP.
RESULTS OF PHASE 1 OF THE DANUBE PROGRAMME (1992-96)
20. The following provides a summary of the main results achieved by the Danube
Environmental Programme:
6
Institutional Strengthening
· Establishment of the Danube Task Force. This has promoted active and strong networking
among ministries, national and local governmental bodies, industries, agricultural bodies and
non-governmental organisations in the Danube River Basin and within each Danube country;
· Support was provided to Danube countries in their negotiations on the Danube River
Protection Convention, its Interim Commission and International Secretariat;
· Ministries of Environment have been supported to set-up Danube `coordination offices'
through the provision of additional experts, training, and computer and communication
equipment;
· Training on environment industry relations and enforcement of pollution control regulations
was provided for industrial managers and environmental inspectors in all Danube Countries;
· Management Training for staff of municipal water utilities in all Danube Countries to address
cost recovery and investment planning was provided;
· Structures and procedures have been established to enable a transfer of responsibility to the
interim International Commission and its Secretariat to begin in the future for Programme
tasks which fall under the Convention's competence.
Policy development
· Adoption of the Strategic Action Plan for the Danube River Basin by the Ministers of
Environment and the EU Environment Commissioner in December 1994;
· National Action Plans prepared in each Danube country by the end of 1996;
· Increased awareness of the policy directions required to integrate agriculture and environment
policies, and to address human health issues related to transboundary pollution;
Improving the knowledge base/ information exchange
· A Basin-wide monitoring system has been established, and laboratories and monitoring
stations strengthened with new equipment and staff training programmes. Reliable
information is starting to be produced by the basin-wide monitoring system.
· An Accident Emergency and Warning System for the Danube basin has been established.
National structures for identifying and dealing with accidental pollution have also been
strengthen and linked to the international warning system.
· The Danube Information System (DANIS) for exchange of textual information on institutions,
experts, reports, technical literature etc., among the Danube countries has been set-up and is
available through a Web site on the Internet;
· The Applied Research Programme (ARP), consisting of 12 related projects, is in operation,
and has already provided valuable information on causes of environmental degradation and
the strategies required to improve environmental management in the region. Notably the ARP
has enabled the development of the Danube Water Quality Model (DWQM) for analysis and
quantification of pollutant loads to the Black Sea - see below.
7
Investment promotion
· Pre-feasibility studies were prepared for fourteen major transboundary and national tributaries
to the Danube River. These led to the identification of the 180 hot-spots in the Strategic
Action Plan. A small number of hot-spots have already been addressed through investment
projects;
· The SAP and NAPs provide a framework for environmental investment in each Danube
country. They provide additional justification for national governments to allocate scare
resources to reduce transboundary pollution loads.
Supporting Public Participation
· Eight `Danube Watch' newsletters and a brochure `Action for a Blue Danube' were published
and distributed to more than 4000 people in more than 20 countries. These publications have
provided the Danube programme with an international voice and impact;
· An NGO Danube Small Grants Programme was successfully initiated and more than 120
grants were made available for projects to raise awareness to Danube Basin issues;
· Support was provided to establish the Danube Environmental Forum, an `umbrella'
organisation for more than 30 NGOs in all Danube countries;
Danube Water Quality Model (DWQM)
· One of the results of the Applied Research programme carried-out under Phase 1 of the
Programme has been the development of the Danube Water Quality Model (DWQM). The
DWQM, based on the general purpose river model DELWAQ, provides a mass transport
balance for selected pollutants, nutrients, etc., and currently considers the river as composed
of 40 segments; each tributary is dealt with as a point source and so are the major hot-spots.
Preliminary results from the DWQM indicate that for pollution reduction, a 40% decrease in
nutrient levels (compared with the 1989-1991 situation) may be required in order to reduce
significantly the occurrence of eutrophication in the Black Sea coastal areas. The results also
indicate that phosphorus is the priority nutrient with regard to pollution load reduction,
although in the Black Sea nitrogen is also very important. These preliminary results will be
confirmed, and adjusted as required, during the activities under Objective 1 of this present
project and used in the preparation of Pollution Reduction Programmes and financing
strategies in each Danube countries.
STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME (SIP)
21. The SIP was developed in 1996 by the National Programme Coordinators with the support
of the Danube Environmental Programme. The SIP is a programme of demonstration projects
which support the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan. The Phare Programme is
providing funds to implement several of the demonstration projects identified, as well as
continued funding for basin-wide activities for the MLIM regional monitoring system and the
AEWS.
8
22. The SIP includes a brief review of transboundary problems. However, it does not provide
sufficient information about priorities for transboundary concerns, as required by the GEF
Operational Strategy. Consequently, a preliminary Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis was
carried out by UNEP under a joint UNEP/UNDP PDF project in late 1996. The main problems
identified include:
· transfer of gross pollution from inadequately treated urban waste waters; pollution by metals
and organic substances from untreated industrial waste waters; high loads of nitrates from
agriculture and phosphates from sewage and large animal farms affecting many tributaries
and constituting the major factor in eutrophication of Eastern basin of the Black Sea:
· reduced and regulated flows from upstream hydropower plants combined with interruption to
natural sediment flows leading to bank erosion and lowering of the stream bed downstream,
and damage to wetlands, groundwater resources and river ecosystems.
23. Further review is required to quantify the origins and impacts of the transboundary
pollution. Efforts are also needed to define the `baseline environmental commitments' (which
have to be funded domestically or through donors or loans), and those activities which are
additionally required to solve the priority transboundary problems. This will determine the
degree of potential GEF contribution to implementing a comprehensive ecosystem-based
approach for managing the Danube River Basin according to the GEF Operational Strategy.
This is reflected in the approach taken by this present project.
B.
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION/RATIONALE FOR GEF SUPPORT
Regional Cooperation
24. Responsibility for Danube Programme activities which fall under the competence of the
Danube River Protection Convention will be transferred to the International Commission once
the Convention enters into force or soon after. This process may begin towards the end of 1997.
The Secretariat to the Convention will also start to build-up its capacity from this time. However
, there will be a transition period during which the Programme and PCU will be required to
support the Commission and Secretariat until they are fully operational and sustainable financing
structures established. They may do this, inter alia, by providing support to the Interim
International Commission's emission working group, whose expertise will be called upon in
achieving the different project objectives, especially as regards the completion of the knowledge
base, and the development of a pollution prevention and reduction programme. Therefore, there
is a need for this GEF project to continue for a limited time period to support the institutional
structures for managing the transboundary pollution problems of the Danube river Basin.
25. Furthermore, the transition process from centrally planned to market economies is not yet
complete in all Danube countries. Severe economic difficulties are being faced in several
countries, especially the lower basin region where pollution problems are also relatively severe.
The cases of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia present additional needs
in the River Basin in this sense. These countries need support to be able to integrate themselves
into the international agreements made for managing the Danube River and the pollution
9
reduction action which this implies. This integration is required urgently if the basin-wide
pollution impacts on the Black Sea are to be successfully addressed. Therefore there is a need
for this GEF project to support the strengthening of regional cooperation among countries in the
Danube River Basin during these transition processes.
Policy development
26. The Danube SAP and DRPC together provide the framework for strategic environmental
management in the Danube River Basin. Both recognise the importance of reducing pollution
impacts to the Black Sea. However, neither the SAP nor the Convention set specific targets for
priority pollutants and sectors which will be required to achieve the goals set. Without tackling
this area of environmental policy, degradation of the Black Sea ecosystem will continue and
global benefits will be lost. Therefore there is a need for this GEF project to promote policy
development in the region by completing the knowledge base regarding the Danube contribution
to priority pollutant loads to the Black Sea and by stimulating policy discussions required to
update the Danube SAP.
Public participation
27. The emergence of effective public information and participation has started under Phase 1
of the Danube Programme. However public participation in environmental management has not
yet reached a level where it is sustainable within the Danube River Basin and Black Sea. This is
because it takes time for governmental and non-governmental organisations to build confidence
and to develop means of working together (despite not always agreeing with each other). Public
access to information and awareness to transboundary pollution issues also requires to be
considerably strengthened. This is necessary because ultimately it is the tax payers in each
country who will have to pay for the measures required to protect the Danube River Basin and
the Black Sea. Therefore there is a need for this GEF project to strengthen public participation
and information provision to enable these aspects to become self-sustaining in the future.
Investment in pollution reduction
28. Environmental investment is beginning to be seen in Danube countries, but is still at a very
low level. Only very few of the 180 hot-spots requiring investment identified in the SAP have
been addressed through actual projects. To address the problem of eutrophication in the Danube
river Basin and the Black Sea, it is necessary to stimulate investment in projects which will
reduce the loads of transboundary nutrients in the Danube River, and phosphorus loads in
particular. Hot-spots which discharge directly into the Danube River, in the lower Danube basin,
are of particular concern in this respect. Additional financing resources are required at national
and international level to carry-out these transboundary pollution reduction projects which have
global as well as national benefits. Therefore there is a need for this GEF project to stimulate
investment in pollution reduction projects throughout the Danube River Basin.
10
Ecological rehabilitation
29. Biodiversity and Landscape diversity in the Danube River Basin have significantly
declined since 1960 due to pollution and habitat loss. River marginal habitats in particular (e.g.
wetlands and floodplains) have been reduced through various river engineering works and
agricultural development. The maintenance of a network and range of habitats - in accordance
with the Pan European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy adopted by the Ministerial
Conference in Sofia 1995 - in the river basin is important for the ecological functioning and
integrity of the River Basin and to reduce the impact of transboundary pollution and flooding.
Wetlands and floodplains also provide important areas for recreation for local communities (e.g.
fishing, canoeing). Ecological rehabilitation in the Danube River Basin will provide both
national and global benefits. Therefore there is need for this GEF project to promote action to
increase the area of wetland and floodplain habitat, and the services they provide, in the River
Basin.
Rationale for GEF Support
30. This project is fully consistent with the Waterbody-Based Operational Programme of the
GEF Operational Strategy. It responds to Governments requests, both through the existing short-
term action plan and the medium/long-term Strategic Action Plan, which it will help to
implement. This project will help facilitate the development of the GEF strategic Black Sea
Basin approach. GEF funding for this project would contribute to the elaboration of a strategic
framework for a large programme of investment in the Basin during the project implementation
period, particularly in municipal waste management and it will also lay the foundation for a
longer programme of investments over time in this and other areas. The project is also expected
to have considerable benefits as a model project for management of international river basins
elsewhere in the world.
C. DEVELOPMENT
OBJECTIVE
30. The overall long-term goal of this new GEF project is to stimulate sustainable, institutional
and financial arrangements for effective environmental management of the Danube River Basin,
in accordance with the International Waters Strategy of GEF Operational Strategy and the
International Waters Operational Programme #8, Waterbody-based.
D.
IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES, OUTPUTS & ACTIVITIES
31. The immediate goal for this project is to prepare for funding pollution prevention and
reduction activities required to both restore the Danube River Basin and to protect the Black
Sea environment. The main output will be prioritised pollution reduction projects for co-
financing by national and international sources, set within a strategic policy framework for the
Danube and Black Sea Basin. This immediate goal is composed of four objectives which are to
be achieved over a 16 month period:
Objective 1: Complete the knowledge base for priority-setting;
11
Objective 2: Review policy for protection (especially nature protection) of the Danube Basin
and Black Sea;
Objective 3: Increase public awareness and participation;
Objective 4: Develop the financing of the pollution reduction programme within the Danube
Strategic Action Plan
32. The fifth component of the project will provide for the management required to achieve the
four objectives given above. Project management will cover the financing of staff,
accommodation, equipment and operating costs at the Programme Coordination Unit operated
jointly with the European Union's Phare and Tacis programmes. The five elements of this
project will be carried-out according to a detailed work plan which will be developed by the
Project Management. A preliminary project implementation schedule is presented in the
attached Figure 2.
OBJECTIVE 1: COMPLETE THE KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR PRIORITY-SETTING
Sub-objective 1.1: Update National Reviews and analyse National Action Plans, using a
common format.
33. The aim of this sub-objective is to complete the information required for the analysis of
priority pollution loads in the Danube river basin and to establish national commitments to
pollution reduction.
34. Under Phase 1 of the Danube Programme, a number of activities were set up to provide the
scientific background information for transboundary pollution to transboundary rivers, the
Danube river itself and to the Danube Delta and the Black Sea. Results from these activities
have been used in the preparation of this project, and others will continue to be reported to the
Task Force during 1997 and 1998. These results will be incorporated into the GEF project as
they become available.
Activities
1.1.1 Update National Reviews focusing on priority pollutants/ sectors agreed in SAP.
35. National Reviews were prepared in 1992-93 by all countries then participating in the
Danube Programme. These documents formed the basis for all subsequent project activities.
They included analysis of the Danube water system and the impacts on it from economic sectors
in each country. An updated, technical basis which is the same for all countries is required to
support future policy discussions, in particular for a refinement of the Danube Strategic Action
Plan (SAP) which is due after December 1997 (Danube SAP, Executive Summary, p. ix).
36. An activity is therefore required to also update the National Reviews (NRs). Knowledge
gained in the preparation of National Action Plans and the Danube Applied Research Programme
provides a basis for this. This will be carried-out by Teams of National Experts under the
supervision of the CPC and with input from the Interim International Commission. The updated
NRs will focus on analysing existing information on priority substances and sectors affecting the
12
Danube River Basin and the Black Sea, including: nutrients (especially phosphorus) from
agriculture and municipalities, and hazardous substances, oils, and oxygen-depleting substances
coming from municipalities, agriculture and industry. An agreement on a common methodology
for working out national nutrient budgets will be sought. Information on the presence of
phosphorus traps at municipal waste water treatment plants, and whether they are planned to be
installed or not will be specifically included. Priority attention will also be given to the extent
and ecological state of wetlands and floodplains in each country. Their function as a trap for
nutrients will be evaluated. The NR activity will also require each country to provide data on
water quality, emissions and the water system in a pre-defined (electronic) format required for
input into the Danube Water Quality Model (DWQM). The DWQM is a result of the Danube
Applied Research Programme and will be a key tool in the finalisation of the Transboundary
Diagnostic Analysis. It will be reviewed by a meeting of national experts from all Danube
countries.
37. The main tasks to be undertaken are:
· Task A. Format for National Reviews to be prepared. This will include the electronic
formats for substance, emissions and water system data required by the DWQM.
Responsibility: PCU (assisted by a team of national experts, using the MLIM procedures as
an example).
· Task B. National Teams to prepare the NRs according to the formats provided.
Responsibility: CPC (assisted by National Team consultants). Consultation with NGOs and
the public will be held in each country to review the draft National Review and to provide
additional input.
· Task C. Water quality , emission, and water system data to be validated and then introduced
into the DWQM. Analysis of the longitudinal concentration profiles, in-stream loads and
export to the Danube Delta and Black Sea, and formulation of initial pollution reduction
scenarios will be carried-out. Responsibility: PCU (assisted by consultant).
38. The output from this activity will be 11 updated National Reviews and an extended and
improved Danube Water Quality Model for analysis of transboundary pollution loads and export
to the Danube delta and Black Sea.
1.1.2 Prepare National Reviews for Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
and Croatia.
39. Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are expected to become fully
participating members of the Danube Programme. The first activity required of these countries
will be to prepare National Reviews in the same format as those prepared by the other Danube
countries. This will be carried-out by National Teams of consultants under the supervision of the
CPC. The National Reviews of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and
Croatia are important to the success of the Danube Programme as they represent a significant
part of the total basin area (circa 15%) and are sources of considerable pollution to the water
system. Information from the National Review provided under this activity will be crucial in the
SAP review process. The NR activity will also require both countries to provide data on water
13
quality, emissions and the water system in the pre-defined (electronic) format required for input
into the Danube Water Quality Model (DWQM).
40. Due to the rapidly changing political situation in both countries, these activities may take
place in parallel with other Danube countries (under activity 1.1.1), or may be carried-out later as
soon as circumstances permit.
41. The main tasks to be undertaken are:
· Task A. Format for National Reviews to be prepared in a common standard (done as part of
activity 1.1.1). This will include the electronic formats for substance, emissions and water
system data required by the DWQM. Responsibility: PCU (assisted by national experts).
· Task B. National Teams to prepare the NRs according to the formats provided.
Consultations with NGOs and the public will be held in each country to review the draft
National Review and to provide additional input. Responsibility: CPC (assisted by National
Team consultants).
· Task C. Water quality , emission, and water system data to be validated and then introduced
into the DWQM. Analysis of the longitudinal concentration profiles, in-stream loads and
export to the Danube Delta and Black Sea, and formulation of initial pollution reduction
scenarios will be carried-out. Responsibility: PCU (assisted by consultant).
42. The output from this activity will be 2 National Reviews and an extended and improved
Danube Water Quality Model for analysis of transboundary pollution loads and export to the
Danube delta and Black Sea.
1.1.3 Definition of national baselines contribution through analysis of national policies, projects,
investments, etc. defined in National Action Plans (NAPs).
43. The National Teams preparing the National Reviews will also undertake a review of all
existing and planned investments at the national level in each country. This is required to
provide the baseline against which global benefits from reducing transboundary pollution can be
calculated. This review will be based on the information provided in existing National Action
Plans, prepared under Phase 1 of the Danube Programme. The National Teams will focus on
current or planned investments for the next 5-10 years which will reduce the pollution of the
Danube River Basin by priority substances (nutrients) and/or from priority sectors (agriculture,
municipalities, industry) agreed in the SAP. Priority attention will be given to actions which will
affect the level of phosphorus and nitrogen emissions. Other activities such as wetland
restoration which are expected to produce a transboundary pollution reduction should also be
included in the analysis. This activity will also require each country to provide data on expected
emissions reduction as a result of these current or planned investments or other activities in a
pre-defined (electronic) format required for input into the Danube Water Quality Model
(DWQM).
14
44. The main tasks required are:
· Task A. Format for preparing the National Baselines to be prepared. This will be linked to
the electronic formats for substances and emissions in the DWQM. Responsibility: PCU
(assisted by consultant and EMIS/EG).
· Task B. National Teams to prepare the National Baselines according to the formats
provided. Consultation with NGOs and the public will be held in each country to review the
draft National Baseline and to provide additional input. Responsibility: CPC (assisted by
National Team consultants and EMIS/EG).
· Task C. Emission reduction data to be validated and then introduced into the DWQM.
Analysis of the pollution reduction expected through existing or planned national
investments or other activities to be carried-out. Responsibility: PCU (assisted by consultant
and EMIS/EG).
45. The output of this activity will be a calculation of the national baselines for pollution
reduction from priority substances (especially phosphorus) impacting the Danube River Basin
and Black Sea.
Sub-objective 1.2: Complete the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA)
46. The aim of this sub-objective is to provide an agreed, basin-wide (quantified) analysis of
the priority environmental issues in the Danube River Basin, and its impacts on the Black Sea. It
is expected that input from the Emissions Expert Group of the Interim International Commission
(IC) will help to steer this activity.
Activities
1.2.1 Prioritisation of `Hot-spots'
47. The SAP contains a list of environmental hot-spots. These hot-spots are emission sites
which generally are either significant point sources of pollution, or areas where significant
impact is seen from one or more human-related activities. No screening or prioritisation of hot-
spots is provided in the 1994 SAP. However in 1996 under Phase 1 of the Danube Programme a
methodology was devised to prioritise hot-spots in the Danube River Basin. A further
prioritisation exercise is required under the GEF project to identify those projects which if
completed will bring greatest pollution reduction from nutrients (especially phosphorus) in the
Danube River Basin and the Black Sea. Particular attention will be given to hot-spots which
discharge directly into the Danube River in the middle and lower Basin area.
48. The following tasks will be carried-out:
· Task A. Adapt as required the hot-spot screening methodology to enable prioritisation of
hot-spot projects for pollution reduction by phosphorus and, in second line, nitrogen.
Responsible : PCU (assisted by consultant and IC steering group).
15
· Task B. Confirm any changes in the SAP hot-spot list in each Danube country and update
the list. Responsible: CPC (assisted by consultant and IC steering group)
· Task C. Prepare a list of prioritised hot-spot projects for pollution reduction of phosphorus
and nitrogen for incorporation into the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis. Responsible:
PCU, assisted by consultant and IC steering group.
49. The output of this activity will be a prioritised list of hot-spots relevant to the pollution
reduction programme in the Danube River basin.
1.2.2 Develop extended Danube Water Quality Model for priority pollutants
50. Validation and analysis of the information used and produced by the DWQM is required to
ensure a sound technical basis for policy discussions. Various techniques will be used to cross
check the model results (e.g. with national substance balances) and to extend the analysis
capabilities to enable pollution reduction scenarios to be formulated for priority sectors. Key
outputs to be validated include the transboundary pollution loads (nutrients - especially
phosphorus -, hazardous substances (or COD), oils, BOD), export to the Danube Delta and Black
Sea, effects of emission reduction from individual hot-spots and across economic sectors, the
impact of other measures (e.g. wetland rehabilitation) and the certainty/ uncertainty of results
produced. It is recognized that, given the need for continued acquisition of long time series of
relevant and quality data, the validation and verification processes begun in the project will
likely continue beyond the project time frame as more and improved data is acquired and the
DWQM model further improved.
51. The main tasks to be undertaken are:
· Task A. Begin validation of DWQM results. Responsibility: PCU (assisted by consultant).
· Task B. Extend the analysis capability to enable pollution reduction scenarios and their
results to be formulated for priority sectors, hot-spots and other measures. Responsibility:
PCU (assisted by consultant).
52. The output of this activity will be a substantially validated Danube Water Quality Model
capable of quantifying transboundary pollution loads in the Danube River Basin and export to
the Black Sea, ready for discussion and approval as a management tool by all Danubian
countries.
1.2.3 Assess the priority sites for wetland/ floodplain restoration for pollution reduction and
ecological rehabilitation
53. The updated National Reviews will contain information about main wetlands and
floodplain sites in the Danube River Basin. This will supplement knowledge gained through the
wetlands management projects carried-out under the SIP. Wetlands and floodplains provide
many valuable services, of which pollution reduction, nature conservation and recreation space
are of high importance in the Danube River basin. To fulfil these roles, and other such as flood
retention, a sufficient network of wetlands and floodplains, including a suitable range of habitat,
must be maintained within the Basin.
16
54. At present the Danube River and its main tributaries are managed in such a way as to
`flush-out' a large proportion of river water from the river basin quickly. This serves navigation
and immediate (i.e. not downstream) flood management purposes. It however prevents wetlands
and floodplains from influencing pollution reduction processes and reduces their potential for
maintaining the ecological integrity of the river basin. Nature conservation can add much to the
success of this issue. It is therefore necessary to develop water management schemes which will
enable more river water to be diverted to wetlands and floodplains (or potential wetlands and
floodplains) where the river is allowed to slow-down and spread-out, without affecting other uses
of the river system. Pilot management schemes have been developed in short stretches of the
Hungarian and the Romanian-Bulgarian Danube River under Phase 1 of the Danube Programme.
These require to be extended to other parts of the Basin and an overall Danube River basin
approach established and then implemented.
55. The main tasks to be undertaken are:
· Task A. Review wetlands and floodplains in the Danube River Basin and assess their
ecological functions. Verify, in particular, their nutrient removal function. Identify sites
where diversions of river water could bring ecological and pollution reduction benefits, as
well as serving for recreation space and flood retention. Prepare a Basin-wide overview.
Inputs from NGOs will be important in finalising the Basin-wide overview. Responsibility:
PCU (assisted by consultant).
· Task B. Develop national management schemes which will allow increased water flow into
wetlands and floodplains (or potential wetlands and floodplains) without impacting other
river water uses. Calculate baseline and total costs of management schemes. Local
community participation in management schemes will be crucial to ensure the sustainability
of planned interventions. Responsibility: PCU (assisted by consultant).
· Task C. Prepare programme of interventions for inclusion in Transboundary Diagnostic
Analysis.
56. The output of this activity will be a Basin-wide overview of the wetlands and floodplain
network and a programme of baseline and incremental management interventions which will
contribute to transboundary pollution reduction and nature conservation. Management plans for
nature conservation areas and the role of environmentally sensitive areas are of great importance
here.
1.2.4. Social analysis of pollution in the Danube River Basin and Black Sea.
57. Water pollution can produce impacts on people, either directly (e.g. through diseases
caused by contaminated drinking water, or cattle death due to water polluted by blue-green
algae) or indirectly (e.g. loss of amenity or employment possibilities). Little information is
known about the social impacts of pollution in the Danube River Basin. Figures presented in the
initial Transboundary Assessment completed in 1996 indicate that several water-borne diseases
(e.g. dysentery, hepatitis A and cholera) are present on occasion in Danube countries. There is
no indication of the extent to which transboundary pollution may contribute to the incidence of
these diseases. Consequently more effort is required to bring together information on direct and
17
indirect social impacts of water pollution, and the extent to which they can be improved by
pollution reduction action.
58. The main tasks to be undertaken are:
· Task A. Prepare a generalised format for Danube countries to report information on reported
social impact of water pollution and the known transboundary causes or effects.
Responsible: PCU (assisted by consultant)
· Task B. Prepare a basin-wide overview of the national reports and request further
information as appropriate. Responsible: PCU (assisted by national consultants)
· Task C. Integrate the results into the on-going finalisation of the Transboundary Diagnostic
Analysis and develop action as appropriate. Responsible: PCU (assisted by consultant)
1.2.5 Integrate updated National Reviews and DWQM results with initial Transboundary
Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) to produce a draft basin-wide environmental status and strategy for
tackling priority transboundary issues
The Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy and the Draft Danube Basin
Nature Conservation Convention may contribute to the success of the above strategy.
59. The Danube River Basin Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis, begin in 1996, will be the
final product of Objective 1. It will provide a basin-wide analysis of the transboundary pollution
issues and interventions required, in order to protect the Danube River Basin and the Black Sea.
It will also include analysis of the national baseline contributions to transboundary pollution
reduction. The TDA will be the technical basis for policy discussions among Danube Basin and
Black Sea Basin countries within the process of reviewing progress in the implementation of the
Danube SAP, and therefore its input data will need to be carefully screened for reliability. In
particular the TDA will enable negotiations to be held on the level of pollution reduction targets
required and over what time period for groups of priority substances and sectors: this means a
primary focus on, nutrients (especially phosphorus) from agriculture and municipalities, and a
secondary focus on hazardous substances, oils, and oxygen-depleting substances coming from
municipalities, agriculture and industry.
60. The main tasks to be undertaken are:
· Task A. Complete the draft final TDA. Responsibility: PCU (assisted by consultant).
61. The output of this activity will be a draft final version of the Transboundary Diagnostic
Analysis for wide international review, including by the IC Emissions Expert Group.
1.2.6 Hold technical conference on transboundary pollution
62. An international conference open to invited governmental, academic, NGO representatives,
and the public will be held to review and publicise the results of the TDA. The aim of the
conference will be to achieve consensus on the technical basis for transboundary pollution
reduction in the Danube River Basin and Black Sea. The latest results coming from the Danube
18
Applied Research Programme will also be highlighted. Parallel workshop sessions will be
organised to examine the key technical elements and results presented.
63. The following tasks are to be carried-out:
· Task A. Select location and dates for Conference, and organise logistical arrangements.
Responsibility: PCU + CPC host country concerned.
· Task B. Develop programme for the Conference, and publicise appropriately.
Responsibility: PCU + CPC (assisted by consultant).
· Task C. Hold Conference. Responsibility: PCU + CPC
· Task D. Circulate conclusions and proceedings of Conference within 1 month.
Responsibility: PCU (assisted by consultant)
· Task E. prepare definitive version of TDA. Responsibility: PCU (assisted by consultant)
64. The output from this activity will be the conference proceedings and the final version of
the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis.
Output from Objective 1
65. The overall output from Objective 1 will be an agreed technical analysis of environmental
situation in the Danube River Basin and the main impacts on the Black Sea, presented in the
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis.
OBJECTIVE 2: REVIEW POLICY FOR PROTECTION OF THE DANUBE BASIN
AND BLACK SEA
2.1: Promote a pollution prevention and reduction policy review
66. The aim of this sub-objective is to initiate the process of reviewing the Strategic Action
Plan and to take the first steps towards developing an overall Black Sea Basin approach to
management of international waters, pollution reduction and ecological rehabilitation.
Activities
2.1.1 Prepare a timetable and a process for implementing and, if needed, updating the Danube
SAP with an aim of agreeing quantified targets for pollution prevention and reduction
67. The main international policy document for the Danube River Basin is the Strategic Action
Plan, adopted in December 1994. It provides, amongst others, a strategic framework for
implementing key provisions of the Danube River Protection Convention (see also above). It
does not however set quantitative targets for pollution reduction for substances impacting the
Danube River Basin and the Black Sea. According to the Danube River Basin Environmental
Declaration of 1994, progress with the implementation of the SAP should be evaluated after
three years; that is, after December 1997. It is possible that at this time responsibility for
refining the SAP will have been transferred from the Danube Programme Task Force to the
19
equivalent body under the Danube River Protection Convention structure; namely the Project
Management Task Force (PMTF).
68. The Strategic Action Plan for the Danube River Basin states (Executive Summary, p. ix)
that "The Action Plan should be updated after three years when it is hoped that good progress
has been made to implement the short term actions". The additional knowledge about the river
system which has become available in the three years since the SAP was adopted largely from
the Applied Research Programme, in combination with continued acquisition of time series data,
will enable an updated SAP to be more specific (quantitative) about targets which should be
achieved for pollution reduction for priority substances and sectors. An update of the SAP is
also requested by the Black Sea SAP adopted in 1996 which states that the `the provision in the
Danube SAP (maintenance of 1995 levels) clearly are insufficient for addressing the
eutrophication problem in the Black Sea'. The National Reviews and Transboundary Diagnostic
Analysis completed under Objective 1 of this project will provide an objective technical basis on
which a review and eventual updating of the Danube SAP can be based.
69. The updating of the SAP must be achieved with the full involvement of all relevant
partners: namely, the International Commission and its Project Management Task Force (PMTF)
and/or the Danube Programme Task Force, supported by the international community, and with
full consultation and input from NGOs and the public.
70. The main tasks to be undertaken are:
· Task A. Organise, in collaboration with the International Commission, two consultation
meetings with Danube countries to discuss and agree on the need and process for an updating
of the Danube SAP. These discussions will be based in part on the technical results of the
TDA. These consultation meetings should enable a timetable and approach to updating the
SAP. It is possible that there will be agreement to update only part of the SAP. Responsible:
PCU + IC
· Task B. Establish a working group(s) as required to work on the various aspects of the SAP
to be updated. Develop indicators of progress with the implementation of the SAP and its
target(s) . Priority should be given to the prioritized hotspots and the wetlands. Resources
made available by the GEF project under this task will focus attention on achieving policy
consensus among Danube countries concerning pollution reduction targets, and ecological
rehabilitation in accordance with the TDA and the GEF Operational Strategy. Responsible:
PCU + IC
71. The output from these tasks will be an agreed timetable and approach for updating part or
all of the Danube SAP. In particular, they will result in an approach to updating the pollution
reduction targets for priority substances and sectors, required to ensure protection the Danube
River Basin and Black Sea.
2.1.2 Hold joint technical discussions with Danube and Black Sea countries to agree
loads/concentrations and sources of priority pollutants and wetlands/ floodplains of overall
(Black Sea) basin-wide significance
20
72. The Danube SAP recognises the importance of addressing the River Basin and the Black
Sea as one system which is highly inter-dependent. The Black Sea SAP further reinforces this
point. To start moving towards a joint international management of the whole region, it is
necessary to initiate a wide-ranging technical and policy discussions with all partners in the
Black Sea Basin. These consultations are required in order to move towards balanced economic
development and environmental protection throughout the region. Understanding the priorities
and problems of other countries elsewhere in the Black Sea Basin represents a first step in this
direction. Consequently under this activity, consultations will be held to discuss the underlying
technical basis for managing the river basins draining into the Black Sea. Representatives of the
Danube/ Dniester/ Dnieper/ Don river basins and other Black Sea countries will be involved in
these activities. As appropriate, representatives of economic interests and non-governmental
organisations will be invited to participate in these discussions. Further initiatives in this respect
will also be taken by the Black Sea Programme and the Commission on the Protection of the
Black Sea against Pollution, established by the Black Sea Convention signed in 1992.
73. The following tasks will be undertaken:
· Task A. Hold a technical workshop to discuss loads/concentrations and sources of priority
pollutants impacting the Danube and the Black Sea, and rehabilitation and management of
wetlands/floodplains of basin-wide significance. The workshop will also enable
uncertainties in current knowledge to be highlighted. Responsible: PCU (assisted by
consultant).
· Task B. Hold a technical workshop, involving similar experts as in Task A, to discuss the
technical basis for strategies for reducing the impacts of priority pollutants within Black Sea
river basins. Responsible: PCU (assisted by consultant).
74. The output from these workshops will be agreement on the priority pollutants and sectors
affecting the Black Sea Basin and the technical basis for strategies to overcome current
environmental problems.
2.1.3 Hold policy discussions with Danube and Black Sea countries to agree necessary pollution
reduction strategies for the Black Sea Basin, consistent with GEF Operational Strategy
75. Many programmes are currently carried out in the Danube/Black Sea Region: UNDP is
implementing the Danube and the Black Sea Pilot Phase GEF projects as well as the Dnieper
PDF GEF project. The World Bank is implementing the Danube Delta Biodiversity projects.
The Netherlands is contributing to a Sea of Azov project and the World Bank is working on the
Lower Don as part of the environmental loan to the Russian Federation. In addition, there are
several biodiversity projects in the Region (GEF UNEP and/or World Bank) as well as World
Bank and EBRD pre-investment studies. Other cooperation is also significant to the
environmental improvements in the Danube/Black Sea Region, e.g. a number of national and
regional EU PHARE and TACIS projects and programmes, as well at those between bi-lateral
cooperation between individual Black Sea Region countries and donor governments.
76. Following directly from the technical discussions among Black Sea Basin countries,
consultations should be held to explore the possibilities for agreeing common policy directions,
21
and a balanced approach to pollution reduction from the rivers discharging into the Black Sea.
This will provide the first steps towards achieving a common pollution reduction strategy for the
Black Sea region. Further initiatives in this respect will also be taken by the Black Sea
Programme, the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, established by
the Black Sea Convention signed in 1992, and the forthcoming GEF Dnieper River Programme.
77. The following tasks will be carried-out:
· Task A. Hold a series of sub-regional consultations involving governmental and non-
governmental organisations to explore the potential for agreeing a common strategic
approach to pollution reduction and ecological rehabilitation in the river basins and coastal
areas discharging into the Black Sea. These consultations should be used to prepare a wider
meeting of Danube River Basin and Black Sea countries. Responsible: PCU + IC.
· Task B. Hold a Danube River Basin and Black Sea countries policy workshop to discuss and
agree common approaches to pollution reduction and ecological rehabilitation throughout the
region, in accordance with the GEF Operational Strategy. Responsible: PCU + IC (assisted
by consultant).
78. The output of these tasks will be a first step towards technical and policy agreements on
the strategy for pollution reduction and ecological rehabilitation in the Danube/ Dniester/
Dnieper/ Don river basins, and from Black Sea coastal zones.
2.1.4 Prepare pollution prevention and reduction programmes for priority pollutants, especially
nutrients
79. Based on the TDA and the results of the consultations among all Danube and Black Sea
Basin countries, initial pollution reduction programmes (PRPs) should be drawn-up on a national
basis in Danube countries. The PRPs should initially concentrate on solving the eutrophication
issues in the Danube River Basin and Black Sea. PRPs to reduce eutrophication will also
contribute to reductions in the transboundary loads of other priority pollutants. The PRPs will
lay out the action required to meet the range of targets likely to be set in the SAP when it is
updated. This will involve identifying specific project activities and estimating their contribution
to achieving the overall targets and global benefits. PRPs will show clearly what will be done
under existing and planned national investment and environmental management programmes
(the baseline). The PRPs will also present the action required over and above national
requirements in order to reduce transboundary pollution and to achieve the global benefit of
protecting the Black Sea.
80. PRPs will include analysis of costs and benefits of the action required and will in particular
look for cost efficient means of achieving pollution reduction targets. This may mean giving
priority to land use practice change, or river margin rehabilitation, or phasing-out of the use of
certain substances (e.g. phosphorus in detergents) over installation of advanced waste water
treatment technologies. Consultations will take place with relevant economic sectors, non-
governmental organisations and the public in order to gain feedback and input to the PRPs.
81. The main tasks to be carried-out are:
22
· Task A. General framework to be developed for preparing PRPs. Responsible: PCU
(assisted by consultant and EMIS/EG).
· Task B. National Teams to prepare initial pollution reduction programmes to meet the range
of likely targets to be set in the updated SAP. Responsible: CPC + National Team
consultants with input from EMIS/EG.
· Task C. Consultations at national level with economic sector involved, non-governmental
organisations and the public.
82. The output from these tasks will be draft national Pollution Reduction Programmes for all
Danube countries.
2.1.5 Integrate pollution prevention and reduction strategy into the SAP revision process
83. The draft Pollution Prevention and Reduction Programmes require to be taken forward
within the overall policy review being agreed under the updating of part or all of the SAP. The
exact scope of work under this activity will depend on earlier decisions taken by Danube
countries on the approach taken in this updating process.
84. The main tasks required are:
· Task A. Incorporate the results of the initial pollution prevention and reduction programmes
within the drafting process for the revised SAP
85. The output of this task will be the introduction of a policy direction concerning pollution
prevention and reduction into the revision of the SAP.
Output of Objective 2
86. The overall output of Objective 2 will be agreement on policy directions for pollution
prevention and reduction in the Danube River and Black Sea Basin, the process for updating the
Danube SAP, and actions identified in each Danube country to meet a range of pollution
reduction targets.
OBJECTIVE 3: INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION
87. Participation of all sectors of society is an essential requirement for the development of
sustainable policies in the Danube Basin. It requires transparent and participatory decision
making procedures, open rules and access to information, and administrative and judicial
procedures. Activities to ensure wider public participation in the Project will be carried out in
order to achieve this essential goal in conformity with the GEF Operational Strategy. The EU
through the PHARE TACIS Programmes will also provide supporting activities for public
awareness support within the framework of the Danube SIP, including supporting the activities
of the Danube Environmental Forum Sub-Regional Centre in Bucharest. NATO too has recently
deployed comparable activities; all of these should be well coordinated with the current project.
23
Sub-objective 3.1 Raise Public awareness about pollution reduction activities
88. In addition to the consultations held as integral parts of Objective 1 and 2 activities, the
activities under this sub-objective aim to raise awareness and to ensure practical involvement of
local communities in environmental management in the Danube River Basin.
Activities
3.1.1 Launch public awareness programme based on updated National Reviews and TDA -
produce and disseminate a general brochure
89. In each country national awareness-raising campaigns will be launched to highlight the
environmental aspects of the Danube River basin and its influence on the Black Sea. These
awareness-raising campaigns will be based on the technical materials produced in the process of
updating the National Reviews and completing the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis. The
main targets for these campaigns will be other governmental ministries (e.g. agriculture,
industry), representatives of economic sectors (e.g. industry associations, farmers unions and
associations, business associations), and the wider public. It is expected that appropriate
environmental NGOs in each country will be closely involved in designing and implementing the
awareness-raising campaigns.
90. The main activities to be carried-out are:
· Task A. Preparation of basin-wide information materials (e.g. a brochure, posters, video)
which explain in simple terms the main priorities and action required regarding pollution
reduction and ecological rehabilitation. Responsible PCU (assisted by consultant).
· Task B. Preparation of national information materials, including translations of the basin
wide brochure, for wide dissemination to the main targets groups in each Danube country.
Responsible CPC (assisted by consultant)
· Task C. Staging of national, or local, events in each country to launch and draw attention to
the benefits, needs and transboundary impacts of the Danube River Basin
91. The output of this activity will be materials and events to publicise the need for pollution
prevention and reduction and ecological rehabilitation in the Danube River Basin.
3.1.2 Hold consultations with local Stakeholders about priorities for transboundary pollution
reduction
92. Consultations with representatives of relevant economic sectors, non-governmental
organisations and the public are an integral part of the public participation activities under
Objectives 1 and 2. In particular there will be consultations regarding the draft National
Reviews, National Baselines, and basin-wide overview of wetlands and floodplains. Similar
consultations are planned for the SAP and policy reviews leading to the development of a Black
Sea Basin strategy. These consultations will provide inputs to the finalisation of these activities.
In particular the results of these consultations will be incorporated in the on-going review of the
Strategic Action Plan and the development of the Pollution Reduction Programme.
24
93. The main activities to be undertaken are (refer also to activities under Objectives 1 and 2):
· Task A. Hold national consultations to review and provide input to updated National
Review, National Baseline, and basin-wide overview of wetlands and floodplains.
Responsible: CPC + PCU (assisted by consultants)
· Task B. Hold technical conference on transboundary pollution to review the finding of the
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis. Responsible: PCU (assisted by consultants)
· Task C. Hold sub-regional consultations to discuss the potential for agreeing a common
strategic approach to pollution reduction and ecological rehabilitation in the river basins and
coastal areas discharging into the Black Sea
· Task D. Hold national consultations as required to gain feedback on the emerging Pollution
Reduction Programmes component of the SAP update.
94. The output from this activity will provide input to the development of the technical basis
and policy for pollution reduction in the Danube River Basin and Black Sea.
3.1.3 Distribute three editions of `Danube Watch'
95. Danube Watch is a Newsletter (in English) which is distributed to around 4000 people in
more than 20 countries. Danube Watch provides an open forum for people with views about the
Danube River Basin and related subjects. It has existed for two years and is edited by a
journalist who is independent of the PCU, the Danube Governments and the international
community. Danube Watch provides a regular reminder to people interested in the Danube
River Basin and the Black Sea of the importance of the Danube and Black Sea regions, and of
the main environmental, social and economic issues under discussion. The Danube Watch will
therefore also serve as a vehicle for disseminating information about the findings of the
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and the requirements of the Pollution Reduction
Programmes.
96. The following tasks will be undertaken:
· Task A. Prepare and distribute three versions of Danube Watch at regular intervals
throughout the duration of the project. Responsible: PCU (assisted by journalist consultant)
· Task B. Prepare easy to read articles for Danube Watch to report the key points of the TDA,
the SAP update and the Pollution Reduction Programme.
97. The output of this task will be wide awareness of pollution reduction issues in the Danube
River Basin and the wider international community.
3.1.4 Support the Danube Environmental Forum and national NGO meetings
98. The Danube Environmental Forum is an `umbrella' organisation established in 1995 which
brings together more than 40 environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in all
Danube countries. The Forum provides a mechanisms for exchange of information and
experience among NGOs and enables joint campaigning strategies to be developed on Danube
25
River Basin and Black Sea issues. Forum members are also involved in running two regional
NGO information centres, one based in the Czech Republic, the other in Romania. The Forum at
its annual meetings elects three representatives to represent NGO interests during Danube Task
Force meetings. Information and experience is also exchanged with a parallel NGO Forum
established by NGOs in the coastal states of the Black Sea.
99. As the Danube Environmental Forum is still in its formative stages, it is important to
provide support to enable its international activities to continue whilst self-sustaining financing
mechanisms for the Forum are established. Given the wider aim of this project to initiate a wider
Black Sea Basin approach to managing the Danube river, it is also important to promote stronger
relations between the Danube Environmental Forum and the Black Sea NGO Forum.
100. The following tasks will be carried-out:
· Task A. Hold two meetings of the Danube Environmental Forum to discuss and agree the
response of environmental groups to the on-going review of the SAP. The Forum may
consider establishing a sub-working group to provide input and reactions to the emerging
TDA, the SAP and the Pollution Reduction Programme. Responsible: Danube
Environmental Forum + PCU
· Task B. Hold national NGO meetings in each Danube country to discuss strategies for
influencing the government, business and the public on issues relevant to the SAP review.
Responsible: Danube Environmental Forum + PCU
· Task C. Hold a joint Danube River basin - Black Sea Basin NGO Forum workshop to
discuss possibilities for wider regional cooperation and carrying-out of practical
environmental awareness raising, or public participation, projects. Responsible: Danube
Environmental Forum + PCU
101. The output of this activity will be a stronger role for environmental NGOs in the Danube
River Basin and practical cooperation with similar groups in the rest of the Black Sea region.
3.1.5 Provide small grants for community-based pollution reduction and awareness projects
102. The Danube River Basin Grants Programme was established in 1995. A second Grants
Programme was carried-out in 1996. The aim of the Grants Programme is to strengthen the
institutional capacity of local community groups, and non-governmental organisations and to
enable them to take responsibility for local problems which are of significance for the whole
Danube River basin (e.g. to plan and carry-out the rehabilitation of a small wetland area). In
1995 and 1996 more than 120 small grants of this type, averaging around US$ 2000 each, were
made. These small grant activities are critical in raising local awareness to issues in the Danube
River Basin and Black Sea and for ensuring local participation in environmental management
decisions.
103. The third Danube River Basin Grants Programme will be launched under this present
project. Its aim will be in particular to stimulate local community involvement in activities
which address transboundary issues, and which respond to the priority action required to reduce
26
eutrophication in the Black Sea. Collaborative activities involving groups from the Danube
Basin and the Black Sea country will be especially encouraged.
104. The following tasks will be undertaken:
· Task A. Establish the mechanisms and funding available for decentralised awarding of
grants in each Danube country. No grants will be allocated directly to NGOs in Germany
and Austria. Responsible: PCU
· Task B. Develop the Grant Programme priorities and publicise widely the opportunity to
prepare and send in projects to national contact points. Responsible PCU (assisted by
consultant).
· Task C. Evaluate the impact and results of the Grants Programme in raising public
awareness of Danube Basin and Black Sea issues. Responsible PCU (assisted by consultant).
105. The output of this activity will be a series of community-based projects which will
contribute to pollution reduction in the Danube River Basin and Black Sea.
Sub-objective 3.2 Improve coordination and information exchange
106. The aim of this sub-objective is to strengthen information dissemination and exchange
within the Danube River Basin and to the wider international community.
Activities
3.2.1 Establish Danube internet network
107. Under the first phase of the Danube Programme, basic support was provided to CPCs to
help establish national `coordination offices' for Danube Basin activities. The basic support
included providing computer infrastructure, fax machines and modems (if required) for email
communications. National efforts have also led to a significant improvement in communications
among key people and services involved in managing the Danube Basin. Further efforts are
required to complete the internet/ email network and then to use the technical facilities provided
to increase information flow, availability, and transparency of action. Establishing and
maintaining a Danube River Basin World Wide Web site on the Internet will provide an interface
for such communications and will facilitate joint work on transboundary issues. It will also
enable wide information dissemination to the public throughout the Danube River Basin and the
wider international community.
108. The main tasks to be carried-out are:
· Task A. Confirm and upgrade as required the internet/ email connections of CPCs and other
key national actors involved in managing the Danube River Basin (e.g. technical institutes).
This activity should also be carried-out for the two regional NGO Information Centres and at
least one Danube-related NGO in each country and where arrangements for access by other
groups should be made (which NGO is to be decided at the national NGO meetings - see
3.1.5 above). Responsible PCU (assisted by consultant).
27
· Task B. Establish and maintain Danube River Basin World Wide Web site. The Web site on
the Internet will be used, amongst others, to disseminate information about the TDA and the
emerging Pollution Reduction Programmes within the overall SAP review. It will also
provide summary information of reports held in the PCU library. The Web site will be
linked appropriately to DANIS (see 3.2.2. below). Responsible PCU (assisted by
consultant).
110. The output of this activity will be strong communication links among Danube experts,
decision-makers and NGOs, and a cost-effective means of publishing information about the
Danube River Basin.
3.2.2 Update and disseminate DANIS
111. The Danube Information System (DANIS), established under the Danube Programme
Phase 1, provides a structure through which information concerning organisations, experts,
publications and reports can be accessed and exchanged among Danube countries. National
system managers for DANIS are responsible for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the
data which the system contains. The PCU is responsible for ensuring that all documentation
produced under Programme is introduced into the system. DANIS has been made available as a
PC-version on computer disc and through a dedicated Internet Web site. The functions offered
by DANIS for information retrieval can be usefully expanded to enable users to access entire
documents or extended summaries, and to provide links to other meta-data sources where
detailed technical data can be accessed (e.g. water quality and quantity data from transboundary
monitoring stations). The structuring and ease of retrieval of information from the DANIS Web
site also requires to be improved.
112. The following tasks are to be carried-out:
· Task A. Hold three meetings of the DANIS system managers to review performance to date
and to agree system improvements required. Responsible: PCU (assisted by consultant).
· Task B. Expand the functions of DANIS to provide links to primary sources of technical
information regarding the Danube River Basin and Black Sea. The possibility of linking
DANIS to equivalent meta-information systems throughout the Black Sea Basin will be
considered. Responsible: PCU (assisted by consultant).
· Task C. Upgrade the DANIS Web site to enable faster search and access facilities to on-line
users and link to overall Danube River Basin Web site (see 3.2.1. above). Responsible: PCU
(assisted by consultant).
113. The output of this activity will be an improved and extended DANIS information system
accessible to the general public.
Output of Objective 3
114. The overall output of objective 3 will be increased public awareness and effective
participation in the process of the SAP refinement, and the development of pollution prevention
28
and reduction activities within the River Danube and Black Sea Basin. Objective 3 will also
result in efficient information exchange and transparency of action under the GEF project.
OBJECTIVE 4: DEVELOP THE FINANCING OF THE POLLUTION REDUCTION
PROGRAMME WITHIN THE DANUBE SAP
Sub-objective 4.1: Develop portfolio of Danube basin projects
115. The aim of this sub-objective is to develop 1) financing strategies for pollution reduction in
each Danube country and to prepare appropriate projects for potential co-financing by GEF and
other international partners. 2) The experience previously gained by several Danube countries in
financing or co-financing environmental actions will be fully exploited in implementing this
objective.
Activities
4.1.1 Develop financing strategies for the pollution reduction programme within the SAP, in
accordance with the Basin-wide strategy.
116. The results of the analysis of Danube River basin `hot-spots' will be incorporated in the
TDA and in the development of national pollution reduction programmes within the basin-wide
strategy. All of these activities will be linked to update of all or part of the SAP. The pollution
reduction programmes are expected to produce two main types of concrete project activities: (i)
investment-related projects to address priority hot-spots; and (ii) capacity-building and
demonstration projects related to pollution reduction, wetlands and ecological rehabilitation.
National and international financing strategies will need to be developed to support the
implementation of these two types of project. The general framework for financing projects in
each country, and the various procedures to be followed, require to be developed before
finalising preparation of individual projects.
117. The main tasks to be undertaken are:
· Task A. Prepare model structure for financing strategy for pollution reduction projects in
each Danube country. Responsible: PCU (assisted by consultant).
· Task B. Prepare national financing strategies for pollution reduction projects, including
confirmation of expected national contributions. Responsible CPC (assisted by consultant).
· Task C. Hold workshop to review overall basin-wide financing strategy for international
involvement in pollution reduction programmes. Responsible PCU + CPC (assisted by
consultant).
118. The output of this activity will be financing strategies for pollution reduction developed for
the particular circumstances of each Danube country.
4.1.2 Prepare project documents for priority hot-spot projects for investment consideration
29
119. Project documents will be prepared for priority hot-spot projects which fall within the
scope of the financing strategy agreed for the pollution reduction in each country. The project
documents will describe (at least) the technical aspects of the project, its institutional context, the
expected contribution to the overall pollution reduction strategy for the Danube River Basin, and
the project financing components. Financing components for each project will (at least) define
the baseline costs to be met by national contributions as well as the incremental costs of
achieving global benefits of transboundary pollution reduction.
120. A mix of financing sources should be expected to be required for most projects (e.g. %
grant or loan from National Environmental Fund or State Budget, % loan from domestic or
international sources, % grant from donor, % GEF contribution for incremental costs, etc.). The
operations and maintenance costs of projects should be carefully considered, especially regarding
phosphorus removal from municipal waste water treatment plants. Sources of revenue from the
project, or other sources, to repay any loan component in the financing package must be clearly
explained. Specific guidance will be given to project proposers on information required by
potential funding partners for a given project. Demonstration projects could also be considered
for funding (e.g. for phosphorus replacement in detergents).
121. The main tasks to be undertaken are:
· Task A. Prepare model structure(s) for project documents for pollution reduction projects in
each Danube country. Responsible: PCU (assisted by consultant).
· Task B. Prepare project documents for individual projects, inter alia based upon each
country's experience, as applicable, and with the assistance of potential funding partners.
Responsible: CPC + PCU + potential funding partner (assisted by local experts).
· Task C. Agree implementation strategies for each pollution reduction project. Responsible:
CPC (assisted by consultant).
122. The output of this activity will be a portfolio of investment-related pollution reduction
projects for co-financing consideration.
4.1.3 Prepare outline descriptions of wetland, floodplain and demonstration projects for
potential donor grant support
123. Project documents will be prepared for priority wetland, floodplains and demonstration
projects which fall within the scope of the financing strategy agreed for the pollution reduction
strategy in each country. These are likely to be capacity-building, or environmental management
projects. The project documents will describe at least the technical aspects of the project, its
institutional context, the expected contribution to the overall pollution reduction strategy for the
Danube River Basin, and the project financing components. Projects in this category are
unlikely to produce income and are therefore less suited to financing by loans. Financing
components for each project will at least define the baseline costs to be met by national
contributions as well as the incremental costs of achieving global benefits of transboundary
pollution reduction. Demonstration projects could also be considered for funding (e.g. for
phosphorus replacement in detergents and for reducing nitrogen and phosphorus run-off from
agriculture).
30
124. The main activities to be carried-out are:
· Task A. Prepare model structure(s) for project documents for pollution reduction projects in
each Danube country. Responsible: PCU (assisted by consultant).
· Task B. Prepare project documents for individual projects, with the assistance of potential
funding partners. Responsible: CPC + PCU (assisted by consultant).
· Task C. Agree implementation strategies for each pollution reduction project. Responsible:
CPC (assisted by consultant).
125. The output of this activity will be a portfolio of wetlands and floodplains and capacity-
building projects for co-financing (grant) consideration.
Sub-objective 4.2 Mechanisms to provide sustainable financial support for the Danube
River Basin
126. The aim of this sub-objective is to develop long-term mechanisms required to support
financing of pollution reduction projects.
Activities
4.2.1 Feasibility of establishing a Danube Environmental Fund, including the exploration of the
economic instruments needed.
127. Many of Danube countries have established national environmental or water management
funds. These are usually revolving funds into which government grants and finance raised by
environmental taxes or charges are paid. The funds generally provide soft loans and/or grants
for projects of national environmental importance. A transnational Danube Recovery Fund,
addressing municipal sewage treatment, is planned as well, with Germany as the lead
country.
Transboundary pollution reduction in the Danube River Basin is not usually a positive criterion
used in screening projects for potential support. Consequently there is a need to explore the
potential for establishing a Danube Environmental Fund (or Trust Fund) which could provide a
similar financing service as national funds for projects of high priority for transboundary
pollution reduction. An alternative to establishing an international Danube fund could be to
establish a series of national Danube environmental funds, or to `earmark' a proportion or give
priority within existing national funds to supporting priority projects for pollution reduction in
the Danube River Basin and Black Sea.
128. The following tasks will be undertaken:
· Task A. Prepare a feasibility study of options for establishing an international Danube
Environmental Fund (or Trust Fund), liaised and possibly merged with the forthcoming
Danube Recovery Fund, or for a nationally-based fund. The feasibility study should consider
(at least) the legal issues involved, potential economic instruments needed (e.g. effluent
31
charges, pollution permits, etc) and mechanisms for managing the fund, the selection of
projects for support and an exploration of the potential for harmonisation of economic
approaches across countries. Responsible: PCU + IC (assisted by consultant)
· Task B. Hold a workshop involving all Danube countries to discuss the finding of the
feasibility study and to agree the approach most likely to succeed. Responsible: PCU + IC
(assisted by consultant)
· Task C. Hold consultations with the international community to discuss and agree potential
international contributions to start-up the fund, or funds. Responsible: PCU + IC.
129. The output of this activity will be an agreed feasibility study for establishing a fund(s).
4.2.2 Prepare structures, rules etc. for a Regional Fund, or other mechanism as agreed
130. Based on the outcome of the previous activity, it will be necessary to prepare the legal
basis, organisational structure, rules of procedure, financing sources, etc. required to establish the
Danube Fund, or funds. A main objective of the fund(s) established will be to provide part of the
financing packages required to address priority pollution reduction projects, within the
framework of the SAP, for the Danube River Basin and Black Sea.
131. The main activities to be undertaken are:
· Task A. Prepare basic documents required to establish the fund, or funds in the country(-ies)
concerned. Responsible: PCU + IC + CPCs (assisted by consultant).
· Task B. Complete administrative procedures required to establish legal basis. Responsible
CPC in the country(-ies) concerned.
· Task C. Set-up the required organisations to manage the fund, or funds. Responsible: CPC
in the country(-ies) concerned.
132. The output of this activity will be agreed mechanisms to set-up long-term financing
mechanisms for pollution reduction projects in the Danube River Basin.
Sub-objective 4.3 Finalise and agree on the process for adopting a refined SAP
133. The aim of this sub-objective is to provide high level endorsement for revised policy
objectives developed for the Danube River Basin.
Activities
4.3.1 Integrate portfolio of investment and capacity-building projects, and regional financing
mechanisms, into the SAP
134. The overall process for refining and finalising the SAP will have been on-going in parallel
to other activities under Objective 4. The results with respect to the financing strategies and
project pipelines for pollution reduction will be integrated with other aspects of the SAP
updating process. This will lead to the finalisation of a single document which will include the
32
principles and main priorities of the pollution prevention and reduction programme and its
financing.
135. The main tasks to be carried-out are:
· Task A. Discuss the results of the financing strategies and project pipelines for pollution
reduction with the group(s) responsible for the overall updating of the SAP. Responsible:
PCU
· Task B. Prepare an updated version of the refined SAP. Responsible: IC + PCU (+ Drafting
Group)
136. The output of this activity will be an updated version of the SAP.
4.3.2 Adopt updated Danube SAP at Ministerial Conference
137. The Danube SAP (1994) was adopted by Environment Ministers and the European
Commissioner for Environment in Romania in December 1994. It was agreed that a review of
progress with the implementation of the SAP would be conducted after three years with an aim
towards updating the Plan (SAP for Danube River Basin, 1995-2005, Executive Summary, p. ix).
The work undertaken to prepare the pollution reduction programme for the Danube River Basin
and the Black Sea under this project will need to be incorporated in this updated SAP. This
refined SAP will require endorsement from all Danube governments and it is proposed to
organise a Ministerial Conference for this purpose. At that occasion, experience gained and new
viewpoints developed in the course of the implementation of the SAP may also be reviewed.
Depending on the timetable agreed for the updating of the SAP, it is hoped that the Conference
will be held towards the end of the project period. It is also possible that it will take place during
the months later, in which case the tasks under this activity should be revised to focus on the
preparation for the Ministerial Conference. For the sake of efficiency, it is recommended to
explore the possibility of combining the Ministerial Meeting with a first Meeting of the Parties to
the Danube Convention, should this meanwhile have entered into force as anticipated.
138. The following activities will be undertaken:
· Task A. Organise a consultation meeting with Danube CPCs and/ or representatives of the
International Commission to agree the programme for the Ministerial meeting, to finalise the
Ministerial Declaration adopting the updated SAP, and to its location and date. Responsible:
PCU + IC.
· Task B. Support the logistic organisation of the Ministerial meeting, including if required
providing limited support for travel and living expenses. Responsible: PCU + IC.
· Task C. Prepare the publication of the SAP and Ministerial declaration for wide distribution
throughout the Danube River Basin and Black Sea region. Electronic means of publication
made available through activity 3.2.1 should be used to maximise the international impact of
the SAP.
33
139. The output of this activity will be high level endorsement for the policy objectives and
pollution reduction targets of the SAP.
4.3.3 Donor pledging conference (or PPC meeting) for priority investment projects
140. The results of the pollution reduction programme component of the SAP will produce a
pipeline of investment-related and capacity-building projects. These projects will be prepared
under activities 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 and project documents will be available. Part of the financing
required for these projects will also have been agreed in the national funding strategies. It is
inevitable that there will be more priority projects than can be funded by domestic sources with
the assistance of the GEF for incremental aspects. Therefore it will be necessary to attract
additional bilateral and multilateral co-funding to support the financing packages. A donor
pledging conference, and/or a special meeting of the Project Preparation Committee, is proposed
as a means by which attention can be highlighted on the needs of the Danube River Basin and the
Black Sea. Thorough preparation, including intensive consultations with bilateral and
multilateral donors and International Financing Institutions, will be required in advance to ensure
the success of this type of meeting.
141. The following tasks are to be undertaken:
· Task A. Finalisation of project documents, including proposed financing packages, for
pollution reduction projects. Responsible: CPC + PCU (assisted by consultant)
· Task B. Hold a series of consultations among project proposers, bilateral and multilateral
donors and International Financing Institutions, and the GEF, to agree in principle financing
contributions from the international community to support national commitments.
Responsible: CPC + PCU (assisted by consultant)
· Task C. Hold a donor pledging conference, and/or support the holding of a meeting of the
Project Preparation Committee to confirm international financing contributions to pollution
reduction projects for the Danube River Basin and the Black Sea. Responsible: PCU + IC
· Task D. Publicise widely the achievements in securing financing for action required to
implement the revised SAP. PCU + IC.
142. The output of this activity will be agreed co-financing for pollution reduction projects.
Outputs of Objective 4
143. The output of Objective 4 will be a refined and updated SAP which includes policy
component concerning the Danube and Black Sea basins, quantitative pollution reduction targets,
a portfolio of related investment and technical assistance projects, and the set-up of a regional
funding mechanism. The pledging conference, or PPC meeting will enable co-financing
arrangements for the pollution reduction projects to be agreed.
E.
SUSTAINABILITY AND PARTICIPATION
144. The present project proposal takes into account and directly addresses the continuing
challenge in ensuring the sustainability, not only of project-generated benefits, but rather of all
34
benefits created during the past several years of regional environmental cooperation. The four
objectives of the project are designed to ensure that the various legal, institutional and human
resources which have thus far been mobilised do not simply dissipate following the conclusion of
the GEF Pilot Phase project, but rather are further enhanced. Only this combination of enhanced
human, technical and financial resources can ensure the ultimate sustainability of regional
benefits.
145. The longer term sustainability of the results of this project will be ensured by close
cooperation at all stages with the Danube governments represented in the International
Commission and the staff of its Secretariat. The pollution reduction programme is designed to
produce results which will accelerate the full implementation of provisions in the Danube River
Protection Convention.
F.
LESSONS LEARNED AND TECHNICAL REVIEWS
146. An evaluation team was set up in 1995 to undertake a technical review of the GEF
component of Phase 1 of the Danube Programme. This resulted in an evaluation of a major part
of all Danube Programme work completed between 1992-95. The evaluation report concludes
that the Danube Programme has `significantly contributed toward the mitigation of water
pollution'. The report noted that considerable effort was given to monitoring and inventories-
building, and capacity building activities and pre-investment studies. This evaluation as well as
that released by UNOPS on Feb. 7, 1997 suggested that more attention should be given in future
to ecological issues such as wetlands restoration. The rapidly expanding field of restoration of
damaged ecosystems and the sustainable use of biological diversity by controlled activities such
as eco-and agro-tourism should also be addressed. It also stated that it would be important to
further strengthen and improve networking at national and regional levels, continue to strengthen
the role of and support to the NGO community, encourage development of community-based
involvement and activities, and continue to allocate funds for training and equipment. The
observations and suggestions from the evaluation team are in accordance with recommendations
made by the Task Force. They have been incorporated in the design of the present GEF project.
A copy of the technical review of this project is attached.
G. INPUTS
147. See the attached Budget Table 1. These tables are based on the Project Concept presented
and agreed by all the Task Force members during their meeting in Vienna on July 25 and 26,
1996. They have been undated to reflect the further elaboration of the Project Document which
has been discussed, revised and approved by the Danube GEF Country Program Coordinators
meeting in Vienna on 17 March 1997.
148. The 1996 Phare Multi-Country Programme for Environment made available MECU 2.5 to
the Danube Environmental Programme. The Tacis Multi-country Environmental Programme
(for NIS countries) has also allocated MECU 1 to the Danube Programme in 1996. A total
programme of MECU 15 for the period 1996-1999 has been provisionally budgeted by the EU
(subject to annual budgetary review). These funds will mostly be used to finance the Danube
Strategic Action Plan Implementation Programme (SIP).
35
H. INCREMENTAL
COSTS
149. The transitional project will facilitate the completion of the strategic work started during
the Pilot Phase and the PDF. The completion of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis, the
expected updating of the SAP, and the formulation of Pollution Reduction Programmes, is the
process which is now needed to enable the programme to conform with the GEF Operational
Strategy. Therefore, the full discussion on Incremental costs does not apply here although it will,
for all investment projects arising from this exercise and for which GEF funding is being
considered. Continued SAP refinement is considered an 'enabling' activity by the GEF and is not
subject to incremental cost analysis. Objectives 1 (knowledge base) and 3 (public awareness) are
fully fundable as capacity building activities as described in the GEF operational strategy. Of
note, significant co-funding from the European Union is expected to be available (see above).
150. From preliminary results of the Applied Research Programme under Phase 1 of the Danube
Programme, an estimate has been made of the likely total costs of reducing eutrophication in the
Black Sea. This is useful to give an indication of the order of magnitude of work required to
safeguard the Black Sea ecosystem over the long term and the incremental costs involved.
151. Eutrophication example: Phosphorus loads are believed to be the main limiting factor for
eutrophication in the Black Sea coastal areas. Eutrophication is seen to increase dramatically
when the annual load of phosphorus exceeds 20 000 tonnes/ year. Severe eutrophication was
observed in 1989-91 when total loads of phosphorus exported to the Black Sea were around
42000 tonnes/ year. It is thought that during the same period that eutrophication upstream in the
Danube River Basin was only a localised problem in certain countries. This suggest that a
substantial percentage of the reduction of around 22 000 tonnes/ year of phosphorus required to
safeguard the Black Sea ecosystem could be considered to be an incremental cost by most
Danube countries. If, for example, the 22 000 tonnes/ year were to be removed by adding
phosphorus traps to municipal waste water treatment plants then the total cost of pollution
reduction would be of the order of 80-500 million US$ per annum. Obviously, other more cost-
effective strategies would also have to be considered in reality. However, this example
demonstrates the importance of the work which will be undertaken under this present GEF
project to quantify the transboundary pollution impacts of priority substances and to calculate, on
a country by country and project by project basis, the incremental costs of reducing this
transboundary pollution.
I. RISKS
152. The regional cooperation aspect of the Danube River Basin is important. In addition to the
previously participating 11 countries in the Danube Programme, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are expected to become members of the Programme and the
Task Force during the period of this project. Political stability is however not guaranteed in this
36
part of the River Basin and this consequently represents a risk to the successful completion of the
project. It is considered however, that the potential transboundary environmental benefits of
including these two countries in the project greatly out-weighs any potential risk. This issue is
one of the reason why the size of this project is deemed necessary to allow a smooth transition
with the newly participating countries.
153. The slow pace of ratification of the Danube River Protection Convention is another cause
of concern. The activities proposed under this project will stimulate policy and financing
activities required by the Convention and will therefore contribute to an acceleration of national
efforts to achieve ratification. It is considered highly unlikely that the Convention will not be in
force before the end of the proposed project period.
154. This project demands an intensive cooperation between the staff appointed to work in the
PCU and the Danube country CPCs and other counterparts. Insufficient resources on the
counterpart side will not cause this project to fail, but it could lead to delays in achieving project
outputs. Similarly, the project timetable also demands the rapid issuing of contract documents
and financial authorisations from UNOPS. Any delays in this respect will lead to delays in
achieving the project objectives.
J.
OBLIGATIONS AND PREREQUISITES
The obligations or prerequisites for work to commence on this project are as follows:
· approval of the Project Document by the Governments of all participating countries;
· work of the National Focal Points of each participating Government. The major role of the
National Focal Point will be to coordinate activities of participating ministries, local
governments, academic and research institutions, and the NGOs; and
· provision of the in-kind contributions to activities as specified in this document and agreed
by the GEF Council.
K. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AND PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT
Cooperation between UNDP and the European Commission.
Activities
155. In the first phase of the Danube Programme an agreement was made between UNDP and
the European Commission on arrangements for joint working and cost-sharing for project
activities. This agreement worked successfully. A renewed cooperation agreement will be made
between UNDP and the European Commission to re-affirm the cooperation between the new
GEF project and projects supported by the European Union's Phare and Tacis Programmes. The
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) will be responsible for the execution of this
project on behalf of UNDP.
37
156. The following tasks will be carried-out:
· Task A. Update the agreement between UNDP and the European Commission on
cooperation in the Danube Environmental Programme. Responsible: UNOPS + EC (assisted
by the PCU).
· Task B. Present the agreement to the Danube Task Force for review. Responsible: PCU.
157. The output of this activity will be a revised agreement between UNDP and the EC.
Danube Task Force
Activities
158. The Danube Task Force is responsible for directing the implementation of the Danube
Environmental Programme. All Danube countries are represented on the Task Force, as are
bilateral and multilateral donors, International Financing Institutions, and non-governmental
organisations (notably the three representatives of the Danube NGO Forum - see activity 3.1.5).
The Task Force was formed for Phase 1 of the Danube Programme (the GEF Pilot Phase
project).
159. For the proposed GEF project the Task Force will continue to be responsible for
overseeing project implementation and for establishing and monitoring the work plan for the
project. The Danube Governments will be requested to confirm their commitments to the
Danube Task Force and to renew the mandate of the institutional arrangements proposed here. It
will therefore be necessary to organise meetings of the Task Force. As the Task Force is
expected to be closely involved in the review of the SAP, it is expected that four meetings of the
Task Force will be required during the project period, of which two will be supported financially
by the GEF project.
160. It is possible that during the period of the GEF project that responsibility for the
implementation of the Strategic Action Plan will be transferred from the Danube Task Force to
the equivalent body established under the framework of the Danube River Protection Convention
(the Project Management Task Force, PMTF). Under these circumstances, responsibility for
overseeing the implementation of this GEF project will also be transferred to the new PMTF.
161. The tasks to be undertaken are:
· Task A. Organise two meetings of the Task Force (or PMTF), including providing financial
support as appropriate to support the attendance of GEF recipient countries. Responsible:
PCU.
38
· Task B. Participate in discussions concerning the transfer of responsibility for the
implementation of the SAP from the Task Force to the PMTF. Responsible: PCU
162. The output of this activity will be effective direction given to the implementation of project
activities by the Danube countries, as recipients of the GEF project support.
Programme Coordination Unit
163. The daily management of the GEF project will be carried-out by the Danube Programme
Coordination Unit (PCU), located in the United Nations Vienna International Centre (Austria).
The PCU is housed in facilities shared with the European Union's Phare Programme and the
Interim Secretariat of the Danube River Protection Convention. All three parties are contributing
to the costs (see also Cooperation between UNDP and EC above).
164. The PCU is responsible for the day to day management of the Danube Programme on
behalf of the Task Force. The GEF staff of the PCU will also contribute to the general
management of the Programme (e.g. reporting, preparing Task Force meetings, coordination) as
well as carrying-out the specific tasks required to prepare the Pollution Reduction Programme.
165. To implement the GEF project component, staff will be recruited by UNOPS. In selecting
the staff UNOPS will give priority to appropriately qualified candidates from GEF recipient
countries in the Danube River Basin. The following staff are required:
· GEF Project Manager. A senior environmental specialist will manage the GEF project. The
environmental specialist should have at least 15 years of relevant experience, of which a
significant amount should have been in relation to Danube River Basin or Black Sea issues.
Experience of working with international projects, especially with UNDP involvement, is
also required. The project manager must be fluent in English (spoken and written) and
knowledge of other basin languages would be an advantage.
· Environmental Specialist and Junior Professional. An Environmental specialist with at least
10 years experience will support the Project Manager in the implementation of the project.
Experience in the Danube River Basin is important, as well as knowledge of financing and
assessment procedures relevant to pollution reduction projects. The Environmental specialist
must be fluent in English (spoken and written) and knowledge of other basin languages
would be an advantage. In addition, a junior professional , to assist the Project Manager in
his work, is highly desirable.
· Secretary. A secretary will be recruited through the United Nations Office in Vienna to
support the Project Manager and Environmental Specialist.
Detailed TOR's for these staff members are given in appendix.
166. The PCU staff are expected to make extensive use of consultants in preparing and
carrying-out the work of the GEF project. The PCU will give priority to selecting appropriately
qualified consultants from countries in the Danube River Basin for such work.
39
Financing and Contracting arrangements
167. UNOPS, based in New York, will be responsible for financial control of the GEF project
implementation. UNOPS will make arrangements to enable to a maximum extent the
decentralised management of the project, including providing the GEF Project Manager with
authority to sign contracts up to a pre-determined limit. UNOPS will provide the GEF Project
Manager with information on a regular basis (at least monthly) to enable the PCU to maintain a
close record of all expenditures planned or made under the project. The GEF Project Manager
will also report to the Task Force on the disbursement of funds under this project in order to
ensure full transparency of action.
L.
PROJECT REVIEWS, REPORTING & EVALUATION
Availability of Reports
168. All reports produced under the GEF Project will be held in the PCU library where access to
visitors will be provided to the materials. The opportunity to photocopy relevant documents will
also be provided to such visitors. Except in the (rare) cases where commercial confidentiality is
involved, summaries of all reports will also be made publicly available through the Danube
Programme Web site (see 3.2.1 above), with references to where further information can be
requested.
169. The project will be subject to tripartite review (joint review by representatives of the
Governments, executing agency and UNDP) after the first six months of implementation, and to
a GEF annual PIR (Project Implementation Review). The executing Agency will prepare and
submit to the tripartite review meeting a Project Performance Evaluation Report (PPER).
Additional PPERs may be requested, as necessary, during the project implementation.
M. LEGAL
CONTEXT
170. For Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Fed. Rep. of Yugoslavia {Serbia and Montenegro} Romania, Ukraine (countries,
which have signed the Standard Basic Assistance Agreement), the project document shall be the
instrument referred to as such in Article 1 of the SBAA between these governments and the
United Nations Development Programme, signed by the parties earlier. The host countries'
implementing agencies shall, for the purpose of the SBAA, refer to the governments'
cooperating agencies described in that Agreement.
40
FIGURE 1 - MAP OF THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN [TO BE ADDED]
41
FIGURE 2 - PLANNED IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Activities
Month
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
OBJECTIVE 1
1.1.1 Update 11 National Review
1.1.2 Prepare Bosnia-Herzegovina, FRY National Reviews
start date for this activity is uncertain
1.1.3 Define National Baselines
1.2.1 Prioritise Hot-spots
1.2.2 Extend Danube Water Quality Model
1.2.3 Assess priority wetlands/ floodplains
1.2.4 Prepare social analysis of Danube pollution
1.2.5 Prepare draft Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis
1.2.6 Hold technical conference on transboundary pollution
OBJECTIVE 2
2.1.1 Prepare review of Strategic Action Plan
2.1.2 Hold Danube/ Black Sea Basin technical consultations
2.1.3 Hold Danube/ Black Sea Basin policy consultations
2.1.4 Prepare pollution reduction programmes
2.1.5 Integrate pollution reduction strategy into SAP
OBJECTIVE 3
3.1.1 Launch public-awareness programme
3.1.2 Hold stakeholder discussions on transboundary pollution
3.1.3 Distribute three editions of `Danube Watch'
3.1.4 Support the Danube NGO Forum & national NGO meetings
activities on-going throughout the whole project period
3.1.5 Provide grants for community-based pollution reduction projects
3.2.1 Establish Danube Internet network
information provision to continue throughout the project period
3.2.2 Update and disseminate DANIS
OBJECTIVE 4
4.1.1 Develop financing strategies for pollution reduction programmes
4.1.2
Prepare
project
documents
for
hot-spots
4.1.3 Prepare project documents for wetlands and floodplains projects
4.2.1 Assess feasibility of Danube Environmental Fund
4.2.2 Prepare legal basis, procedures, etc. for Danube fund(s)
4.3.1 Integrate project portfolio into SAP review
4.3.2
Adopt
revised
SAP
at
Ministerial
Conference
4.3.3 Hold donor pledging conference/ facilitate PPC meeting
42
TABLE 1 - POLLUTION REDUCTION PROGRAMME BUDGET
1997
1998
Total
Subtotal
m.
$
m.
$
1.0. Project staff
1.1. CTA
8
75,000
8
75,000
150,000
1.2. Junior advisor
8
50,000
8
50,000
100,000
1.3. Secretary
8
30,000
8
30,000
60,000
Staff
total:
310,000
2.0. Staff support
2.1. CPU operating expenses
8
70,000
8
70,000
140,000
2.2. Office overheads
8
55,000
8
55,000
110,000
2.3. Staff travel
8
75,000
8
75,000
150,000
Support
total:
400,000
Total:
710,000
3. Activities
3.1. Objective 1
3.1.1. Update national reviews
5
300,000
300,000
3.1.2. Prepare BH, FRY reviews
4
100,000
8
200,000
300,000
3.1.3. Define national baselines
5
300,000
300,000
3.1.4 Prioritize hot spots
3
80,000
80,000
3.1.5. Extend WQ model
1
50,000
2
50,000
100,000
3.1.6. Assess wetlands
4
100,000
100,000
3.1.7. Social analysis
2
60,000
60,000
3.1.8. Draft TDA
2
50,000
50,000
3.1.9. Technical conference
1
60,000
60,000
Subtotal objective 1:
1,350,000
3.2. Objective 2
3.2.1. Review SAP
4
40,000
40,000
3.2.2. D/BS technical consultations
3
30,000
30,000
3.2.3. D/BS policy consultations
3
35,000
35,000
3.2.4. Pollution reduction programs
4
40,000
40,000
3.2.5. Integrate into SAP
1
25,000
25,000
Subtotal objective 2:
170,000
3.3. Objective 3
3.3.1. Public Awareness
4
150,000
150,000
3.3.2. Stakeholder discussions
2
20,000
4
60,000
80,000
3.3.3. Danube watch
8
50,000
8
50,000
100,000
3.3.4. NGO Forum
8
40,000
8
40,000
80,000
3.3.5. Small grants
1
50,000
4
150,000
200,000
3.3.6.1. Danube on internet
8
30,000
8
30,000
60,000
3.3.6.2. Update DANIS
1
10,000
6
60,000
70,000
Subtotal objective 3:
740,000
3.4. Objective 4
3.4.1. Financing pollution reduction
2
310,000
310,000
3.4.2. Documents on hot spots
2
180,000
180,000
3.4.3. Documents on wetlands
2
180,000
180,000
3.4.4. Feasibility Danube fund (DF)
3
60,000
60,000
3.4.5. Legal basis for DF
2
60,000
60,000
3.4.6.1. Integrate portfolio in SAP review
2
60,000
60,000
3.4.6.2. Adopt revised SAP
2
40,000
40,000
3.4.6.3. Hold pledging conference
2
40,000
40,000
Subtotal objective 4:
930,000
43
ANNEX 2
Standard Text: Supplemental Provisions to the Project Document: The Legal Text
General responsibilities of the Government, UNDP and the executing agency
1.
All phases and aspects of UNDP assistance to this project shall be governed by and carried
out in accordance with the relevant and applicable resolutions and decisions of the competent
United Nations organs and in accordance with UNDP's policies and procedures for such
projects, and subject to the requirements of the UNDP Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
System.
2.
The Government shall remain responsible for this UNDP-assisted development project and
the realization of its objectives as described in this Project Document.
3.
Assistance under this Project Document being provided for the benefit of the Government
and the people of (the particular country or territory), the Government shall bear all risks of
operations in respect of this project.
4.
The Government shall provide to the project, the national counterpart personnel, training
facilities, land, buildings, equipment and other required services and facilities. It shall designate
the Government Co-operating Agency named in the cover page of this document (hereinafter
referred to as the "Co-operating Agency"), which shall be directly responsible for the
implementation of the Government contribution to the project.
5.
The Government shall continue to pay the local salaries and appropriate allowances of
national counterpart personnel during the period of their absence from the project while on
UNDP fellowships.
6.
The Government shall defray any custom duties and other charges related to the clearance
of project equipment, its transportation, handling, storage and related expenses within the
country. It shall be responsible for its installation and maintenance, insurance, and replacement,
if necessary, after delivery to the project site.
7.
The Government shall make available to the project - subject to existing security
provisions - any published and unpublished reports, maps, records and other data which are
considered necessary to the implementation of the project.
8.
Patent rights, copyright rights and other similar rights to any discoveries or work resulting
from UNDP assistance in respect of this project shall belong to the UNDP. Unless otherwise
agreed by the Parties in each case, however, the Government shall have the right to use any such
discoveries or work within the country free of royalty and any charge of similar nature.
44
9.
The Government shall assist all project personnel in finding suitable housing
accommodation at reasonable rents.
10. The services and facilities specified in the Project Document which are to be provided to
the project by the Government by means of a contribution in cash shall be set forth in the Project
Budget. Payment of this amount shall be made to the UNDP in accordance with the Schedule of
Payments by the Government.
11. Payment of the above-mentioned contribution to the UNDP on or before the dates specified
in the Schedule of Payments by the Government is a prerequisite to commencement or
continuation of project operations.
(b) Participation of the UNDP and the executing agency
1.
The UNDP shall provide to the project through the Executing Agency the services,
equipment and facilities described in the Project Document. Budgetary provision for the UNDP
contribution as specified shall be set forth in the Project Budget.
2.
The Executing Agency shall consult with the Government and UNDP on the candidature of
the Project Manager a/ who, under the direction of the Executing Agency, will be responsible in
the country for the Executing Agency's participation in the project. The Project Manager shall
supervise the experts and other agency personnel assigned to the project, and the on-the-job
training of national counterpart personnel. He shall be responsible for the management and
efficient utilization of all UNDP-financed inputs, including equipment provided to the project.
3.
The Executing Agency, in consultation with the Government and UNDP, shall assign
international staff and other personnel to the project as specified in the Project Document, select
candidates for fellowships and determine standards for the training of national counterpart
personnel.
4.
Fellowships shall be administered in accordance with the fellowships regulations of the
Executing Agency.
5.
The Executing Agency may, in agreement with the Government and UNDP, execute part
or all of the project by subcontract. The selection of subcontractors shall be made, after
consultation with the Government and UNDP, in accordance with the Executing Agency's
procedures.
6.
All material, equipment and supplies which are purchased from UNDP resources will be
used exclusively for the execution of the project, and will remain the property of the UNDP in
whose name it will be held by the Executing Agency. Equipment supplied by the UNDP shall be
marked with the insignia of the UNDP and of the Executing Agency.
7.
Arrangements may be made, if necessary, for a temporary transfer of custody of equipment
to local authorities during the life of the project, without prejudice to the final transfer.
45
8.
Prior to completion of UNDP assistance to the project, the Government, the UNDP and the
Executing Agency shall consult as to the disposition of all project equipment provided by the
UNDP. Title to such equipment shall normally be transferred to the Government, or to an entity
nominated by the Government, when it is required for continued operation of the project or for
activities following directly therefrom. The UNDP may, however, at its discretion, retain title to
part or all of such equipment.
a/
May also be designated Project Co-ordinator or Chief Technical Adviser, as appropriate.
9.
At an agreed time after the completion of UNDP assistance to the project, the Government
and the UNDP, and if necessary the Executing Agency, shall review the activities continuing
from or consequent upon the project with a view to evaluating its results.
10. UNDP may release information relating to any investment oriented project to potential
investors, unless and until the Government has requested the UNDP in writing to restrict the
release of information relating to such project.
Rights, Facilities, Privileges and Immunities
1.
In accordance with the Agreement concluded by the United Nations (UNDP) and the
Government concerning the provision of assistance by UNDP, the personnel of UNDP and other
United Nations organizations associated with the project shall be accorded rights, facilities,
privileges and immunities specified in said Agreement.
2.
The Government shall grant UN volunteers, if such services are requested by the
Government, the same rights, facilities, privileges and immunities as are granted to the personnel
of UNDP.
3.
The Executing Agency's contractors and their personnel (except nationals of the host
country employed locally) shall:
(a) Be immune from legal process in respect of all acts performed by them in their
official capacity in the execution of the project;
(b) Be immune from national service obligations;
(c) Be immune together with their spouses and relatives dependent on them from
immigration restrictions;
(d) Be accorded the privileges of bringing into the country reasonable amounts of
foreign currency for the purposes of the project or for personal use of such personnel, and of
withdrawing any such amounts brought into the country, or in accordance with the relevant
foreign exchange regulations, such amounts as may be earned therein by such personnel in the
execution of the project; and
46
(e) Be accorded together with their spouses and relatives dependent on them the same
repatriation facilities in the event of international crisis as diplomatic envoys.
4.
All personnel of the Executing Agency's contractors shall enjoy inviolability for all papers
and documents relating to the project.
5.
The Government shall either exempt from or bear the cost of any taxes, duties, fees or
levies which it may impose on any firm or organization which may be retained by the Executing
Agency and on the personnel of any such firm or organization, except for nationals of the host
country employed locally, in respect of:
(a) The salaries or wages earned by such personnel in the execution of the project;
(b) Any equipment, materials and supplies brought into the country for the purposes of
the project or which, after having been brought into the country, may be subsequently withdrawn
therefrom;
©
Any substantial quantities of equipment, materials and supplies obtained locally for
the execution of the project, such as, for example, petrol and spare parts for the operation and
maintenance of equipment mentioned under (b), above, with the provision that the types and
approximate quantities to be exempted and relevant procedures to be followed shall be agreed
upon with the Government and, as appropriate, recorded in the Project Document; and
(d) As in the case of concessions currently granted to UNDP and Executing Agency's
personnel, any property brought, including one privately owned automobile per employee, by the
firm or organization or its personnel for their personal use or consumption or which after having
been brought into the country, may subsequently be withdrawn therefrom upon departure of such
personnel.
6.
The Government shall ensure:
(a) prompt clearance of experts and other persons performing services in respect of this
project; and
(b) the prompt release from customs of:
(i)
equipment, materials and supplies required in connection with this project; and
(ii) property belonging to and intended for the personal use or consumption of the
personnel of the UNDP, its Executing Agencies, or other persons performing services on their
behalf in respect of this project, except for locally recruited personnel.
7.
The privileges and immunities referred to in the paragraphs above, to which such firm or
organization and its personnel may be entitled, may be waived by the Executing Agency where,
in its opinion or in the opinion of the UNDP, the immunity would impede the course of justice
47
and can be waived without prejudice to the successful completion of the project or to the interest
of the UNDP or the Executing Agency.
8.
The Executing Agency shall provide the Government through the resident representative
with the list of personnel to whom the privileges and immunities enumerated above shall apply.
9.
Nothing in this Project Document or Annex shall be construed to limit the rights, facilities,
privileges or immunities conferred in any other instrument upon any person, natural or juridical,
referred to hereunder.
Suspension or termination of assistance
1.
The UNDP may by written notice to the Government and to the Executing Agency
concerned suspend its assistance to any project if in the judgement of the UNDP any
circumstance arises which interferes with or threatens to interfere with the successful completion
of the project or the accomplishment of its purposes. The UNDP may, in the same or a
subsequent written notice, indicate the conditions under which it is prepared to resume its
assistance to the project. Any such suspension shall continue until such time as such conditions
are accepted by the Government and as the UNDP shall give written notice to the Government
and the Executing Agency that it is prepared to resume its assistance.
2.
If any situation referred to in paragraph 1, above, shall continue for a period of fourteen
days after notice thereof and of suspension shall have been given by the UNDP to the
Government and the Executing Agency, then at any time thereafter during the continuance
thereof, the UNDP may by written notice to the Government and the Executing Agency
terminate the project.
3.
The provisions of this paragraph shall be without prejudice to any other rights or remedies
the UNDP may have in the circumstances, whether under general principles of law or otherwise.
48