Integrating SEA in the local strategic planning processes for sustainable

socio-economic developmentThe Crimean Experience

Crimea Integration and Development Programme (CIDP)

Adeline Gonay – International Programme Coordinator

Key presentation points

● Short overview of CIDP and its context

● Definition of SEA and application in Ukraine

● SEA application in Crimea, at republican level

● SEA at Crimean districts level

● Programme’s strategy from 2008

Crimea Integration and Development Progamme

● CIDP operates since 1995

● Crimea’s problems: socio-economic integration of FDP, inter-ethnic relations, seasonal employment, low living standards in rural areas, low community mobilisation levels

● From infrastructure development to building capabilities and institutions for local sustainable development

● Current spheres of activities: Good Governance (inc. Strategic Planning & SEA), Tolerance in Education, Agricultural Cooperatives, Human Security Monitoring

Quick overview of Crimea● Parliamentary republic without president.

● Legislative body: 100-seat parliament Verkhovna Rada of Crimea.

● Executive power: Council of Ministers, headed by Prime Minister, appointed and dismissed by Verkhovna Rada, with consent of President of Ukraine.

● Authority and operation of Verkhovna Rada and Council of Ministers of Crimea determined by Constitution of Ukraine and other laws of Ukraine

● 14 districts (raions) and 11 municipalities - Total area: 26,200 km2

● Population: 1,995,000● Ethnic groups: Russian (52 %), Ukrainians (26%), Crimean Tatars

(13%) , other (9%)

● Tourism and agriculture● Food production● Chemical industry ● Mechanical engineering and metal working.

Go

vern

men

tE

con

om

yA

dm

in.

un

its

&

po

pu

lati

on

Crimea’s environmental situation● High level of waste and low quality of wastes management,

● Pollution and depletion of water resources, low quality of drinking water

● High air pollution in cities

● Loss of biodiversity and bio-resources

● Poor natural resources management

● Poor land use legislation

● Weak enforcement of environmental regulations and standards

● Unsatisfactory conditions of municipal sewage systems, absence of sufficient water treatment and water recycling facilities

● Insufficient funding available for environmentally hazardous industries

Why SEA approach?Analytical and participatory approach aiming at integrating

environmental considerations into policies, plans and programmes and at evaluating inter-linkages with economic and social

considerations

Calls for highly integrated and transparent planning Requires multi-stakeholder consultation and public

participation Addresses issues of environment and sustainable development at

source,

Ukraine:● UNECE SEA Protocol signed – May 2003● Limited experience in and use of SEA in planning context

How did SEA come to Crimea ?

● 2007: Crimea’s intention to have a Republic’s Socio-economic Development Strategy, taking into account environmental aspects

● UNDP CIDP’s help requested

● ENVSEC initiative through UNDP BRC support and expertise for a SEA application project

Crimea strategic planningRepublican level

Key SEA activities that were performed:

● Raised awareness of authorities and civil society on SEA and its place in Strategic Planning process

● Introduced SEA methodology to planners

● Initiated cross-sectoral dialogue and coordination

● Introduced environment as a cross-cutting issue into the CIDP assistance framework

● Started dialogue with district authorities on SEA application in district-level strategic planning

Crimea strategic planningRepublican level (2)

CIDP support to republican strategy design hindered by:

●Lack of political will to develop sound development strategy

●Lack of leadership in sectoral working groups

At present:

● CIDP: refocused its intervention at district level

● Ministry of Economy: contract to local Institute to design strategy

● Strategic planning process: not participatory

● SEA application: unlikely

Crimea strategic planningLocal level

Refocus of CIDP’s Strategic Planning and SEA component on district level:

●Real political will to engage in participatory strategic planning

●Real need for sustainable development strategies as rural districts - depressive

●Activated communities and their organisations

●Public-private partnerships already in place to implement socio-economic projects initiated by community organisations

● 5 districts selected for practical training on strategic planning and SEA

● 2 districts to be selected for support in strategy design and SEA application

Geographical focus of strategic planning and SEA

Planned work processTime-frame 5 selected pilot districts Responsibilities

by 20 October Set up of Coordination Council District

by 20 October Set up of 4 sectoral working groups Districts

by 30 October

Guidelines on integrated local strategic planning and SEA cycle (step by step strategic planning approach) CIDP

by 15 November Training of Trainers CIDP + Institute of Re-

Qualifications

by 5 December

Training of Coordination Councils and working groups' members in: Training of village

councils and administrations

Institute of Re-Qualifications + Associations- strategic planning

- SEAby 10

DecemberSelection of the 2 pilot districts for which support to full strategy development, including SEA, will be provided.

CIDP + Min Eco

by 30 December Training of village councils and administrations (cont'd) Institution of Requalifications

+ Associations

by end June 2009

Development of local sustainable development strategies and their approval by Districts Councils

Possibility for 3 non selected raions to consult with CIDP on

ad hoc basis

Planned work process (2)from 15

December 2008 2 final pilot districtsby end December First round of public consultationby end December Development of strategic vision and mission

by end January 2009 Sectoral situation analyses (including environmental)

by mid February Causes & Effects analyses and SWOTs

by mid March Development of sectoral strategies (incl. sector specific monitoring and evaluation indicators)

by mid April Strategic Environmental Assessment of Sectoral Strategic Priorities/Goals

by end April Revisions of sectoral strategiesby mid May Round of public consultations at district and villages levels

By end May Finalizing SEA report and drafting of overall (integrated) strategy (including monitoring and evaluation indicators)

By mid June Final round of public consultations at district and village levels

By end June Revision and presentation of the District Strategy for Council's approval

by mid July Presentation of strategies in the context of a seminar at republican level

Planned SEA application in Crimea’s districtsGoal: ex-ante, in parallel with strategy elaboration

1. Scope of environmental assessment

2. Analysis of context and baseline

3. Identification of environmental goals

4. Development and comparison of alternatives

5. Environmental report key findings

6. Public consultations

7. Design of environmental monitoring system (integrated in strategy implementation monitoring system)

8. Strategy implementation monitoring

Particular attention to impacts of:

● Domestic recycling projects in given district

● Transportation projects

● Large scale irrigation or water supply projects

● Industrial production projects

● Energy intensive projects

CIDP from 2009 onwardsFocus on regional and local sustainable development, taking into

account environment, and ethnic and cultural diversity

Green and Ethno- tourism

School of local leaders

Strategic planning including SEA, and

diversification of financing sources

Transparent local authorities

Effective models of rural development (in multi-ethnic villages)

Agricultural cooperatives

Thank you for your attention !

Adeline GonayE-mail: agonay@undp.crimea.ua or agonay@undp.org

Mobile phone: + 380 50 393 30 10