6. United Nations agencies, programes
and bodies related to the environment
6.1. The United
Nations Development Programme: UNDP
6.2. The United Nations
Environment Programme: UNEP
6.3. The International
Maritime Organization: IMO
6.4. The United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization: FAO
6.5. The United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: UNESCO
6.6. The Economic
Commissions
a) The United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)
b) The United Nations
Economic Commission for Africa (UN/ECA)
c) The United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN/ESCWA)
6.7. Other international
bodies working for the environment
a) The Global Environment Facility:GEF
b) The Mediterranean Environmental and Technical Assistance
Programme: METAP
6.1. The United Nations Development Programme: UNDP
Creation: It was created by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1966 to assume the functions of the UN's Extended Programme of Technical Assistance (EPTA) and the Special Fund. In 1971 it adopted its current functions. Its seat is in New York.
Aims: It is the central organ dealing with the financing, planning and coordination of technical cooperation within the United Nations system. It provides systematic technical assistance to developing countries to speed up their economic and social development, which is understood as sustainable human development (SHD).
- It draws up and finances integrated national and regional programmes to complement and support the countries' own development plans.
- It consolidates international programmes and policies that contribute to the achievement of sustainable human development.
- It coordinates the UN's development activities all over the world.
Programmes and activities:
- National programmes: The UNDP establishes the maximum value of the resources that each State can receive in a five-year period. The environmental aspects focused on are: the eradication of poverty, environmental protection, development management, technical cooperation between developing countries, technology transfer, and the participation of women.
- Capacity 21 and the UNCED. The UNDP is one of the 9 members of the Inter-Agency Committee for sustainable Development (IACSD) of the United Nations responsible for carrying out the UNCED Agenda 21. The Capacity 21 Programme was created to satisfy the institutional, infrastructure, political, programmatic, training and participation deficits of the developing countries to achieve sustainable development and meet the Agenda 21 aims. The Developing Countries and the NGOs consider them to be the best alternative to the GEF aid. It is completed the Interconnection Programme for Sustainable Development (1990) that allows access to the information needed for the drafting of national plans (meetings, electronic networks, etc.). The only Mediterranean participant is Tunisia.
- Small Grants Fund of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The UNDP, together with the World Bank and the UNEP, form part of the GEF and assumes responsibility for ensuring that the projects financed fit in with the nationals sustainable development strategies. It will also administer the GEF's Small Grants Fund, which we shall consider separately (see chapter 6.7.a.).
- Mediterranean Initiatives. One of the UNDP's four regional offices in New York deals with the Arab States and Europe (RBASE: Regional Bureau for Arab States and Europe). One of its initiatives was the meeting in Malta in 1989 of representatives from 25 Mediterranean countries which adopted the Malta Declaration, and another was the participation of RBASE in the Environmental Programme for the Mediterranean.
- The Environmental Programme for the Mediterranean (EPM). In 1988 the World Bank and the European Investment Bank launched this programme to help the Mediterranean countries financially and technically to face up to environmental challenges. In 1990 the programme reached its executive phase, the METAP (Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme), in which the UNDP and the European Commission also participate. We shall consider it separately (see chapter 6.7.b.).
6.2. The United Nations Environment Programme: UNEP
Creation: By the UNO in 1972, in accordance with the commitments made at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (UNCHE) in Stockholm (Sweden), also in 1972. Its seat is in Nairobi (Kenya).
Aims: "To guarantee the coordination of the programmes relating to the environment in the framework of the organisms of the United Nations". It is not a sectorial organization of the UNO, but a programme for the coordination and promotion of activities aiming to protect the environment within the United Nations system; it stimulates, coordinates and provokes a catalytic effect, but does not carry out or finance projects. It informs, helps and stimulates nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without endangering that of future generations. The UNEP's triangle of actions is:
- Environmental assessment. To improve, by means of interdisciplinary studies, knowledge of the biosphere for its rational and integrated management, safeguarding the quality of human life and of ecosystems.
- Environmental management. To promote integrated planning and development management, taking the environmental consequences into account.
- Support measures. To support all the countries, especially developing countries, in their environmental challenges; financing technical assistance, training and information exchange, etc.
It also invites the bodies of the United Nations, in addition to coordinating their programmes in relation to the international environmental problems, to seek the support of intergovernmental organizations, NGOs and the scientific community.
Programmes and activities: The UNEP is divided into 12 priority programmes: atmosphere; water resources; terrestrial ecosystems; oceans and coastal zones; health, habitat and welfare; environmental economy; environmental legislation; toxic chemical products and wastes; industry and energy; Earthwatch; environmental training; and regional cooperation.
- Environment Fund. This fund was created from the voluntary contributes of the States to finance environmental initiatives.
- SWMTEP. System-wide medium-term environment programme of the United Nations to coordinate all the activities of the different organisms of the United Nations working in the Environment.
- Monitoring the UNCED. The UNEP is one of the 9 members of the Inter-Agency Committee for Sustainable Development (IACSD) of the United Nations responsible for implementing Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. This has extended the role of the UNEP into regional, sub-regional and national cooperation, by increasing the importance of the role of its regional offices.
- Regional offices of the UNEP. The most important ones for the Mediterranean are Regional Office for Europe (ROE), for Africa (ROA), and for Western Asia (ROWA).
- Oceans and Coastal Areas Programme Activity Centre. This includes the Regional Seas Programme (1974) and the Action Plan for Marine Mammals and promotes the concept of ICAM: Integrated Coastal Area Management. The first regional plan to be established was the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), which we have already discussed.
- Global Environment Facility. The UNEP, together with the World Bank and the UNDP, forms part of this initiative, assuming responsibility for scientific and technical analysis. It is dealt with separately (see chapter 6.7.a.).
6.3. International Maritime Organisation: IMO
Creation: The Maritime Conference of the United Nations established a Convention on March 6, 1948, that came into force on March 17, 1958, and which represented the creation of the Intergovernamental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO). In 1982 it was renamed the IMO. The convention has now been ratified by 150 States, including all the Mediterranean States. Its seat is in London (United Kingdom).
Aims: To foster cooperation between different States in the practical governmental regulation of international commercial shipping: maritime safety, efficiency in navigation, prevention and control of marine pollution derived from ships and other vessels. Its budget is based on contributions from the member States, which are proportional to their tonnage of merchant shipping. Its activities relating to the marine environment are divided into three main areas:
- Prevention and control of marine pollution caused by oil and routine shipping activities.
- Preventing accidents and incidents at sea.
- Dealing with the problems raised by compensation for damage caused by pollution and responsibility for the substances being transported.
Programmes and activities: international treaties established by the IMO.
- MARPOL (1973/78) replaced the international convention on the prevention of marine pollution by hydrocarbons (OILPOL) dating from 1954. It establishes the elimination of international pollution by oil and the maximum permitted levels of other discharges, it specifies the characteristics of certain types of boat, and regulates the waste reception installations present in ports. MARPOL establishes special zones in which the discharges listed in its appendix are regulated. Appendix I, on hydrocarbons, totally prohibits their discharge in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, the Baltic, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf zone and Antarctica. Appendix II, on toxic industrial liquids, only considers the Baltic and the Black Sea as special areas, and does not take special measures for the Mediterranean. Appendix V, on rubbish, bans dumping of plastics into every ocean, and severely restricts other residues in coastal areas, and in the exceptional areas that it establishes, including the Mediterranean, but this is an optional appendix (like Appendix III on noxious substances transported in packaging, and Appendix IV, on sewage) and many countries that have ratified MARPOL have not signed this appendix (Malta, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Syria, Libya and Israel).
- Especially Sensitive Zones. The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) can establish this type of zone on the basis of "ecological, socio-economic or scientific reasons", but the measures established for their protection (the organization of shipping traffic, designation as "a zone to avoid", etc.) are only recommendations.
- REMPEC. Regional Marinen Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea. This MAP/UNEP centre in Malta is administered by the IMO, and has extended its role beyond hydrocarbons.
- Other international treaties:
- INTERVENTION (1969): International Convention on intervention in accidents that cause hydrocarbon pollution.
- FUND (1971): International convention to establish an international compensation fund for damage caused by hydrocarbons.
- The London Convention (1972): International Convention on the prevention of marine pollution due to discharge of wastes and other products. Its 16th consultative Meeting in 1993 banned the dumping of radioactive waste and, after 1996, incineration at sea and the discharge of industrial wastes into the sea.
- Monitoring of UNCED. The MEPC committed itself to a series of activities to put Agenda 21 into practice.
6.4. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization: FAO
Creation: In Rome, on October 16, 1945, and taking over the responsibilities of the former International Institute of Agriculture. Its seat is in Rome.
Aims: To raise the levels of nutrition and quality of life in the member States: to improve the production and distribution of foodstuffs and agricultural produce in order to eliminate hunger and to improve living conditions. The FAO intervenes in the development of land and water resources, plant and animal production, silviculture, fisheries, economic and social policy, in matters relating to nutrition and food supplies and questions relating to goods and trade. It also intervenes in agricultural emergencies and food shortages caused by drought, famine or pests. Its regular budget is derived from the contributions of the member States, while its budget for grass-roots activities proceeds basically from the UNDP and from national funds.
Programmes and activities:
In general:
- Sustainable agriculture. The FAO decided in Rome (1989) to integrate and to promote the integration of environmental questions into development. It organized the Conference on Agriculture and the Environment (Netherland, 1991) to defend the idea of sustainable agriculture and rural development. The document Agriculture; towards 2010 brings together the priorities of the UNCED and the International Conference on Nutrition. It has also expressed concern for the biodiversity of agricultural and stock species: the Conference and International Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (1993) and World Watch List for Domestic Animal Diversity (1993).
- Forests. Paris Declaration, made by the X World Forestry Congress (1991), the Principles on Forests and Agenda 21 (UNCED, Rio, 1992) and the Tropical Forest Action Plan.
- Fisheries. The FAO's World Fisheries Conference (1984): the sustainable use of fisheries resources and the protection of aquatic habitats from pollution and other forms of degradation. It has performed work on the control and banning of certain fishing practices in international waters and a code of conduct. It has also created the "Identification sheets for the Marine Mammals of the Mediterranean" in collaboration with the UNEP.
- World Food Day. Since 1991, this event has been held on October 16, and in the last few years it has been related to environmental issues; 1993 - "Harvesting the diversity of Nature", 1995, "Water, the Source of Life", etc.
- Monitoring UNCED. The FAO is one of the 9 members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Committee for Sustainable Development (IACSD) which is responsible for implementing Agenda 21 of theUnited Nations Conference on Environment and Development. It is also responsible to the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), which was created at the UNCED, for the areas of soils, forests, mountains, agriculture and sustainable development.
In the Mediterranean:
- Mediterranean Forest Action Programme (MEDFAP). Bringing together the results of previous experiences (Silva Mediterránea in 1922, and the 1948 European Forestry Commission, which is now the AFWC/EFC/NEFC Joint Committee for Mediterranean Forestry Questions), the experience of the TFAP and what is foreseen in Agenda 21, MEDFAP was created in 1992 as a framework within which each country would prepare its own National Forestry Plan, as foreseen in UNCED.
- General Fisheries Council for the Mediterranean (GFCM). This Convention was created by the FAO in 1952 with 20 States from the Mediterranean and Black Sea, and aims for better use of living resources: habitat protection, marine reserves, banning drift nets, close seasons, exotic species, pollution, etc.
- Participation in the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP). Within MAP's MEDPOL, the effects of pollution on marine resources are the responsibility of the FAO. This role has recently been extended, as we have seen, to cover forestry, desertification and water resources.
6.5. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: UNESCO
Creation: in 1945. Its seat is in Paris (France).
Aims: To contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration between nations by means of education, science, and culture in order to foster universal respect for justice, law, human rights and the basic liberties defended in the Charter of the United Nations, without distinction on the basis of race, sex, language or religion. "Given that wars start in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the bastions of peace must be built". Its five main programme areas are: I, Education; II, Science and Technology: III, Culture; IV, Communications, Information and Computers; and V, Social and human sciences. Its imprecise mandate and its ideological character have led to its financial crisis, which was made worse when the United States and the United Kingdom withdrew. Its ordinary budget is derived from the compulsory contributions of its 182 member nations and it has voluntary extra-budgetary sources from other United Nations bodies, financial institutions and from the States.
Programmes and activities: In the area of science and technology UNESCO has 4 main intergovernmental programmes related to the environment:
1. The Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB). This was created in 1971 by the Biosphere Conference (Paris, 1968) as a UNESCO intergovernmental programme, with a national basis for scientific training in the management and conservation of resources. 16 Mediterranean States have a national MAB Committee. The MAB is responsible for:
- The International Network of Biosphere Reserves; these combine conservation with scientific research and sustainable development. The Biosphere Conference (Paris, 1968), I International Conference on Biosphere Reserves (Minsk, Byelorussia, 1983) and the II Conference (Seville, Spain, 1995).
- EuroMAB: A collaboration between 32 European and North American States in the framework of the MAB. Its initiatives include the Biosphere Reserve Integrated Monitoring, BRIM, as a project exemplifying the work in the network of Biosphere Reserves; the Access and Access II data bases with data on the 175 Biosphere Reserves in the 32 States.
- INSULA: International Scientific Council for the development of Islands.
- Actions in the Mediterranean: fostering the creation and connection between the Biosphere Reserves in the Mediterranean. It has also worked in the fields of: agro-forestry-pastoral systems, changes in agricultural uses, deltas, islands, etc.
2. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). The effects of contamination on ecosystems in the framework of integrated coastal management.
3. International Hydrological Programme (IHP). The repercussions of climate change on water resources.
4. The International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP).
Other initiatives relating to the biosphere, outside the MAB Programme.
- Diversitas Programme: consequences of the loss of biodiversity in the global functioning of ecosystems, and especially, marine biodiversity and microorganisms. A joint initiative of UNESCO, the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) and the Scientific Committee On Problems of the Environment (SCOPE).
- People and Plants Initiative; the recording and use of plant resources, especially tropical plants. Joint initiative of UNESCO, WWF and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (United Kingdom).
- International Education for the Environment Programme. In collaboration with UNEP.
UNESCO Conventions (compulsory) and Recommendations (guidelines):
- Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Paris, November 16, 1972).
- Ramsar Convention (Ramsar, Iran, February 2, 1971) and its amendments.
- Recommendation on the beauty and character of sites and landscapes (Paris, December 11, 1962). This includes both natural sites and those created by human beings.
- Recommendations on the protection, in the national setting, of the cultural and natural heritage (Paris, November 16, 1972). Unlike the Convention this recommendation seeks to protect the national heritage even if it is not of international importance.
Monitoring UNCED. UNESCO FAO is one of the 9 members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Committee for Sustainable Development (IACSD) which is responsible for implementing the Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
6.6 The Economic Commissions
a) United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, UN/ECE
Creation: The UN Economic Commission for Europe was created in 1947 by the UNO ECOnomic and SOCial Committee (ECOSOC) to promote European reconstruction after the Second WorldWar. It was the first of the five committees to be established. In 1951, it became a permanent organ of the United Nations system. Its seat is in Geneva (Switzerland).
Aims: To improve economic relations between its member States (54 States: all the eastern and western European members of the UNO, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Israel, and the Caucasian and Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union). To foster intergovernmental cooperation in the fields of: the environment, transports, statistics, trade and economic analysis. Since its restructuring in 1976, the environment has been one of its objectives and the concept of sustainable development is included in all its programmes.
Programmes and activities:
- Monitoring UNCED: this foresaw the collaboration of the UN's regional Commissions. The ECE collaborates through its Committee of Senior Advisors of ECE Governments on Environmental and Water Problems (SAEWP), which in 1994 was renamed the Committee on Environmental Policy (CEP).
- Declaration on the Conservation of the Flora, Fauna and their Habitats (1988).
- Report "Relation between Economic Development and Conservation".
- European Red List of endangered plants and animals (in collaboration with the IUCN).
- Regional strategy for environmental protection and the rational use of resources (1988).
- Code of conduct for the conservation of endangered plants and animals and other species of international significance (1992).
- International treaties; 5 conventions, 4 protocols, 2 agreements, 15 declarations or decisions, and 23 recommendations, all dealing with environmental questions, have been developed in order to create a pan-European economic and legal space. The ECE acts as the Secretariat of: the Convention on Far-reaching Transboundary Air Pollution (Geneva, 1979) and its protocols; the Convention on Environmental Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo, 1991); the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Helsinki, 1992); and the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Water Resources and International Lakes (Helsinki, 1992).
- The Environment for Europe Conference. The first Pan-European meeting of Environment Ministers was held in Dobris (Czech Republic) in 1991. Its objective was to draw up a Report on the State of the Environment in Europe, and an Environmental Programme for Europe (EPE). The Second Conference (Lucerne, Switzerland, 1993) adopted the Environmental Action Programme for Central and Eastern Europe (EAP). The third meeting was held in Sofia (Bulgaria) in 1995, and the fourth was held in Arrhus (Denmark) in June 1998.
b) Economic Commission for Africa (UN/ECA)
The Economic Commission for Africa was created in 1958 to promote the economic development of the African continent, which was then starting to decolonize. Its seat is in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and its aim is to favour the economic development of the 53 African States that are members of the UNO, 5 of which are Mediterranean. Its 10 departments include the Natural Resources Department, which is dedicated to questions related to mining and the mapping and production of inventories of natural, water and marine resources. It 1989 it held a regional Ministerial Conference on the Environment in Kampala (Uganda) which adopted the Kampala Agenda. It monitors the UNCED by the adoption of the Common African Position on the Environment and Development, and the African Strategies for the Performance of Agenda 21. It has also performed an assessment of the contribution of marine resources to the economy of the African countries as part of the UNEP's Regional Seas Programme, and it participates in the work of the International Convention against Desertification, etc.
c) United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN/ESCWA)
This was created by ECOSOC in 1973, replacing the United Nations Economic and Social Office in Beirut (UNESOB), though it did not adopt its current name until 1985. Its seat is in Amman (Jordan) and its objective is to favour concerted action for the area's economic reconstruction and development. It has 13 member States, 4 of them Mediterranean, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and West Bank and Gaza. Its basic tasks refer to: statistical and technical information (obtaining data, and their analysis, assessment and publication); economic and social studies of regional and sub-regional development; advising States; and the carrying out of regional and sub-regional programmes. It has a Sustainable Economic Growth Department and a Natural Resources Department. It promotes respect for the environment; and seeks to ensure that all development programmes and projects are respectful of environmental conditions. It attaches special importance to water resources, to increasing awareness of water shortage, improving control of water quality, regional cooperation to ensure the security of resources, their use, and possible pollution, etc.
6.7. Other International organisms for the environment
a) Global Environment Facility: GEF
Creation: The World Bank (WB), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) created the GEF as an experiment to last 3 years, the pilot GEF or P-GEF. The UNCED (Rio, 1992) represented a major stimulus to its development. There was a lot of criticism of its functioning in its final phase, but it was finally given a permanent structure, with the Constitutive Instrument for the Restructured Global Environment Facility in 1994. Its seat is in Washington D.C. (United States).
Aims: It acts as a financial mechanism for the States that are Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (signed by 150 governments at the UNCED in 1992, and in force since 1993) and the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (signed by 155 countries at UNCED). It also cooperates with the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, although it is not a financial mechanism for it. It exclusively co-finances projects in the receptor countries (in accordance with UNDP and WB terminology) that have ratified these three international treaties. It has four main focus areas:
- Conservation of biodiversity
- Climatic change
- Depletion of the ozone layer
- Pollution of international waters.
It also accepts projects related to soil degradation and the struggle against desertification.
Programmes and activities:
- Financing projects. The Draft Revised GEF Operational Strategy establishes an optional programme for each one of the focus areas. The authorities in each country collaborate with the national offices of the GEF's 3 Implementor Agencies (WB/UNDP/UNEP), draws up the list of candidate projects for financing. The Facility only finances the "incremental costs" of projects, never the entire project. That is to say, it funds the difference between the cost of a project without environmental benefits and the same project with environmental benefits. On some occasions, NGOs or the private sector may participate in carrying out the project.
- GEF Small Grants Programme. This is the line of financing for projects that NGOS can directly access. The UNEP administers this instrument for demonstration projects promoted by community organizations and NGOs.
Proposals of the NGOs:
1. Greater participation in centralized projects. The NGOs can enter contact with national authorities (The GEF's National Operation Focal Point) and opt to:
- Collaborate with a specific part of the performance of the project, design, study, contact with communities, etc.
- To perform critical and independent monitoring and evaluation. This is highly necessary given the opaqueness on these projects, especially from the WB, and the absence of a coordinated mechanism for monitoring and assessment.
2. To convince the national authorities in order to influence the national political framework that guide the GEF projects in their respective countries, and to influence the selection of projects. It is much better if we do not do this in isolation, but in coordination with other NGOs.
3. To achieve participation of a greater number of NGOs in the GEF-NGO consultations.
4. Greater participation of NGOs as observers in the meetings of the GEF Council.
5. To promote the expansion and the participation of NGOs within the Small Grants Programme.
b) Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme: METAP
Creation: in 1988, the World Bank (WB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) drew up the Mediterranean Environment Programme, which they provided in 1990 with a financial instrument; the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme, METAP. The other collaborators are the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European commission of the European Union. It has been in its third stage, METAP-III 1997-2000, since 1997. It is aimed at 13 Mediterranean countries that are not members of the European Union; Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Cyprus, Albania, Croatia and Slovenia. The respective environment ministers act as national focal points (NFPs) and there is also a regional seat in Cairo, but the METAP depends on the seats of its four members; Washington D.C. (WB), New York (UNDP), Luxembourg (EIB) and Brussels (European Commission).
Aims: To deal with the problems of pollution and degradation of the Mediterranean from a regional perspective, providing the Mediterranean countries with the technical assistance needed to identify environmental projects, build capacities, establish policies and mobilize resources to finance the environmental investments needed. The idea is to establish solid links between the beneficiaries, the international donors and the partners. Its objectives are: the integrated management of water and coastal resources, combating pollution and to strengthen the capacity of environmental institutions and to increase social participation. It has four priorities: the integrated water management, the management of solid and liquid wastes, the integrated management of coastal areas, and the reduction and prevention of pollution (hot spots).
Programmes and activities:
- Initial METAP-III Portfolio. Drawn up by each National Focal Point. 60 projects were selected from the 13 different portfolios (25 capacity building projects and 35 on preparations for investment).
- Activities to develop regional capacity building: This includes a World Bank and UNDP Regional Capacity Building Programme to complement the national portfolios. This includes: the training of national and municipal functionaries, and those responsible for decision taking, NGOs and the private sector; the promotion of networks (MEDCITIES, MED-ECOMEDIA, MEDWAN, MEDPAN and also of NGOs); the MED-Policies initiative, to foster dialogue between those responsible for taking decisions, the private sector, the communication media and society as a whole; the Small Grants Facility (SGF). The SGF is a line of financing for projects promoted by NGOs and civic organizations that are innovatory in character and within the METAP priorities. The METAP has a decentralized regional office in Cairo; the METAP Regional Facility, which consists of two units, the Project Preparation Unit (PPU) and the Capacity Building Unit (CBU).
- PPP Public-private partnerships. Above all, promoting the creation of new enterprises with commercial criteria dedicated to environmental management.
- Performance and Monitoring system (PPM). To provide the beneficiary countries with the means necessary to carry out monitoring of their own progress.
Proposals of the NGOs:
1. To ensure the participation of the NGOs in the NFPs and in the monitoring of projects promoted by the METAP in their own countries.
2. To promote the effective functioning of the Small Grants Facility (SGF) for small projects submitted by NGOs, which is still only in its earliest phases.
3. To participate in the contacts that the members of the METAP (BM/EIB/UNDP/European Commission) hold with NGOs in the Mediterranean.