TRAINING TOOLKIT Integrating the Environment - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

TRAINING TOOLKIT Integrating the Environment into humanitarian action and early recovery Blanche RENAUDIN : brenaudin@urd.org

Groupe oupe URD URD Summary Groupe URD  Training toolkit’s presentation  Training session  Environmental Network  2

Groupe oupe URD URD Groupe URD  Established in1993 – independent institute – analysis of practices and development of policy - humanitarian and post crisis sector  From 93 to 97 : platform for dialogue between humanitarian and development actors - linking emergency and development aid  Mission : improving the quality of humanitarian aid  Activities : evaluation, research, training  Observatories of aid practices : Haïti, Chad and Afghanistan 3

Groupe oupe URD URD Groupe URD : collective learning cycle www.urd.org 4

Groupe oupe URD URD Groupe URD : Environmentally-Friendly Installations Thermic solar pannels for heating water Plantations to avoid erosion of sloping lands The walls are made of hemp Heater that uses waste wood Office isolated with straw Ecological sanitation 5

Groupe oupe URD URD Summary Groupe URD  Training toolkit’s presentation  Training session  Environmental Network  6

Training aining toolki lkit Design of the training toolkit  Strong demand among humanitarian sector – Training sessions  Training sessions organized in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Chad, Afghanistan, Canada, France – URD / UNEP  Training toolkit : developed in 2011 – using practical experiences  Target audience : humanitarian workers – project managers, technical coordinators, field officers Outcome : address the different ways in which the environment can be taken into account in humanitarian action, and assist actors to integrate environmental approach into their policy development, planning, programme design and operational activities 7

Training aining toolki lkit Training Toolkit Presentation  Flexible tool, designed to be : adjusted to the local context o used as specific training needs o design as timeframes require o  Each module contains : PPT – presentation o Trainer’s Guide o Summary (4 pages) o Pedagogical tools (case study, video, documents…) o Bibliographic resources o  11 Modules available in English / French http://www.urd.org http://postconflict.unep.ch 8

Training aining toolki lkit Arborescence 9

Training aining toolki lkit Modules Module 1 – Training Overview  Module 2 – Key Environmental Concepts  Module 3 – Interaction between Humanitarian Action and the Environment  Module 4 – Water Management and Ecological Sanitation  Module 5 – Waste Management  Module 6 – Reduction of and Alternatives to the Use of Firewood  Module 7 – Livelihoods and the Environment in Rural Contexts  Module 8 – Humanitarian Logistics  Module 9 – Environment and Project Cycle  Module 10 – Adopting an Environmental approach  Module 11 – Wrap up  10

Groupe oupe URD URD Summary Groupe URD  Training toolkit’s presentation  Training session  Environmental Network  11

Training aining ses essio sion n : k key y env nvironmen ironmental al concepts ncepts Concepts to be clarified ?  Environmental Approach?  Environment?  Sustainable Development?  Ecosystem? Brainstorming exercise: 10 min 12

Training aining toolki lkit Key environmental concepts to be clarified Environmental approach  Contextualize projects given the environmental vulnerabilities of areas they are located in  Assess projects for potential negative environmental impacts, given this context  Mitigate negative impacts by modifying the project design (such as using less timber), or compensating for negative impacts (such as supporting woodlots to bring timber supply back into balance)  Enhance environmental benefits in the project (for example by extending the mitigation measures to bring net positive benefits – by increasing work on woodlots, or introducing environmental technologies etc.) Environmental approach is not a sector on its own. It is integral to every issue and area of work. 13

Training aining ses essio sion n : k key y env nvironmen ironmental al concepts ncepts Key environmental concepts to be clarified Environment : All living and nonliving components by which an organism is surrounded and affected. (Glossary of Agriculture, Environment and Sustainable Development – Kansas State University. 1996) Includes three closely related components: - physical components, including geology, topography, soils, water resources, air quality - biological components, including fauna, flora (biodiversity) and - social components, including culture, religion, and local values . (USAID) The sum of all external conditions affecting the life, development and survival of an organism. (US EPA) Sustainable Development : Development which responds to the needs of the present generation without compromising the capacity of future generations to fulfill their own needs. Integrates ecological, economic and social aspects. (United Nations World Development Commission. Brundtland Report, “Our Common Future”) Ecosystem : Association of a community of living species (biocenosis) and of a physical environment (biotope) which provides the elements that enables the species to thrive. (Article 2 of the Convention on Biological Diversity) 14

Traini ning ng sessio ion n : Inter eractio ction n between en humanita itaria rian crisis s and the environm nment ent Environmental impacts of a crisis 1. Environmental impacts in the aftermath of conflicts and disasters can leave populations with a degraded natural resource base and greater vulnerability to future events 2. The relief and recovery operations that follow can sometimes cause important environmental damage, enhancing impacts of the crisis to which they were designed to respond Humanitarian action Natural Conflict Intervention disasters 1 1 2 Degradation of the natural environment 15

Traini ning ng sessio ion n : Inter eractio ction n between en humanita itaria rian crisis s and the environm nment ent FILM Why the environment matters Produced by Groupe URD 16

Traini ning ng sessio ion n : Inter eractio ction n between en humanita itaria rian crisis s and the environm nment ent Key messages “Failure to consider the environment during the pressures of a humanitarian response can result in a number of significant negative outcomes, with consequences for the very people that the intervention is trying to help.” DFID, 2007 At the very least, all humanitarian operations should consider the risks and impacts related to the three Ws. WATER WOOD WASTE 17

Training aining ses essio sion n : th the envir viron onmen ment and d the project oject cyc ycle le Document A global approach … analysis Integrating the environment in projects -> continuous reflection Gathering information about Preliminary the environmental context phase (baseline) Initial assessment Identifying + and - impacts evaluation Integrating the environment design into the objectives, results, activities, indicators Cross-cutting issue of the Implementation closure environment in a monitoring Adjusting the project if classic evaluation necessary for a better environmental impact 18

Training aining ses essio sion n : th the envir viron onmen ment and d the project oject cyc ycle le … and some useful tools CASE STUDY 19

Training aining ses essio sion n : th the envir viron onmen ment and d the project oject cyc ycle le Key messages  Integrating the environment = cross-cutting approach  In the interest of humanitarians to integrate environmental considerations into projects: improved quality -> relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and an opportunity to build back better  A simple approach, based on common sense: above all, it is a question of adopting methodological reflexes and good practice  Environmental tools which can be used: environmental context assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, environmental indicators, environmental evaluation 20

Training aining ses essio sion n : Adopt pting ing an environm vironmental ental approa proach ch thro roughout ughout an orga ganiz nizat ation ion Why should we adopt an environmental approach throughout an organization?  Humanitarian action does not in itself involve an environmental approach.  However, adopting an environmental approach is essential in order not to jeopardize the livelihoods of local populations in the medium and long term.  Therefore, it is important to take the time to reflect upon ways to include this outlook in policies at the institutional level to widen our impact. 21

Training aining ses essio sion n : Adopt pting ing an environm vironmental ental approa proach ch thro roughout ughout an orga ganiz nizat ation ion Resistance factors and how to respond to them? ROLE PLAY  Lack of awareness  Not a humanitarian mandate  Complexity of integration  Lack of expertise  Organization  Financial limits  Institutional framework  Time constraints  Cultural issues 22