OSCE Yerevan Office supports civic action on security and environment

YEREVAN, 25 January 2010 - A Civic Action for Security and Environment (CASE) small grants initiative was launched today by the OSCE Yerevan Office to provide support to civil society organizations in their efforts to address environment and security challenges. 

The CASE programme is a part of the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) initiative for the South Caucasus region, which aims to provide a framework for co-operation on environmental issues across borders and promote peace and stability through environmental co-operation and sustainable development. ENVSEC is a joint partnership between the OSCE, the UN Development Programme, the UN Environment Programme, the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe, with NATO as an associate member.

"The CASE initiative offers assistance to environment and security activities and promotes civil society, state organizations and business community partnerships in the field. The proposals we have received from civil society groups demonstrate the potential and eagerness for taking action to solve environmental problems in Armenia," said Christoph Opfermann, the Economic and Environmental Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Challenges addressed by the CASE programme include sustainable management of natural resources and promoting safe and sustainable practices in sectors including energy, mining and transport, with the involvement of local stakeholders.

Nune Zastukhova, ENVSEC focal point from the Armenian Foreign Ministry, and a member of the selection board, added: "The CASE initiative aims to foster effective partnerships between non-governmental organizations and the authorities and other stakeholders, as well as regional co-operation."

The OSCE Office in Yerevan announced a call for proposals in November 2009. The selection board chose five projects out of 43 project proposals for the first phase of implementation. The main criteria for the selection were increased public and political awareness, practical and organizational capacity and demonstrated environmental co-operation.

The CASE programme in Armenia is funded by the Austrian Government and the ENVSEC Initiative.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan also supports the work of Public Environmental Information Centres (Aarhus Centres) across Armenia to facilitate participation on environmental issues.

For more information, contact Gayane Ter-Stepanyan, Senior Press and Public Information Assistant, at (+374 10) 22 96 10/ 11/12/13/14 ext. 5407, mobile (091) 012603.