UK Environment for Europe Fund - Programmes and Activities in 2003/2004

In 2003/2004 the Environment for Europe Fund will enable the UK to give direct support to the follow-up of the Kiev Environment for Europe conference, for example supporting the new programmes which will be established by the Environment Action Programme Task Force and other bodies helping with the implementation of the Environment Strategy for the countries of eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA).

In broad terms, the Fund will be divided between the following objectives:

• Kiev follow-up;
• Support for DFID-led projects in the region;
• Small environmental projects in Russia;
• Support for implementation of the Aarhus Convention;
• An Internship programme with LEAD International;
• Small environment projects in the EU candidate and accession countries.

The Fund is worth £2million in 2003/4 and will be split equally between DFID-led projects and other projects and activities supported directly by Defra.

Kiev follow-up

Supporting the work of international organisations

Defra will be sponsoring activities and projects of international organisation in the EECCA area - for example: the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe; Environmental Action Programme Task Force; the secretariat of the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.

Bilateral projects in the New Independent States in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia

This year Defra will fund, on an ad hoc basis, a limited number of projects in the "EECCA" region focusing on follow-up of the Kiev Environment for Europe Conference. Project proposals should be sent to efe_enquiries@defra.gsi.gov.uk by the end of 2003 for consideration. The criteria for funding are flexible but as a rough guideline please see the arrangements for the Russian SEPS Scheme.

The first project approved by Defra in this region is the Sustainable Cities Network in the Ukraine project. This project is managed by Groundwork UK and an Ukrainian NGO - Roza Vetrov. The project aims to extend an existing network and develop the capacity and commitment of participating cities, members of the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign (ESCTC), to implement sustainable development programmes.

Further formalised schemes, along the lines of the Russia SEPS scheme, may be considered in future years.

Projects managed by the Department for International Development (DFID)

In 2003/2004 the Environment for Europe Fund will be providing funding towards the following projects:

Small Environmental Projects Scheme (SEPS) in the Russian Federation

This Scheme is managed by the British Council in Moscow. Details about the scheme, projects criteria, applications procedures, etc. are available from the SEPS website: www.eco-projects.ru/seps/seps3/about_seps3e.php

LEAD/Defra Internship Programme

LEAD is an international organisation offering training in sustainable development to promising young professionals (Fellows) from around the world. They identify outstanding men and women at the mid-career level from around the world representing a range of backgrounds and provide them with the training designed to enhance their leadership capabilities and knowledge of issues related to environment and sustainable development.

LEAD provides learning opportunities based on the best available current thinking, information, expertise and adult learning techniques. A two-year training programme designed to complement professional commitments allows participants the opportunity to reflect, conceptualise and make decisions related to the transition to greater environmental and social sustainability. Details about LEAD are available from: www.lead.org

The LEAD/Defra Internship programme offers short term internships for LEAD Fellows from countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia in Defra as a follow up to LEAD's training programme. It is designed to help the Fellows' personal and professional development, to give them experience of working in a government department in Britain and of British culture and understanding of sustainable development.

The first Intern is Artour Demtchouk, a professor in world politics and philosophy from Moscow State University.

Small Environmental Projects in the EU Accession and Candidate Countries and Turkey

This Scheme is coordinated by the British Embassies in the participating countries. The 2003/2004 round of applications will take place in the autumn of 2003. Details, application forms and deadlines for applications will be available from the British Embassies at the beginning of September.

The projects should be consistent with the aims of the UK action plan for the Candidate Country and with Defra's aim to promote sustainable development internationally. Research projects will not be eligible. Possible areas of assistance are:

• providing small-scale assistance to address immediate environmental problems;
• promoting sustainable management and prudent use of natural resources;
• protecting the public interest in relation to environmental impacts and health;
• protecting or improving the environment
• raising awareness and promoting open information exchange and information dissemination in the fields of environmental issues and sustainable development;
• involving public participation in decision making.

This is not a comprehensive list as we would like to keep the options open and would welcome other suggestions.

The average cost of each project is £10,000 with a ceiling of £15,000.

All projects which are considered for funding under this scheme have to be fully supported by the British Embassy in the relevant country. A Projects Approval Board will look at all applications in November 2003 and will select up to 20 projects for funding.