NATIONAL CAPACITY NEEDS SELF-ASSESSMENT FOR GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Government Building #3,
Republic Square,
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel: (3741) 583 920
Fax: (3741) 583 932
ncsa@nature.am

November 22, 2004, Yerevan, Armenia - Today, in the UN House in Yerevan, the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) presented the final conclusions of the "National Capacity Self-Assessment for Global Environmental Management" (NCSA) project, a joint initiative of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and UNDP. The event was attended by 54 representatives from Ministries of Nature Protection, Agriculture, Regional Administration and Infrastructure Development, Trade and Economy Development, Urban Development, Energy, Finance and Economy, Education and Science, RA Government, international organizations, scientific and educational establishments, non governmental organizations, private sector, NCSA project experts and mass media representatives.
At the roundtable organised by UNDP and the Ministry, the film, "The Life-Giving Soil", as well as a number of proposals on environmental sustainability were presented. Deputy Minister Mr. Hakob Matilyan and Mr. Alexander Avanessov, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative attended the event.
The objective of the NCSA project was to assist the Government of Armenia to determine priorities in the environment sector and elaborate a plan of action for strengthening national capacities. The NCSA process provided a unique opportunity to comprehensively evaluate the steps that the country needs to take to reach its commitments under three UN global environmental conventions: Climate Change, Biodiversity and Combating Desertification.
The NCSA project also enhanced public awareness of global environmental issues and helped to strengthen the partnership between different stakeholders. A National Action Plan was developed and will be submitted to the Government of Armenia for approval. The Plan will serve as a guiding document to coordinate the activities of responsible ministries and the donor community in the environment sector.