1. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 1 UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project and Public Participation in the Transboundary River Basin Management Ivan Zavadsky, UNDP/GEF Regional Programme Director Danube/ Black Sea 3rd Biennial GEF International Waters Conference 20 – 25 June 2005

2. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 2 »Danube Regional Project »PP Support »Danube Environmental Forum (DEF); »Communication and Public Awareness Raising; »Access to Information and public participation; »ICPDR Public Participation Strategy; »ICPDR Operational Plan; »Lessons learned; PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS RAISING Content

3. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 3 »Strengthening Institution(s) – regional level (ICPDR), national level, other stakeholders; »Improving Management Tools – river basin management, Danube GIS, economic instruments; »Developing Policies – agriculture, industry, land-use and wetlands, phosphate detergents; »Promoting Public Participation – NGO strengthening, Small Grants Programme, public participation and access to information; »Implementing Pilot Projects – river basin management, agriculture, wetlands PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS RAISING Danube Regional Project

4. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS RAISING Support for the Danube Environmental Forum (DEF) »Network of 175 NGOs in 13 Danube countries »DRP supports the DEF to become self sustained network »Focus on capacity building combined with specific, well targeted practical activities »Workshops/trainings, prepare communication material

5. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 5 »DRP Communication strategy »Project and ICPRD branding, web-page, »DRP / ICPDR information material »Danube Day »Danube Watch »Campaigns »Capacity building/Communication training »Media PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS RAISING Communication and Public Awareness

6. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 6 Objective: Enhancing access to information and public participation in addressing priority sources of pollution through improved access to information in the frame of the EU WFD and the Aarhus Convention Strengthen implementation capacity of government officials and NGOs through: »Legal, policy & practical measures »Technical assistance, joint capacity building »Country specific solutions, regional experience sharing »Field-test approaches at hot spot locations »Dissemination of results PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS RAISING Public Access to Information

7. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 7 »The Danube River Protection Convention is the legal frame for co-operation to assure protection of water and ecological resources and their sustainable use in the Danube River Basin (1994) »The ICPDR is responsible for the implementation of the Convention »The ICPDR has been nominated as the platform to develop the Danube River Basin Management Plan PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND AWARENESS International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)

8. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 8 »Provide guidance to national governments on all levels of PP e.g. tools, mechanisms, structures »Promote PP concerning the RBM process »Inform other key stakeholders about PP possibilities and structures PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ICPDR Public Participation Strategy

9. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 9 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ICPDR Operational Plan »Develop activities on the roof – level (“living document”) »Assist the national governments to fulfill their PP obligations »Demonstrate that PP is taken seriously by the DRB countries

10. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 10 Phase I - Information »Stakeholder analysis at basin level »Communication Network between countries »Public Participation Network between countries »Launching of International Danube Day - June 29 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ICPDR Operational Plan

11. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 11 Phase I - facilitate active participation »WFD Leaflet (outcomes of the roof report) »Stakeholder Forum 2005 – June 2005 »Selected stakeholders even more actively involved in ICPDR Expert Groups PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ICPDR Operational Plan (cont)

12. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 12 »PP is a process – take the time and plan the process carefully »Be patient – new “concept of governance” »Accept also failures »PP has to happen on different levels – it is crucial on the local level, but can be supported internationally PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Lessons Learned

13. 3rd Biennial GEF IW Conference Brasil, June 2005 13 »Start early – and involve the main players »Use synergies for cooperation »Make the procedures clear – to avoid misunderstanding and mistrust »Make the best use of the people’s time PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Lessons Learned