Greening development: enhancing capacity for environmental management and governance

Sound environmental management is fundamental for sustainable development and poverty reduction. This OECD report advocates the application of country systems as entry points for capacity development for the environment.

It is noticeable that the natural resource base continues to deteriorate in many parts of the world ? the greatest impact is felt by developing countries. To reverse this trend, developing countries and donor agencies have to work together to better integrate environmental issues in their policy reform agendas.

The paper argues that moving to a greener development path requires incorporating environment into every aspect of the national planning and budgeting process. Yet, this calls for innovative approaches to engage all stakeholders who shape policy development and investment decision.

The authors note that a key obstacle in this respect for developing countries is lack of capacity for identifying environmental challenges and priorities and their implications for development. Therefore, a broad range of skills and knowledge among individuals and organisations and an enabling environment that supports the process is required.

Furthermore, specific interventions for greening development include: 

• use long-run development planning process
• develop key actor technical skills and build functional skills
• encourage the participation of non-government actors
• target early efforts to where the most differences can be made
  

The document highlights the importance of a greater ownership by developing countries and a greater interest by development support providers in using developing countries own systems. In addition, it recommends development support providers to:

• consider capacity development for environmental management as focal point at all levels of design, implementation and valuation
• harmonise approach among support providers in order to ensure effective programme delivery
• self-monitor and evaluate development support providers’ activities
• implement best practice guidelines to define required tools