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Danish - Ukranian Environmental Co-operation 1993-2002

Chapter 8
Institutional Strengthening and Public Awareness Projects

Improving environmental performance in a country, no matter which, is not only a matter of implementing well-designed engineering projects. It is of utmost importance that a well-functioning environmental management system is in place capable of identifying hot-spots and rooms of improvement, developing appropriate policies and implementing these in a cost-effective way.

Consequently, the Danish Ministry of Environment has, in close co-operation with the Ukrainian environmental authorities, launched various institutional strengthening and public awareness projects in Ukraine. The 12 projects described in the following are very different in their procedure and the way of being implemented. However, they all aim at improving the environmental management system in Ukraine. They are cross-cutting in the sense that they address, not only one, but several environmental sectors, foremost the water, waste and air sectors.

Look here!

An engineering project may lead to the rehabilitation of a waste water treatment plant so that it may conduct high standard mechanical and biological treatment of the waste water. This is, however, only a sustainable solution if the water utility is capable of covering future operation and maintenance costs and also investment costs of the waste water treatment plant. If not, the waste water treatment plant will turn out to be a so-called "white elephant". The project aimed at the development of a national environmental financing strategy within the water sector addressed this issue.

Domestic sources for environmental financing are scarce but not that scarce. The project aimed at strengthening the environmental fund system addressed this issue through the introduction of a set of guidelines regarding the regional environmental funds’ management and operation so that they may comply with the principles of sound public finance.

Much could be done in Ukraine to reduce water consumption, waste generation and energy intensity (energy consumption relative to Gross Domestic Product). Several projects aimed at addressing this issue through changes in existing legal and regulatory framework that affect the behaviour of enterprises and households.

The permitting system, including the system of emission limit values and environmental quality standards, the monitoring system and also the whole enforcement and compliance system need an overhaul. Various projects aimed at addressing these issues. Much attention has been devoted to the successful implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Ukraine.

Institutional Strengthening & Public Awareness Projects

Strengthening of Environmental Funds in Ukraine

Even though the Ukrainian authorities have experience from more than 1500 national, regional and local environmental funds, the funds have not developed into efficient nor transparent or accountable instruments. There is therefore an immediate need to develop regulations for the operation and management of the Ukrainian environmental funds.

Ukraine has, like many other CEE/NIS countries, created a system of comprehensive earmarked environmental funds aimed at enhancing environmental financing. The system, which dates back to 1991, is a three-tier system with one national, 25 regional and as many as 1,508 local environmental funds.

Generally speaking, the environmental funds in Ukraine have not succeeded in becoming effective tools of environmental policy or efficient, transparent and accountable instruments of public finance.

Therefore, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine has acknowledged the fact that there is an urgent need to improve their performance in the area of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, transparency, accountability and non-intrusiveness. Furthermore, current revenue sources are scarce and so is the overall level of the environmental funds’ disbursement. Regional disparities are, however, immense. A few regional environmental funds, such as the Donetsk Oblast’s Environmental Fund, have become fairly effective tools of environmental policy and do have higher revenues than the environmental funds in average.

What do we want to do:

The overall objective of the DANCEE involvement with the Ukrainian environmental funds has been to strengthen the capabilities of the funds to act as vehicles for environmental financing in accordance with international recognised standards for good environmental fund management. This objective has been pursued by two closely related projects:

1. Strengthening of Environmental Funds in Ukraine (1998-2000)
2. Strengthening of Environmental Funds in Ukraine at Regional Level (2000-2003)

The immediate objectives of the projects were:

How do we do it:

The project was carried out in such a way that it involved the representatives of the environmental fund system in Ukraine as much as possible in project implementation, thereby ensuring project success. The main activities were:

Description of the current situation. This component involved the preparation of three options papers based upon the collection, processing and analyses of existing information and data regarding the National Environmental Fund of Ukraine, the Donetsk Oblast’s Environmental Fund and the Lviv Oblast’s Environmental Fund. The papers addressed the possible mechanisms of environmental financing in Ukraine; the legal and regulatory framework for the environmental fund system in Ukraine; and the possible structure and content of a best practice guide for project cycle management within the environmental funds in Ukraine.

Capacity screening of Oblast Environmental funds. Based on a common methodology, all Oblast Environmental Funds were screened and their relative performance measured. This allowed the project to identify the most promising funds which subsequently were included into various training activities.

Workshops & training. A total of four major workshops have been organised in the course of the two projects aimed at dissemination of project results and training in project management. Intensive training activities have furthermore been organised. A Polish environmental fund practitioner in co-operation with the local project co-ordinator undertook two training missions to three promising funds (Donetsk, Zaporozhia, and the environmental fund of the autonomous republic of Crimea).

Project Cycle Guidelines. A comprehensive set of Project Cycle Guidelines (main text and 13 annexes) have been prepared for the Donetsk Oblast Environmental Fund and disseminated to other environmental funds at oblast level.

Various assistance. This includes assistance in attracting additional co-financing from the National Environmental Fund, Donetsk OEF and Kyiv City EF to two investment projects in Donetsk oblast’ and Kiev, assistance to the preparation of two Annual Reports of the National Environmental Fund of Ukraine; and assistance to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine in drafting a new act on environmental funds in Ukraine.

What is the result:

Budget:

Both projects were financed through a DANCEE grant. The first amounted to EUR 221,791 (DKK 1,663,430) while the second project was financed by a grant of EUR 258,885 (DKK 1,928,696).

Partners:

The project was carried out by COWI, Denmark in association with a core group of Ukrainian experts. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources took an active role in the project implementation and guided the consultants throughout the project. The steering committee comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Donetsk Oblast Environmental Fund, the EAP Task Force Secretariat at the OECD and COWI.

Project period:

Project 1: 1998 – 2000;

Project 2: 2000 – 2003

Assistance to The Fulfilment of The London Declaration

By using sociological, anthropological and economic methods, public awareness of the relation between consumer behaviour and the environment should be increased. The aim of the project is to reduce the pollution of the environment and the consequences of this pollution for public health in Ukraine.

Environment and health are key factors in the DANCEE environmental assistance to Ukraine. As an overall priority, DANCEE has decided to provide more attention to health impacts of environmental projects in the program for environmental assistance to Eastern Europe. By focusing on these two areas, the intention is to support Ukraine in its attempt to fulfil the London Declaration, which was adopted at the Third Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, London, 16-18 June 1999.

DANCEE therefore expressed the need to integrate more explicitly the issues of health in the strategy for Environmental Assistance to Ukraine and in future DANCEE project activities.

What do we want to do:

The general objective is to contribute to the reduction of environmental pollution – water, air, waste – which may act as health hazards in Ukraine and to contribute to the strengthening of public awareness on risk related behaviour towards environmental hazards.

The immediate objective is, in accordance with the London Declaration, to strengthen the role of environmental health issues in the new DANCEE country program for Ukraine and to optimize the benefits in terms of health of future DANCEE environmental projects in Ukraine.

How do we do it:

To do that, the approach will be multidisciplinary, using sociological, anthropological, and economic methods.

The main activities will be the development of a baseline study to describe current primary environmental problems and their causal link to public health in Ukraine regarding the water sector, the ambient air sector, and the waste sector. Secondly, activities will comprise analysis of stakeholders in the public sector and civil society and hereby lead to identification of activities, capabilities and capacity regarding environmental health development in Ukraine. Thirdly, the project plans to develop a manual with methods on how to improve and measure benefits to health in future environmental projects in Ukraine. Three case studies of Yalta, Sevastopol and Kerch in Crimea will be conducted in order to assess the impact on health of DANCEE projects concerning the Vodoka-nal. The case studies will lead to a refinement of the developed methods to be described in the manual. As part of the manual, general policy recommendations will be produced on how to meet the requirements of the London Declaration and especially on how to comply with the Protocol on Water and Health, adopted and signed by Ukraine.

What is the result:

DANCEE financed the total sum of EUR 298,667 (DKK 2,240,000)

Partners:

2001 – 2002

Biodiversity Conservation in Azov – Black Sea Ecological Corridor

By introducing nature-friendly farming methods, designing network of protected areas and by giving priority to public education and awareness raising. The aim is to protect the biodiversity in the coastal zones of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

It needs just a view to the immense biodiversity values in the coastal zones of the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to see that it is worth putting efforts in conserving the biodiversity and developing the sustainability in this Ukrainian coast and upland areas. To do this, the Ukrainian Ministry of Environment Protection and Nuclear Safety received a grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to prepare the project: Biodiversity Conservation in the Azov-Black Sea Corridor. DANCEE undertook the co-financing of the proposed activities with specific attention to issues related to sustainable agriculture and other land management issues. The project relates to the regional Black Sea Strategic Action Plan, agreed upon by the Black Sea countries.

What do we want to do:

The general objective of the project was to conserve biodiversity and assist with sustainable development on the Ukrainian coast and upland areas of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Inspection of the Sivash Lagoon which is one of the most important natural areas in the Azov-Black Sea Ecological Corridor.

Subsequent to a number of fact-finding missions, the consultant prepared budgeted work plans for the following:

1. Designation of a network of protected areas, with preparation of a framework for management plan development;
2. Mechanisms for biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices;
3. Land use planning for areas outside the protected areas network;
4. Institutional arrangements and capacity building;
5. Monitoring of biodiversity and water quality;
6. International co-operation;
7. Public education and awareness;
8. NGO capacity development; and
9. Nature-based tourism.

Establishing a comprehensive network of protected areas within the Corridor remains one of the core components in the proposed projects. One important means for achieving this is to support Ukraine to adopt and fulfil international agreements and conventions on nature conservation. Secondly, by introducing nature-friendly farming methods including comprehensive capacity building and transfer of technology it contribute significantly to the improvement of water quality in the recipients, the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and – not the least – the vulnerable saline Sivash lagoons.

What is the result:

The project has contributed to the establishment of a network of protected areas as well as promotion of sustainable agriculture development. It has further provided improved building capacity and awareness in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development including improvement of water quality and water monitoring. Furthermore, the project has provided contacts for support of international co-operation activities under applicable international conventions.

Budget:

DANCEE: EUR 140,000 (DKK 1,050,000) GEF: EUR 283,333 (DKK 2,125,000)

Partners:

Responsible consultant: COWI A/S.

Sub-consultant: Ornis Consult A/S

Counterpart: Ukraine Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety.

Project period:

1998 – 1999

Local Project Co-Ordinator For Co-Operative Activities Between The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine and The Environmental Protection Agency of Denmark

To ensure that the protection of the environmental and the nature is as efficient and useful as possible, a co-operation between Danish and Ukrainian environmental strengthened authorities has been established. The aim of the co-operation is to give the parties the possibility to be inspired, learn and benefit from each other’s experience and to coordinate ongoing and coming environmental activities.

In an attempt to strengthen and develop the bilateral co-operation between Denmark and Ukraine in the field of environmental and nature protection, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine – MENR and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency –DEPA have agreed that the Danish Agency shall hire the services of a local project coordinator – LPC – to manage co-operative activities between the two parties, thus contributing to an institutional strengthening of the international co-operation activities of the Ukrainian Ministry.

What do we want to do:

The activities of the local project coordinator are divided into four groups and shall include:

Take part in relevant activities of the Ukrainian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and other relevant government bodies related to Ukrainian-Danish environmental co-operation. Provide assistance to the ministerial management of the bilateral co-operation between Ukraine and Denmark in the fields of environmental and natural protection. Perform trouble shooting in all stages of project preparation and implementation.

Coordinate ongoing activities:

Be responsible for coordinating appropriate activities and ensuring the relevant flow of information between the Danish and the Ukrainian parties, regional and local environmental authorities, and other relevant governmental and non-governmental bodies and institutions, bilateral donors and local representatives for International Financing Institutions – IFIs.

Assist in the preparation of new projects:

Assist in developing a coherent project portfolio that recognises the objectives of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency and agreed priority areas between them and the Ukrainian Ministry, ongoing and planned activities of other donors and the International Financing Institution, local involvement and commitment, and the general development in Ukraine in t he field of environmental and natural protection.

A special feature of the project preparation activities of the Local Project Coordinator will be to assist in the preparation of a revision of the draft country programme for the co-operation, the so-called "Co-operation Development, Programme Priority Areas, and Project Pipeline" to be approved by the parties to this agreement. A special section of this pro-gramme is to be dedicated to a project portfolio of projects in the greater Kyiv area, aiming at presenting implemented or substantially progressed environmental projects in connection with the ECE Environmental Ministers Conference to be held in Kyiv in 2003.

How do we do it:

An important task for the project preparation activities is to provide the Danish Environmental Protection Agency with updated information on the Ukrainian environmental action plans, i.e. the NEAP, ECE Environmental Performance Reports etc. and similar strategy and priority building papers.

Overview of Danish activities in Ukraine:

In co-operation with the Danish Agency, develop, share and maintain a database (updated reporting system), which can sustain a complete, updated overview on the state of ongoing activities in Ukraine funded by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. This information can also be used in the Local Project Coordinators obligation to provide this information to the MENR and other state and public institutions, after Danish acceptance.

Information activities:

Produce draft publications, articles, press-releases, hold lectures etc. on activities under the Ukrainian-Danish environmental co-operation.

What is the result:

The project has provided the strengthening of management capacity through relevant activities of the Ukrainian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and other relevant government bodies related to Ukrainian-Danish environmental co-operation. Furthermore, the project has assisted with coordinating appropriate activities and ensuring the relevant flow of information between the Danish and the Ukrainian parties, regional and local environmental authorities. Assistance was provided in developing a coherent project portfolio that recognises the objectives of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.

Budget:

The project is financed by DEPA with the amount of EUR 122,107 (DKK 915,800).

Partners:

Project holder: RAMBOLL.

Beneficiary: Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine and State Committee for Construction, Architecture and Housing Policy.

Project period:

2000 – 2003

Facilitation and Institutional Strengthening of Danish-Ukrainian Environmental Co-Operation

The environmental co-operation between Denmark and Ukraine has, in many ways, been fruitful. A lot of projects have been a benefit to both the involved partners and to the environment. The exchange of competence and experience has, on one hand, developed the professionalism among the participants and, on the other hand, made the projects more complex and complicated. To benefit from this, there is a need to adjust the extensive development of the projects with the actual development of competence.

Over the past 10 years, the Ukrainian-Danish co-operation within the environmental and municipal services sector, developed extensively.

The largest number of currently ongoing and planned projects, its growing complexity and the strongly increasing Ukrainian professional partnership call for strengthening of all the major phases of the project cycle.

What do we want to do:

To support the development of capacity in the Ministry of Ukraine for Environmental Protection and Natural Resources in this respect and to strengthen the co-operation as mentioned, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency has decided to appoint an experienced Danish consultant to support the Ministry and the State Committee of Ukraine for Construction, Architecture and Housing Policy in developing their international co-operation capacity.

The overall objective of the project is to improve the environmental and public health in Ukraine obtained through strengthened international co-operation with Denmark.

Budget:

The project was financed by DEPA with the amount of EUR 623,733 (DKK 4,678,000).

Partners:

Project holder: Nordic Consulting Group.

Beneficiary: MENR and SCCAHP.

Project period:

2000 – 2003

Consultancy Services For The Organisation of A Sub-Regional PPC Meeting For Ukraine and Moldova

Via sub-regional meetings in the Project Preparation Committee, PPC, the intention is to attract donor support and strengthen the dialogue between the PPC members and the observers.

Originally, regional meetings were held in London with representatives from donor countries present, listening to presentations given by representatives from IFIs. Typically, no representatives from recipient countries were present. This led to complaints from recipient countries that they were not being actively involved in the activities of the PPC. Consequently a decision was taken to hold subregional PPC meetings in the recipient countries. So far, five sub-regional PPC meetings have taken place.

For further information on the meeting, see: PPC Secretariat: Report on the 4th Subregional PPC Meting: Moldova and Ukraine –Dniepropetrovsk, Ukraine – 26–27 October, 1998. London, 1999. The PPC Secretariat prepared this report for the 13th PPC Meeting on 11–12 February 1999.

What do we want to do:

The objective of the project was to assist the PPC Secretariat, the Ministry of Environment of Natural Resources of Ukraine and the Ministry of Environment of Moldova, in preparing and executing the 4th Sub-regional PPC Meeting for Moldova and Ukraine.

How do we do it:

The project was carried out in close co-operation with the PPC Secretariat, the two above mentioned ministries and the Dnepropetrovsk Oblast's Environmental Committee.

The project involved the preparation of background documents on, among others, levels of environmental expenditure in Moldova and Ukraine, assistance in preparing project proposals to be presented at the meeting and assistance in preparing the agenda. Furthermore, the project involved substantial assistance in practical arrangements.

What is the result:

On October 26-27, 1998, the 4th Sub-regional PPC meeting was held in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. The meeting was hosted by the Government of Ukraine. It enjoyed the financial support of the Danish Co-operation for Environment in Eastern Europe (DANCEE), concentrated on 11 environmental investment projects in Moldova and Ukraine. The number of participants totalled about 100; over 50 were Moldovan and Ukrainians. 10 donor countries attended the meeting, as well as representatives from the European Commission, EBRD, World Bank and other international organisa-tions.

Budget:

The project was financed by DANCEE amounting to EUR 58,831 (DKK 441,235).

Partners:

The project was carried out by COWI, Denmark.

Furthermore, the PPC Secretariat took an active role in the project implementation and guided the consultants throughout the project.

Project Period:

1998 – 1999

Project Mission to Ukraine to Identify A Project to Assist The Implementation of The Aarhus Convention

Ministers for the Environment from all part of the world agreed on the Aarhus Convention in June 1998 in Denmark. The Convention was the first of its kind, which aim is to support the environmental rights of citizens. It was also the first time the Central- and Eastern European Countries and the Newly Independent States – NIS was directly and actively involved in the preparation of the Convention. Thereby an important step towards a better environment was taken. And at the same time the fundament to a more democratic co-operation between the involved countries was grounded.

In 1998, at the fourth Environment for Europe Conference in Aarhus, Denmark, Ukraine joined 39 other countries in signing the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention). Ukraine ratified the Convention in November 1999. The Danish Ministry of Environment and Energy has agreed to support Ukraine in the implementation of the Convention.

What do we want to do:

The aim of the project is capacity building with respect to the first two pillars of the Aarhus Convention, which set forth specific obligations for the executive branch of governments. The overall objective for the project is to implement the Aarhus Convention, which will clarify and inform the citizens about their rights in environmental cases.

How do we do it:

The Danish assistance under the planned project would be provided directly to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and to selected oblast department. Investigations will be made on how to implement the third pillar of the Convention. The assistance will have a multiple effect because it also will provide concrete support for the Ministry’s task of organising the "Kyiv 2003" ministerial conference.

What is the result:

In particular, the project will strengthen communications capacity, and provide training for key officials on how to disseminate information, respond to public requests and work with the press.

Budget:

For project preparation mission: DANCEE contribution of EUR 50,000 (DKK 375,000).

Partners:

Project holder of project preparation: Milieu Ltd.

Project period:

2000 – 2001

Assistance to Ukraine on Implementation of The Aarhus Convention

In 1998, at the fourth Environment for Europe Conference in Aarhus, Denmark, Ukraine joined 39 other countries in signing the UN Economic Commission for Europe’s (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention). Ukraine ratified the Convention in November 1999.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, however, requested Danish assistance for implementation of the Convention among others to specify the legislation already provided for the two first pillars of the Convention and to provide for IT equipment to assist in improving the communication with the public.Implementation of the Aarhus Convention is a DANCEE policy target for assistance in Eastern Europe and Countries of the former Soviet Republic and it agreed to support Ukraine in the implementation of the Convention.

What do we want to do:

The development objective of the project is to contribute to the implementation of the Aarhus Convention obligations in Ukraine, including completion of the legal basis for implementation.

The approach will be based on multidisciplinary analyses concerning the available and future resources of IT equipment, facilities and skills to apply them in the ministry. Training will be provided as required and so will the supplementary hardware up to the limits of available budgets. A library and an information center will be established and a budget for operating the center and library will be worked out. A training group of civil servants in the ministry and oblasts and representatives of NGO’s will be invited to Denmark to be acquainted with Danish experience on applying the Aarhus Convention in practice. In continuation of the visit to Denmark meetings will be held in Ukraine to share information with the rest of the ministry, regional and local departments and NGO’s.

An analysis of existing legislation will be undertaken to identify gaps to complying with the requirements of the Convention. To ensure proper legal power, recommendations will be made concerning transposition of requirements into either Governmental orders or laws and legal text will be drafted after further discussions with the Ministry and NGO’s. The legal text to be drafted will mainly concern public participation, but legislation concerning access to information will be reviewed and recommendations for changes will be made. An inventory of authorities holding environmental information will be made as guidance to the public regarding whom to address to get information.

Finally a master plan including a financing strategy will be provided for implementation of further actions to enforce the Aarhus Convention properly in Ukraine in the long term.

What is the result:

DANCEE is funding 100% amounting to EUR 260,000 (DKK 1,950,000).

Partners:

Project holder: Carl Bro A/S, Denmark.

Project beneficiary: Ministry of Environment protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

Project period:

2001 – 2003

Formulation of A Cites Capacity Development Project with The Management Authorities of Ukraine

At meetings between the Ukrainian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) and DANCEE in June 2000 an urgent need for assistance to the implement Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES in Ukraine was expressed. Ukraine ratified CITES in 1999 and is still in the process of developing the many administrative procedures needed to have a more effective implementation of the convention.

The objective of the project preparation mission was to assist the Ukrainian agencies that implement the CITES prepare a draft Project Document that describes a project that will strengthening the implementation of the convention in Ukraine.

How do we do it:

A mission was fielded to Ukraine from 3-12 December 2001, consisting of two consultants from Ornis Consult A/S and a local consultant. During the stay in Ukraine meetings were held with representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and other potential key stakeholders.

What is the result:

The Formulation mission prepared a Draft Project Document. In the document nine outputs are listed grouped into four categories. These are:

1. preparation of a CITES Action Plan for Ukraine;
2. educational and logistical support to CITES administrative and controlling personnel;
3. enhanced public and administrative awareness of CITES regulations; and
4. proposals for improvements to existing legislation in relation to CITES including an identification of the adjustments needed to meet EU requirements.

Budget:

The budget for the project formulation mission was EUR 28,000 (DKK 210,000) and was fully covered by the DANCEE grant. The budget for the proposed CITES project amount to app. EUR 533,334 (4 million DKK).

Partners:

Project holder: ORNIS Consult. The CITES project was anchored in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

Other major stakeholders: State Department for Fishery of Ministry of Agricultural Policy, the National Academy of Science and the Custom Service of Ukraine.

Project period:

2001 – 2002

Development of A Country Programme For Natural Resources Management and Biodiversity Conservation

Since 1994 DANCEE has been active in supporting environmental initiatives in Ukraine in the areas of pollution abatement. One of the major areas of support was strengthening support to the NIS countries in their efforts to comply with international environmental agreements. It has been decided to extend the co-operation to the area of natural resources management in general.

Consequently a mission was fielded in September 2001 to formulate a DANCEE Country Pro-gramme for natural resources and biodiversity conservation. The Country Programme should define the framework for the co-operation between DANCEE and Ukraine on Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation for the period 2002-2004, with a possible extension to 2006. The DANCEE Country Pro-gramme for natural resources and biodiversity conservation will be managed in DANCEE by the Forest and Nature Agency in the Danish Ministry of Environment and Energy.

What do we want to do:

The objective of the actual project is to assist Ukraine and DANCEE in the formulation of the Country Programme for the Natural Resource Management Sector for the period 2001 –2006.

How do we do it:

A mission was fielded in September 2001 with representatives from the Danish Forest and Nature Management Agency and two consultants from COWI consulting company. The aim of the mission was to understand the situation and clarify priorities regarding natural resources and biodiversity management in Ukraine.

For this purpose meetings were conducted with main stakeholders in Kyiv, including foremost representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Ukraine, but also representatives from NGO’s and international donors.

In addition, the mission conducted a fieldtrip to the Crimean to obtain an understanding of the situation on the ground regarding protected areas management in Ukraine. Documentary reviews were also carried out to support the analysis.

The formulation exercise was based on two elements: 1) A situation and strategic analysis of the situation regarding natural resource management in Ukraine. 2) Based on the strategic analysis, formulation of an overall framework consisting of objectives and outputs to represent the Country Programme. The outputs will guide the formulation of projects to implement the Country Programme.

What is the result:

The Country Programme will lead to a strategic framework for the co-operation between Ukraine and Denmark in the "green sector", which will serve to promote the focus, coherence and stability of DANCEE's support in this area.

Fourteen outputs were identified under the Country Programme, grouped in three categories targeting each of the priority areas identified by the MENR: Support to the National Ecological Network, implementation of international conventions, and management of protected areas. Certain themes transcend the three output groups, such as implementation support, public awareness, public participation, situation analysis, and active efforts to learn from and replicate experiences.

The projects to be implemented under the Country Programme will lead to tangible results in relation to National Ecological Networks, protected areas management, and implementation of international conventions. The specification of these results will be clarified in connection with the project formulation missions to be carried out annually as relevant.

Three project opportunities have been priori-tised for the initial year of the Country Pro-gramme: (I) support to implementation of CITES, (II) Protected Areas Management in the Podillya nature region, and (III) Support to the implementation of the Ramsar Convention in the Azov-Black Sea Corridor.

Budget:

The budget for the programme formulation mission was EUR 48,800 (DKK 366,000) fully covered by a DANCEE grant.

Partners:

The Country Programme formulation exercise was carried out by COWI.

The national counterpart is the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

Project period:

2001 – 2002

DANCEE-Country Programme For Ukraine 2002-2004

DANCEE has elaborated a new strategy for the period beyond 2001. Within this strategy it is foreseen to gradually move from a project based support to a programme approach with a view to optimise the impact of the money spent.

The overall objective of the programming process is to support the DANCEE strategy in achieving the goals set up for the co-operation with Ukraine, namely to reduce health impacts of pollution, improve the environment locally as well as globally and to secure adherence to international conventions.

The immediate objective of the programming is to develop a Country Programme for Ukraine that will enable the country with Danish or other donor assistance to achieve targeted environmental improvements in selected areas; namely three to five of the following areas: Air pollution management, water resources and drinking water quality, waste management, chemical pollution, energy management, protection nature resources.

What do we want to do:

The project is aiming at producing:

How do we do it:

What is the result:

The project was financed through a DANCEE grant of EUR 274,558 (DKK 2,031,735).

Partners:

The project is carried out by PEM-consult A/S in co-operation with The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

Project period:

2001 – 2002

Support to The 5-Th "Environment For Europe Ministerial Conference" – Kyiv, 2003

The "Environment for Europe" Conference is an important event in dealings with environmental issues at both national, European as well as global level. It is therefore of great importance that it is prepared and carried out in the most productive and efficient way.

What do we want to do:

Acknowledging the importance of the Kyiv – 2003 event the Danish Ministry of Environment intends to support the creation of optimal working conditions for the hundreds of participants, observers and mass-media representatives.

How do we do it:

Danish funds have been allocated to fund:

Separate funds were provided for a study tour by the Ukrainian Conference organizers to Denmark to share with the Danish experience from the 4-th "Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference" held in Denmark (Aarhus) 1998.

Additional Danish funding have been also secured for the provision of a number of Side Events to the Conference, mainly excursions to the environmental projects carried out with Danish financial support and in co-operation with the appropriate Ukrainian authorities. The following projects were organized: (i) Water Information Center (see description at other place in this book), (ii) Upgraded Kyiv Central Heating Substations, (iii) Kyiv Municipal waste incineration plant, (iv) "No-digging" renovation of sewerage system, (v) Improved nutrient removal at the Kyiv Waste Water Treatment Plant, (vi) Straw-fired rural central heating system (100 km south of Kyiv), (vii) Upgrading of Kyiv Landfill (largest in Europe), (viii) Pilot municipal waste sorting projects.

What is the result:

Provide facilitation for the preparation of the activities for the 5th environmental European ministerial conference.

Budget:

Danish grant support – EUR 106,000 (DKK 795,000).

Partner:

Recipient: Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

Ukrainian implementing authority/organization: Office of the 5-th "Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference"

Danish implementing agency: DANCEE – Danish Environment co-operation with Eastern Europe.

Project period:

2002 – 2003