World Bank Training Workshop on Role and Responsibilities of Designated National Authorities

Within the scope of the World Bank Carbon Finance Assist Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Program, a training workshop on Role and Responsibilities of the CDM Designated National Authorities was held in Yerevan on December 11, 2006. The workshop was organized by the World Bank Office Tbilisi in cooperation with the Ministry of Nature Protection of Republic of Armenia and aimed to raise awareness on the following issues: (i) Structure and role Designated National Authorities; (ii) DNA Evaluation and Approval Procedures; (iii) Financing of DNA Secretariat and CER taxation; (iv) The Bank's Strategy in Carbon Finance; (v) State of Carbon Market, etc.

The workshop hosted representatives of the Designated National Authority for the CDM in Armenia, Ministry of Energy of RA, Ministry of Trade and Economic Development of RA, Public Services Regulatory Commission, UNDP and UNIDO Country Offices and the Municipality of Yerevan.

The event was opened by the welcome speech delivered by Ms. Naira Melkumyan, the World Bank Acting Country Manager. She introduced the main purpose of the training session and the World Bank activities aimed at mitigation of Global Climate Change. Then the floor went to Mr. Aram Gabrielyan, Head of Environmental Protection Department and UNFCCC National Focal Point, who made a presentation on the CDN developments in Armenia.

Carbon Finance Assist is a capacity building and technical assistance program established by the World Bank in fiscal year 2005 to enable the full engagement of developing countries and economies in transition in the carbon market. As part of the World Bank's endeavor toward market development, Carbon Finance Assist is aimed at assisting interested countries in the development and implementation of projects under the CDM and JI, or to access International Emissions Trading (EIT) of the Kyoto Protocol.