Partnership Development, 18.01.2011, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Alexander Kotsev, PhD

Rio Conventions Project:a successful partnership example

Partnership Development, 18.01.2011, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Alexander Kotsev, PhD

Rio Conventions Project

• One of the last UNDP projects in BG• Joint initiative

– Ministry of regional development and public works– Ministry of Environment and Waters– Global Environmental Facility

Partnership Development, 18.01.2011, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Alexander Kotsev, PhD

Rio Conventions Project

• Addresses the integration of global environmental issues into regional and spatial planning in the country

• Follows the principles of the Earth Summit in Rio (3-14 June,1992)

• Budget: – USD 1,528,000

• GEF: USD 499,000• Bulgarian government: USD 1,029,000

Partnership Development, 18.01.2011, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Alexander Kotsev, PhD

• Training program and raising awareness• Set of uniform indicators for monitoring• A portal website dedicated to integration of

biodiversity, climate change and land degradation• Extensive information on practices from Bulgaria,

neighboring countries, EU• Institutional improvements introduced at relevant

ministries• Revised planning documents on subnational level

Project outcomes

Partnership Development, 18.01.2011, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Alexander Kotsev, PhD

Course creation

• Joint Educational Programme elaboration– Central European University (course material

creation)– Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” (course

material creation and course delivery)

– Two types of training courses:• Pilot course• Long-term (10 days)• Short-term (one day)

Partnership Development, 18.01.2011, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Alexander Kotsev, PhD

Course content

• Different perspectives <-> One territory• Focus on integration of knowledge and

expertise• Examples of problem areas due to:

– Miscommunication– Irrelevant legislation– Lack of information sharing– Bad administrative procedures

Partnership Development, 18.01.2011, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Alexander Kotsev, PhD

Training provision

• Statistics:– Long term (11 groups & over 150 persons)

– Short term (road show - 27 districts & 250 participants)

• Participants

Partnership Development, 18.01.2011, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Alexander Kotsev, PhD

Consequences

• Key actors sit on one table for the first time• Exchange different views on one subject for 10

days• New initiatives

– Mutual projects– Exchange of ideas– Exchange of know-how– COMMUNICATION (for the first time)

Partnership Development, 18.01.2011, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Alexander Kotsev, PhD

Consequences• Excellent example of initiation of

communication– Horizontal between sector structures– Vertical through all levels in territorial breakdown

(municipalities regional central)

Partnership Development, 18.01.2011, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Alexander Kotsev, PhD

Resources

www.rioconventions.orgwww.gis.gea.uni-sofia.bg/mmgis/rioconventions

Partnership Development, 18.01.2011, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Alexander Kotsev, PhD

Thank you