Subj.: Incorporating Environmental Concerns Into the UNDG Sectoral Needs Assessment

MEMOGeneva, 8 July 2003

To:UNDGO, Task Managers

From:UNEP PCAU

Subj.: Incorporating Environmental Concerns into the UNDG Sectoral Needs Assessment

Re: UNDG Preparatory meeting in New York, 25 June, 2003

Background

The United Nations Development Group (UNDG) Needs Assessment (NA) process for Iraq has identified environment as one of the four crosscutting themes to be addressed in all 14 sectors of the assessment. UNEP is the lead agency for the environment, and stands ready to contribute to the integration of environmental issues in the humanitarian phase, as well as the longer-term reconstruction and development of Iraq. This note describes the approach, which UNEP is planning to ensure that environmental concerns are integrated into the various sectoral assessments.

UNEPs Approach to the Needs Assessment

As the lead agency handling the crosscutting theme of environment, UNEP will be one of the few agencies in a position to evaluate the progress and process of the NA in all sectors. UNEP proposes to use this vantage point to bring consistency in approach to assessing environmental issues across the sectors, including prioritising the various issues. Many environmental issues will be spanning more than one sector and hence will have to be addressed sytematically, though taken by themselves in any single sector they may not be viewed as a priority area. Being party to the deliberations in various sectors, UNEP will also be in a position to facilitate lateral learnings across the sectors in all aspects of the NA.

Noting the time and security constraints associated with this NA, UNEP is planning to adopt a flexible strategy in contribution to this process. UNEPs involvement will be by way of:

-Providing a “issue screening checklist” to Team Managers of each sector to ensure that environmental issues are captured in the subject area.

-Providing information, including maps, satellite images, contact details and reports gathered by UNEP as a part of its desk study (and also ongoing), to various teams.

-In theme areas with identified data gaps, a detailed questionnaire will be prepared, which the national team can use to gather data in a structured fashion. Leads on how the data can be gathered will also be given.

-Analyse the data gathered by the national team, with a view to incorporating them into the NA.

-Participate in the field missions, in chosen areas where UNEP’s core expertise would add considerable value to the overall exercise.

-Participate in the review of each of the sectoral NA reports, including workshops/brainstorming sessions.

A table showing the current thinking in UNEP about participation is given in Appendix I.

Issue Screening Checklist

UNEP has developed an issue screening checklist for use by the Task Managers. The checklist is meant to be an aide memoire to ensure that the environmental issues relevant to that sector are captured in the overall scope of the assessment. In using this checklist, the sectoral team will have to make judgements on how best to integrate and prioritise environmental issues into the sector. (Preliminary checklist attached. Appendix II)

Key Environmental Issues for Sectors

UNEP will also provide the team leaders/task managers with a tentative list of key environmental themes which the sector should pay attention when setting up their work plan and planning their fact-finding and analyses. Appendix III.

UNEP Resource Persons

Chairman Pekka Haavisto () will lead the UNEP involvement and UNEP/PCAU will coordinate the effort. On all correspondence to UNEP on the matter, please contact Mr Jim Sniffen, UNEP Information Officer () or Mr Muralee Thumarukudy (), who will coordinate the exercise within UNEP PCAU in Geneva.

UNEP has identified an internal resource person to act as focal point of interaction with each sector. The focal points will directly interact with the Task Managers to provide additional information and clarification on the integration process. The level of UNEP involvement in the sectors will be discussed and mutually agreed upon with the task managers during the next week. The UNEP focal point shall also liaise, as appropriate, with other UNEP experts available for the sector reviews. (List of the focal points attached, Appendix IV.)

UNEPs Areas of Expertise

UNEP can provide the following environmental assistance to the UNDG process:

Policy development for environmental priorities and strategy
Contribute to methodology development for the sectoral needs assessment
Review of the sector specific reconstruction papers
Participation in sectoral field missions with key environmental components
Participation in regional field missions with key environmental components (i.e., the Mesopotamian Marshlands)
Remote sensing analysis
Participate in review meetings and brainstorming sessions
Review the sector papers and the final report.

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Appendix I: UNEP Involvement (Proposed)

Sl # /

Sector

UNEPs Involvement

Issue Screening / Provide Information / Detailed Questionnaire / Participate in Missions / Analyse
Data / Drafting/
Reviews
1 /

Health

/  /  /  /  / 
2 / Education /  / 
3 / Agriculture, Water Resources and Food Security /  /  /  /  /  / 
4 / Mine Action Sector /  /  / 
5 / Water and Sanitation /  /  /  /  /  / 
6 / Macroeconomics /  / 
7 / Economic Management /  / 
8 / Investment Climate and State Owned Enterprises /  /  /  /  / 
9 / Finance Sector /  / 
10 / Transport and Communications /  /  / 
11 / Electricity /  /  /  / 
12 / Livelihood /  /  /  /  / 
13 / Housing /  /  /  / 
14 / Governance and Rule of law /  /  /  /  /  / 

Appendix IV: List of UNEP Focal Points

SL # / SECTOR / CONVENING AGENCY / TASK MANAGER / CONTACT / PCAU Focal Point / Contact
Health / WHO / David Nabarro /
+41 22 791 2714/3 / Mario Burger /
+41 22 9178 591
Education / World Bank / Mae Chu Chang / / David Jenson /
+41-22-9178167
Agriculture, Water Resources & Food Security / FAO / Laurent Thomas / / Hassan Partow /
+41 22 91 78 530
Mine Action / UNMAS / Archie Law /
212 963 4905 / Matti Valtonen /
+41-22-9178591
Water Supply and Sanitation / UNICEF / Carel de Rooy / / Jon Godson /
+41-22-9178626
Macroeconomics / IMF / Lorenzo Perez /
202 623 5944 / Muralee Thumarukudy /
+41-22-9178197
Economic Management / World Bank / Saumya Mitra / / Muralee Thumarukudy /
+41-22-9178197
Investment Climate and State-owned Enterprises / World Bank / Zoubida Alloua / / Muralee Thumarukudy /
+41-22-9178197
Banking and Finance / World Bank / Samir El-Daher / / Muralee Thumarukudy /
+41-22-9178197
Transport and Telecommunications / World Bank / ITU / Jean-Jacques Massima / / David Jenson /
+41 22 9178167
Electricity / UNDP / Michel Gautier /
212 906 5588 / Muralee Thumarukudy /
+41-22-9178197
Livelihoods and Employment Generation / UNDP / Francis Dubois / / Muralee Thumarukudy /
+41-22-9178197
Housing / HABITAT / Chris Williams /
212 963 4200
+254 20 62 3555 (Nairobi) / Muralee Thumarukudy /
+41-22-9178197
Governance and Rule of Law / Oscar Fernandez-Taranco /
212 906 5454 / John CARSTENSEN /
+41-22-9178694

Appendix II

Issue Screening Checklist

A / Issues
Are there major local/regional/international environmental issues and concerns associated with this sector?
B / Policy Framework
What is the current policy framework which deals with the environmental issues associated with this sector?
What are the regional and international commitments of the country associated with this sector?
C / Institutions
What is the current administrative structure which deals with the environmental issues associated with this sector?
What is the current status of research/academics dealing with environmental issues associated with this sector?
Are there other civil society institutions (both local and international) working with environmental issues in this area?
D / Resources
Do the institutions have adequately qualified staff to manage the environmental issues?
Are the resources allocated to this sector sufficient to address the environmental issues?
Are the individuals empowered to act on the issues?
E / Interlinkages
Which other sectors have interlinkages with this sector which have positive or negative environmental consequences
Will policy initiatives in this sector lead to environmental impacts in another sector?
F / Effectiveness
Are the environmental issues associated with this structure adequately managed?
What are the consequences of not addressing these issues adequately?
Are environmental issues associated with this sector a matter of concern needing focussed attention and resource allocation?

Appendix III

Sector specific environmental issues

1. Health

Safe drinking water (chlorination, diseases)
Sewage treatment (diseases, eutrophication)
Waste disposal and hazardous wastes
Chemical risks from industries and targeted facilities (air pollution, surface and ground water pollution, toxic chemicals etc.)
Occupational health (treatment of chemicals)
Depleted uranium contamination in targeted areas
Impacts of major environmental changes to health situation (desertification, dust, Mesopotamian Marshlands)

2. Education

Environmental curricula in schools and universities (biology, geography etc.)
Public awareness campaigns on environmental topics
Higher and vocational training for environment protection (as environmental technicians, inspectors, officers etc.)
Media capacity for information dissemination

3. Agriculture, Water Resources & Food security

Agriculture-related environmental topics include:

Use of pesticides and fertilizers (use of illegal/persistent pesticides, awareness of farmers)
Storing and disposal of old pesticides and other agrochemicals
Ground- and surface water use for agriculture (efficiency irrigation schemes, dropping of groundwater levels)
Rangeland farming practices (overgrazing, desertification)
Revitalising of Mesopotamian Marshlands (impacts to agriculture)

4. Mine action

Since depleted uranium and other ammunition with radiological/toxic risks has been reportedly used in the some locations, the following topics should be included:

Analysis of used DU (amounts, coordinates)
Need of DU clean-up/decontamination activities
DU awareness for soldiers, UN workers, local population (leaflet etc.)

5. Water and Sanitation

Sanitation related issues include solid waste management:

Uncontrolled dumping ofmunicipal waste in urban and rural areas
Solid waste disposal facilities including management (supervisors, funds, crew availability, etc), plant/equipment (collection vehicles, maintenance, dozers, etc.) and disposal facilities (landfill status- open, closed, overfilled)
Availability and suitability of the disposal of clinical waste (including incinerators),demolition wastes (including potential impact of asbestos), hazardous waste (including oil wastes from industry and oil-filled trenches) and military waste (including burnt-out vehicles, UXO)
Opportunities for recycling and re-use of waste (scrap metal, plastics)

6.Macroeconomics

Assessment of environmental issues associated with macro-economic policies and inter-sectoral linkages, in particular polices relating to;

-Employment generation

-Import/export stimuli

7.Economic Management

Assessment of environmental issues associated with economic policies and inter-sectoral linkages, in particular policies relating to

-Agriculture (fertiliser pricing, agriculture subsidies etc.)

-Transport (fuel pricing, taxes etc.)

-Energy sector (electricity pricing, fuel subsidies etc.)

-Petroleum (new concessions, investment in gas utilisation projects etc.)

-Environmental tax as revenue basis

-Environmental fund (including oil fund) to cover future restoration

-Polluter pays principle

-User fee for environmental services (waste, sewage)

-Fee for natural resource use

8. Investment Climate and State Owned Enterprises

Includes following environmental issues:

Environmental norms of the industry
Cleaner production centers/incentives
Environmentally best available technologies for the investments

Due environmental diligence assessment for takeovers (of old/damaged facilities) to assess past pollution records and legacies
Environmental assessment procedures for new investments
Need assessment of specialized environmental infrastructure (industrial waste management centers)
Technology transfer for environmental clean up
Pollution from damaged industries and industrial waste management (oil and chemical petrochemical industries)
Promotion of environmentally responsible investment
Environmental permits and impact assessment

9. Finance Sector

Environmental related issues in macroeconomics and financial sector, include:

Trans-boundary environmental issues/impacts to economies
Regional environmental cooperation
Iraq’s integration in international environmental agreements
Environmental financing mechanisms (like GEF)
Economic instruments for environnemental management (polluter pays, ecotaxes)

10Transport and Communications

Environmental issues associated with fuel pricing and vehicle taxes
Use of leaded and unleaded gasoline
Infrastructure upgrades and urban congestions
EIA for road and other infrastructure (air and sea ports) construction

11.Electricity

Use of cleaner fuels and green house gas emissions
Energy efficiency management (eg. use of combined cycle turbines, demand side management
Low Nox burner
Used oil from transformer stations

12. Livelihood

Environmental related issues, include:

Rapid working opportunities on environmental sector (waste collection and treatment, recycling, reforestation)
Village level environmental rehabilitation
Community based conservation (marshlands, forests etc.)

13Housing

This sector should include:

Urban environmental problems
Environmental impact assessment needs for infrastructure projects
Environmental impacts of urbanisation and transport
Spatial planning

14. Governance & Rule of Law

Environmental related issues, include:

Institutional framework for environmental management and linkages between national, provincial and local level environmental authorities
Environmental policies, laws, and standards
Monitoring of and compliance with environmental laws
Institutional capacities and expertise for environmental management, environmental inspectorate
Inter-ministerial coordination and information sharing mechanisms for environmental activities
Donor coordination and information sharing mechanisms for environmental activities
Economic instruments for environmental management
State of the environment information (historical and current)
Land tenure/ownership status of natural resources and land-use planning procedures
Office and laboratory equipment for environmental management
International and regional environmental agreements and transboundary cooperation
Environmental stakeholders and civil society organizations
Public participation and gender issues in environmental decision making
Register of contaminated sites

Framework of revitalising the Mesopotamian Marshlands