Integrating SEA in the local strategic planning processes for sustainable socio-economic development The Crimean Experience Crimea Integration and Development Programme (CIDP) Adeline Gonay – International Programme Coordinator

Key presentation points ● Short overview of CIDP and its context ● Definition of SEA and application in Ukraine ● SEA application in Crimea, at republican level ● SEA at Crimean districts level ● Programme’s strategy from 2008

Crimea Integration and Development Progamme ● CIDP operates since 1995 ● Crimea’s problems: socio-economic integration of FDP, inter-ethnic relations, seasonal employment, low living standards in rural areas, low community mobilisation levels ● From infrastructure development to building capabilities and institutions for local sustainable development ● Current spheres of activities: Good Governance (inc. Strategic Planning & SEA), Tolerance in Education, Agricultural Cooperatives, Human Security Monitoring

Quick overview of Crimea ● Parliamentary republic without president. ● Legislative body: 100-seat parliament Verkhovna Rada of Crimea. ● Executive power: Council of Ministers, headed by Prime Minister, appointed and dismissed by Verkhovna Rada, with consent of President of Ukraine. ● Authority and operation of Verkhovna Rada and Council of Ministers of Crimea determined by Constitution of Ukraine and other laws of Ukraine ● 14 districts (raions) and 11 municipalities - Total area: 26,200 km2 ● Population: 1,995,000 ● Ethnic groups: Russian (52 %), Ukrainians (26%), Crimean Tatars (13%), other (9%) ● Tourism and agriculture ● Food production ● Chemical industry ● Mechanical engineering and metal working. Government Economy Admin. units & population

Crimea’s environmental situation ● High level of waste and low quality of wastes management, ● Pollution and depletion of water resources, low quality of drinking water ● High air pollution in cities ● Loss of biodiversity and bio-resources ● Poor natural resources management ● Poor land use legislation ● Weak enforcement of environmental regulations and standards ● Unsatisfactory conditions of municipal sewage systems, absence of sufficient water treatment and water recycling facilities ● Insufficient funding available for environmentally hazardous industries

Why SEA approach? Analytical and participatory approach aiming at integrating environmental considerations into policies, plans and programmes and at evaluating inter-linkages with economic and social considerations Calls for highly integrated and transparent planning Requires multi-stakeholder consultation and public participation Addresses issues of environment and sustainable development at source, Ukraine: ● UNECE SEA Protocol signed – May 2003 ● Limited experience in and use of SEA in planning context

How did SEA come to Crimea ? ● 2007: Crimea’s intention to have a Republic’s Socio-economic Development Strategy, taking into account environmental aspects ● UNDP CIDP’s help requested ● ENVSEC initiative through UNDP BRC support and expertise for a SEA application project

Crimea strategic planning Republican level Key SEA activities that were performed: ● Raised awareness of authorities and civil society on SEA and its place in Strategic Planning process ● Introduced SEA methodology to planners ● Initiated cross-sectoral dialogue and coordination ● Introduced environment as a cross-cutting issue into the CIDP assistance framework ● Started dialogue with district authorities on SEA application in district-level strategic planning

Crimea strategic planning Republican level (2) CIDP support to republican strategy design hindered by: ● Lack of political will to develop sound development strategy ● Lack of leadership in sectoral working groups At present: ● CIDP: refocused its intervention at district level ● Ministry of Economy: contract to local Institute to design strategy ● Strategic planning process: not participatory ● SEA application: unlikely

Crimea strategic planning Local level Refocus of CIDP’s Strategic Planning and SEA component on district level: ● Real political will to engage in participatory strategic planning ● Real need for sustainable development strategies as rural districts - depressive ● Activated communities and their organisations ● Public-private partnerships already in place to implement socio- economic projects initiated by community organisations ● 5 districts selected for practical training on strategic planning and SEA ● 2 districts to be selected for support in strategy design and SEA application

Geographical focus of strategic planning and SEA

Planned work process Time-frame5 selected pilot districtsResponsibilities by 20 October Set up of Coordination Council District by 20 October Set up of 4 sectoral working groupsDistricts by 30 October Guidelines on integrated local strategic planning and SEA cycle (step by step strategic planning approach) CIDP by 15 November Training of Trainers CIDP + Institute of Re- Qualifications by 5 December Training of Coordination Councils and working groups' members in: Training of village councils and administrations Institute of Re-Qualifications + Associations - strategic planning - SEA by 10 December Selection of the 2 pilot districts for which support to full strategy development, including SEA, will be provided. CIDP + Min Eco by 30 December Training of village councils and administrations (cont'd) Institution of Requalifications + Associations by end June 2009 Development of local sustainable development strategies and their approval by Districts Councils Possibility for 3 non selected raions to consult with CIDP on ad hoc basis

Planned work process (2) from 15 December final pilot districts by end DecemberFirst round of public consultation by end DecemberDevelopment of strategic vision and mission by end January 2009 Sectoral situation analyses (including environmental) by mid FebruaryCauses & Effects analyses and SWOTs by mid March Development of sectoral strategies (incl. sector specific monitoring and evaluation indicators) by mid April Strategic Environmental Assessment of Sectoral Strategic Priorities/Goals by end AprilRevisions of sectoral strategies by mid MayRound of public consultations at district and villages levels By end May Finalizing SEA report and drafting of overall (integrated) strategy (including monitoring and evaluation indicators) By mid JuneFinal round of public consultations at district and village levels By end JuneRevision and presentation of the District Strategy for Council's approval by mid July Presentation of strategies in the context of a seminar at republican level Planning process, including SEA

Planned SEA application in Crimea’s districts Goal: ex-ante, in parallel with strategy elaboration 1. Scope of environmental assessment 2. Analysis of context and baseline 3. Identification of environmental goals 4. Development and comparison of alternatives 5. Environmental report key findings 6. Public consultations 7. Design of environmental monitoring system (integrated in strategy implementation monitoring system) 8. Strategy implementation monitoring Particular attention to impacts of: ● Domestic recycling projects in given district ● Transportation projects ● Large scale irrigation or water supply projects ● Industrial production projects ● Energy intensive projects

CIDP from 2009 onwards Focus on regional and local sustainable development, taking into account environment, and ethnic and cultural diversity Green and Ethno- tourism School of local leaders Strategic planning including SEA, and diversification of financing sources Transparent local authorities Effective models of rural development (in multi-ethnic villages) Agricultural cooperatives

Thank you for your attention ! Adeline Gonay or Mobile phone: