Photo above: participants in a stakeholder workshop to discuss the reform and funding of Mali's EIA system, 2006.
Examples of our work: environmental finance
Design and establishment of environmental funds
ÆC experts have played key roles in efforts to establish new environmental funds in several countries (Croatia, Jordan, Lao PDR, Lithuania, Mali). Advice and assistance was fund-specific, and included:
Institutional and strategic positioning of the funds within the respective environmental financing market;
Drafting/reviewing of fund legislation and statutes;
Elaboration of the funds’ organizational, governance and management structures, including staff profiles;
Development of short and long-term spending strategies;
Formulating the funds’ operating priorities, principles and rules;
Development of the funds’ project cycle management procedures;
Preparation of information policies and promotional materials;
Examining revenue options, including the reform of existing, and design of new, economic and financial instruments.
Evaluations of environmental funds
ÆC's Principals have led, or played key roles in, evaluating several environmental funds, including national funds in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland and Slovenia and a provincial fund in Russia. By assessing the funds against internationally accepted standards of good practice the evaluations have led to recommendations for improving performance and effectiveness. (1996-2003). View Review of the Bulgarian EcoTust Fund, published 2003 (0.4 MB).
Feasibility studies for new environmental finance mechanisms
Assessed the options for a new environmental fund to be established in Lao PDR with proceeds from a ADB Loan; wrote a concept paper discussing the Fund’s legal establishment, institutional structure, revenues, and project cycle management. (2001)
Assessed the feasibility of a Black Sea Environmental Fund for GEF/UNDP; analysed and recommended possible revenue sources, legal basis, annual and longer-term programming, institutional arrangements and project cycle management (1998).
Environmental Financing Strategies
ÆC led the preparation of an Environmental Financing Strategy for investments required to bring the West Pomeranian Province of Poland into compliance with EU environmental directives. Assessed the cost of investments, existing supply of finance, options for raising additional finance, policy and institutional reforms to aid implementation (2002-04).
Served as Peer Reviewers of methodology papers and reports concerning environmental financing strategies in Georgia, Moldova and two Russian oblasts (for OECD, 1999-2001).
Analytical and comparative studies
ÆC's Principals have been responsible for the preparation of numerous analytical studies and reports on environmental finance, including:
“Funding the EIA process and Environmental Protection in Mali: Key Findings and Recommendations” (for USAID, 2006);
"Sourcebook on Environmental Funds in Economies in Transition" (OECD/EU Phare, 1999), covering over 20 funds in CEE and NIS. View sourcebook (1.2 MB).
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For a complete list summarizing Æquilibrium Consulting's project experience in environmental finance, please click here.