2.1.3. Greening programming

2.1.3. Greening programming

Background

The greening of programming focuses on the policy dialogue and preparation of the programming documents (multi-annual indicative programmes (MIP) and their mid-term review (MTR) under the NDICI-Global Europe, and IPA III programming framework’s strategic responses prepared by each IPA III beneficiary), as well as the related joint programming documents and Team Europe Initiatives.

Entry points for programming

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➡️ Policy dialogue: include environment, climate change and DRR in policy engagement with partners, including governments, civil society and other stakeholders

Greening the policy dialogue implies promoting EU values and objectives for a green and just transformation; it can be supported by coordinated action with like-minded partners and sustained with an evidence base. The promotion of mutual priorities and support for partner country in advancing national commitments, policies and strategies on environment, climate action and DRR must be on the agenda.

➡️ Analyse the country (or regional) environmental and climate change context

As part of the programming cycle – and preferably before programming starts – the EU Delegation should prepare an analysis of the country’s (or the region’s) environmental and climate change context, and lessons of past and present EU cooperation as it relates to environment and climate change (including mainstreaming). The analysis covers the country’s key environmental and climate-related challenges and opportunities, the way they are addressed in the national/regional development plans and other policies, and their implications for future EU cooperation and policy dialogue. This assessment informs the evaluation of the national policy documents on which the programming will be based, as well as the policy dialogue and the preparation of the EU response (e.g. the MIP) and its implementation. The assessment should be based, to the extent possible, on existing analyses and data.

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Details on the Country Environmental Profile (CEP) can be found in Annex 1 on Greening Tools, including links to a repository of CEPs and REPs.

Where possible, the CEP/REP should be undertaken as a joint exercise with national and other development partners. Annex 3 provides model ToR for a CEP.

The country’s Risk Management Framework Plus (RMF+) also provides insight into environment- and climate-related issues that affect structural/cyclical risks in the country. Further details and guidance on the environment and climate aspects of the RMF+ can be found in Annex 15.

➡️ Align the programming document with environment, climate and DRR objectives

In aligning programming with key environment, climate change and DRR objectives (shared by both the EU and the partner country/region), the EU should consider prioritising sectors where its support can contribute to a transformational change towards environmentally sustainable, climate resilient and low-carbon development. These sectors often offer opportunities for the EU to add value by bringing in experience and expertise. Environment and climate change can be considered as priority areas in their own right, but should be considered in all cases in the EU response strategy as cross-cutting issues influencing interventions across all areas.

The programming documents should maximise opportunities for positive contributions to climate and nature, and ensure they adhere to the DNH principle. Wherever relevant, the objectives, expected results and indicators should address environmental and climate change concerns.

Wherever feasible, the EU should consider including a component to support the partner country’s efforts to green its policies and investments, in particular in the MIP priority sectors/areas: the tools developed by the Poverty-Environment Action programme, notably the interactive handbook can be useful to strengthen environment and climate change integration in national policies, planning and budgeting.

➡️ Consider, where relevant, a Strategic Environmental Assessment

The EU should systematically consider supporting Strategic Environmental Assessments of sectoral plans and programmes when EU support is envisaged to sectors that include substantial climate and environmental risks/opportunities or that are central to the green transition, as SEAs are useful to inform both the partner’s policy design and the EU’s support programme. If this is the case, the preparation of an SEA should already be considered in the MIP. This will facilitate the mobilisation of financial resources at an earlier stage and lead to a more effective process with a higher impact on the greening of sector policies/strategies and associated EU support programmes. Climate and environmental sensitive sectors include notably: agriculture, rural development, energy, water, transport, private sector development, urban development, tourism.

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➡️ Include indicators in the programming document that capture key environmental and climate change concerns

Including indicators in programming documents to assess country progress towards environmental, climate and DRR objectives and the green transition is critical to ensure effective environment and climate integration.

The Global Europe Results Framework (GERF) should be used to the extent possible, complemented by other ad hoc indicators that may be necessary; these include thematic indicators based on a set of sector-specific results chains. In relation to its Green Deal strategic priority, the GERF proposes nine indicators to monitor progress at country level (GERF level 1- impact^[6]) and 10 additional indicators for progress at action level (GERF level 2 – outcome and output^[7]), covering SDGs 2 (zero hunger), 7 (energy), 11 (cities), 12 (responsible consumption and production), 13 (climate change), 14 (life under water) and 15 (life on land). These indicators should be used in the programming document, whenever relevant.

➡️ Update ambition in the mid-term review

The evolution of the country context and the progress made at implementation level can lead to the need for programme amendments at the mid-term stage.

The mid-term review (MTR) is an opportunity to verify if EU support at country level is on track to achieve its environmental, climate and green transition objectives by the end of the MFF period. The results of the MTR should be discussed, and necessary changes integrated to enhance EU environmental and climate performance.

References

^[6] Development impact achieved in collaboration with partner governments, donors and other international cooperation and development actors including the private sector and civil society.

^[7] International cooperation and development outcomes and outputs to which EU funded interventions have contributed in collaboration with partner governments and other funding providers.