The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) hereby announces a call for local NGO pilot projects within the framework of the regional project: Improving the Practices of Public Participation: Next Steps in Implementing the Aarhus Convention in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo (territory under interim UN administration) This project is financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, maximum funding available per project is EUR 6,000 from a total pilot project fund of EUR 60,000 Objectives of the pilot projects It is expected that the pilot projects will: promote the effective application of the Aarhus Convention in practice, primarily at the local level; ensure efficient public involvement in the decision-making process in accordance with the provisions and principles of the Convention; develop participatory practices in the local level decision-making process; help to build contacts and stimulate cooperation between local authorities and NGOs; solicit and fund the best environmental NGO projects in SEE countries and entities; and disseminate the results of the projects, improving the information flow among interested parties. The amount available per project is up to EUR 6,000. The Scope of the Pilot Projects Focus on direct implementation of national legislation and one or more of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention, primarily articles 6, 7 and 8 (see the box below); Help initiating public participation activities regarding the phases of specific decision-making processes on local level, implementing activities regarding a concrete and specific process of decision making under articles 6, 7 and 8, including the facilitation of access to the necessary information; Develop cooperative working relations or partnerships with local authorities during the environmental decision-making process; Provide an opportunity for development or further development of effective public involvement mechanisms in cooperation with local level authorities; Promote dialogue between all the stakeholders involved; Develop good practices and democratic approaches in communities. Aarhus Convention, Articles 6-8 Article 6 — Public Participation in Decisions on Specific Activities Article 7 — Public Participation Concerning Plans, Programmes and Policies Relating to the Environment Article 8 — Public Participation during the Preparation of Executive Regulations and/or Generally Applicable Legally Binding Normative Instruments For further detailed text please see, http://www.unece.org/env/pp/documents/cep43e.pdf For example, pilot projects could concern: public participation in decision making on permitting or licensing an industrial activity or facility, municipal waste management or waste disposal facility, public participation in an ongoing environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure on a concrete investment decision affecting a municipality; public participation in the ongoing decision making regarding a plan or programme in a municipality or community regarding nature protection, land use and urban planning, air quality management, waste management, water management, etc. public participation in the ongoing decision making regarding a regulation at the municipal/community level, that may have significant effects on the environment, etc. Pilot project activities could include, for example: identification of target groups that should be involved in the decision-making procedure; selection of channels and appropriate tools for reaching them; making effective public and individual notification; facilitating the provision of necessary relevant and timely information; helping to organise and prepare for public hearings and other meetings/events to consult with the public; helping to understand the problem and providing comments, helping to prepare authorities and NGOs to run the public participation process more efficiently; and contributing to the process of developing regulations related to environmental decision making. To the extent possible, cross-border issues will also be considered, as well as the use of alternative public participation methods such as mediation and conflict resolution, in order to involve local communities effectively into the decision-making process and to help them engage in more efficient dialogue with municipalities, other authorities and developers. Who is Eligible? Registered non-profit, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro, including Kosovo (territory under interim UN administration). How to Apply? Application is a one-stage process. NGOs write a full proposal, describing their projects in detail. The full proposal should be sent electronically and in three hard copies to the REC country or field office in your country. The REC will evaluate the proposals based on defined standards and criteria. The evaluation panel will consist of REC public participation experts and independent experts. The best pilot project proposals will be selected and awarded. Downloads: Cover Page (131-KByte MS DOC) Narrative Statement (137-KByte MS DOC) Logical Framework (125-KByte MS DOC) Budget Summary (139-KByte MS DOC) Cooperative Statement (119-KByte MS DOC) Full Proposal Guidelines (283-KByte MS DOC) Preparing the Full Proposals (October 6, 2005) Winners Meeting and Project Implementation(first week of November 2005) Pilot project winners will be notified and invited to the REC CO/FO in their own country/entity for a “winners” meeting. At this meeting, winners will present the project to the other selected NGOs. Winners will also meet the delegated project manager and financial assistant from the REC CO/FO. Together, they will agree on the final terms of the contract: the schedule for providing progress and final reports, and the REC’s schedule for providing funding based upon the progress made in implementing the project. Contacts For more information or any assistance, please contact your REC country or field office representative (see list below) or Orsolya Szalasi Project Manager Tel: (36-26) 504-000 Fax: (36-26) 311-294 E-mail: oszalasi@rec.org For more information about applying for pilot projects, please contact our country offices: ALBANIA Rr. Durresit P. 11 Shk. 2, Ap. 12; P.O.Box 127; Tirana, Albania Tel/Fax: (355-4) 239-444 Contact: Alken Myftiu E-mail: alken@albania.rec.org BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA BANJA LUKA FIELD OFFICE 78000 Banja Luka RS, Bosnia and Herzegovina Tel/fax: (387-51) 317-022 Contact: Djordje Stefanovic E-mail: rec.bl@inecco.net FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA ul. "Ilindenska" - 118 1000 Skopje Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Tel/fax: (389-2) 309-0135; 309-0136; 306-0146 Contact: Kornelija Radovanovic E-mail: kornelija@rec.org.mk SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO Primorska 31 11000 Belgrade Serbia and Montenegro Tel: (381-11) 329-2899 Fax: (381-11) 329-3020 Contact: Jelena Kis E-mail: jkis@recyu.org SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO FIELD OFFICE MONTENEGRO Bulevar Ivana Crnojevica 16 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro Serbia and Montenegro Tel/Fax: (381-81) 210-225 Contact: Snezana Dragojevic E-mail: skadarlake@cg.yu FIELD OFFICE KOSOVO (territory under interim UN administration) Zyra ne Kosove FP 160, Kodra e Diellit Rruga III, Lamela 26 10000 Pristina, Kosovo Tel/fax: (381-38) 552-123 Contact: Merita Mehmed E-mail: MMehmed@kos.rec.org

Public Participation Programme Background information Who is Eligible? How to Apply? Preparing the Full Proposals (October 6, 2005) Contact us Downloads: Cover Page (131-KByte MS DOC) Narrative Statement (137-KByte MS DOC) Logical Framework (125-KByte MS DOC) Budget Summary (139-KByte MS DOC) Cooperative Statement (119-KByte MS DOC) Full Proposal Guidelines (283-KByte MS DOC)