Service Contract No 2007 / 147-446 Strategic ... - Swaziland

- Optimal use should be made of this StrEA process and report:oooThis StrEA should be distributed to all key stakeholders, taking the originallist of invitees to the Stakeholders’ Workshop as an indication of keystakeholders.This StrEA report should be made publicly available and published on theweb sites of at least the Restructuring and Diversification Management Unit(RDMU) and the European Commission (Swaziland Delegation). It is alsorecommended that it be made available on the web sites of the SwazilandSugar Association (SSA) and the Swaziland Environment Authority (SEA).The EC and RDMU should ensure that the findings of this StrEA are properlydiscussed in the NAS Steering Committee, and decisions/commitmentsmade on how its findings will be implemented. Decisions and commitmentsshould be recorded.- It is recommended to disseminate the findings of the StrEA through a joint pressrelease (GoS – EC). This was done recently in Zambia, with an immediate reactionby journalists drawing further attention to the Study.- It is recommended for the GoS and the EC to carry out a review on theeffectiveness of this StrEA process; this could take place around 6 to 12 monthsafter its completion. The review would respond to questions such as: (i) did therecommendations made in the StrEA get implemented? Why or why not?, and (ii) didthe StrEA lead to better decisions from an environmental and socio-economic point ofview?ooThe EC’s environmental advisory services developed a framework for theevaluation of StrEA effectiveness (unofficial document), which could be usedas a basis for the review assessment. There are other guidance documentsavailable which could be used as reference (e.g. in the OECD DAC SEAGuidance 2 ).The results of the follow-up study should be used to draw lessons useful forthe enhancement of the StrEA system in Swaziland, as well as for futureStrEAs financed by the EC. Experiences could be shared in the region andinternationally (e.g. at the IAIA – International Association for ImpactAssessment – annual conference), also as a way to trigger discussions withexperts in the area that could be useful for improvement. This would also raisevisibility of GoS and EC efforts to effectively mainstream the environment in itspolicies, plans and programmes.This StrEA seeks to enhance the environmental and socio-economic performance ofthe sugar sector in general, and the expected impacts derived from NASimplementation in particular. This requires actions at a strategic level.The best way to enhance the environmental and socio-economic performance of thesector sometimes requires actions beyond those that can be addressed by the NAS,or even by institutions in the NAS Steering Committee.Rather than limit recommendations to the narrow range of those actions that can beincorporated in the NAS document, this StrEA offers a wider range of options at astrategic level that would most effectively address the concerns in the sector.2 OECD DAC - Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Development Assistance Committee (2006)Applying Strategic Environmental Assessment, Good practice guidance for development cooperation, OECD: Paris.RDMU (Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Adaptation Strategy) - Page 11