Vladimir Garaba Chisinau Branch of the Environmental Movement from Moldova Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova

Environmental Movement of Moldova is created in 1990 year. The structure: Central office and 8 legal independent territorial organizations. Chisinau branch of EMM is the biggest one.

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova Other NGO starts to be created since 1993 year First Environmental NGO Forum took place in 1995 There was participating about 24 NGOs

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova Representants of Environmental Movement of Moldova took part in Sofia reunion in 1995, Aarhus, Kiev and Belgrad Environmental Conferences Also EMM took part in all meeting of parties on Aarhus Convention EMM was organizer of NGO Forum before the Chisinau meeting in 1999

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova Gaps of first period: Fragmentation of NGO sector Leaders lack of knowledge No networking between national and international NGOs No significant financial support on the area of Republic of Moldova

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova One significant factor of consolidation of the NGO sector is creation in 1997 of REC Moldova UNDP, TACIS, USA Embassy, UK Embassy, Netherlands and other financing institutions starts to provide financial support.

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in the Republic of Moldova A significant role in building NGO capacity was: Publishing and dissemination of information from REC Budapest and Eco- Forum, Organizing of a set of national and regional seminars on the Aarhus Convention, Participation of NGO leaders to international meetings, seminars, projects

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society Republic of Moldova International organisations: Eurasia (Kiev) ABBA-CEELI (USA) GTZ (Germany) Milieukontakt (Hollands)

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova Active NGO: EMM Eco-Lex Biotica Terra Nostra Acces-Info

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova It was organise 6 NGO environmental forums. It was elected a Coordination Council, Regulatory Act It was signed a memorandum of cooperation with Ministry of Environment

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova A couple of important projects: Active NGO in domain of Public Awareness (Milieukontakt, Holland), Environmental information and training regarding of public participation of countries in EECCA, (EU) A set of trainings, seminars, experience exchange Publishing of textbooks and manuals Drafting of environmental legislation

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova The result of these and other efforts has been: Building coalitions of NGOs (Earth Day, No Transportation of nuclear waste, Forest protection etc.) Organizing the discussion of several important national and local programs and plans Conducting public examination of various objects Initiation of litigation in court

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova Good examples can serve: Public discussion of urban settlements planning schemes (location of gas stations, establishing the boundaries of green areas, etc.) Development and discussion of LEAP Participation in and discussion of GIP

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova NGOs are the leaders in the dissemination of environmental information: Nature Journal, published by the EMM Journal of Water published by ChB of EMM GreenMedia Environmental Portal published by SalvaEco

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova The middle of the decade - the decline of activity Limit the participation of NGOs in decision- making, ignoring public opinion Passivity of the international institutions Reduction in funding from the Environmental Fund Reducing the number of NGOs, especially the village but

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova In starts a reactivation process: UNDP project “Support for the Environment” GTZ (Eco-Tiras) “Dialogue –transparency and participation” Matra, Holland "Strengthening civil society"

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova With a particular participation of NGO experts was developed: Section "Public information and participation” in the draft of new Law on the EP Action Plan for Implementation of the Aarhus Convention A Position paper of civil society on issues of waste management, water resources and public participation Was trained some lawyers

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova Complexity, difficulty, obstacles: A limited number of experts in the field of public participation and lack of of their training Poor knowledge of relevant laws or ignoring civil servants High degree of corruption of officials and judges

Building NGO capacity and strengthening civil society in Republic of Moldova Currently, NGOs are working on: Preparation of next NGO Forum Development of a new edition of the Regulations on Public Participation Writing a report on the implementation of the Aarhus Convention Preparation for the Fifth Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, that will take in Moldova