eduard interwies ecologic
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River basin networks in Europe and the world: Possibilities and outcomes of twinning with EU networks/organizations on governmental and NGO level. Eduard Interwies Ecologic. Presentation structure. I.Introduction: Forms of collaboration Networks of River Basin Organisations “Twinning” - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
ecologic.de
12/13 May, 2006: Transboundary Dniester River Management: Institutional and Public Participation Aspects
River basin networks in Europe and the world:Possibilities and outcomes of twinning with EU
networks/organizations on governmental and NGO level
Eduard Interwies
Ecologic
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Presentation structure
I. Introduction: Forms of collaborationNetworks of River Basin Organisations
“Twinning”
II. Main aspects of river basin twinning
III. Lessons learned for successful collaboration in river basin management
IV. “Twinning” and the EU: framework for exchange experiences
V. Possibilities for Ukraine and Moldova
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I. Introduction: Forms of collaboration
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I. Forms of collaboration
1. Networks of River Basin Organisations
• Objectives: strengthen capacity and effectiveness of RBOs, improve water governance, advise on establishment of RBOs, others
• Typical activities: sharing of information, organisation of workshops and courses, benchmarking, etc.
• Networks usually implement twinning programmes!!
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I. Forms of collaboration
2. Networks of River Basin Organisations (continued)Example: International Network of Basin Organisa-
tions (INBO): • Founded in 1994; currently 153 permanent members or
observers, from 52 countries• Open to Basin Organisations (in their various forms),
government administrations in charge of water management, co-op. agencies, permanent observers
• Main objective: to develop lasting relations between the organisations interested in comprehensive water resource management ... and favour exchanges of experiences and expertise among them.
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I. Forms of collaboration
2. Networks of River Basin Organisations (continued)Example: INBO (continued): Lead by INBO + GWP: Associated programme for de-
veloping & strengthening river basin organisations• TWINBASINxn project: promotes twinning through
guides, scholarship (includ. support for pilot initiatives)• Aims to mobilise expertise of basin organisations
through involvement projects, including as leader or partner in 15 eastern European “twinning agreements”
• Networking of water documentation systems• Synthesis of available knowledge/best practices; others
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I. Forms of collaboration
2. “Twinning” in general• Long-lasting co-operative relation between 2
organisations, involving exchange of information + experiences.
• Various types of institutions: cities + towns (“sister cities”), educational institutions, national parks, professional institutes, waterboards, provinces, government departments, etc.
• In River Basin Management (RBM): twinning typically of Basin Organisations (BO), but other options possible.
• (Sometimes twinning is taken for staff-exchange only... concept should be clear at outset!!)
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II. Main aspects of river basin twinning
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II. Main aspects of river basin twinning
• Aim for both networks and twinnings is mutual learning with respect to the operational, policy and institutional aspects of RBM
• Twinning: more usual approach than creation of networks; both approaches complimentary
• When twinning is part of larger framework (e.g. network), possibilities include diffusion of results, creation of specialised fora, etc.
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II. Main aspects of river basin twinning
• Twinning is considered as an effective tool for exchanging knowledge and expertise between similar organisations
• Can generate improved functioning of partner(s) in terms of institutional capacities and in specific topics
• Enables lessons to be learned from previous experiences; exchange of information on best-practices and failed experiments; enhance complimentarity and transferability of knowledge generated
• Develops skills within basin or country that will remain there; no “consultants-leave-reports-and-go” problem
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II. Main aspects of collaboration: twinning
In RBM: Organisations usually River Basin Organisa-tions or International River Commissions
Pillars of twinning:• exchange of information/experience• exchange of personnel
Activities: • short visits (including site visits, field trips, and
presentations)• long-term staff exchange• thematic workshops• training courses• benchmarking activities, others
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II. Main aspects of collaboration: twinning
Possible issues for co-operation:
• Co-operation and exchange of information of: technical nature, legal nature, administrative nature institutional nature,
• Water quantity and water quality
• Ecology
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II. Main aspects of collaboration: twinning
Possible issues for co-operation (continued):
• Integrated approach / implementation and integration
of: socio-economical issues and finances co-operation with other competent (inter)national
authorities stakeholder participation human resources management gender issues education raising public awareness
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II. Main aspects of collaboration: twinning
Example: Twinning of La Plata and Rhine2001: Initial contacts between the 2 international
commissions (CIC Plata and ICPR)2003: twinning agreement and working programme (first
transboundary twinning agreement!!)Workshops, meetings, internships and internal
dissemination of results on 2 Themes and 2 Cross-cutting issues.
Rhine experts participated in workshops to define base situation and prepare proposals on water resource quality and hydrological warning systems
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II. Main aspects of collaboration: twinning La Plata Basin (2.954.500 sq. km., 5 countries) Rhine Basin (172.900 sq. km., 9 countries)
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III. Lessons learned for successful
collaboration in RBM
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III. Lessons learned
1. Characteristics of organisations to be twinned:
• Some similarity in functions
• Some similarity in responsibilities
• (Institutional gaps that can be supported)
• Some similarity in desired outcomes of water management (East Asian twinning often centres on large infrastructure such as dams; other twinning efforts centre on governance, e.g. move towards IWRM, public participation, compliance with WFD, etc.)
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III. Lessons learned
2. Characteristics of river basins to be twinned:• Some similarity of environments (e.g. La Plata - Rhine
twinning: both large transboundary basins with several riparian countries)
• Some similarity of issues• Similar complexity of common issues• Complementarity3. Characteristics of interaction:• Similar research themes • Usually emphasis on long-term, sustained interaction;
continuity of involvement
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IV. “Twinning” and the EU: framework for exchange experiences
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IV. “Twinning” and the EU
EU Twinning: projects financed by EU for “supporting enlargement of the Union and strengthening its co-operation with neighbouring countries.”
Most often used to provide technical + administrative knowledge required by new members/candidate countries to include in their national laws(e.g. projects targeting WFD content and implementation in Hungary and Poland).
Programmes: CARDS, MEDA, PHARE and TACISProject proposals elaborated by candidate countries
based on development programmes; presented yearly for approval + financing to EU Commission.
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IV. “Twinning” and the EU
Organisations: predominantly public institutions (e.g. ministries + agencies); also “EU mandated bodies”.
EU Twinnings :• Usually include at least 1 long-term consultants
(Resident Twinning Adviser) active in partner organisation of candidate country for full length of project (12-24 months).
• Project leader in organisation of Member State.• Seminars of short- and middle-term experts,
traineeships, workshops, study trips, etc.EU Twinning light: • short- and middle-term experts, 8 months duration
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V. Possibilities for Ukraine
and Moldova
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V. Possibilities for Ukraine and Moldova
TACIS Twinning Programme in place till end of 2006.(Within TACIS, Ukraine has developed projects e.g. with
Germany’s Federal Environmental Ministry)Starting 2007: Neighbourhood Programme, financed
through European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument.
Germany has been very active in twinning activities: more twinning agreements than any other EU Member State!!
Contacts to Elbe Commission established during Eco-TIRAS-visit in Germany (1/06)…start with Twinbasin?
ecologic.de
12/13 May, 2006: Transboundary Dniester River Management: Institutional and Public Participation Aspects
Thank you for your attention!
Eduard Interwies
Ecologic, Pfalzburger Str. 43-44, D-10717 Berlin +49-30-86880-0, +49-30-86880-100
[email protected], www.ecologic.de