Reducing Trans-boundary Degradation of the Kura-Aras River Basin - UNDP Regional component

Reducing Trans-boundary Degradation of the Kura-Aras River Basin - UNDP Regional component

Sub-component of the UNDP/GEF umrella project "Reducing Transboundary Degradation in the Kura/Aras River Basin"

UNDP/BRC (Bratislava Regional Centre)

UNDP COs in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran

South Caucasus, Kura and Aras/Araks River Basins

Countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, I.R. Iran, (Turkey)

TYPE PROJECT NUMBER HERE

TYPE DURATION HERE

TYPE TOTAL AMOUNT AND DETAILS HERE

under implementation

n/a

This project component is an integral part of the UNDP/GEF Project entitled "Reducing Trans-boundary Degradation of the Kura-Aras River Basin", focusing on i) Public involvement and Stakeholder Participation, ii) Community-based demonstration projects, and iii) Integration of transboundary aquifer aspects into the project activities.

The specific objective for public involvement and stakeholder participation, and development of community based demonstration projects of this component are:

To support and contribute to country wide, stakeholder ownership of the basin planning process thus ensuring its sustainability and country commitment.

The project outcomes, verify achievement of this objective, are:

1. Active regional participation of NGO and other civil society organisations in the planning process engaged at the government and the grass-roots levels, capable of advocating the wishes of a broad spectrum of society.

2. A planning process which consults and involves stakeholders at all levels and the active participation of those stakeholders in implementing the resultant plans.

These outcomes will be met through three related outputs: 1. Creation of a region-wide NGO forum resultant of the regional meetings 2. Development of pilot projects that have an emphasis on public involvement, including a trans-boundary public involvement project to be implemented in the early stages of the full project 3. Creation and support for the regional Stakeholder Advisory Group in conjunction with the TDA – SAP process and promotion of its meaningful and active participation in decision-making during the TDA/SAP/NAP formulation.

 Kura Lessons Learned.doc

Stakeholder and NGO Mobilization in the Kura-Aras River Basin

Mary Matthews, (mary.matthews@tethysconsultants.com), Public Involvement Expert