Within the framework of the European Union-funded “European Union for Environment” (EU4Environment) programme (2019 – 2023), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is assisting Armenia in strengthening its SEA system in line with the requirements of the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context and of the European Union’s Directive on SEA (2001/42/EC).
Since April 2022, to further enhance capacities for practical application of SEA in Armenia, at the request of the Ministry of Environment and the Urban Development Committee, UNECE has supported the preparation of a pilot SEA project for a draft micro-regional combined spatial plan for the country’s largest region Gegharkunik (the plan is shortly entitled Gegharkunik-2). The pilot SEA will be implemented in parallel with the development of Gegharkunik-2.
The pilot SEA will provide hands-on learning for applying SEA in spatial planning (involving analytical and consultative tasks and, as needed, methodological coaching on the preparation and quality control of SEA related reports). It will further build national capacities on SEA procedures and raise the awareness of the SEA in spatial planning while demonstrating its sector-specific benefits. This kick-off event will introduce the pilot SEA to stakeholders and the public in Armenia.
Meeting objectives, expected outputs and outcomes
- to introduce the pilot SEA project for Gegharkunik-2
- to brief on the status and milestones for the development of Gegharkunik-2
- to outline the benefits and potential main constraints related to the implementation of the pilot SEA project.
The following outputs/strategic benefits will also be achieved:
- the event will position the pilot project as the reference case example it is intended to be for the application of SEA to spatial planning in Armenia;
- it will provide visibility to the leadership of the national stakeholders in the implementation of the pilot.
Participants
The meeting will gather up to 40 participants from the Ministry of Environment, Urban Planning Committee, a planning team tasked with the development of Gegharkunik-2, local authorities from Gegharkunik Province and environmental NGOs.