Environmental sustainability and socio-economic development are today recognized as interdependent, integral components of sustainable human development and poverty reduction. The poor are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and lack of access to clean affordable energy services. Climate change, loss of biodiversity and ozone layer depletion are issues that hold global importance and therefore cannot be addressed by countries acting alone. UNDP helps countries strengthen their capacity to address these challenges at global, national and community levels.
UNDP’s Energy and Environment (E & E) Practice gives importance to cross-cutting issues such as environmental governance, climate change, reinforcing poverty-reduction, environmental management links, and community-based approaches to development. Through sound environmental management, UNDP works towards sustained poverty reduction and achievement of the MDGs.
As the environment is linked to the livelihoods, health, security and empowerment of people living in poverty – particularly women and children, UNDP is committed to ensuring that progress towards Millennium Development Goal 7 on environmental sustainability also contributes to achieving the other MDGs, particularly the overarching goal of halving extreme poverty by 2015.
In Libya, the United Nations Development Programme is working with local government agencies and NGOs to ensure that the country can meet all of its commitments to international conventions on climate change, biological diversity, and desertification control. It also works at both the national and local level to raise enhance institutional capacities, raise environmental awareness, provide policy and strategy advice, offer technical support, and develop environmentally sound poverty reduction projects.
Project List
Equiping the Laboratories of the Environment General Authority
This project aims to equip EGA’s laboratories in order to qualify them to perform inspection for pollutants as well as carry out more general monitoring functions. Furthermore, these laboratories, once fully equipped, are expected to inspect the country's imported goods to ensure their adherence to Libyan environmental specifications and standards.
Through equipping the laboratories with proper checking apparatus, the project hopes to ensure a strong foundation for the monitoring system and also to contribute to effective environmental research. The project is primarily budgeted at $2,000,000, but it’s expected to eventually exceed $3,000,000.
Establishing Environmental Geographic Information System
In 2006 UNDP Libya signed a project with the General Environment Authority (EGA) designed to help EGA establish an Environmental Geographic Information System (EGIS) in Libya. The project’s aim is to support EGA in designing and implementing GIS to better support EGA’s ability to monitor, assess and respond to various environmental conditions and emergencies that occur in the country. The project will simultaneously work on building the institutional capacity of EGA’s staff to effectively run the system in a sustainable manner.
UNDP is currently conducting a capacity assessment project under the National Capacity Self Assessment initiative for which the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) has granted $200,000. This initiative aims at identifying options for environment-related capacity building strategies and action plans enabling Libya to meet the requirements of UN treaties and conventions. To boost the project’s ownership, GEF encouraged the national authority to contribute to the project’s budget leading, to the Environment General Authority (EGA) pledging $50,000 worth of mobilization funds, in addition to an in-kind contribution.
Enhancing Partnership in support of Protected Areas (PA) Management
This project proposes seeks to establish the Environment General Authority as a leader in environmental protection, legislation and sensitization as well as a focal point in mobilizing national efforts towards the protection of the environment. The project aims to 1) Enhance the institutional capacity of EGA; 2) Enhance national coordination on PA issues; 3) Introduce a culture of, and awareness on PA; 4) Develop a model for PA management that could be easily replicated.
National Framework for Solid Waste Management and action plan for Hazardous Waste Disposal in Libya
This project aims to develop and implement appropriate, affordable and sustainable waste management practices for Libya. Further, the project is to strengthen Libya's national capacities to meet its obligations under the Basal and Stockholm Conventions, including preparation of a hazardous waste National Action Plan.
Strengthening EGA Capacities for Sound Environment Management
In order for the Environment General Authority (EGA) to deal with the ever-growing concern over the environment, it has been realized that the enhancement of its capacity is required to be placed on the top of its priority list. This project is thus designed to support Environment General Authority (EGA) in this undertaking through developing a consultative process that includes training, awareness raising, information dissemination, formulating policies, strategies and programmes addressing various environmental issues.
The project is geared to enhance institutional and personnel effectiveness to apply innovative management techniques to preserve, protect, conserve and to carry out environmental protection task as well as the other functions of EGA. Additionally, the project will contribute to improved efficiency, relevance and enhanced competence for EGA in terms of its effective coordination role. The project is budgeted at $1,000,000.
The goal of the Water Governance Programme for Arab States is to
improve the effective use and management of scarce water resources
in Arab countries. It aims at supporting the achievements of the MDG
7 particularly with respect to improved water supply and sanitation,
by promoting an integrated approach to water resources management in
the Arab Region.
It is envisaged to act as a catalyst for effective water
governance through the provision of technical and policy support,
capacity building and seed funding for activities in the areas of 1)
Integrated Water Resources Management; 2) Local management of water
resources, water supply and sanitation; 3) Capacity building and
institutional strengthening; and 4) MDG-7 water targets monitoring
and State of the Water Report for the Arab Region. In addition, the
project will be addressing some cross-cutting dimensions such as
adaptation to climate change, transboundary water management, gender
mainstreaming and awareness raising.
Strengthening GWA
Capacity in Water Resources Planning and Management
In order for
the General Water Authority (GWA) to deal with the ever growing
concern over the water sector, it has been concluded that the
enhancement of its capacity is required to be become its uttermost
priority.
This project is thus designed to support GWA in this undertaking
through the development of a consultative process that includes
training, upgrading the laboratories and provision of the authority’s
departments with technical support.
The project does fall in the area of capacity development which is one
of the objectives of UNDP’s Country Programme 2006-2009.
The project is geared to enhance institutional and personnel
effectiveness to apply innovative management techniques to carry out
sustainable water resources management task as well as the other
functions of GWA.
Establishing
Geographical Information System of GMMRWAU
In order for
the General Water Authority (GWA) to deal with the ever growing
concern over the water sector, it has been concluded that the
enhancement of its capacity is required to be become its uttermost
priority.
This project is thus designed to support GWA in this undertaking
through the development of a consultative process that includes
training, upgrading the laboratories and provision of the authority’s
departments with technical support.
The project does fall in the area of capacity development which is one
of the objectives of UNDP’s Country Programme 2006-2009.
The project is geared to enhance institutional and personnel
effectiveness to apply innovative management techniques to carry out
sustainable water resources management task as well as the other
functions of GWA.
management links, and community-based approaches to development. Through sound environmental management, UNDP works towards sustained poverty reduction and achievement of the MDGs.
