Download Institutional Set-up and Staffing Arrangements

Institutional Set-up and
Staffing Arrangements for
FNR_Rio Project in
Afghanistan
26 January 2011
Mauritius
Contents
1- Institutional set-up
2- Staffing arrangements
3- Challenges and needs
4- Conclusion
1- Institutional Set-up
There are two main governmental
institutions
responsible
for
the
implementation of the Rio Conventions:
the National Environmental Protection
Agency (NEPA) and the Ministry of
Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock
(MAIL).
The National Environmental Protection
Agency (NEPA) is the national focal point
for UNFCCC and Ministry of Agriculture,
Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) is the
acting focal point for CBD and UNCCD.
Other Governmental and non-governmental
institutions and agencies are involved with
the Rio conventions are as following:
- Afghanistan National Disaster Management
Authority (ANDMA).
- Department of Metrology of the Ministry of
Transportation (DMMT).
- Research Sectors and Academia.
- National and International Agencies and
NGOs.
National Environmental Protection Agency
(NEPA)
The national focal point for the UNFCCC
is NEPA, which is also focal point for the
ozone treaties. Additionally it is the lead
agency for NCSA (National Capacity
Needs Self-Assessment for Global
Environmental Management) and NAPA
processes. The technical organization
structure of the Agency is shown in Fig.
General Directorate
of NEPA
Deputy Dir. Gen.
Policy & International
Relations
Technical Deputy
Division of
International
Environmental Affairs
Division of Natural
Heritage Protection
Financial and
Administrative
Deputy
Division of Sustainable
Development and
Environmental Impact
Assessment
FNR_Rio Convention
Project
Institute of Research
& Indigenous
Knowledge
Division of
Climate Change
Division of Planning
& Coordination
Expert Board
Division
Division of Policy
and Legislation
Division of Social
Awareness and
Public Outreach
Research
& Indigenous
Knowledge Division
(i) The National ozone unit continued to
progress towards fulfilling Afghanistan’s
obligations under the ozone treaties, especially
the Montreal Protocol.
(ii) Afghanistan’s National Capacity Needs
Self-Assessment for Global Environmental
Management (NCSA) and National Adaptation
plan of Action for Climate change (NAPA)
reports were completed and submitted.
(iii) A numerous policies including a National
Waste Management Policy, Air control policy
and National Pollution Control and Vehicle
Emission
standards
are
developed.
Furthermore an EIA Board of Expert is
established.
(iv) UNEP provides support to NEPA in the
developing Afghanistan’s Initial National
Communication under the UNFCCC.
Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and
Livestock (MAIL)
MAIL has elaborated Ten-Year Master Plan and
associated Five-Year Implementation and Investment
Program (IIP). The IIP do not directly addresses
climate change, however, as the Ministry promotes
the sustainable management of sinks and reservoirs of
greenhouse gases (including forested areas and
rangeland), develops and elaborates integrated plans
for water resources, agriculture, and protected areas
under IIP, thus, the IIP indirectly contributes to
fulfilling the requirements of Rio Conventions.
Natural Resources Directorate General of
the Ministry works closely with the Rio
Conventions. This Department has in its
framework the divisions of Forestry,
Range land Management and protected
Areas, which are responsible for the
management, utilization, protection and
rehabilitation of the country’s forestry,
rangelands, protected areas and wildlife
resources. See (Fig-2)
General
Directorate
of
Natural Resources
Protected Areas
Division
National Park
and wildlife
Management
Division
Forestry
Division
Rangeland
Division
Watershed
Management
Division
Rangeland
Management
Division
Afforestation
Division
Forest
Protection
Division
Department of Natural Resources
has approximately 196 technical
staff of various background, 1012
administrative and supporting staff
all over the country (2009-2010).
Coordinating and Decision Making
Committees (CDMC)
The following Committees are responsible for
the monitoring and coordination at the national
level.
- Inter Ministry Committee for Air pollution
control and mitigation.
- National Environmental Council.
- Parliamentary Committee on the Environment.
- The Afghanistan wildlife Executive
Committee.
- EIA Board of Expert.
- National Climate Change Committee (NCCC).
These committees hold meetings and perform
and oversight functions related to
environmental concerns. These committees are
functioning under NEPA direction.
- A shared working room is provided by NEPA
for NPA and NC in the NEPA head quarter.
They are also provided transportation facilities.
- A national servant is recruited by NEPA to
serve NPA and NC. Other services like lunch
and tea are also being provided by NEPA for
NPA and NC.
- International
Environmental
Relations
Division of NEPA is closely working with the
project team.
2- Staffing arrangements
- The project team comprises of three members:
NPC, NPA and NC.
- NPC is a government official and NPA and NC
are selected on the basis of competition process.
- This team works under Afghanistan National
Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA).
- Financial support (34.567USD) was provided by
UNEP/GEF for the implementation of this
project.
3- Challenges and needs
- Lack of strong coordination among related
governmental institutions.
- Lack of capacity. One of the most critical
constraints affecting implementation of the Rio
Convention is the limited technical capacity of
available staff. Therefore it’s highly needed to
train them in biodiversity, desertification and
climate change.
- Inadequacy of financial support.
- Ambiguity in term of reference of the project.
4- Conclusion
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