Institutional Set-up and Institutional Set-up and Staffing Arrangements for Staffing Arrangements for

FNR_Rio Project in FNR_Rio Project in AfghanistanAfghanistan

26 January 201126 January 2011MauritiusMauritius

ContentsContents

1- Institutional set-up1- Institutional set-up

2- Staffing arrangements2- Staffing arrangements

3- Challenges and needs3- Challenges and needs

4- Conclusion4- Conclusion

1- Institutional Set-up1- Institutional Set-up

There are two main governmental There are two main governmental institutions responsible for the institutions responsible for the

implementation of the Rio Conventions: implementation of the Rio Conventions: the National Environmental Protection the National Environmental Protection

Agency (NEPA) and the Ministry of Agency (NEPA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock

(MAIL).(MAIL).

The National Environmental Protection The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) is the national focal point Agency (NEPA) is the national focal point for UNFCCC and Ministry of Agriculture, for UNFCCC and Ministry of Agriculture,

Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) is the Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) is the acting focal point for CBD and UNCCD.acting focal point for CBD and UNCCD.

Other Governmental and non-governmental Other Governmental and non-governmental institutions and agencies are involved with institutions and agencies are involved with

the Rio conventions are as following:the Rio conventions are as following:

- Afghanistan National Disaster Management Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA)Authority (ANDMA)..

- Department of Metrology of the Ministry of Department of Metrology of the Ministry of Transportation (DMMT).Transportation (DMMT).

- Research Sectors and Academia.Research Sectors and Academia.

- National and International Agencies and National and International Agencies and NGOs.NGOs.

National Environmental Protection Agency National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA)(NEPA)

The national focal point for the UNFCCC The national focal point for the UNFCCC is NEPA, which is also focal point for the is NEPA, which is also focal point for the

ozone treaties. Additionally it is the lead ozone treaties. Additionally it is the lead agency for NCSA (National Capacity agency for NCSA (National Capacity

Needs Self-Assessment for Global Needs Self-Assessment for Global Environmental Management) and NAPA Environmental Management) and NAPA

processes. The technical organization processes. The technical organization structure of the Agency is shown in Fig.structure of the Agency is shown in Fig.

General Directorate of NEPA

Deputy Dir. Gen.Policy & International

RelationsTechnical Deputy

Financial and Administrative

Deputy

Division of International

Environmental Affairs

Division of Climate Change

Division of Planning & Coordination

Division of Natural Heritage Protection

Division of SustainableDevelopment and

Environmental ImpactAssessment

Institute of Research & Indigenous

Knowledge

Division of Policy and Legislation

Division of Social Awareness and Public Outreach

FNR_Rio Convention Project

Expert Board Division

Research & Indigenous

Knowledge Division

(i) The National ozone unit continued to (i) The National ozone unit continued to progress towards fulfilling Afghanistan’s progress towards fulfilling Afghanistan’s

obligations under the ozone treaties, especially obligations under the ozone treaties, especially the Montreal Protocol.the Montreal Protocol.

(ii) Afghanistan’s National Capacity Needs (ii) Afghanistan’s National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment for Global Environmental Self-Assessment for Global Environmental

Management (NCSA) and National Adaptation Management (NCSA) and National Adaptation plan of Action for Climate change (NAPA) plan of Action for Climate change (NAPA)

reports were completed and submitted.reports were completed and submitted.

(iii) A numerous policies including a National (iii) A numerous policies including a National Waste Management Policy, Air control policy Waste Management Policy, Air control policy

and National Pollution Control and Vehicle and National Pollution Control and Vehicle Emission standards are developed. Emission standards are developed.

Furthermore an EIA Board of Expert is Furthermore an EIA Board of Expert is established. established.

(iv) UNEP provides support to NEPA in the (iv) UNEP provides support to NEPA in the developing Afghanistan’s Initial National developing Afghanistan’s Initial National

Communication under the UNFCCC.Communication under the UNFCCC.

Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL)Livestock (MAIL)

MAIL has elaborated Ten-Year Master Plan and MAIL has elaborated Ten-Year Master Plan and associated Five-Year Implementation and Investment associated Five-Year Implementation and Investment

Program (IIP). The IIP do not directly addresses Program (IIP). The IIP do not directly addresses climate change, however, as the Ministry promotes climate change, however, as the Ministry promotes

the sustainable management of sinks and reservoirs of the sustainable management of sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases (including forested areas and greenhouse gases (including forested areas and

rangeland), develops and elaborates integrated plans rangeland), develops and elaborates integrated plans for water resources, agriculture, and protected areas for water resources, agriculture, and protected areas

under IIP, thus, the IIP indirectly contributes to under IIP, thus, the IIP indirectly contributes to fulfilling the requirements of Rio Conventions.fulfilling the requirements of Rio Conventions.

Natural Resources Directorate General of Natural Resources Directorate General of the Ministry works closely with the Rio the Ministry works closely with the Rio Conventions. This Department has in its Conventions. This Department has in its

framework the divisions of Forestry, framework the divisions of Forestry, Range land Management and protected Range land Management and protected

Areas, which are responsible for the Areas, which are responsible for the management, utilization, protection and management, utilization, protection and rehabilitation of the country’s forestry, rehabilitation of the country’s forestry,

rangelands, protected areas and wildlife rangelands, protected areas and wildlife resources. See (Fig-2)resources. See (Fig-2)

General Directorate

of Natural Resources

Protected Areas Division

Rangeland Division

Forestry Division

National Park and wildlife

Management Division

Watershed Management

Division

Rangeland Management

DivisionAfforestation

Division

Forest Protection Division

Department of Natural Resources Department of Natural Resources has approximately 196 technical has approximately 196 technical

staff of various background, 1012 staff of various background, 1012 administrative and supporting staff administrative and supporting staff all over the country (2009-2010).all over the country (2009-2010).

Coordinating and Decision Making Coordinating and Decision Making Committees (CDMC)Committees (CDMC)

The following Committees are responsible for The following Committees are responsible for the monitoring and coordination at the national the monitoring and coordination at the national

level.level.

- Inter Ministry Committee for Air pollution Inter Ministry Committee for Air pollution control and mitigation. control and mitigation.

- National Environmental Council.National Environmental Council.

- Parliamentary Committee on the Environment.Parliamentary Committee on the Environment.

- The Afghanistan wildlife Executive The Afghanistan wildlife Executive Committee.Committee.

- EIA Board of Expert.EIA Board of Expert.

- National Climate Change Committee (NCCC).National Climate Change Committee (NCCC).

These committees hold meetings and perform These committees hold meetings and perform and oversight functions related to and oversight functions related to environmental concerns. These committees are environmental concerns. These committees are functioning under NEPA direction.functioning under NEPA direction.

- A shared working room is provided by NEPA A shared working room is provided by NEPA for NPA and NC in the NEPA head quarter. for NPA and NC in the NEPA head quarter.

They are also provided transportation They are also provided transportation facilities.facilities.

- A national servant is recruited by NEPA to A national servant is recruited by NEPA to serve NPA and NC. Other services like lunch serve NPA and NC. Other services like lunch and tea are also being provided by NEPA for and tea are also being provided by NEPA for

NPA and NC.NPA and NC.

- International Environmental Relations International Environmental Relations Division of NEPA is closely working with the Division of NEPA is closely working with the

project team.project team.

2- Staffing arrangements2- Staffing arrangements

- The project team comprises of three members: The project team comprises of three members: NPC, NPA and NC.NPC, NPA and NC.

- NPC is a government official and NPA and NC NPC is a government official and NPA and NC are selected on the basis of competition process.are selected on the basis of competition process.

- This team works under Afghanistan National This team works under Afghanistan National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA).Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA).

- Financial support (34.567USD) was provided by Financial support (34.567USD) was provided by UNEP/GEF for the implementation of this UNEP/GEF for the implementation of this

project.project.

3- Challenges and needs3- Challenges and needs

- Lack of strong coordination among related Lack of strong coordination among related governmental institutions.governmental institutions.

- Lack of capacity. One of the most critical Lack of capacity. One of the most critical constraints affecting implementation of the constraints affecting implementation of the

Rio Convention is the limited technical Rio Convention is the limited technical capacity of available staff. Therefore it’s capacity of available staff. Therefore it’s

highly needed to train them in biodiversity, highly needed to train them in biodiversity, desertification and climate change. desertification and climate change. - Inadequacy of financial support.Inadequacy of financial support.

- Ambiguity in term of reference of the project.Ambiguity in term of reference of the project.

4- Conclusion4- Conclusion

THANK YOU THANK YOU