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Matched Small Grants Programme (MSGP) Training Workshop; Tehran , June 14-16
The new team of the Matched Small Grant Programme (MSGP) including five Coastal Advisors (Matched Small Grants and Public Participation Advisor – MPPA), one for each of the five Caspian Littoral Countries, an International Public Participation Advisor, and the MSGP new management team based in Tehran Programme Coordination Unit (PCU), was brought together in Tehran to a training on launching and management of the MSGP including the new phase of the GEF supported project under the CEP (CEP-SAP). The event was funded by the World Bank which had the leading role in the training activity, with participation of the UNDP and UNOPS representatives. |
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MSGP - MEG is Launched
Matched Small Grants Programme (MSGP) and Micro Environment Programme (MEG) were launched during July 2004. The MPPAs conducted several meetings in the region to brief the stakeholders and concern groups on the objectives and planned activities of the CEP during its new phase in general and on the available grants under the MSGP and MEG |
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| Caspian Concern Groups (CCG)
The Caspian Concern Groups were established in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan made up of people representing different stakeholder groups from the coastal areas, who will serve voluntary with an interest in and a commitment to public participation . CCG link |
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Ground Truthing Report (GT)
The Public Participation Ground Truthing Report (GT) is being prepared with the objective of reviewing and assessing the status of the public participation in the Caspian Littoral States. This Report encompasses national and local rules and regulations, cultural characteristics, means of communication, level of public participation, access to information and justice on environmental issues, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, gender participation, public awareness and sensitivity, stakeholders' participation and long term strategies and objectives. The summary of the GT as well as GT report of each littoral country is available on the CEP Website (GT link). The full report will be ready soon. |
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CEP-SAP Project Inception Meeting; Tehran June 17 and 18
CEP-SAP Project, often called GEF II, is the short title for the “Towards a Convention and Action Programme for the Protection of the Caspian Sea Environment Project”. This is a $6 million initiative funded by GEF to address the unsustainable use of bio-resources, threats to biodiversity, pollution, and unsustainable coastal area development issues. The Inception Meeting for the CEP-SAP was attended by official representatives of the littoral countries as well as representatives of the World Bank, UNEP, UNOPS, KAREC and the Industry. The meeting reviewed the progress and approved the CEP-SAP work plan, agreed to a rotational system of Regional Advisory Groups. |
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UNEP Regional Meeting; Tehran 19 - 20 July
The meeting attended by official representatives of the littoral countries and UNEP. They agreed to pursue four protocols to the Caspian Framework Convention namely Emergency Response Protocol, Land-based Sources of Pollution Protocol, EIA Protocol and Biodiversity Protocol. The Emergency Response Protocol is already finalized thanks to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) the collaboration with CEP during its first phase and will be presented to the First Conference of the Parties. |
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Biodiversity & Invasive Species Regional Advisory Group Meeting (BIORAG Meeting); Baku , September 6 and 7
The first meeting of the Biodiversity & Invasive Species Caspian Regional Advisory Group (BISRAG) was combined with a technical meeting of the international and national experts on the issue of Invasive Species in the Caspian. The meeting recommended the countries to positively consider introduction of Beroe as the most adequate bio-measure to mitigate the impact of Mnemiopsis Leydyi (ML). Meeting reports are available on CEP Web-site ( www.caspianenvironment.org ). |
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FAO Technical Meeting; Baku , September 8 -10
Under auspices of FAO the meeting sought, and discussed, advice for the region regarding technical assistance for FAO with the framework of a regional technical cooperation (TCP) to be funded by FAO. |
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IMO --- Training in Astrakhan ; 21 – 24 September
IMO provided training on CPRC Level 3 for high level emergency response managers from the region |
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Time over - Caspian Environment Programme Grants
30 September was the deadline to receive the applications of the first round of Matched Small Grants Programme (MSGP) and Micro Environment Programme (MEG). Many MSGP and MEG applications have been received from 5 Caspian countries. The Evaluation Committee Meeting will be held during November to evaluate the applications. Awards will be granted during early December to the successful applicants . http://www.caspianenvironment.org/MSGPII/index.htm |
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Religion Science and Environment (RSE) Symposium
The first regional planning meeting of the Religion Science and the Environment (RSE) of Caspian Sea Symposia will be held from October 8th to 11th in Baku to plan for circumnavigate the Caspian Sea in June 2005. |
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| Emergency Response and Pollution Regional Advisory Groups The first meeting of the Emergency Response and Pollution Regional Advisory Groups (E-RAG, P-RAG) will be held in Tehran-Iran from 13 to 15 October 2004. The meeting will provide update information on global, regional and national activities with regards to Pollution Monitoring, control and abatement as well as Emergency Response in the Caspian Sea . This will include highlighting the link between the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) and E-RAG, P-RAG, as well as drafting an outline/roadmap of an strategic plan for risk assessment and sensitivity mapping in the Caspian Sea . The meeting also aims to decide on an appropriate mechanism for selection of RAGs chairmanships, working, hosting arrangements and relevant TORs http://www.caspianenvironment.org/rags |
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| Strategic Fisheries Research Workshop
& Fisheries Regional Advisory Group
The first meeting of the Interim Fisheries Regional Advisory Group (FRAG) dove-tailed to a workshop on Strategic Fisheries Research Issues & and their Impact on Management, Conservation and Development of Caspian Fisheries will be held by EU/Tacis supported sustainable fisheries project from 19 to 21 October 2004.
The objective of the FRAG meeting is to discuss the strategic work plan for the fisheries and bio-resources component of
the CEP projects and to provide advice on implementation mechanism with a view to ensure a cost effective modality while enhancing regional involvement in the project activities. The meeting will also be requested to review the status of dialogue and inter-action between international, regional and national bodies involved in fisheries management activities. For more information contact Mr. Chris Mathews, team leader of EU fisheries project , e-mail: christopher@caspian.in-baku.com |
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Small Grants Programme (SGP) Announcement |
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The Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) has announced the Autumn Call for Applications on “ Sustainable Development of Caspian Coastal Communities ” . The full Guidelines for Applicants are available for consultation at Programme's National Coordinators and on the following Internet site CAREC web site: www.carec.kz or visit the direct link . The deadline for the submission of applications is set for November 4 th , 2004 .
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| The World Bank Caspian Environment Prorgam Investment and Donors' Forum
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The World Bank is organizing a Caspian Environment Program Investment and Donors' Forum, scheduled to take a place in Baku on November 19-20 this year. The main aim of the Forum is to give the Caspian states a platform for presenting to potential investors and donors the priorities identified in their National Caspian Action Plans (NCAPs) and the regional Caspian Strategic Action Program (SAP). The event is designed to help the states to establish partnerships to mobilize resources for implementation of the priority projects. These include public goods investments, commercial projects, and public-private partnership opportunities, as well as a number of small-scale actions appropriate for grant funding. The Forum is co-sponsored by Germany , and supported by the Project Preparation Committee (PPC) of the Environment for Europe program. Information on the investment priorities and specific projects may be downloaded from the Forum website: www.worldbank.org/caspianenvironmentforum . The Forum registration form and logistics information are available on the website. |
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CASPAS Meeting: October 26 – 27 in Baku :
The 9th Session of the Coordinating Committee on Hydrometeorology & pollution Monitoring of the Caspian Sea Environment will be held in Baku on October 27 to 28. The session will consider a wide range of problems related to the development of international cooperation in the field of hydrometeorology as well as host of associated issues |
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1 ST Planning Meeting of the UNESCO Interdisciplinary Initiative on the Sustainable Development of the Caspian Sea
The main objective of the meeting is to discuss, with regional experts, specific environmental issues affecting the Caspian Sea , and, keeping in mind the mandate and competence of UNESCO, to formulate activities of an interdisciplinary nature that could be implemented during the biennium 2004-2005.
www.unesco.ru |
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The CABRI-Volga project is proposed for funding to the European Commission under the International Cooperation (INCO) Programme
CABRI Volga - Cooperation Along a Big River Institutional Coordination among stakeholder for environmental risk management in the Volga basin – is an international coordination action to facilitate cooperation and to coordinate research in environmental risk management in large river basins in the EU, Russia & the New Independent States (NIS). The project Consortium has already established an extensive network of more than 130 organisations in Russia/NIS and the EU. It intends to further expand the network within the duration of the project. For the working group meetings, experts from Russia/NIS and EU (~70 per series) from various scientific and institutional backgrounds will be recruited from the network of CABRI stakeholder organisations to discuss and exchange knowledge and expertise in the CABRI thematic areas of 1-River & Environmental Rehabilitation, 2-Human Security and Vulnerability, 3- Natural Resources & Their Sustainable Use, 4- Connecting Goods and People, and 5-Institutional Coordination & Cooperation. More information on: For EU: www.rupprecht-consult.de For Russia / NIS : www.unesco.ru |
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