International ToT Workshop on SEA

International Training of Trainers Workshop on Design and Delivery of training events on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was held in Lopota Resort, Kakheti, Georgia by UNECE secretariat of the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (Protocol on SEA) to the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context in the framework of the EU Programme ‘Greening Economies in the European neighbourhood’ (EaP GREEN). Project partner in Georgia was Georgia’s Environmental Outlook. More than 35 participants from 8 countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Moldova, Ukraine) learned how to prepare and carry out SEA training events at national and local levels. The participants of the workshop appreciated the opportunity to substantiate their knowledge about legal and practical implementation of SEA and to get hands on experience in various training techniques. At the end of the workshop, the participants indicated that they feel inspired and ready to further support the development of SEA systems in their countries by contributing to the development of the national legislative framework on SEA in line with the requirements of the UNECE Protocol on SEA and EU SEA Directive and by delivering subsequent training courses and awareness raising events for national stakeholders that are scheduled for 2016 in the framework of the EaP GREEN. The ToT was organised back-to-back to the sub-regional conference on ‘Developing legislative framework for the SEA in line with the UNECE Protocol on SEA,” which introduced the legal aspects related to the transposition of the requirements of the Protocol and EU SEA Directive into the national legislation. Ms. Elena Santer, UNECE representative, expressed her hope that the UNECE assistance funded by EU and other donors could enable the participating countries to join the Protocol on SEA in the near future.