Policy Support Component kicked off in Bangkok
At June 28 – 29, the kick-off meeting technical meeting of the SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Compoent took place in Bangkok. The main implementing partners gathered to get acquainted with and share ideas how to effectively implement the envisioned project activities (in the first year).
During 2 days of intensive discussions and information and experience sharing the stage was set for the implementation of the assessment on SCP policy and capacity building needs to be undertaken during a 6-month perio by IGES and CSIRO. This study will identify, via desk research for all 19 SWITCH-Asia eligible countries and field consultations in 8 countries, the capacity building and policy needs on SCP. At the same time on review will be made of the existing policy tools related to SCP in those countries.
The study team logically will make efficient use of the work already done by the SWITCH programme and also the work that has been implemented by UNEP for compiling the “Global outlook of SCP policies”. In addition to this the major implementing (UN) partners of the PSC will incorporate their experiences in implementing SCP (related) actions in the region – a.o. the Green Growth activities managed by UNESCAP, assessments done as part of the Resource Efficiency Economics Outlook (REEO) and Asian part of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) (both managed by UNEP), the UN Dvelopment Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and the UNE/UNIDO programme on Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RECP).
The results of the study are essential for further fine-tuning the envisioned activities in the next year to achieve the overarching objectives of the PSC. They will both utilizing experience gained from the SWITCH-Asia projects and providing input to and leverage for those projects. The overall SWITCH-Asia Programme consist of different specific but also interlinked components and strives to be as coherent and consistent as possible.
First results are expected to be presented at the first meeting of all National Focal points of the SWITCH-Asia PSC and project partners that will be held on 7-8 November 2011 in Yogyakarta, back-to-back with the Asia Pacific Roundtable on SCP.
For more information on the SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component please download Dr. Stefanos Fotiou's presentation presented at the SWITCH-Asia Sub-regional event in Clombo in June 2011.
To learn more on policy instruments please turn to our section SWITCH-Learn.
The results of the study are essential to achieve the overarching objectives of the PSC:
(1) Build the capacities of national authorities to strengthen or put on place policies helping to mainstream SCP and RE in regional and national development programmes;
(2) Assist stakeholders in designing and implementing specific policy-oriented activities to shift towards SCP.
