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Purpose: the Environmental Lens More well thought and sustainable projects and programs. Meet demands from back donors. Swedish CSO were struggling with both why and how to integrate environmental considerations into development projects and programmes.

Why ? The Environment – the base of our existence - includes air, water, land, the climate, natural resources, the ecosystems, plants and animals – and the human society. The environment matters greatly to people living in poverty, affecting livelihoods and health and vulnerability to external shocks. A matter of human rights and justice.

Why: environmental integration? (1) identify environmental opportunities and benefits of a development intervention. (2) identify and manage environmental risks associated with the intervention and ensure that appropriate action is taken. (3) identify and act on capacity development needs for organisations (and their local partners) to manage environment and climate change issues.

Involved in the Environmental Lens Private sector Partners and member organizations. and other Government authorities

The Environmental lens - A participatory Environmental Impact Assessment tool Project/program Discovering the linkages

The Environmental lens – a tool to ask the right questions and to improve environmental sustainability The Environmental lens Project/program

The core of the Environmental Lens is to engage all relevant stakeholders in the assessment of the development programme or project In order to combine the experiences and objectives of the development organisation with the skills and experiences of the local partners, the implementers as well as the rights holders (target group). A participatory approach…

… with a rights perspective The rights-holders take active part in the context analysis, problem description, identifying corresponding duty-bearers as well as in formulating and prioritising solutions. Access to environmental protection is essential to the realisation of basic human rights e.g.: - the right to adequate standard of living; - the right to nutritious, - adequate and safe food; - the right to clean water and access to sanitation, - the right to a good health, and - the right to land and other natural resources.

Can be used by non-environmental experts. Explores the links between a program, project or organisation and the environment. Stimulates new ideas and perspectives  more sustainable results. A method that works Used in 12 countries in > 50 different actors, > 20 workshops 10 countries and an estimated 75 % has applied the Environmental lens, changing and improving projects and programs. Some organisations has also integrated the Environmental lens into their PME-systems.

The Environmental Lens builds on two questions & the environmental context forms the basis of the analysis.

“ Do we do things right?” The classic mainstreaming analysis

The horizontal analysis is the classic mainstreaming analysis and can be applied to any project/ program/organisation and is applicable at all times. This is also the analysis that can help fulfil the environmental requirements from e.g. donors. Focus on the intervention’s impact on the environment – both positive and negative, and the environment’s impact on the project. The tool list areas for improvement and give new ideas on what to consider.

“Do we do the right things?” An in-depth analysis of how to address the impacts and causes of environmental problems.

The vertical analysis has the potential to change the strategic focus of a project/ program/organisation in order to improve its relevance, efficiency and value. Openness and mandate of the group to develop something new. The analysis can explore the potential role of a program, project or organisation to work on the causes of environmental problems. Suitable at the beginning of the planning phase of a project or program, when there is more openness to discussing strategic changes.

Environmental context Environmental problems and changes, impact on people. Future projections Forms the basis of the analysis and helps you to understand the environmental context in the area/country. With that information you can answer the other questions.

Brainstorming exercises List the positive impacts in this space + List the impacts that you cannot place as either positive or negative in this space – List the negative impacts in this space The project/ programme The Environment New ideas

Brainstorming exercises List the positive impacts in this space + List the impacts that you cannot place as either positive or negative in this space – List the negative impacts in this space The project/ programme The Environment New ideas

Brainstorming exercises New ideas ! New ideas

Contact Andreas Ulfsax at Diakonia, or Inger Björk at Forum Syd, Are you interested in the Environmental Lens?