Biodiversity Capacity Building Programme: Promoting Good International Practices

Overview
Project Summary Document

TCRS 7619

Status TC Com approved

Location

Business Sector

Notice Type

Public

PSD Disclosed

20 Dec 2016

Project Description

In FYR Macedonia, despite the efforts to converge to EU standards and regulations, the EBRD has observed that IFI financed projects often require significant additional time and resources for undertaking supplementary biodiversity assessments and management plans due to considerable variability in the scope, stringency and implementation of biodiversity conservation requirements. Three key factors that typically influence the way biodiversity conservation is considered across economic sectors are firstly, the resources of regulatory authorities to promulgate requirements and monitor and enforce them; secondly, the country biodiversity staff capabilities of private/public sector companies and thirdly; the presence and capabilities of consultancy support services that are able to assist companies in addressing regulatory and lender-driven requirements.

Based on recent project experience in FYR Macedonia, EBRD proposes a Biodiversity Capacity Building Programme aimed at Promoting Good International Practices in FYR Macedonia and supporting Government organisations/state institutions, state owned infrastructure sector companies, civil society, biodiversity consultants and academic institutions to build capacity in their assessment and management of biodiversity issues and protected areas in line with good international practices and FYR Macedonia’s obligations under international conventions (for example, the Bern Convention and UNESCO) and the EU accession process. Moreover, Civil Society Organisations have raised significant concerns for inadequate management of protected areas, especially National Parks, in FYR Macedonia. Consequently, EBRD has also been exposed to reputational risk. For example, in December 2015 a group of international CSOs published a report a report “Financing for hydropower in protected areas in Southeast Europe”, claiming that a number of hydropower plants had been built and many more approved by environmental authorities to be built in protected areas, especially in FYR Macedonia. Furthermore, following a civil society complaint, the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (the Bern Convention) opened a case file to investigate a possible breach of the Convention due to several planned hydropower developments in the Mavrovo National Park in FYR Macedonia. Following an independent appraisal, the Bern Convention Standing Committee in December 2015 adopted a recommendation to the Government of FYR Macedonia to suspend the implementation of all planned development projects in the National Park, until a Strategic Environmental Assessment of cumulative effects of all planned development activities has been completed.I

n the context of project related discussions between the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) of FYR Macedonia and EBRDs environmental specialists, the representatives of MoE have requested EBRD’s support in biodiversity assessments and impact mitigation strategies, management of National Parks and nature protection issues in general. Specifically, the MoE have been interested to see a range of good practice examples of Biodiversity Management Plans, Offset strategies, etc., as well as EBRD’s experiences in Natura 2000 issues and EU Habitat Directive requirements, including Appropriate Assessments.

In this context, there is therefore an urgent need to implement a Biodiversity Capacity Building Programme to support national and local authorities in Macedonia enhance institutional and professional capacity in undertaking biodiversity assessments across a number of sectors.

This TC project aligns with the Bank’s 2013 FYR Macedonia Country Strategy, Energy strategy commitments to supporting sustainable hydropower projects, Transport Strategy for the promotion of international best practice and the implementation of the Bank’s Environmental and Social Policy (2014) and Performance Requirement 6: Biodiversity Conservation & Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources.

Enquiries

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

General enquiries

Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

TCRS 7619

Status TC Com approved

Location

Business Sector

Notice Type

Public

PSD Disclosed

20 Dec 2016

Project Description

Project Objectives

The objective of the project is to facilitate the transfer and dispersion of skills by training commercial dairy farmers in Georgia to improve food safety standards and productivity.

TC Recipient Information

Government of the FYR of Macedonia.

Project Cost

€ 350,000.00

Funding Summary

EBRD’s Special Shareholders Fund (SSF)

Any competitive selections for business opportunities relating to this project will be published on the EBRD's website: Consultancy Procurement Opportunities.

General enquiries

EBRD project enquiries not related to procurement:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

The AIP sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders so as to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations following its entry into force on 1 January 2020. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Client’s Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate; how to submit a Request for review; or contact IPAM via email ipam@ebrd.com to get guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

Our story

How we invest in changing lives

What we offer for businesses

Search

Biodiversity Capacity Building Programme: Promoting Good International Practices

Project Description

Enquiries

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Project Description

Project Objectives

TC Recipient Information

Project Cost

Funding Summary

General enquiries

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)