Services of NREC

5.4 Training and Capacity Building

A number of training programs and other capacity building options should be initiated by a NREC. Among them are:

training for senior environmental experts
training for potential NGO leaders
internship exchange
special capacity building programs.

These services are discussed below.

5.4.1 Special Capacity Building Programs

Goals

The goals are to increase the capability of constituents and to stimulate the conceptualization of innovative and effective mechanisms for environmental protection, thus meeting the needs identified in the needs analysis.

Description

Potential themes include public participation, regional cooperation, environmental law, fund-raising and development of electronic networks. The NREC would provide this service for all the constituents: NGOs, government and the business community. A series of conferences and workshops would constitute the main activities for this program. However, conferences and workshops are just standard tools to achieve the indicated goals; the program itself should be impact-oriented. The program would target topics identified by the needs analysis and that comport with the NREC's mission.

There need not be an activity for every topic. For instance, overlap exists among the topics of public participation, regional cooperation and environmental law. During the first year of the project when the implementers prepare detailed work plans, they will select a topic and design the activity to address the need. REC-Budapest has focused on public participation.

The timing of the activity is important. For instance, an environmental legal reform conference could be held after a NEAP identifies priority environmental problems. The focus will be on identifying real problems and working towards solving these problems, so as not to engage in a purely academic effort.

The topics of public participation, regional cooperation, and environmental law would be suitable for conferences and workshops, whereas fund-raising and electronic networks are appropriate for workshops only. Conferences would be for 30-40 people, whereas workshops would be for 15-25 people.

After determining the appropriate area for further work, a NREC would hold two international conferences and a series of workshops. The majority of the participants would come from Russia, Ukraine and Moldova with all the possible constituents represented at the conferences and workshops. The first conference would provide an opportunity to do needs analysis and develop TOR for the program. As a follow-up to the conference, in-country experts from the target countries would prepare reports with recommendations on how to address the problems in the target area. When preparing their report, they would receive input from all the constituents.

Approximately nine months later, the NREC would hold a follow-up conference to review the reports and determine how best to implement the recommendations. As part of the implementation process, a series of workshops would be held in several locations in the various countries. The material developed by the reports and conferences would be published in the form of manuals.

Western Europe and the United States have considerable experience dealing with these topics. Nevertheless, a NREC should recruit experts and conference participants from the countries in the CIS and CEE to participate in the activities. The experience of experts who come from societies in transition, which have addressed these topics, would prove more relevant to CIS participants than the experience of Western European and US experts.

One full-time Capacity Building Program Coordinator would handle this service in conjunction with three in-country expert consultants. The Program Coordinator would need to work closely with the Publications service in preparing the manuals that this service develops.

Public Participation

The activities would examine mechanisms that integrate public participation into the decision-making process of governments and businesses so as to:

properly address environmental issues,
strengthen the capability and skills of all the CIS constituents to carry out democratic, open and transparent public participation activities,
improve the legal and institutional framework for public participation,
promote compliance with international treaties and agreements through the use of public participation provisions.

Regional Cooperation, Both Within a Country and Between Countries

The Regional and Local authorities in all the countries expressed frustration about confusion over jurisdictional responsibilities between the different levels of government. The activities would examine strategies and mechanisms to address transboundary environmental management issues and the problems arising from decentralization. For instance, mechanisms such as memorandums of understanding and advisory groups would be discussed.

Environmental Law

The needs analysis indicated a strong demand for environmental legal reform. The specific environmental law(s) that serves as the focus for the activity could reflect an area of the law identified as a priority pursuant to a NEAP, an environmental risk assessment or some other process. Institutions, government and private, can best design and implement laws when policies and plans establish clear priorities and goals. The participants would take a pragmatic approach and consider the economic, political, social, and technical contexts in which the implementing institution must operate. Particular attention will be paid to the type of positive and negative incentive mechanisms which would be necessary to achieve compliance with environmental regulations.

Fund-Raising

NGOs and governments both raised the issue that lack of funds constitutes a major roadblock to effective performance. Activities dealing with fund-raising would be of two types. First, instruction would be provided on how to apply for grants from the NREC. The more in-depth instruction would be on fund-raising in general. For instance, how to prepare proposals for private foundations and bilateral and multilateral donors, how to raise funds in-country through memberships or solicitation, and possible commercial activities in which to engage. This activity would be limited to workshops.

Electronic Networks

NGOs indicated that they have weak information and communication infrastructure, both because of a lack of equipment and poor skills in operating the equipment. To help address this problem a series of workshops would be held to develop the requisite skills and to apprise people of the networks that the NREC will establish. This activity will need to be coordinated with the Information Exchange and Grants services.

Objectives

The immediate objective is to conduct two conferences in the second year for a total of 60-80 participants and nine workshops for a total of 135-225 participants in the third year related to the conference topic.
Publish a manual based on conference and national reports.
Conduct six workshops in the second year on either fundraising or electronic networks.
Develop a network of contacts through the conference and consultations.

Potential Partners

The organizations listed as potential partners either have experience sponsoring conferences, seminars or workshops or substantive expertise on one of the activity topics. The Institute for Sustainable Communities (R, U), the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Academy for Educational Development (R, USA), TACIS Program (R, U, M), Environmental Law Alliance (USA), Environmental Law Institute (USA), National Ecological Center of Ukraine, EcoJuris (R), Center for Environmental Policy (R), USAID Environmental Policy and Technology Project (R, U, M), EcoPravo (U), ISAR (R,U), Socio-Ecological Union (R), Sacred Earth Network (R).

5.4.2 Capacity Building for Senior Environmental Experts

Goals

The goals are to: (1) build leadership in the region by strengthening the capacity for innovative thinking, (2) formulate innovative and effective mechanisms to foster public participation and regional cooperation in the CIS.

Description

A NREC will provide an opportunity for senior level experts to work for two to four weeks on a project that builds on their experience and expertise and that draws on the NREC's resources, knowledge and contacts. The experts can be government policy-makers, NGO leaders, academic experts, or business professionals. Each expert will pursue a specially tailored program that explores issues that foster public participation or offer integrated solutions to regional environmental problems. At the end of this period, the expert will present a final report at a public seminar. The report will describe what they have learned and how they will apply this experience in the CIS.

An application will describe a proposed work plan, the candidate's area of interest, the expected benefits of using the NREC's resources and letters of support from relevant organizations and individuals. The work plan must propose a project that is practical and replicable. This service will require one half-time Program Coordinator.

Objectives

Three senior environmental experts will undertake customized programs during the second year. Each year in the third, fourth and fifth years, six senior environmental experts will undertake customized programs.
As senior level experts become aware of the NREC's services, they can inform other people of the NREC. These experts will form a cadre of key policy-makers which the NREC could draw upon for a support system.

Potential Partners

REC-Budapest, International Research and Exchanges Abroad (U), the American Council for Collaboration in Education and Language Study, Pacific Energy and Resources Center (USA).

5.4.3 Training for Potential NGO Leaders

Goals

The goals of the program are to build the management capability of potential NGO leaders, facilitate their cooperation with other NGOs in the CIS, and introduce them to the NREC's services. Over time, this program will enable the NREC to establish a network of people it can contact and work with in various CIS countries.

Description

Directed instruction will be provided for young NGO members who have leadership potential. During a one month period, they would receive intense training on:

the role of NGOs in civil society
environmental management
international NGO cooperation
proposal writing
project management
computer applications
fund-raising.

The program would provide valuable work experience in an international environmental organization and encourage an exchange of views and experiences between NGOs in different countries in the CIS. Six participants would be selected for each of the six sessions during a year. Applications would be accepted from all the countries in the CIS, not just the ones with National Offices. A Review Committee, based in the office which will deliver this service, will select candidates based on their motivation, expectations of the program and areas of interest.

Each session will consist of a three-week training period that includes workshops on NREC activities and the above-referenced topics. During this period the participants will make field visits to well established NGOs and attend NREC sponsored events such as conferences and workshops. After this training, participants will be assigned to work with a NREC staff member for practical work experience. During this week they can assist their mentor on a NREC project, or they can design a project that benefits their NGO, such as preparing a grant proposal or a new database. The participants would receive a modest stipend and reimbursement for travel expenses.

This service will require one half-time person. The person who coordinates this service would also coordinate the service for Senior Environmental Experts.

Objective

During the second year of the project, the NREC will conduct three training sessions for a total of eighteen participants. In subsequent years the training sessions will increase to six sessions per year for a total of thirty-six participants.

Potential Partners

REC-Budapest, Socio-Ecological Union (R), Institute for Sustainable Communities (R, U), National Ecological Center of Ukraine, Zeleny Svit (U), Ecological Movement of Moldova, Centre for Ecological Education and Information "Terra Nostra" (M).

5.4.4 Intern Exchange Program

Goals

The goals of the program are to develop management and leadership skills of NGO members in managing a not-for-profit organization and environmental projects. This exchange of views and skills will cement links for future cooperation with the host NGO.

Description

Under this program, less experienced NGO members will stay for approximately one month with more experienced NGOs operating in the CIS. The intern will participate in the activities of the host NGO and receive training from an experienced member of the host organization. Through this program the intern will get an inside view into the operations of the NGO or an ongoing campaign or project and will have a chance to participate in these activities.

One person would work on this program full time under the supervision of the Program Coordinator for the Capacity Building for Senior Environmental Experts and Training for Potential NGO Leaders. The NREC will cover all the intern's costs, as well as the costs for the host organization. The intern will receive a modest stipend to cover day-to-day expenses and accommodations. The mentor at the host NGO will receive a fee to cover time and expenses.

Objectives

The objectives are to prepare ten internship sessions in the second year at well developed environmental NGOs from the CIS region for ten interns from less experienced NGOs. In subsequent years the number of internships would increase to twenty.

Potential Partners

REC-Budapest, Socio-Ecological Union (R), All-Russian Society on Nature Protection, Dront EcoCenter (R), Zeleny Svit (U), Greenpeace (U) Ecological Society "Biotica" of the Republic of Moldova, Ecological Movement of Moldova.

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