According to the workplan for the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents for 2023-2024, the following Assistance and Cooperation Programme activities are to be implemented during the biennium to support countries of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia:
a) Fostering Implementation of the Convention and its Strategic Approach
- Updated self-assessments and action plans by the identified countries; technical or high-level meetings/workshops or study visits with participation of representatives of relevant authorities
Lead/supporting countries: Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Ukraine, with funding through the Assistance and Cooperation Programme
b) Awareness-raising of the Assistance and Cooperation Programme
- Development of a brochure on the Assistance and Cooperation Programme and enhancements on the website
Lead/supporting Parties/organizations: To be determined
c) Integration of the Convention’s self-assessment indicators into Industrial Safety Measurement Indices (ISMI)
- Coordination of meetings and sharing of information on ISMI tool with EC JRC
Lead/supporting countries/organizations: JRC, in cooperation with Rep. Of Moldova, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine, with support from ECE and the Working Group on Implementation
d) Strengthening industrial safety in South-Eastern Europe
- NPDs for industrial safety in Serbia: 2 estimated NPD meetings to be held and the finalization of the National Programme on Industrial Safety with related development of action plan.
Lead/supporting Parties/organizations: Serbia, with others to be determined, in cooperation with OECD
- Improving the understanding and governance of technological risks in South-Eastern Europe: Establishment of governance mechanisms and related meetings held in 2 countries; national and subregional meetings and workshops with agendas and outcomes; reports analysing gaps in national legislation and policies in 2 countries; inventory, map and report on technological disaster risks in the Drin River or Drina River basin; policy guidance and recommendations for improving transboundary cooperation
Lead/supporting Parties/organizations: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, with others donor to be determined, in cooperation with ECE Water Convention and JEG
e) Strengthening industrial safety in Central Asia
- Strengthening the safety of TMFs in Uzbekistan and beyond in Central Asia (continuation): Meeting of the inter-institutional working groups and subregional workshop
Lead/supporting countries/organizations: Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries, with financial support of Switzerland.
- Developing joint measures to prevent and respond to pollution in the Syr Darya River basin: Planning of workshops, technical and inter-institutional meetings; analytical reports and recommendations for improving transboundary cooperation; draft structure and final joint contingency plan for the Syr Darya River basin, including harmonized standard operating procedures to reduce pollution, tested and refined during transboundary exercises.
Lead/supporting countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with others to be determined, in cooperation with ECE Water Convention, its IWAC and JEG.
- Supporting Central Asian countries’ efforts to strengthen policies and governance for the safety of TMFs, including to integrate climate change impacts into Natech risk management: Inter-institutional working group meetings in 4 Central Asian countries; subregional workshops on Natech events, climate change impacts and/or early warning for Central Asian countries; and draft updates of to the national legislation of 4 Central Asian countries.
Lead/supporting countries/organizations: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, in cooperation with Mongolia and Turkmenistan, with others to be determined, in cooperation with OECD and ECE Water Convention.
- Integrating technological disaster risk management into national DRR strategies: Updating the DRR strategies and their annexes with more emphasis on technological/industrial accident risk, Natech and transboundary cooperation, for 2-3 Central Asian countries.
Lead/supporting Parties/organizations: Kyrgyzstan and and Tajikistan, with initial financial support from the European Union through UNDRR, with others to be determined, in cooperation with UNDRR.