INTRODUCTION

The International Dnipro Bain Council (subsequently referred to as the Council) has been established as part of the Dnipro Basin Environmental Rehabilitation Program and pursuant to the Project Document signed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

The Council’s main task is to set up an effective organizational mechanism for preparing and implementing the Strategic Action Program and the national action plans for the Dnipro Basin environmental rehabilitation.

According to the Council by-law, each riparian country is represented by 23 representatives sitting on the Council, including:

1.Representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, who are chosen from among leaders and division heads of these ministries based at the ministries’ headquarters or territorial branches located throughout the Dnipro Basin;

2. Representatives of respective leading scientific and research institutions and organizations;

3.Representatives of other government bodies of the riparian countries, local self-government bodies of the riparian regions (oblasts), environmental nongovernmental organizations and other nongovernmental bodies.

The composition of each riparian country’s delegation to the Council is endorsed by a chairman of the respective national UNDP-GEF Program management committee.

As a rule, the Council conducts all its work at its sessions, which are hosted in turn by each riparian country. Council sessions are conducted if and when the need arises but at least once a year. Special (extraordinary) Council sessions may be convened at the request of a national UNDP-GEF Program management committee.

The Council considers important issues that fall within its mandate. The date and the tentative agenda of each forthcoming regular session of the Council are determined at the preceding Council session. The Council session is considered competent if it is attended by more than half of the delegates of each riparian country.

The Council publicizes its activities and ensures wide media coverage of its major work results. Council sessions are open to the general public unless the Council decides otherwise.

The Council may invite to its sessions in the capacity of observes and experts representatives of interested ministries and other central government bodies, local executive bodies, local self-government bodies, manufacturing enterprises, scientific institutions and civic organizations of the riparian countries as well as representatives from international organizations. The decision on such attendance is made by the Council.

Council’s decisions and recommendations are adopted by consensus.

During the UNDP-GEF Program implementation period, Council sessions will be conducted and the Council subsidiary bodies will operate with the financial support from the Program. Upon completion of the UNDP-GEF Program, the Council activities will be sponsored by the three riparian countries.

Pursuant to a decision adopted at the 1st Council session (held in Kiev, June 2003) the 2nd Council session was scheduled to take place in the Republic of Belarus in November-December 2003.

Thus, the foregoing shows that the Project has been implemented in accordance with the UNDP-GEF Project Document “Preparation of the Dnipro Basin Strategic Action Program and Development of Its Implementation Mechanisms”, the Council by-law and the decision adopted at its 1st session. The 2nd session was a logical continuation of the 1st session and therefore had similar objectives, that is, to support the effective implementation of the UNDP-GEF Program and to promote the preparation of the Strategic Action Program and national action plans for the Dnipro Basin environmental rehabilitation; to develop and implement proposals for identifying cooperation priorities, promoting concerted policies geared to the improvement of the Dnipro Basin environment and developing implementation mechanisms of such policies.

In implementing this Project the EkologiaInvest institution used its experience in implementing the Program – Program Management Office (Republic of Belarus) and the Clean Production Thematic Center.

This report provides information on the Project and in particular on the Project team, technical arrangements for the session and major results of the session.

SUMMARY

This technical report contains information on the implementation of the Organization and Holding of the 2nd Session of the Dnipro Basin Council Project executed under the Program.

The report provides an overview of the Project goals and objectives and ways and means of achieving them. In addition, it describes the equipment used at the session, the Project team and major Project results.

The report incorporates two tables and ten appendixes containing major session documents, other information about the session and two figures.

1. OVERVIEW OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES

According to the Project proposal, the Project primary goal was to organize and conduct the 2nd session of the Council, which is the body that defines the participation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, other central and local executive bodies, production, scientific and civic institutions, organizations and associations of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine and international organizations in the adoption of managerial decisions setting top priorities for remedial work in the Dnipro Basin.

The session organizers identified customary methods of preparatory work: selected the session venue, (Alesia Recreation Center, Minsk Region, Molodechenskiy Rayon), made necessary arrangements to transport the session participants to the site and to provide them with board and accommodation, secured necessary office and other equipment, prepared session materials, organized information exchange between the session participants and the organizing committee responsible for meeting and receiving guests and fulfilled other duties involved in the preparation and conduct of the session (prepared promotional materials, the session resolution and minutes, etc.).

The Council Organizing Committee and the PMU drafted the session agenda and selected scientific materials to be presented at the session.

In applying the above-said methods of implementing the Project the Project team maintained contact (by phone, fax or e-mail) with all session participants from the Republic of Belarus, organizations and persons responsible for the participation of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations (Program Management Unit based in the Russian Federation and the Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute for the Study of Environmental Problems, Kharkov, Ukraine), the IDRC Regional Office and the Program Management Unit; arranged a meeting of the session participants; concluded contracts with organizations that provided logistical support (transported the participants to the session venue, provided them with meals and accommodation, provided office and other equipment, published the session proceedings and prepared session attributes); monitored contract implementation and processed session-related materials.

2. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND RESULTS

To achieve the Project goal, that is, to organize the Council session, the Project team examined a number of alternatives and assessed several different venues. In so doing particular attention was given to the quality of board and accommodation provided at each site and the availability of necessary conference facilities (comfortable conference hall). As a result, the Alesia recreation center (located in the Minsk Region, Molodechenskiy Rayon, near the settlement of Olekhnovichi) proved to be the best choice due to its optimal price-quality combination. Hence, the Project proposal and budget were prepared with regard for this particular session venue.

The Project team contracted the ODO Beltur tourist company to provide logistical support for the session. This company is known for its expertise and good quality of service and has been repeatedly hired in the past under the Program in such situations. Under the contract, the company was to lease the Alesia recreation center, provide the delegates with board and accommodation on the site and supply them with printed materials and stationery.

The session agenda reflects the agreement reached between the Council Organizing Committee and the PMU at a meeting held in Kiev on November 3-4, 2003 and is presented in Appendix I.

The session materials were synthesized in accordance with the agenda and presented in the form of a brochure. In all, 70 copies of the brochure were printed to meet the projected number of the participants.

The list of the session invitees is contained in Appendix II.

The Project team in collaboration with the UN representative office (Republic of Belarus) conducted a public information campaign to inform the general public about the session, its goals and objectives as well as the purpose and mission of the Council. The Belarus mass media was notified of the forthcoming session by means of weekly announcements - Week Ahead - about events sponsored by the UN organizations operating in Belarus on a weekly basis. The session was also attended by journalists of the Sovetskaya Belorussiya newspaper, Belarus radio and ITAR TASS and BelTA news agencies.

As part of the information campaign, the participants were provided with badges, briefcase stickers, pens and medals (trinkets) with the inscribed Program logotype as well as other session attributes.

To inform the Dnipro Basin Council members from Russia and Ukraine about nature conservation activities carried out by Belarus in the Dnipro Basin, an analysis of relevant publications was made resulting in the compilation of a list of top-priority informational materials which most closely correspond to the Dnipro Basin Environment Program goals and objectives. These include:

1. Water protection territories of the Republic of Belarus. / Edited by M.Yu.Kalinin – 2003. – 64 p. (Minsk: Central Scientific Research Institute for the Integrated Use of Water Resources, Pollution Prevention and Control Thematic Center)

2. Central Scientific Research Institute for the Integrated Use of Water Resources (promotional booklet)

3. Water resources of the Republic of Belarus, their management and conservation (promotional booklet)

4. Environmental rehabilitation of the Dnipro Basin (informational compact-disc, Briansk Region Nongovernmental Organization Erika)

These and other supplementary materials were packed into the participants’ briefcases and provided the substantive basis for productive work during the two days of the session.

At the beginning of the session, all the participants were provided with informational and accompanying materials packed into briefcases.

The participants were promptly provided with all the information they needed through computer-assisted presentations, prompt on-site duplication of session materials, record-keeping and dissemination of all Council decisions.

The session resulted in the adoption of the Resolution of the 2nd session of the International Dnipro Basin Council (see Appendix III) and the Indicative Work Schedule of the Council for 2004 (see Appendix IV).

Furthermore, the Project produced a poster layout sheet devoted to the 2nd session of the International Dnipro Basin Council (1m x 70 cm). In all, 1500 colored offset copies of the poster were printed.

CONCLUSION

Since all major goals and objectives of the session were achieved, key documents were adopted and the session was fairly highly assessed by its participants, the Project was considered as having been successfully implemented.

The Project users include organizations of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine which are represented in the Council membership, the national Program management committees and other organizations participating in the Program.

The 2nd Council session provided yet another opportunity for the specialists involved in the Project to gain experience in conducting such events.

The specialists involved in the Project gained further experience in implementing such projects, particularly those administered by the IDRC, CIDA and UNDP-GEF.

Appendix I.

AGENDA OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DNIPRO BASIN COUNCIL (REPUBLIC OF BELARUS, ALESIA RECREATION CENTER, MOLODECHNENSKIY RAYON, MINSK REGION - NOVEMBER 25-26, 2003)

Appendix II.

PARTICIPANTS OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DNIPRO BASIN COUNCIL (REPUBLIC OF BELARUS, ALESIA RECREATION CENTER, MOLODECHNENSKIY RAYON, MINSK REGION, NOVEMBER 25-26, 2003)

Appendix III.

RESOLUTION OF THE 2^nd SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DNIPRO BASIN COUNCIL

UNDP-GEF Dnipro basin environmental rehabilitation program

RESOLUTION

Of the 2^nd session of the International Dnipro Basin Council

(November, 25 – 26 2003, city of Minsk)

On November 25 – 26, 2003 the city of Minsk hosted the 2^nd session of the International Dnipro Basin Council (subsequently referred to as the Council) which brought together over 60 representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, other government bodies of the riparian countries, local self-government bodies, organizations, enterprises, their associations, leading scientific research insitutions and organizations and environmental nongovernmental organizations.

Having addressed and discussed the issues relating to the implementation of the UNDP-GEF Dnipro Basin Environmental Rehabilitation Program (subsequently referred to as the Program) the session participants resolved:

As regards the Program preliminary results

1. To take into account the information on the Program status;

2. To state that the Program is being implemented in full compliance with the Program Document RER 98/G31 signed by representatives from the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

3. Approaches pursued in the process of preparing the TDA and subsequently the SAP and NAPs meet current international standards and are fully consistent with the procedures of drafting such documents as prescribed by GEF.

4. Delays in implementing the Program were first of all caused by the instability of the public administration systems of the riparian countries resulting in frequent changes affecting these systems. The time periods proposed by the Program leadership are justified since they enable efficient use of the available funding.

As regards the development of the Strategic Action Program and National Action Plans for the Dnipro Basin environmental rehabilitation

1. Priorities incorporated in the SAP and NAPs meet the needs and objectives of the Dnipro Basin rehabilitation process and are in full agreement with the national environmental policy and priorities of each riparian country.

2. The system of short-term indicators contained in the SAP is consistently logically and in great detail described in the NAPs and makes it possible to gradually achieve the Dnipro Basin environmental rehabilitation objectives.

3. The Regional Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy developed with the IDRC support is consistent with the ideology of the SAP and is an integral part thereof.

4. It is necessary to take further steps, that is, to produce an ecological and economic feasibility study of actions proposed in the SAP and NAPs and to identify national and additional sources of financing.

As regards the UNIDO activities under the Program and the preparation for the donor conference

1. To take into account the information on the results of UNIDO activities under the Program.

2. To recommend that the ranking methodology designed as part of the Project be used for identifying and assessing hot spots on a regular basis.

3. To support the proposal to identify the industrial and municipal sites covered by the Project as requiring immediate investment action.

4. To request UNIDO to finance the training program designed to teach national experts methods and tools of conducting of pre-investment studies and preparing investment proposals subject to availability of required financing.

5. To stress the pressing need for bringing the national environmental legislations in line with respective EU legislation.

As regards IDRC activities under the Program and implementation of IDRC-administered international technical assistance programs in the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation

1. To stress the importance of the results of the IDRC-supported projects for environmental rehabilitation of the Dnipro Basin.

2. To acknowledge that the institutional frameworks set up as part of IDRC activities place the Program implementation and the SAP and NAP development processes on a solid footing and ensure their sustainable implementation in future.

3. To stress the importance of conclusions and recommendations made by IDRC-supported projects and to recommend the SAP and NAPs drafters to use them in preparing the SAP and NAPs.

As regards the preparation of the Dnipro Convention

1. To take into consideration the draft of the Dnipro Convention.

2. To stress that the preparation of the final draft of the Dnipro Convention (agreement) meets objectives of further international cooperation of the riparian countries.

3. To urge the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, national Program management committees and international Program management bodies to step up the preparation of this multilateral document, to submit the final version of the Convention (agreement) for approval to and to have it finally approved by the respective ministries and government departments of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

4. To urge the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine to conduct meetings-consultations on issues relating to the Convention (agreement) development process with the participation of international law experts.

As regards the Report on the State of the Dnipro Basin Environment

1. To take into account the information on the report preparation process.

2. To point out that the Report is an effective means for presenting information and fulfills its purpose. The assessment of the current environmental state of the Dnipro Basin contained in the Report accurately reflects the environmental situation in the Dnipro Basin and can serve as a reference point fur further assessments of the effectiveness of the SAP and NAPs implementation process.

As regards the Regional Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy

1. The Regional Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy developed with the IDRC support is consistent with the objectives of the Dnipro Basin environmental rehabilitation, environmental policies and national priorities of the riparian countries.

2. The conceptual approaches used in the preparation of the Regional Strategy meet current international standards.

3. To recommend the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine to take into account the proposed bio and landscape diversity conservation measures when developing action plans of the respective environmental protection bodies and to explore the possibilities of securing funding and organizational support for the implementation of the Regional Strategy at the national and international level.

As regards the Dnipro Basin Transboundary Monitoring Program

1. To take into consideration the information on the Dnipro Basin Transboundary Monitoring Program (TMP).

2. To stress the utmost importance of the implementation of the TMP which is one of the elements of the international system for managing the Dnipro Basin environment and assessing the effectiveness of the SAP and NAPs implementation process.

As regards the Dnipro Basin environmental database

1. To take into account the presentation given by the Information Management Thematic Center coordinator on the Development of the Dnipro Basin Environmental Database

2. To stress that the Project produced an IT support tool that facilitates the adoption of managerial decisions aimed at improving the environmental quality of the Dnipro Basin. The concept and the structure of the Dnipro Basin Environmental Database (ED) fully meet the needs not only of state legislative and executive bodies of all levels but also of educational establishments, nongovernmental organizations, local citizens’ groups advocating nature conservation and sustainable development principles and the mass media.

3. The draft Rules governing the inter-state exchange of environmental information in the Dnipro Basin can serve as a basis for gathering, processing and sharing environmental information among the riparian countries on a regular basis.

As regards the participation of nongovernmental organizations in the UNDP-GEF Program and resolution Dnipro Basin environmental problems:

1. To take into account the information on the 2^nd International Forum of Nongovernmental Organizations Operating in the Dnipro Basin held on October 29-31, 2003, in the city of Raubichi, Republic of Belarus.

2. To recommend the Program Steering Committee and the Program Management Unit to examine the possibility of holding the 3d International Forum of Nongovernmental Organizations Operating in the Dnipro Basin in April 2004 in the Russian Federation in order to consider and discuss the SAP and NAPs drafts, to evaluate public participation in the Program and to make plans and identify areas for further cooperation.

3. To recommend the National Program Management Committees to include in the SAP and NAPs necessary measures to maintain and further develop the International Dnipro River Network with the aim of ensuring wide and sustainable participation of the general public and environmental nongovernmental organizations in the Dnipro Basin environmental rehabilitation process.

As regards ensuring sustainability of international cooperation in the Dnipro Basin rehabilitation field

1. To support proposals of the national Program management committees that the SAP and NAPs development and implementation processes should be supported at the national level

2. To approve in principle the proposals of the regional thematic centers and international expert groups set up as part of the Program concerning their long-term prospects and cooperation priorities

3. To recommend the national Program management committees to make necessary arrangements in order to include in the drafts of the Dnipro Convention, SAP and NAPs provisions governing activities of the regional thematic centers and international working expert groups, which represent an important element of the organizational framework of remedial activities in the Dnipro Basin; to urge the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine to consider these proposals and to identify possible sources of financing and organizational support options.

4. Taking into account the need to involve the public in the development of the Program documents (SAP and NAPs), to secure public input and to ensure compliance by interested ministries and government agencies of the three countries with the prescribed examination, finalization and review procedures, to urge the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine to submit to the Global Environment Facility and the UNDP a joint proposal to extend the Program implementation period until July 31, 2004 under the existing size of funding;

5. With the aim of

- ensuring the implementation of goals and objectives specified in the SAP and NAP and collaboration and coordination of efforts during the implementation process at the national and international levels;

- refining the institutional frameworks created as part of the Program;

- preserving and maintaining business, scientific and intellectual links among central and local government bodies and leading scientific, production and nongovernmental organizations of the riparian countries;

- ensuring consistency and continuity of international cooperation in the Dnipro basin environmental rehabilitation field;

6. To request the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine to submit to the Global Environment Facility and the UNDP a joint proposal explicating the need to prepare the project documentation concerning the implementation of Phase II of the Program;

7. If the above initiatives are accepted, to recommend the Program Management Unit and the national Program management committees to prepare proposals concerning major goals and objectives of Phase II of the UNDP-GEF Program subject to approval by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

8. To request the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine to use the equipment provided to the RTCs as part of the Program at their disposal to keep them operating on a sustainable basis.

As regards organizational issues before the Council:

1. To approve the Indicative Work Schedule of the International Dnipro Basin Council for the first half of 2004. If necessary and subject to recommendations of the national Program management committees the Work Schedule can be modified subject to a decision of the Steering (or Joint) Program Committee.

2. To request the national Program management committees, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine and other interested central and local executive bodies to prepare and submit by May 1, 2003 to the national committees proposals concerning the Council work schedule for 2005 and the range of issues to be addressed at Council meetings.

3. In order to prepare and conduct sessions, to improve Council performance and enforce decisions adopted by the Council, it is necessary to create a standing Organizing Committee made up of representatives of the national Program management committees (2 representatives from each country). To establish rotating chairmanship and to appoint as Organizing Committee Chairman a plenipotentiary representative of the country hosting a Council session. Accordingly, the Council Secretariat should make necessary changes in the Council by-law.

4. To submit the Council by-law to the 3d Council session for consideration.

5. To conduct the next Council session in May 2004 in the Russian Federation as specified by the Indicative Work Schedule.

Adopted by the participants of the 2^nd session of the International Dnipro Basin Council by mutual agreement.

November 26, 2003, city of Minsk

Appendix IV.

INDICATIVE WORK SCHEDULE OF THE INTERNATIONAL DNIPRO BASIN COUNCIL FOR 2004