Welcoming remarks by Ms. Christine McNab
Resident Representative United Nations Development Programme
Self-Assessment of National Capacity in Jordan for Global Environmental Management (NSCA)
Holiday Inn Amman
28 September 2005
Your Excellency Mr. Khaled Irani, Minister of Environment
Your Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is an honor to be here today in my capacity as UNDP Resident Representative and address you on this special event which brings together our partners who are concerned with the environment.
Jordan is one of the leading countries in the region to give due attention to environmental consideration at the global levels. There is a saying regarding environment, which I am sure you all know. It is: Think Globally, Act Locally. Jordan is exceptional in that it both thinks and acts at both levels, the global and the local. Jordan has already signed and ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and has adopted a number of measures to meet these conventions’ obligations. As such, national committees have been established, focal points hosted by the Ministry of Environment, a number of relevant documents developed, and awareness campaigns and consultation workshops organized.
The National Capacity Self-Assessment Project (NCSA) is a Global Environmental Facility initiative that aims to assess the capacity constraints and potentials for implementing the international environmental conventions on Biodiversity, Climate change and Desertification, There is a focus on cross-cutting issues within the three conventions to complement and enhance linkages and integration as well as promote resource mobilization and coordination. The NCSA project document was prepared and endorsed by the Government of Jordan in November 2003 and the project was initiated in June 2004.
The main objective of the NCSA project is to identify and assess the critical capacity limitations and constraints and the capacity required to address global environmental management in Jordan. Moreover, the NCSA process in Jordan represents the only nationally focused, global initiative explicitly designed to examine potential synergies between the Conventions. In addition, the Conventions can be used by countries to mainstream the global environment into broader national sustainable development processes.
The NCSA process should include profiles of the priority capacity constraints within the three conventions as well as an analysis of cross cutting issues. An in depth assessment of priorities within each thematic area will be conducted followed up with an assessment of cross-cutting issues and synergies between the conventions.
This workshop has a number of objectives:
Ø Presentation and review of the five stocktaking reports
§ Capacity Development Report
§ Convention on Biological Diversity Report
§ Convention on Combating Desertification Report
§ UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Report
§ Synergies Report
Ø Evaluation of the quality and outcomes of the five stocktaking reports
Ø Discussion and prioritization of the "national priorities" for capacity development and capacity constraints identified by the stocktaking reports.
Ø Discussion of phase two of the NCSA (in-depth analysis).
Ø Developing a method for selecting priorities within each theme to be fully analyzed in the third phase of the project, and
Ø Raising awareness of the NCSA process and linkages with stakeholders.
Based on the consultation process and identification of selected priority areas the project coordinator will recommend to the Steering Committee the optimal methodology for undertaking the in-depth assessment and analysis. Working groups will be established to continue the work in each priority area.
The NCSA should be seen as a starting point to a long-term process, which strengthens thematic programmes and cross-cutting programmes under the three Conventions. I wish you all success in your deliberations and look forward to the future cooperation between the GEF, UNDP, the Ministry of the Environment and all our other partners in this important area of environmental management.