Environment Directorate Jane Ellis, OECD Bonn, March 2001 Strengthening UNFCCC In-Depth Reviews: Potential lessons from OECD

Environment Directorate Presentation aim Explore potential changes to IDR process that could:  deal with some of the challenges found to date  strengthen process  speed up process  draw on lessons from OECD reviews Caveat OECD and UNFCCC IDRs are different - not all lessons may be applicable

Environment Directorate Factors influencing IDR process Secretariat organisation IDR team Pre-visit organisation How visit is conducted How report is prepared

Environment Directorate Secretariat organisation Context: OECD does periodic in- depth reviews … but aim is different Timing of reviews also different (reviews evenly spaced and sequential) 3+ Secretariat staff usually involved Allocation of “country desk officers” helps information-gathering

Environment Directorate IDR team OECD: Secretariat, government experts and consultants  Consultants may help Secretariat write report  OECD experts nominated from member- country governments Role and functioning of team during reviews similar to UNFCCC reviews

Environment Directorate Pre-visit organisation More up-front work for team in OECD reviews:  relevant information sent to review team 1-2 months prior to visit  experts draft their section of report before review starts This allows review to focus on areas of special interest and on clarifying questions.

Environment Directorate Visit Process generally similar to UNFCCC reviews, but:  >1 week for large countries  review includes meetings with regional/municipal governments  Parallel groups (possible as team is bigger)  Initial draft completed by end of visit  Generally able to meet all relevant people

Environment Directorate Finalising report Timeline: visit to completed 1st draft 4-5 months Large difference in OECD and UNFCCC process:  Other country influence on report much greater for OECD reviews: any substantive country comment is highlighted to group and can be discussed during “exam”

Environment Directorate Conclusions (1) UNFCCC reviews could be strengthened by:  “front-loading” work of review team  increasing number of review officers in Secretariat (or adding support from consultants)  increasing number of review officers on each review (1 lead and 1-2 support on each visit)  increasing involvement of 3rd countries  ensuring team includes necessary range of expertise

Environment Directorate Conclusions (2) Review process could also be speeded up, e.g. by:  using consultants to help write up reports (… but confidentiality problems?)  making review process less “bunched” … but this has resource implications