Transcript Document 7719306

Partnership as a tool to
green regional
development programmes
Gottfried Lamers
Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,
Environment and Water Management Austria
Working group
Introduction
 Presentation of the documents
 Partnership
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Legal basis
Participants
Benefits
Model of good partnership
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Programming
Implementation
Monitoring and evaluation
Tips
Documents
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We evaluated the experiences of the last period
and made recommendations for the period 2007
– 2013
We included the experiences of all partners and
used a questionnaire to structure the results
We included references and success stories
We elaborated a 40 pages handbook about
partnership
We published the guidance on the webpage of
GRDP
We developed a fact sheet which is included in
the toolkit
Purpose of the work on partnership
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Target group are the managing authorities
Involvement of as many stakeholders as possible
Emphasis on the involvement of environmental
partners
Value added of partnership
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Better quality of programmes (obtain information,
influence the development)
Better programme performance (integrated approach,
selection process)
Better impact of the programme (more predictable,
learning experience)
Legal and political basis for the
participation of environmental partners
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Aarhus Convention (1998)
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Participation in decision making
Legal framework for partnership principle
Documents about regional development always
have a direct impact on the environment,
therefore the system for public participation
suggested in the Convention is always suitable
when preparing planning documents for
regional development.
Problem: Impact only in the case of
construction (not applicable to ESF)
Legal and political basis for the
participation of environmental partners
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EU regional policy regulation 2007 – 2013
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In 2007-2013, sustainability becomes a central element
in the implementation of the renewed Lisbon and
Gothenburg strategies.
Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 stresses the
importance of involving environmental partners in the
partnership. The new regulation gives more emphasis
than previously by adding a whole section that refers to
environmental partners and sustainable development:
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“Each Member State shall designate the most
representative partners at national, regional and local level
and in the economic, social, environmental or other
spheres (hereinafter referred to as partners), in accordance
with national rules and practices, taking account of the
need to promote equality between men and women and
sustainable development through the integration of
environmental protection and improvement requirements.”
Legal and political basis for the
participation of environmental partners
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EU Rural Development Policy, the
European Agricultural Fund for Rural
Development
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Art. 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005, on
support for rural development by the European
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, also
stipulates that assistance shall be implemented
in consultation with partners, including
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“any other appropriate body representing civil
society, non-governmental organisations, including
environmental organisations, and bodies responsible
for promoting equality between men and women.”
Comments, country experience
Possible participants
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national environmental authorities;
local/regional environmental authorities;
environmental non-governmental organisations;
municipalities and local authorities (their associations and
in-formal of formalised networks);
trade unions;
social services providing organisations;
cross-sectoral NGO networks;
economic development organisations;
Professional associations (Chamber of Commerce, Farmers
associations, etc.);
universities and think-tanks, innovation centres, Research
and Development institutions;
community groups (if important for the programme focus).
Comments, country experience
Benefits of partnership
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The broad involvement of stakeholders lead to clear
goals which make programmes more sustainable
and effective.
Better-informed applicants mean better applications.
If managed properly, partnership improves the
democratic decision-making process.
Partnership can link different funding programmes.
Transparency, openness and prevention of misuse
and corruption in the project selection process
support the smooth implementation of the
programme.
Partnership leads to better absorption of funds.
Comments, country experience
Characteristics of a good partnership
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produce added-value for all partners and
projects;
require institutional and personal continuity and
time;
involve the partners early in the process;
provide timely access to information;
be flexible and adaptable;
be built on mutual trust and confidence;
be voluntary;
have the right balance between formal and
informal instruments
Comments, country experience
Elements in the programming phase
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Appoint a partnership manager responsible for organising the input of
partners into the programme development process.
Develop a detailed participation plan, so that the team writing the
programme and partners understand how they will be involved and at which
stage. Link the participation plan to a publicity plan that supports the
dissemination of information about the programme to key stakeholders and
the general public. Make both plans available to the general public.
Include representatives of the social, economic and environmental partners
in the team writing the programme.
Publicise, evaluate and record every comment gathered during the
consultations. If relevant, incorporate the comment in the document.
Arguments on how the comment was taken into account by the team
writing the programme should be made publicly available.
Select the representatives of the team writing the programme and the
Monitoring committee in a transparent and non –discriminatory way, ideally
through elections.
Apply the partnership principle when smaller working groups are set up
to target specific issues within programme development.
Organise public meetings to allow broader public discussion of drafts of
the documents in key stages of the programme development process.
Comments, country experience
Elements in the implementation
phase
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Set up an interdisciplinary “project evaluation
committee” and include environmental partners as well as
social, economic and regional partners selected on the basis of
their professional expertise.
Have an advocate for environmental sustainability on the
Programme Steering Committee.
The implementing Authority should provide environmental
expertise to ensure that appropriate guidance is available for
those responsible for delivering the programme and project
applicants. Use these experts to build environmental capacity
with other delivery partners.
Give the environmental advisor access to a range of
environmental expertise, drawn from statutory agencies,
NGOs and environmental businesses, to help inform the
development and implementation of the programme.
Comments, country experience
Elements in the evaluation phase
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Consider the involvement of local and regional
environmental authorities in monitoring
committees of programmes as an obligatory
minimum.
Include local or regional stakeholders in the
evaluation team whenever possible. Workshops
and conferences, multi-stakeholder working
groups may be used to organise the partnership
within the evaluation phase.
Evaluate the quality of the partnership itself
in the programme’s ex-ante, mid-term and expost evaluation.
Comments, country experience
Practical tips for an effective
partnership
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Effective partnership requires timely involvement of partners in
all stages of the programme: preparing programmes, budgeting,
management, monitoring and evaluation of assistance
Engage the right partners in the work at the right time - the very
beginning of the programming process. Do everything
possible to keep partners involved throughout the programme
cycle, as it is very demanding to start each step with different
people or different organisations.
Remember that capacity-building and training are critical for
environmental partnership, particularly in understanding
environmental sustainability principles and how they interact with
regional development.
Consider the financial help needed for certain partners (e.g.
SMEs, small municipalities and NGOs) to act as partners. Their
direct costs should be paid.
Give partners clear roles in programme development, project
appraisal, monitoring, and evaluation and give them access to the
decision making process.
Use a mix of formal and informal meetings, workshops and
other means to do the work of the partnership.
Comments, country experience