Success of the Caspian Environment Programme, including its sustainability, relies on a number of Stakeholders in addition to the National Governments and the International Partners.

The Caspian environmental problems directly impact the livelihood and health of millions of inhabitants living in the coastal areas as well as millions living in the Caspian countries. CEP considers these people and their society as its major stakeholders:

• Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)
• County and municipal governments
• Private Sector
• Educational institutions
• Universities and Academies of Sciences
• Industries
• Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
• Local residents

The UNDP/GEF Project promotes Public Awareness and Participation, in order to obtain broad-based participation from the general public as well as from the private sector associations (especially the oil and gas companies), academic and research institutions, local and regional government, NGOs, teacher associations and local community groups. This participation  has helped a great deal in the development of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA)/National Caspian Action Plans (NCAP)/Strategic Action Plan (SAP) planning process. The means of achieving this objective proposed in the project document  has been through:

• Strengthened cooperation among coastal actors through implementation of demonstrative actions and Public Awareness projects, and
• Strengthened participation of civil society and other stakeholders in CEP strategies and planning ,

Stakeholders, particularly effective NGO's, local Authorities and the private sector, were brought together in order to discuss common issues. The objective is to demonstrate the effectiveness of cooperation among various partners at the local level for assessing environmental problems and guiding implementation of corrective actions. In the First Phase of the CEP, stakeholders and Public Participation Advisors (PPA) of the CEP identified up to two coastal areas/municipalities in each Caspian country, faced with a set of problems and issues.

The exercise   consisted of introducing participants/stakeholders to options and possibilities of public participation in decision-making processes at the local or municipal level, including opportunities for implementing joint action projects. Communities were assisted to develop their own action plan in order to achieve sustainable development.

With support and facilitation from CEP, stakeholders were identified and their mobilization within the framework of Caspian Concern Groups (CCGs) was commenced during the First Phase of the CEP. However, their actual establishment is one of the objectibes of the Second Phase. Stakeholders will meet to identify issues and problems, assess and analyze, and prioritize these issues. The groups will agree on an agenda for action, review the strengths and weaknesses of each of the partners and assign responsibilities for advancing the process. During Phase I, CEP and the PPAs helped to address some of these needs, through specific training, coaching, support to small meetings, etc.

The envisioned outcome of that process in CEP Phase II will be   a set of small project proposals which will  address the problems and issues identified. CEP will support the implementation of some of these proposals. A number will be  selected through a small grants selection process, the guidelines of which would have been presented to the group earlier on.

T he CCG is made up of people representing different stakeholder groups from the region, who will serve voluntary with an interest in and a commitment to public participation.  At least one CCG to be established in each Caspian littoral countries (Azerbaijan, I.R. Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan) and consists of minimum 5 people with the possibility of growing up over time by inviting the other concerned people to join the CCG and creating networks.

The composition of CCG will vary from country to country but mainly consist of the members from:

• Environmental agencies, both at national and local level;
• Local authorities, personalities;
• Businesses (possibly from a Chamber of Commerce or business association);
• Religious representative;
• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs);
• Community Based Organizations (CBOs);
• Government (especially from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Industry);
• Media (journalists);
• Tourism Organization;
• Industries;
• Academia;
• Other relevant stakeholders.

The Caspian Concern Group, as a forum, will then be responsible to:

• Facilitate the dialogue between the Caspian Environment Programme (CEP) and the local communities in all feasible ways;
• Air the views, concerns and perceptions of the local communities on Caspian environmental issues;
• Support the Matched Small Grants and Public Participation Advisors (MPPAs);
• Provide feedback into the Stakeholder Analysis (AS) and Public Participation Strategy Papers (PPS) through attending workshops and completing the related questionnaires;
• Support the review of the first drafts of the PPS and Stakeholder Analysis Revisit (SAR);
• Support the Public Participation Plan;
• Support the implementation of the Micro Environment Grant Programme (MEG); 
• Provide input to Ground Truthing process;
• Assist in holding a conference of the Caspian Mayors and establish linkages with EU-Tacis Coastal Sustainable Development project through information exchange, joint activities, and reciprocal representation/participation in meetings/activities.

The members of the CCG will be identified by the MPPAs.  CCG members will receive an honorary letter of appreciation from the CEP/GEF Manager.  CCG membership is on voluntary basis and no payment will be made to the members.  GEF II will consider covering cost of meetings including associated travel on case basis.

Whenever it is possible and appropriate, representatives of the Caspian Concern Groups are invited to participate in the CEP activities and processes. Both NGOs and the Private Sector have been represented as observers in previous Steering Committee meetings; in particular, NGOs participated in the national TDA meetings.

PPAs and representative from coastal communities and stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the NCAP and SAP process, in particular providing inputs as case studies and demonstrated initiatives, sharing views and ideas at the meetings & workshops, and bringing in local perspective to the implementation of Strategic Action Programme .