Within the current planning system and practice of formulating strategic initiatives applied in Belarus, a majority of developments at the national and/or local levels result from the implementation of a national, sub-national or local policy, programme or plan for socio-economic, sectoral or spatial development. The elaboration of national or sectoral strategic initiatives in Belarus is the responsibility of respective ministries, research institutes, which belong to these ministries, and of the local authorities. The governmental institutions formulate a significant number of policies, strategies, plans and programmes that would provide a basis for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) application in the country. The UNDP Project #00062796 “Building capacity for Strategic Environmental Assessment and environmental conventions implementation in Belarus”, funded by the European Commission, was launched 6 November 2008. It is jointly implemented by UNDP Belarus and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus (Ministry of Environment). The project aims to assist Belarus in developing domestic capacity for an effective integration of environmental concerns into the national decision-making through introduction of SEA and enhancing environmental conventions implementation in the country. The current activity of the project will assist the Ministry of Environment by carrying out five training workshops in Minsk to develop expert capacity of Belarusian specialists in SEA methodology, approaches and techniques. It focuses on application of environmental objectives in SEA; identification of the SEA scope and baseline scenarios; analysis of possible substantial environmental impact, including cumulative impact; comparison of alternatives; consultations with environmental and health authorities and with the general public; analysis of trans-boundary effects and arranging trans-boundary consultations; and managing a SEA process. More information about the project can be found at www.un.by |