Points for discussionof Agenda Item 3:
Follow-up to the Sixteenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment Latin America and the Caribbean, Dominican Republic, 2008
Options of the integration of the Regional Action Plan (PAR) Argentina’s Proposal

Preliminary Version

UNEP/LAC-IGWG(IS).XVII/4
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents...... 1

1.Introduction

2.Issues for the debate on integration of the RAP

2.1) Lessons learnt from the present RAP model

2.2)Challenges for the integration of the RAP

3.Proposal for a conceptual review of the RAP

Conceptual definition of the ILAC Joint Programme

 Stages of Joint ILAC Programming

 Objectives of the Joint Programme

 Format of the Joint Programme

Final Remarks

UNEP/LAC-IGWG(IS).XVII/4
Page 1

  1. Introduction

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean decided to establish the Forum of Ministers of the Environment in order to have a regional political body that would analyze and bring together positions with respect to the themes of the regional and international environmental agenda.

The discussions at the Forum were strengthened by the creation in 2002 of the Latin American and Caribbean Initiative for Sustainable Development (ILAC), which has been included in the Johannesburg Plan of Action. Since the establishment of the ILAC, the Forum has been playing a positive and important role by supporting the region in the search for solutions to environmental problems.

Notwithstanding the progress made since its inception, it is clear that the initiative is faced with significant structural problems with regard to its implementation, which have compromised the efficiency and effectiveness with which it can address the decisions of the Forum. This weakness in implementation is a signal to the region of the need to hold serious discussions on the structural reform of the ILAC, with a view to restoring its technical and political importance.

To this end, the SixteenthMeeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, held in 2008 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, pointed to the need for reform of the Regional Action Plan – RAP, the main implementing tool of the ILAC. This mandate was expressed by the Ministers of the Environment through Decision 1, paragraph 5 which stipulates the following:

“To conduct a review of lessons learned and challenges arising from the implementation of the RAP, and to prepare during the inter-sessional period, a conceptual review of its structure and implementation modalities, in order to assess the establishment of joint programs with the agencies of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee, without prejudice to the activities carried out by agencies individually. In this respect, they accept the invitation extended by the Government of Argentina to hold an inter-sessional meeting of decision makers in that country during the second half of 2008”.

Given the impossibility of holding the next Open Intersessional Meeting in Argentina, there is a real opportunity to focus the debate on the process of restructuring the ILAC at the Intersessional Meeting in Panama, to be held on the 20th and 21st of October 2009. During this debate, significant participation from the region is essential so that a number of options for improving the RAP can be devised and subsequently fed into the implementation of the ILAC.

This document, drafted by Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay, is a criticalpreliminary exercise which examines aspects related to the lessons learnt and the challenges facing the RAP, with a view to re-defining for the future, via comments and inputs from the countries, the structure and mode of execution of the RAP for the next biennium 2010-2011.

  1. Issues for the debate on integration of the RAP

The current implementation of the ILAC is carried out fundamentally through three basic pillars: the Regional Action Plan (RAP), the Working Groups (WGs) and the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (ITC).

The RAP is the main instrument of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment ofLatin America and the Caribbean for the implementation of the agreed regional strategies. The RAP comprises a logical matrix which is made up of five categories to be addressed in the biannual planning: (1) Priority area[1]; (2) Objective; (3) Main areas of work; (4) Result indicators; and (5) Specific activities.

In order to carry out some of the actions of the RAP, Working Groups (WGs) were created, with membership from the countries of the Forum of Ministers of the environment of the region and chaired by one of the member countries of the group. The mandate and terms of reference of the working groups were established, primarily, in keeping with Decision 1 of the Eleventh Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (Peru, 1998) and Decision 2 of the Fourteenth Meeting (Panama, November 2003).

The ITC complements the institutional framework of the ILAC and represents the set of agencies that support, collectively or individually, the development of the activities of the WGs. The ITC is currently made up of UNEP, UNDP, ECLAC, IDB and the World Bank, which have an important role to play in the implementation of the RAP.

Despite attempts to better conceptualize the strategies for executing the RAP, there are still major problems that bring into question the effectiveness and efficiency of this instrument. One obvious example is the the functioning of the WGs which, except for isolated cases, have not produced significant results. The institutional difficulties being experienced by countries in coordinating the groups, coupled with insufficient coordination between the groups and agencies of the ITC, point to challenges that arose and were not properly addressed.

In this regard, some general comments can be made about the current format and implementation strategy of the RAP, bearing in mind the model for WGs and the ITC, which are essential to the decision-making process for re-defining the future of the ILAC.

2.1) Lessons learnt from the present RAP model:

a)Financial resources, clearly defined tasks and focusing work on specific themes are necessary for the implementation of the RAP;

b)The most effective WGs are those that operate in collaboration with other joint networks. One example is the Working Group on Environmental Indicators, which has relied on information supplied by countries and on support from academic institutions that systemize the information;

c)A high level of institutional compromise by governments and the inputs of its best experts in the WGs are vital for making solid progress;

d)It is necessary to fine-tune the collaboration between countries and ITC agencies with a view to achieving the results stated in the RAP.

e)It is not effective to rely on the WGs for each of the themes relating to the political situation in the region. The over-reliance on the WGs resulted in overstretched resources, as well as fragmented and incomplete results.

2.2)Challenges for the integration of the RAP

The critical review of the RAP in the light of lessons learnt, is a complex undertaking, which will only have positive results if the main challenges for its integration are considered. Some of the fundamental questions are the following:

a)Provide greater clarity regarding the interests and capacity for financial and technical support of the ITC Agencies for a prescribed period, bringing about increased forward-thinkingand management control over activities;

b)Optimize coordination and cooperation between countries, the ITC Agencies and the Forum Secretariat, relying on the contribution of each stakeholder in the areas of his expertise and comparative advantages, while respecting the relevant institutional mandates;

c)Establish a strategic matrix for action, comprising selected and agreed activities between countries and the ITC, and define the responsibilities of all parties with respect to finance, coordination and management of activities.

  1. Proposal for a conceptual review of the RAP

The current proposal seeks to update the methodological design of the RAP with some elements of “joint programming”, i.e., a plan of action among various institutions, utilized by the United Nations (under the leadership of theUNDG[2]), which has a coherent and meaningful methodology and has achieved good results in many cases[3].

The idea of joint programming can, with the necessary adaptations to the regional and sub-regional realities and preserving the unique features of countries, be an alternative for perfecting the current model of theRAP and contribute to the improvement of the future implementation of the ILAC.

Conceptual definition of the ILAC Joint Programme

The Joint ILAC Programme would be a series of activities forming part of a common workplan and related budget that involves one or more bodies of the ITC, with national and sub-national associates. The workplan and budget will be part of the strategic matrix, which will also detail the functions and responsibilities of the parties with respect to funding, coordination and management of joint activities.

The proposal aims at revolving around three main ILAC pillars: the RAP, the ITC and the WGs. The Joint Programme would be a collective bi-annual plan under which the countries, ITC Agencies and the Secretariat of the Forum would collaborate to prepare, implement, monitor and evaluate the activities for each time period.

Stages of Joint ILAC Programming

The Joint ILAC Programming will be the process through which countries, the ITC and the Forum Secretariat will design a Joint Programme for the following biennium, bases on four main stages:

STAGE 1:Joint planning: this will be done during the experts’ meetings, where joint results and modalities for supporting programme execution will be determined.

STAGE 2:Approval and adoption of the Programme. This will be carried out during the Meetings of the Forum of Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean. The technical meeting which precedes the ministerial segment should have full details of the Programme matrix, which will be presented to the Ministers forapproval. Only those activities for which detailed information is submitted will be approved.

STAGE 3: Programme implementation. This will be consolidated during the Inter-sessional period, with each party (Countries, ITC and Secretariat) fulfilling the responsibilities and obligations of the Joint Programme.

STAGE 4: Monitoring, evaluation and preparation of reports.Monitoring and evaluation will be carried out during the Inter-sessional period, with the preparation of Reports for the Inter-sessional Meeting and later, for the Forum of Ministers. The criteria for producing reports needs to be reviewed.

Objectives of the Joint Programme

The Joint Programme is aimed at avoiding gaps or duplications, reducing the cost of transactions and maximizing the synergetic effects between the countries and the various contributions of the organizations of the ITC, in order to offer more coherent, effective and efficient support.

Format of the Joint Programme

The Joint Programme would not imply a complete modification of the RAP development methodological base. On the contrary, the intention is to develop a proposal which takes into consideration the positive aspects of the current logical matrix of the RAP, with execution based on expected results.

In this conceptual model, the Working Groups no longer exist individually, so that they can be integrated into the planning of the logical matrix of the joint programme and the activities, for each biennium, which will receive the support of the ITC and be identified, with clearly-outlined information, as set out below:

Matrix of the ILAC Joint Programme

ILAC
area / Expected products[1] / Key activities/
annual goals / Schedule / Responsible party / Expected budget
AREA 1 / Product 1 / Indicate the body or bodies of the ITC and the related countries
…
Product 2
AREA 2 / Product 1

Final Remarks

The XVII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of the Environment Latin America and the Caribbean offers an excellent opportunity to examine and approve a conceptual review of the structure and modes of execution of the RAP, with a view to evaluating the establishment of a joint programme with the agencies of the Inter-agency Technical Committee (ITC), without prejudice to the activities carried out by these agencies.

In this regard, it is expected, based on the discussions in Panama, that the debate surrounding the integration of the RAP will be strengthened and that a Contact Group will perhaps be created, with equal representation of countries, in preparation for the Seventeenth Meeting of the Forum of Ministers in 2010, where the objective will be to submit concrete options for re-defin

[1] The 2008-2009 RAP includes seven priority action areas for the region: Climate change; biodiversity; water resources; human settlements, vulnerability and sustainable cities; social themes: health, inequality and poverty; sustainable consumption and production; institutional matters.

[2] The United Nations Development Group (UNDG) brings together the funds programs, agencies, departments and offices related to development. The common objective of the Group is to provide more coherent, effective and efficient support to countries seeking to achieve the internationally-agreed objectives, including the Millenium Development Goals. Visit:

3 A positive example is the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids / UNAIDS

[1] The products indicated can be products from each area or shared products.