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This section of the country profile deals with capacity building and related projects. Unlike other parts of the country profile, it does not maintain a standard format across all countries.

For developing countries and countries with economies in transition, it aims to provide information on environmental projects that are funded from both multilateral and bilateral funding sources.
In the case of developed countries it highlights funding sources available from within that country and also points to recipient countries where the donor country has supported environmental projects.

At its twenty-third session, held in Nairobi from 21 to 25 February 2005, the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum of UNEP, by decision 23/1I, adopted the Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity-building.

The Bali Strategic Plan aims at a more coherent, coordinated and effective delivery of environmental capacity-building and technical support at all levels and by all actors, including UNEP, in response to well defined country priorities and needs. It complements and enhances the more traditional activity areas of UNEP, such as assessment, environmental policy and law, environmental institution building, and promotion of cleaner production systems. It focuses the technology support and capacity-building currently being carried out by UNEP in line with activities in function of well defined country priorities and needs.

Implementing the Bali Strategic Plan is a long-term endeavour. Equipping UNEP and its partners to deliver the Bali Strategic Plan to the full requires an incremental, systematic and strategic approach. Currently, UNEP lacks the capacity, financial resources and operational modalities necessary to facilitate the full delivery of coherent and coordinated technology support and capacity-building to all countries, while also fulfilling its traditional responsibilities in normative and other fields. A phased approach is being taken.

UNEP’s Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) is responsible for the management of a UNEP-wide database on the organization’s technology support and capacity building activities under the Bali Strategic Plan.

Institutions that are interested in the Bali Strategic Plan and developing project concepts with UNEP should contact UNEP/DEPI at this link:

http://www.cbts.unep.org/bin/php/comment/index.php

Overview of Funding Opportunities

Institutions with a stakeholder interest in environmental matters need to be aware that there exists a wide range of funding opportunities available under multilateral and bilateral development assistance programmes. These development assistance programmes are funded by various agencies and institutions, including international organizations, governments and benevolent foundations. The following gives a brief overview.

A. International organizations

European Commission: DG Environment (DG Env) and other DGs

European Union

The EU Commission offers a range of funding opportunities for environmental projects. The link below gives an overview of the current funding opportunities available from Environment DG. Where possible, links are also provided to environment related funding opportunities in other DGs of the Commission.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/funding/intro_en.htm

European Investment Bank (EIB)

The task of the European Investment Bank is to contribute towards the integration, balanced development and economic and social cohesion of the member countries of the European Union. To this end, it raises on the markets substantial volumes of funds which it directs on the most favourable terms towards financing capital projects according with the objectives of the Union. The EIB's mission is to further the objectives of the European Union by providing long-term finance for specific capital projects in keeping with strict banking practice. It thereby contributes towards building a closer-knit Europe, particularly in terms of economic integration and greater economic and social cohesion. The EIB grants loans mainly from the proceeds of its borrowings, which, together with ‘own funds’ (paid-in capital and reserves), constitute its ‘own resources’. Outside the European Union, EIB financing operations are conducted principally from the Bank's own resources but also, under mandate from Union or Member States' budgetary resources.

http://www.eib.org/about/

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development was established in 1991 when communism was crumbling in central and Eastern Europe and ex-soviet countries needed support to nurture a new private sector in a democratic environment. Today the EBRD uses the tools of investment to help build market economies and democracies in central Europe and central Asian countries. It provides project financing for banks, industries and businesses. It also works with publicly owned companies, to support privatisation, restructuring state-owned firms and improvement of municipal services. The EBRD mandate stipulates that it must only work in countries that are committed to democratic principles including respect for the environment as part of the strong corporate governance attached to all EBRD investments. Through its investments, EBRD promotes structural and sectoral reforms, competition, privatisation and entrepreneurship, stronger financial institutions and legal systems, infrastructure development, needed to support the private sector, adoption of strong corporate governance, and environmental sensitivity. Functioning as a catalyst for change, the bank promotes co-financing and foreign direct investment, mobilises domestic capital and provides technical assistance for its member states.

http://www.ebrd.com/about/index.htm

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Promoting sustainable development and environmental protection is a key strategic development objective of ADB. ADB is committed to promoting environmentally sound development in the region. To fulfill this objective, ADB

reviews the environmental impacts of its projects, programs, and policies
encourages DMC governments and executing agencies to incorporate environmental protection measures in their project design and implementation procedures, and provides technical assistance for this purpose
promotes projects and programs that will protect, rehabilitate, and enhance the environment and the quality of life
trains ADB and DMC staff in, and provides documentation on, environmental aspects of economic development

http://www.adb.org/Environment/default.asp

African Development Bank

African Development Bank

The mainstreaming of environmental sustainability concerns in the Bank’s operations continued throughout 2004. In January the Boards approved the new Bank Group Policy on the Environment, which incorporates and redefines the former policy on environmentally sustainable development in Africa. The new policy acknowledges that to sustain economic growth in Africa, there is an urgent need to preserve and enhance the ecological capital that enriches such growth. The main goals of the new policy are to:

Promote a long-term view and perspective of economic and social development;
Reverse where possible and halt the impoverishment process in Africa by enhancing the access of the poor to environmental resources;
Help RMCs to build their human capacity and sensitize policymakers on environmental issues and bring about institutional changes to achieve sustainable development; and
Reinforce the existing partnerships with international institutions and network also with regional and subregional organizations to coordinate interventions in environmental sustainable development.

http://www.afdb.org/

Islamic Development Bank (IDB)

Islamic Development Bank (IDB)

The purpose of the Bank is to foster the economic development and social progress of member countries and Muslim communities individually as well as jointly in accordance with the principles of Shari'ah i.e., Islamic Law. The functions of the Bank are to participate in equity capital and grant loans for productive projects and enterprises besides providing financial assistance to member countries in other forms for economic and social development.

http://www.isdb.org/

United Nations Development Program

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. Member states have pledged to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, including the overarching goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015. UNDP's network links and coordinates global and national efforts to reach these goals. Our focus is helping countries build and share solutions to the challenges of:

UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all its activities, they encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women.

International Fund for Agricultural Development

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialized agency of the United Nations. IFAD provides assistance towards expanding and improving food production, nutrition, combating rural poverty and supporting landless people in developing countries. Working with rural poor people, governments, donors, non-governmental organizations and many other partners, IFAD focuses on country-specific solutions, which can involve increasing rural poor peoples' access to financial services, markets, technology, land and other natural resources.

http://www.ifad.org

World Bank

World Bank

The World Bank carries out projects and provides a wide variety of analytical and advisory services to help meet the development needs of individual countries and the international community.

http://www.worldbank.org/projects

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

GEF is an independent financial organization that provides grants to developing countries for projects that benefit the global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods in local communities. GEF's implementing agencies - the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank - play key roles in managing GEF projects on the ground. GEF projects address six complex global environmental ssues:

Biodiversity
Climate Change
International Waters
Land Degradation
The Ozone Layer
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

More information on access to GEF funding through UNEP is available at this link.

http://www.unep.org/gef/AboutFunding.htm

B. Governments

Many developed countries also operate bilateral development assistance programmes that have specific objectives and preferential recipient countries.

Australia: AusAID

AusAID is the Australian Government agency responsible for managing the Australian Government's official overseas aid program. The objective of the aid program is to advance Australia's national interest by helping developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development.

Url: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/default.cfm

Belgium: Belgian Development Cooperation

The execution of the cooperation programmes is entrusted to the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation (DGDC). Governmental development cooperation is restricted to five sectors namely: basic health care, training and education, agriculture and food security, basic infrastructure and social structure (including conflict prevention). These are augmented by three sectoral themes namely: equal opportunities, for men and women, environment, social economy and children's rights.

Url: http://www.dgcd.be/en/dgdc/introduction/dgdc_brief.html

Canada: Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

The purpose of Canada's Official Development Assistance is to support sustainable development in developing countries in order to reduce poverty and to contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world. The objective of the CIDA program is to facilitate the efforts of the people of developing countries to achieve self-sustainable economic and social development in accordance with their needs and environment by cooperating with them in developing activities and to provide humanitarian assistance, thereby contributing to Canada's political and economic interests abroad in promoting social justice, international stability and long-term relationships for the benefit of the global community.

Url: http://www.acdi-cida.gc.c a/index-e.htm

The People's Republic of China

The overall objective of China's aid policy is based on an ideology to foster equality and mutually-beneficial development through an open door foreign policy, enhancement of self reliance and economic development and complementary development cooperation programmes with partner developing countries.

China is an aid recipient as well as a donor. Its expertise is mainly in the agro-based industries such as agriculture, forestry, manufacturing and medicine.

Denmark: Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)

Reducing poverty in developing countries is central to Danish development cooperation priorities. A number of crosscutting themes are built into DANIDA’s development assistance namely: women’s participation in development, the environment, promotion of democracy and observation of human rights. These crosscutting themes are integrated into DANIDA’s development activities more generally.

Url: http://www.safemotherhood.org/smrg/agencies/bi/bi_danida.htm

Finland: Department for International Development Co-operation

International development cooperation is a part of the foreign service and its planning, implementation and supervision is administered as an integral element of the Ministry’s relations with developing countries. Development policy aims according to Finland's Policy on Relations with developing countries include promotion of global security, reduction of widespread poverty, promotion of human rights and democracy, prevention of global environmental problems and promotion of economic dialogue.

Url: http://global.finland.fi/tietoa/index.php?kieli=3

France: Agence Française de Développement

Agence Française de Développement

Its mission is to contribute to economic and social development through their financial assistance packages, the ideas they generate and dialogue with all of our partners. The AFD’s goal within the framework of this mission is to promote shared and sustainable economic and social development, to improve the living conditions of the peoples of the poorest regions and countries and to participate in the resolution of the common problems of humanity that impact North-South relations.

Url: http://www.afd.fr/jahia/Jahia/home/presentation/lang/en?id=menu1

Germany: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)

Its primary goal is to promote international cooperation for sustainable development. All its activities are geared to improving people’s living conditions and prospects on a sustainable basis. GTZ provides viable, forward-looking solutions for political, economic, ecological and social development in a globalised world.

Url: http://www.gtz.de/en/

Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

It aims to help to ensure that scarce resources are more equitably shared, that our environment is preserved for coming generations, to build peace and to reduce poverty worldwide.

Url:http://www.bmz.de/en/index.html>

Ireland: Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI)

Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI) is the Government of Ireland’s programme of assistance to developing countries. Ireland’s development cooperation policy is an integral part of Ireland’s wider foreign policy. Its aid philosophy is rooted in Ireland’s foreign policy, in particular its objectives of peace and justice. Its development cooperation policy and programme reflects its longstanding commitment to human rights and fairness in international relations. It also works in cooperation with other governments, other donors, non-governmental organizations and international organizations as part of the global effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Url: http://www.dci.gov.ie/index.asp

Israel: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Foreign Ministry formulates, implements and presents the foreign policy of the Government of Israel. It represents the state vis-a-vis foreign governments and international organizations, explains its positions and problems throughout the world, endeavors to promote its economic, cultural, and scientific relations, and fosters cooperation with developing countries. Israel currently maintains diplomatic relations with 162 countries. The Ministry promotes relations with Diaspora communities and safeguards the rights of Israeli citizens abroad.

Url: http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/

Italy: Italian Development Cooperation

Italian Development Cooperation

The Italian Development Cooperation is based on two priorities. The first is the need for solidarity to safeguard the life and human dignity of all the planet's inhabitants. The second is to employ cooperation to establish, improve and consolidate global economic interdependence, which will distribute economic growth to all people through market expansion and improved circulation of production.

Url: http://www.esteri.it/eng/4_28_6

Japan

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

The Japan International Cooperation Agency is an implementation agency for technical assistance, focusing on institution building, organization strengthening and human resources development that will enable developing countries to pursue their own sustainable socioeconomic development.

Url: http://www.jica.go.jp/english/about/oda.html

Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

The purpose of JBIC is to contribute to the sound development of Japan and the international economy and community through undertaking lending and other financial operations for the promotion of Japanese exports, imports or Japanese economic activities overseas, for the stability of international financial order and for economic and social development or economic stability in developing areas, in accordance with the principle that it shall not compete with commercial financial institutions.

Url: http://www.jbic.go.jp/english/oec/oda/index.php

Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), implements and administers the grant aid and technical cooperation programs provided by the Government of the Republic of Korea. KOICA focuses its development cooperation activities on supporting the human resources development and providing the material and physical aid necessary to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. KOICA contributes to strengthening Korea's friendly relationships with its partner countries by promoting the socio-economic advancement in the developing world with a focus on the following areas namely: sharing Korea's development experiences, supporting the development of human resources and socio-economic infrastructure, expanding the Information Technology (IT) sector in an effort to close the digital divide between developed and developing countries, promoting universal values and addressing global issues, and building peace through post-war reconstruction assistance programs.

Url: http://www.koica.go.kr/wems/wm_frm_view.jsp?intMenuCode=899

Luxembourg

http://www.lux-development.lu/agence.lasso(French).

Malaysia
Netherlands: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Netherlands: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Dutch government plans to exert influence in the strife to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by applying political instruments, by widening the scope of policy in the fight against poverty. The Netherlands contributes towards conflict resolution in the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa as peace and security are crucial to development. The Netherlands supports good governance initiatives in 36 partner countries, with a focus on human rights and a good business climate that boosts employment and revenue. This also underlies Dutch efforts in the field of education, HIV/AIDS, water, the environment and reproductive health.

Url: http://www.minbuza.nl/default.asp?CMS_ITEM=MBZ311185

New Zealand: New Zealand’s International Aid & Development Agency (NZAID)

It is New Zealand’s international aid and development agency. Eliminating poverty has been central to NZAID’s mission, with a regional focus on the Pacific. NZAID helps to eliminate poverty through development partnerships, particularly in the Pacific region, and also supports projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America. NZAID places a high priority on building strong partnerships and concentrates its development assistance on activities that contribute to poverty elimination by creating safe, just and inclusive societies, fulfilling basic needs and achieving environmental sustainability and sustainable livelihoods.

Url: http://www.nzaid.govt.nz/about/index.html

Norway: NORAD

The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) is a directorate under the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The purpose of Norwegian development cooperation is to contribute towards lasting improvements in economic, social and political conditions for the populations of developing countries, with particular emphasis on ensuring that development aid benefits the poorest people. Its goals are to combat poverty, promote peace, promote responsible management and utilization of the global environment and biodiversity, preventing hard hardship and alleviating distress arising from conflicts and natural disasters and to contribute towards promoting equal rights and opportunities for women and men in all areas of society.

Url: http://www.norad.no/default.asp?V_ITEM_ID=1284

Portugal: Portuguese Institute for Development Support (IPAD)

Portuguese Institute for Development Support (IPAD)

Url: http://www.ipad.mne.gov.pt/ (Portuguese)

Spain: Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI)

Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI)

Url: http://www.aeci.es/ (Spanish)

Sweden: Swedish Agency for International Development (Sida)

The Swedish Agency for International Development Cooperation is a government agency under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The overall goal of Swedish development cooperation is to contribute to making it possible for poor people to improve their living conditions. By reducing injustices and poverty throughout the world, better opportunities are created for development, peace and security for all people and nations.

Url: http://www.sida.se/sida/jsp/sida.jsp?d=121&language=en_US

Switzerland: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is organized and funded by the Swiss government and operates by financing programs both directly and in partnership with other agencies to countries around the world. The primary philosophy of SDC is to fight poverty through participatory programs, creating sustainable improvements in peoples’ lives by involving them in the process. Its main intentions are to improve access to education and basic health care, to promote environmental health, to encourage economic and governmental autonomy, and to improve equity in labor.

Url: http://www.deza.admin.ch/index.php?langID=1&userhash=136a769467b93fdb9d1ef42756bc38af

United Kingdom: Department for International Development (DFID)

Department for International Development (DFID)

The Department for International Development is leading the British government’s fight against world poverty. DFID supports long-term programmes to help tackle the underlying causes of poverty. DFID also responds to emergencies, both natural and man-made. DFID’s work forms part of a global promise to halve the number of people living in extreme poverty and hunger, ensure that all children receive primary education, promote sexual equality and give women a stronger voice, reduce child death rates, improve the health of mothers, combat HIV & AIDS, malaria and other diseases, make sure the environment is protected and build a global partnership for those working in development.

Url: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/aboutdfid/missionstatement.asp

USA: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. USAID promotes peace and stability by fostering economic growth, protecting human health, providing emergency humanitarian assistance and enhancing democracy in developing countries so as to achieve sustainable development in the developing world.

Url: http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/