1. Environmental Mainstreaming
Mainstreaming environmental linkages into national development planning and the UNDAF
In plain language…
Understanding the contribution that better environmental management can make to the lives of the poor, particularly children, women and marginalized groups
Environmental mainstreaming into national development planning also referred to as poverty-environment mainstreaming is defined as mainstreaming poverty-environment linkages into national development planning.
Environmental mainstreaming bases its argument on the contribution of environment to pro-poor economic growth and the Millennium Development Goals.
It entails working with:
state actors (planning, finance, and sector ministries, environment agencies, decentralized agencies, statistics office and parliament),
non-governmental actors (academia, private sector, civil society, media and the general public) and
development partners.
Poverty-environment mainstreaming encompasses preparatory work (e.g. carrying out assessments and setting up working mechanisms), policy-making (including public and policy reforms), budgeting, financing, implementation and monitoring, at various levels: national, sector and decentralized.

2. Opportunities, Constraints, Impacts
All sectors are influenced by the environment
Environmental factors may be critical to the success of UN-supported programming
UN-supported programming can have un-intended negative impacts on the environment
Env. Opportunities (+)
National Plans
(PRS, NDP, MDG strategy, Sector Plans)
All sectors are influenced by the environment
Environmental factors may be critical to the success of UN-supported programming
UN-supported country programming can have un-intended negative impacts on the environment
Environmental Opportunities – a positive influence on a sector, policy, programme
Environmental Constraints – a negative influence
Environmental Impacts – changes that result from UN-supported programming
Env. Impacts
(+ or -)
UN-supported
programmes
Env. Constraints (-)

3. Environmental Mainstreaming: Key elements at country level
Understand and monitor the linkages between major development problems and the environment
Put environment linkages into national development processes and their products (PRSs; MDG strategies)
Set priorities and develop strategic programmes (incl. policy dev) for UN-Government cooperation in the UNDAF that address environmental opportunities, constraints and impacts
It requires a sustained Country-led Effort to Operationalize” – from plan to implementation (working arrangements are key)
It means enagagement - as a UNCT- with:
state actors
non-governmental actors and
development partners
Environmental mainstreaming into national development planning also referred to as poverty-environment mainstreaming is defined as mainstreaming poverty-environment linkages into national development planning.
Environmental mainstreaming bases its argument on the contribution of environment to pro-poor economic growth and the Millennium Development Goals.
It entails working with:
state actors (planning, finance, and sector ministries, environment agencies, decentralized agencies, statistics office and parliament),
non-governmental actors (academia, private sector, civil society, media and the general public) and
development partners.
Poverty-environment mainstreaming encompasses preparatory work (e.g. carrying out assessments and setting up working mechanisms), policy-making (including public and policy reforms), budgeting, financing, implementation and monitoring, at various levels: national, sector and decentralized.

4. Mainstreaming: Value-added
Understanding patterns of control and ownership of natural resources - their influence in national decision-making
Greater focus on prevention and ‘up-stream’ decision-making
Engagement with stakeholders (Rio principle 10) can lead to greater trust and confidence in and between communities and government
tremendous empowerment potential for the poor, women, indigenous peoples
Improve the effectiveness of UN supported programming
Balanced solutions - help to make the consideration of trade-offs explicit in policy and programme design
Reduce the risk of environmental disasters and social crises caused by environmental damage
Adapted from EC, Environmental Handbook for EC Development Cooperation, Ch 1.

5. Lessons (from PEI)
Comprehensive, programmatic approach is essential - project approach will not work
Three year plus & $2.0m minimum
Focus on results not agency
Very detailed mapping of government macro & sectoral policy, planning & decision-making processes
The Planning and Finance Ministries must drive from the outset
A realistic assessment of country commitment at different levels & in both environment & planning ministries
Country-led environmental mainstreaming has high transaction costs
Integrated economic & environment programme & policy appraisals must become standard operating procedures for planning/finance & sectoral ministries.
Source: MAINSTREAMING ENVIRONMENT INTO NATIONAL & SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES, Presentation by: John Horberry, UNDP-UNEP Poverty Environment Facility, Nairobi David Smith, Team Leader, UNDP-UNEP Poverty Environment Initiative
Need for comprehensive, programmatic approach to mainstreaming - a project approach will not work
Three year plus & $2.0m minimum
Focus on results not agency
Very detailed mapping of government macro & sectoral policy, planning & decision-making processes (“machinery of government”), institutions & individuals relevant to the national development process is required.
‘Development Intelligence.’
The Planning/Finance ministry must be an equal or the prime focal ministry in the process from the very beginning.
A realistic assessment of country commitment at different levels & in both environment & planning ministries is necessary.
Supporting a country-led environmental mainstreaming process has high transaction costs, because it is new, seeking to change government priorities & involves a number of ministries.
Detailed country-specific evidence on the links between environment, poverty reduction & pro-poor growth is needed to convince policy makers, economists & planners that investment in environment sustainability is worthwhile.
The application of integrated economic & environment project, programme & policy appraisals needs to become a standard operating procedures for planning/finance &
sectoral ministries.
Developing a full partnership approach with key incountry donors is vital for long term success on several fronts (Capacity building, sector mainstreaming, sustainable domestic financing for environmental sector)
Full partnership with UNDP (UNCT..?) critical

6. Environmental Mainstreaming Good practices at country level (from PEI)
Find the right entry point
Find a “champion”
Ensure the commitment of the planning or finance team
Provide country-specific evidence
Perform integrated policy appraisals
Engage key sector agencies
Consider the environment agency capacity
Acknowledge the need for sustained support

7. Future reading: www.unpei.org