2.4.2. Key measures to green the policy dialogue

➡️ Dialogue throughout the cycle

Policy dialogue is at the centre of all phases in the intervention cycle and for all implementation modalities. It fuels the engagement with national partners and stakeholders and deepens understanding and insight into the links between the problem analysis, the state of the environment and climate change. Political economy insights can also help in understanding the drivers of and barriers to green action. Issues that are more difficult to address in specific actions or investments, or that are not politically palatable, may find a space in the policy dialogue.

Policy dialogue is particularly important during the preparation stages, including programming. It plays a critical role in the promotion of the environment and climate change mainstreaming agenda, including the promotion of a nature- and climate-positive development.

➡️ Make use of relevant assessments to support green dialogue

Policy dialogue is most effective when backed up with evidence and information, such as data, studies and examples of previous experience.

Different tools and studies that provide insight into the links between environment, climate change and development can be useful to prepare and support a green policy dialogue. These include:

• The Country Environmental Profile, which objective is to inform programming from an environmental and climate change integration perspective.
• The Risk Management Framework plus, which provides insight into environment and climate-related risks to EU cooperation.
• Any Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) that may have been prepared (e.g. in the context of budget support). Some of the recommendations to enhance the environmental and climate performance of the national/sector policy or strategy can be taken up in the policy dialogue.

➡️Apply a cross-sectoral approach

Policy dialogue offers an opportunity to convey/promote EU values and objectives, including on environment protection and climate change. It is also a way to build ownership of national partners of a sustainability and climate agenda, and the integration of all subtopics of environment and climate in all sectors of support. These dialogues should contribute to and complement existing policy dialogues of DG Environment and DG Climate Action.

➡️ Engage with the government and key stakeholders, including civil society

It is important to include the relevant stakeholders – including civil society – in order to contribute to country-led greening efforts. The country situation analysis should inform this dialogue.

Key outputs of an inclusive policy dialogue are listed below.

• The relevant stakeholders and target groups, including civil society and youth organisations (including any youth boards established by EU delegations), are identified along with the most appropriate platforms and communication channels for advancing environment and climate change mainstreaming.
• Relevant information on climate change and environmental issues, and the efforts provided to address them, guides EU support throughout the cycle (from the selection of priority areas and alignment with green priorities during programming, to the identification and formulation of actions contributing to environmental and climate objectives, and the assessment of EU support from a green perspective).
• Communication channels are established to sources of information on current national practices, priorities and plans for the greening of development.
• Close coordination with the lead and like-minded development partners on environmental and climate change issues is established, in a Team Europe spirit.
• National partners, development cooperation partners and EU Delegation staff are familiar with EU thematic and geographical actions related to the integration of environment and climate change.
• National ownership of environment and climate change integration is consolidated and supported.