International Expert for Aarhus Centre Establishment

UNDP/EC launched a new environmental project “Support to the development of a comprehensive framework for international environmental cooperation in the Republic of Belarus”. The overall objective is to introduce effective sustainable development patterns in Belarus, full account being taken of environmental issues and public participation in environmental decision-making processes at national and local levels.
Specific objectives in the scope of Project’s component 3 “Education, awareness-raising and dissemination activities”:

• The project will support MinEnv and its local establishments, the Belarusian environmental NGOs, the general public, scholars / students and environmental protection professionals in reaching their objective of raising environmental awareness through an Oblast Aarhus Center deployed in one of the three oblasts;
• For this purpose the project will conduct a feasibility study and suggest the most feasible location option for decision making by MinEnv;
• The project will assist in developing scope of work and annual plans, target group identification, organization of their activities and promotion of the Center. In addition to support of office equipment procurement the project will prepare drafts of provisions on and statute of the Local Aarhus Center;
• The project will organize and conduct training of the Center’s personnel. The project will organize and perform a study tour for the personnel of the Aarhus Centers of Belarus;
• The project will support development of a draft regulation in the area of ecological information dissemination, in particular, the project will develop a draft regulation on access to information, general public participation in decision-making and access to justice on environmental issues.
• In the result of successful realization of these activities should become public awareness raising in environmental issues, both theoretical and practical, in the field of waste management and biodiversity conservation / ecotourism development, in line with the country’s commitments under the Aarhus Convention.

• Together with national expert review and evaluate the received applications for establishment of local Aarhus Centre in one of three pilot Oblast ( Grodno, Vitebsk);
• Contribute in preparing feasibility study conducting by national expert for Aarhus center establishment: share latest informational materials about Aarhus centers creation and best practices of their functioning; provide the national expert with the criteria that should be followed in preparing feasibility study for Aarhus center; 
• Based on the received data inputs from national experts and the best international practice, prepare a conclusion about benefits for environmental awareness raising through Aarhus center functioning taking into account international experience; 
•  In cooperation with national expert analyze the socio-economic benefits from the Aarhus center functioning in the region of it’s supposed creation; 
• Evaluate final variant of feasibility study prepared in cooperation with national expert and provide (not later than 30th of December 2011)  a conclusion concerning establishment of Aarhus center in one of Oblast;

•  Based on the experience of existing Aarhus centers provide recommendations in development of Aarhus center documentation (terms of references for Aarhus center management, annual work plans for 2012-2014, drafts of provisions on and statute of the Local Aarhus Center (January-April 2012);
• Support in organization of study tour for Aarhus centers staff in Belarus: suggest agenda of the tour and possible places for visiting where the international expert has contacts and/or established networking and partnerships (May-August 2012);
• Participate in the training for the local Center’s staff: provide a set of materials for conducting an educational training; taking into account results of the stage 1 and experience of existing Aarhus centers propose the agenda of the educational training for the Center’s staff and representatives of civil societies (May-August 2012);

Stage 3. Contribute international experience in organization of ceremonial opening of established Aarhus centre

• suggest the agenda of Aarhus center opening due to the international experience;
• participate into the ceremonial opening and make a thematic presentation (at least 30 minutes, the power point document should be sent in two weeks before the event for translation);
• prepare at least 3 informational publications (materials, articles, similar) about the local Aarhus center in Belarus.  

• Feasibility study concerning location of regional Aarhus Center approved by UNDP and Ministry of Environment
• Package of documentation for Aarhus center functioning is approved by UNDP and Ministry of Environment; the staff is trained 
•  The Aarhus center’s ceremonial opening has successfully completed and at least three publications (materials, articles, similar) about the local Aarhus center in Belarus are approved by the task coordinator

• Good knowledge of English
• Knowledge of Russian is an asset;
• Participation in educational events (conferences, seminars, trainings) with presentations and reports concerning access to information, general public participation in decision-making and access to justice on environmental issues – at least 3 presentations;
• Publications (articles, materials of conferences, similar) concerning access to information, general public participation in decision-making and access to justice on environmental issues are considered to be an asset

• University degree in environmental policy or public relations
• Advanced university degree (Masters or PhD) in environmental policy or public relations will be considered as an asset;
• Experience:
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• Experience in working with governmental organizations, institutions, NGOs concerning access to information, general public participation in decision-making and access to justice on environmental issues  at least 1 year