GROUP OF 77
NAIROBI

Statement by Mr. Jamil Ahmad, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to UNEP, Nairobi, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, at the First Meeting of the High-level Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on an Intergovernmental Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity Building (New York, 25 June 2004)

Mr. Chairman,

I am taking the floor on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

The G-77 welcomes the convening of the first meeting of the Working Group.

The G-77 attaches great importance to the process which is being initiated today.

We are confident that this process will lead to the completion and adoption of the Integrated Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity Building by the 23 rd session of the UNEP Governing Council next year in Nairobi as stipulated in the decision CGSS/VIII/8 of the 8 th Special Session of UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF)

Mr. Chairman,

On our part, the G-77 will be participating in this meeting in a positive manner and spirit. We are sure that we shall be able to maintain a cooperative working relationship with our partners throughout the process to achieve our objective, that is, to develop and implement the strategic plan, which is of crucial importance to encourage effective implementation of the international agenda for environmental protection and to facilitate the achievement of MDGs and other targets agreed at the international level.

Mr. Chairman,

We offer thanks for the briefing by the Secretariat, the input so far and the preparation of documentation for this meeting. As the Executive Director of UNEP mentioned, UNEP has been acting in the field of technology support and capacity building. The Strategic Plan will better place UNEP to work more effectively as the mandate for this is not new. It exists and dates back to the 27 th session of the General Assembly in 1972 when it adopted resolution No. 2997 which:

• Decides that the governing council of UNEP shall have the main functions and responsibilities of promoting international cooperation in the field of environment and to recommend, as appropriate policies to this end.
• UNEP’s ED “To submit to the governing council, on his own initiative or upon request, proposals embodying medium-range and long-range planning for United Nations programmes in the field of environment. (Article 2 sub-item f).
• Decides that, in order to ensure that the development priorities of developing countries shall not be adversely affected, adequate measures shall be taken to provide additional financial resources on terms compatible with the economic situation of the recipient developing country, and that, to this end, the executive director, in co-operation with competent organizations, shall keep this problem under continuing review; (article 4 of the same resolution).

2- AGENDA 21:

(a) While giving UNEP the definition of “the principal body within the United Nation system in the field of environment” chapter 38 stipulates the role of UNEP in:

• Facilitation of information exchange on environmentally sound technologies, including legal aspects, and provision of training.
• Provision of technical, legal and institutional advice to governments, upon request, in establishing and enhancing their national legal and institutional frameworks. In this regard, “States shall cooperate in a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the Earth’s ecosystem. In view of the different contributions to global environmental degradation, states have common but differentiated responsibilities..”
• Support governments, upon request, and development agencies and organs in the integration of environmental aspects into their development policies and programmes, in particular through provision of environmental, technical and policy advice during programme formulation and implementation.

(b) UNEP’s role has also been previously identified in Agenda 21 in chapter 34 regarding the objectives of transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capacity-building to support endogenous capacity building, in particular in developing countries, so they can assess, adopt, manage and apply environmentally sound technologies. This could be achieved through:

• Human resource development.
• Strengthening of institutional capacities for research and development of programme implementation.
• Integrated sector assessment of technology needs, in accordance with countries’ plans, objectives and priorities.

3- JPOI:

 Paras 105-136 cover a wide range of targets for capacity building and technology support; least to mention:

• (P-106-d) provide assistance to developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, in accessing environmentally sound technologies that are publicly owned or in public domain, as well as available knowledge in the public domain on science and technology, and in accessing the know-how and expertise required in order for them to make independent use of this knowledge in pursuing their development goals.
• (P-107) Assist developing countries in building capacity to access a larger share of multilateral and global research and development programmes. In this regard, strengthen and, where appropriate, create centres for sustainable development in developing countries.
• (P-110) Assist developing countries, through international cooperation, in enhancing their capacity in their efforts to address issues pertaining to environmental protection.

4 – The IEG (UNEP seventh special session- Cartagena)

( Para 31) Environmental governance should be considered from a multi-level approach – international, regional, sub-regional and national. The ability of developing countries, as well as countries with economies in transition, to participate fully in the development of international environmental policy and to support those countries in their efforts towards achieving the environmental objectives of sustainable development, and to undertake the requisite implementation of international agreements at the national level, must be strengthened. The need to strengthen the capacity and capability of developing countries, as well as those with economies in transition, remains a major requirement for sustainable development and in particular on issues related to poverty eradication. Such efforts must include all relevant partners and emphasize in particular capacity‑building and training, as well as national-level coordination, under leadership of national governments and according to national priorities, of the environmental component of sustainable development. To this end, effective and time-bound measures will be required at international, regional and national levels. In this regard the strengthening of national institutions, including the ministries of environment, in developing countries is an important aspect. Arrangements for the access to, and transfer of, environmentally sound technologies to developing countries should be established and facilitated as they are very important for achieving sustainable development. For progress in this field, steps should be taken expeditiously for the transfer of publicly owned technology.

( Para 32) International environmental governance should also cover and support regional and subregional efforts. UNEP, in cooperation with relevant regional and subregional organizations could provide support to the strengthening of regional environmental governance to improve coordination; implementation, capacity‑building and technology transfer in support of regional initiatives. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) initiative should be supported as the framework for sustainable development in Africa.

( Para 33) In its resolution 53/242, the General Assembly stressed the need to ensure that capacity-building and technical assistance, in particular with respect to institutional strengthening in developing countries, remained an important component of the work of UNEP. This should build on the ongoing capacity‑building needs assessment being carried out by GEF through its implementing agencies, including UNEP. A strengthened programme of capacity-building should be clearly defined in the work of UNEP, building on its demonstrated comparative advantage and in the context of pursuing the ongoing strategic partnership with GEF, respecting its governance structure and in close cooperation with the United Nations organizations and other international organizations active in the area of the environment.

( Para 34) In this regard, an intergovernmental strategic plan for technology support and capacity-building to developing countries should be developed to improve the effectiveness of capacity-building, and to address the gaps identified by assessments of existing activities and needs, including the ongoing GEF inventory, subject to the availability of funds other than the Environment Fund, taking into account that additional resources need to be made available for this purpose. Such a strategic plan could be implemented through enhanced coordination between UNEP and other relevant bodies, including GEF and UNDP. It could include an increased role for UNEP in country-level capacity delivery in particular through greater collaboration with UNDP. This could be built on the following two components:

(a) Capacity-building and training: The strengthening of the national institutions responsible for environment and the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, which will promote the achievement of the objectives of the environmental component of sustainable development. Efforts by UNEP, in response to requests by Governments, to develop local and national capacity in environmental issues and for dissemination of best practices and experiences will build on its role as one of the three implementing agencies of GEF as well as on the expected benefits from the multi-year UNEP/GEF strategic partnership as envisaged in the UNEP/GEF Action Plan on Complementarity;

(b) National-level coordination of the environmental component of sustainable development: In addition to the mobilization of domestic resources, developing countries require access to financial, technological and technical resources from the international community, as well as better internal coordination to implement sustainable development strategies. Efforts for environmental improvement at all levels and the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements must converge for countries to achieve their national priorities and objectives. Countries are encouraged to promote the coordination of the multiple national frameworks that currently exist in the field of environment at the ministerial level.

(Para-35) The strategic partnership between UNEP and GEF should be based on the decisions of their respective governing bodies and involve strengthening the capacity of UNEP to fulfil its role as provided for in the UNEP/GEF Action Plan on Complementarity. UNEP’s strength as one of the three GEF implementing agencies should be fostered. It should also take into account the special relationship with UNDP, building on its unique national field capacity, which can contribute to these efforts and also facilitate the mobilization of additional resources with positive results for the environment at both national and global levels.

Targets – priority areas of the SPCB:

Agenda 21 :

• To help to ensure the access, in particular, of developing countries, to scientific and technological information, including information on state-of-the-art- technologies.

• To promote, facilitate, finance, as appropriate, the access to and the transfer of environmentally sound technologies and corresponding know-how, in particular to developing countries, on favorable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect intellectual property rights as well as the special needs of the developing countries for the implementation of agenda 21.

Elements for Capacity building and Technology Support could interalia include;

• Dealing with environment in the context of sustainable development, or the strengthening of governmental institutions, judiciary, education, awareness, enforcement, civil society and the private sector.
• Strengthening national institutions to achieve sustainability of capacity building.
• Assist countries to comply with the obligations under multilateral environmental agreements.
• Facilitate support of environmentally sound technologies.
• Building capacity in the preparation, integration and implementation of environmental aspects in the national sustainable development plans.
• Support developing countries in the area of policy implementation and the participation in international negotiating processes.
• Support national institutions in data collection, analysis, and monitoring of environmental trends.
• National ownership of priority projects and in response to requests by governments.
• Support in the preparation on environmental projects documents.

Implementation modalities :

• The plan should be an action-oriented document.
• The Plan should have a Long-term strategic vision for capacity building that consists of strategic vision, targets, and specific activities. The plan should help identify gaps that need to be overcome through different ways and manners, including innovative methods.
• Technology support for G 77 means:
• Technology transfer.
• Promoting sound and appropriate technologies for developing countries…etc
• The strategic plan should be UNEP specific, and its secretariat could fulfill the required role without necessarily creating new structures. In the mean time it should be underlined that the G77 + China is of the view that this strategic plan could receive contributions from other Un agencies and in no way affect their mandate.
• The important role of other institutions to support efforts in this regard, amongst which are UNDP, UNCTAD, DESA, EMG, and other relevant UN institutions.
• UNEP secretariat should ensure coordination with other UN agencies, to minimize duplication of efforts, and integrate priorities identified by countries and regions with the priorities of UNEP. We note the proposal for a MOU between UNEP and UNDP.
• It is essential that the strategic plan identify the regional component taking into account the conditions and specificities of the regional strategic initiatives as an important vehicle for implementation in order to maximize the impact of available resources. (The strategic plan should take onboard regional capacity building initiatives like the environmental initiatives under NEPAD.
• The plan should strengthen the capacity of developing countries to implement their environmental goals, targets and objectives, in particular those in the Millennium Declaration, and other internationally agreed development goals and targets.
• Necessary additional financial resources for the effective implementation of the strategic plan needs to be secured in a separate trust fund or specifically be allocated in the Environment Fund as stipulated in the GA resolution 2997 in its 27 session establishing the United Nations Environment Fund in 1972 which reads “Decides that the environment fund shall be used for financing programmes of general interest as regional and global monitoring, assessment and data-collecting systems, including costs for national counterparts; the improvement of environmental quality management; environmental research; information exchange and dissemination; public education and training; assistance for national , regional, and global environmental institutions; the promotion of environmental research and studies for the development of industrial and other technologies best suited to a policy of economic growth compatible with adequate environmental safeguards; and such other programmes as the governing council may decide, and that in the implementation of such programmes due account should be taken of the special needs of the developing countries”. And in article 4 in the same resolution which reads as follows: “Decides that, in order to ensure that the development priorities of developing countries shall not be adversely affected, adequate measures will be taken to provide additional financial resources on terms compatible with the economic situation of the recipient developing country, and that, to this end, the executive director, in cooperation with competent organizations, shall keep this problem under continued review”.

Finally, an annual follow-up process could be established to monitor the development of the Strategic Plan, at the intergovernmental level, during the sessions of the GC/ MEF.

Mr. Chairman,

These points are neither conclusive nor exhaustive. We have just taken a first step in the process. We will add to it as we proceed along.

Allow me to conclude by thanking the representatives of “experts” and the civil society for providing their contribution to this intergovernmental process.

Thank you.