CENN – March 16, 2005 Daily Digest
Table of Contents:
1. Georgia, Armenia Discuss Energy Issues
2. European Parliament Votes Yes on Financing NATURA
2000
3. Youth to the Front – Two New WCPA Scholarships for
Young Professionals in Protected Area Management
4. Azerbaijan Discloses First Transparency Initiative
Reports
5. UNDP/GEF Project: “Georgia – Promoting the Use of
Renewable Energy Resources for Local Energy Supply”
6. Call for Proposals for the European Initiative for
Democracy and Human Rights Micro projects Program
1. GEORGIA, ARMENIA DISCUSS ENERGY ISSUES
Source: RFE/RL, March 14, 2005
During a two-day visit to Yerevan on 11-12 March, Georgian Prime
Minister Zurab Noghaideli met with his Armenian counterpart Andranik
Markarian to discuss bilateral trade and cooperation in the energy
sector, Georgian and Armenian agencies reported. Bilateral trade grew by
51 percent in 2004, reaching $78 million, Caucasus Press reported on 12
March. Noghaideli raised with Markarian the possibility of Georgia and
Ukraine importing Iranian gas exported to Armenia via the gas pipeline
currently under construction, ITAR-TASS reported. Initially that
pipeline was planned exclusively to supply Armenia with gas, but
Interfax on 4 March quoted Armenian Energy Minister Andranik Manukian as
saying a second leg could be built to transport gas to Europe. The
Russian-Armenian company Armrosgasart is to undertake construction,
which will begin next month, of the Armenian section of the pipeline.
2. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT VOTES YES ON FINANCING NATURA 2000
Source: IUCN March 14, 2005
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) welcomes the decision taken by the
European Parliament on Thursday 11th March in favour of a report on
financing Natura 2000. Natura 2000 is the European Union’s (EU) network
of protected areas, established to ensure the future survival of the
EU’s most important habitats and species by achieving favourable
conservation status. The successful implementation and management of
Natura 2000 sites is a key part of the EU’s work to meet its target of
halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010. This report from the European
Parliament is a critical step in the process as it requests the EU to
provide significant financing to manage the Natura 2000 network and
conserve biodiversity. The report argues that in the future, funding to
manage these protected areas should be made available from the EU funds
for agriculture, rural development and regional development
3. YOUTH TO THE FRONT – TWO NEW WCPA SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YOUNG
PROFESSIONALS IN PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT
Source: IUCN March 15, 2005
Junior Ranger Tshegofatso Monama challenged 3,000 participants at the
Vth IUCN World Parks Congress when he said: “The problem I have about
parks is that they do not offer opportunities. They should offer
opportunities to the young because as I look out here I see only old
people who are going to die!” Responding to the need to involve more
young people in protected area management and conservation, IUCN’s
Programme on Protected Areas and the World Commission on Protected Areas
(WCPA) launched a youth training scholarship programme at the 3rd IUCN
World Conservation Congress (WCC, Bangkok, Thailand, November 2004). The
programme, developed and implemented in partnership with the Consortium
for International Protected Area Management (CIPAM), will offer two
scholarships for talented young professionals to attend a protected area
management seminar and to develop an action plan implementing the new
seminar skills and results. Graduates of the seminars will be offered
professional mentoring subsequent to the course. The initiative is the
first undertaking of a partnership focused on increasing protected area
professional capacity amongst young protected area practitioners.
4. AZERBAIJAN DISCLOSES FIRST TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE REPORTS
Source: State Telegraph of the Republic of Azerbiajn, Agency March 16,
2005
The Committee on Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (“EITI”)
established by the government of Azerbaijan to implement its obligations
taken at the conference on EITI held in June 2003 in London, today
announced the publication of the Governments EITI first reports audited
by Deloitte & Touche, the independent Aggregator. The published
documents also include the Aggregator’s opinion based on individual
submissions of independent extractive industry companies participating
in the EITI process.
This marks the first ever aggregated government transparency report in
the world and implementation of the Azerbaijan Government’s commitment
to EITI.
The publication of Azerbaijan’s EITI reports follows the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) on November 24, 2004 between the
Government of Azerbaijan, foreign and local extractive industry
companies and a coalition of some 32 local Non-Governmental
Organizations (“NGO’s”) for Increasing Transparency in Extractive
Industries to implement EITI in Azerbaijan. The MOU set out a clear and
independent process for the implementation of EITI in Azerbaijan and
since its signing has served as the framework for implementation efforts
by all parties.
The full report as well as the Aggregator’s opinion on the document has
already been disclosed on the State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) and the EITI
Secretariat of the UK Department for International Development (DFID)
and non-governmental organizations (NGO).
Samir Sharifov, chairman of the Committee on EITI, said: “Publication of
the first report on the Government revenues from the extractive sector
that was prepared by a reputable international firm on the basis of
examination of government’s assertion and extractive sector companies’
individual reports has become another clear demonstration of
Azerbaijan’s full support to EITI process not in words but in deeds. It
has evidenced continued commitment of the authorities of Azerbaijan to
transparent management of revenues accruing from extractive sector and
to encouraging active involvement of civil society in this process”.
Speaking on behalf of local extractive industry companies Natig Aliyev,
President of SOCAR, said “Thanks to successful realization of new oil
strategy, SOCAR has obtained the recognition as one of the leading oil
producing companies in the world and reliable business partner in joint
projects. Our next task is to prove ourselves as a company which
conducts its business in compliance with internationally accepted
standards of reporting and transparency of financial and commercial
operations.
I believe that in our country we have already taken very important steps
in this direction and in future in cooperation with the NGOs we will do
our best to achieve our goal”.
Speaking on behalf of foreign oil companies David Woodward, Associate
President of BP, said: ”We welcome the publication of the first reports
for Azerbaijan which is a world first for the broader implementation of
the UK Government’s EITI initiative. We are satisfied with the
independent process implemented by the Aggregator. As these are the
first reports of these kind in the world there will, I’m sure, be ways
in which we can improve the process further, but this should not detract
from the importance of what has been achieved by the Azerbaijan
Government working effectively and efficiently with oil companies and
civil society”.
Sevgim Rahmanov speaking on behalf of the NGO coalition stated “A
significant step forward has been made towards promoting transparency in
extractive industries in Azerbaijan by publication of the EITI first
report. We look forward to working with both the Government and
extractive sector companies for further improvements in the process”.
5. UNDP/GEF Project: “Georgia – Promoting the Use of Renewable
Energy Resources for Local Energy Supply”
GOVERNMENT OF GEORGIA
UNDP/GEF Project: “Georgia – Promoting the Use of Renewable Energy
Resources for Local Energy Supply”
Invitation for Pre-qualification (Request for Expressions of Interest)
Technical Advisor Services
The companies with required expertise are requested to send their
Expressions of Interests for the provision of technical advisory
services for a five-year joint UNDP/GEF and KfW financed initiative in
Georgia including a technical assistance component and an associated US$
7 million revolving Renewable Energy Fund to promote the use of local
renewable energy resources, with the focus on small hydro and geothermal
resources.
The selected consultant is expected to take the lead on finalizing the
documentation needed for the loan applications of the pilot small hydro
power and geothermal projects seeking to use the resources of the
Renewable Energy Fund. The work will be conducted in close co-operation
with the local experts (to be paid separately by the project budget)
with the purpose of simultaneously building up the local capacity to
follow up the results and to conduct similar studies independently in
the future.
In co-operation with the local experts, the Technical Advisor will be
responsible for finalizing the documentation needed for the loan
applications for small hydropower and geothermal projects seeking to use
the resources of the Renewable Energy Fund and, as applicable, support
the further implementation of the projects approved for financing.
The Technical Advisor will report to the project manager and to the UNDP
Resident Representative in Georgia.
Qualifications
a.. Good knowledge of and extensive working experience on developing
small hydro power, geothermal and municipal heat and hot water supply
projects, including:
b.. Adequate technical knowledge and experience on the different areas
of small hydro power projects, geothermal resources and municipal heat
and hot water supply systems
c.. Demonstrated success in structuring financing for the projects
d.. Strong interpersonal and training skills
e.. Knowledge of Georgian or Russian language is an asset
The duration of the assignment will be 4 years (2004-2008).
Required Information and Documentation for Pre-qualification
1.. Signed Expression of Interest Letter;
1.. Name and ownership of a company;
2.. Field of business or areas of interest or public responsibility;
3.. Annual turnover or budget;
4.. Background of a company;
5.. CVs of experts to be engaged in the assignment;
6.. Company’s References (implemented projects and/or provided
services):
1.. Deadline for Expression of Interest is 25 March 2005 12 A.M. of
local time.
Expression of Interest and related materials should be sent to the
Project manager Mr. Paata Janelidze via mail.
Address: 150a, Agmashenebeli Ave. Tbilisi, 0112, Georgia
E-mail: janelidze@caucasus.net
More information can be seen at
6. Call for Proposals for the European Initiative for Democracy
and Human Rights Micro projects Program
European Commission
Delegation to Georgia and Armenia
Call reference: EuropeAid/121-162/L/G/GE
The European Commission Delegation to Georgia is seeking proposals for
micro projects in Georgia with financial assistance from the European
Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) program of the
European Communities. The global indicative amount available for this
Call for Proposals is ? 327.000.
The general objective of the EIDHR micro projects program is to respond
rapidly to requests from NGOs that are designed to promote democracy and
human rights. Proposals for micro projects should be in the following
priority areas:
Priority A: Support to the rule of law and the fight against corruption
Priority B: Protection of religious and ethnic minorities
Grants may cover a maximum of 80% of project costs. Grants will finance
projects with activities lasting up to 18 months.
Grants range from a minimum of ? 10.000 to a maximum of ? 50.000
Applicants must be non-profit-marketing and be non governmental
organization. They must have their headquarters in Georgia, or be a
local independent division of an NGO with its headquarters in another
country. Activities must take place in Georgia, preferably in one or
more of the following regions of Georgia: Kvemo Kartli,
Samtskhe-Javakheti and Adjara. Applicantrs may apply singly or as part
of a consortium.
Detailed information on this Call for Proposals is contained in the
“Guidelines for Grant Applicants”, which are published together with
this notice on the Internet Web Site of the European Commission
Delegation to Georgia: the full Guidelines
for Applicants are also available for consultation at the European
Commission Delegation to Georgia:
38, Nino Chkheidze street, 0102, Tbilisi
Tel: +995 32 94 37 63
>From Monday to Friday from 9:00 till 17:00
The deadline for submission of proposals is June 6, 2005 at 16:00
Georgian time. Any application received by the European Commission
Delegation to Georgia after this time will not be considered.
Any questions regarding this Call for Proposals should be sent, clearly
indicating the reference number by fax to +995 32 94 37 68 or by email
to deleation-georgia-eidhr-micro@cec.eu.int
All applicants are encouraged to consult the Internet website above
regularly before the deadline for applications, where the EC Delegation
will publish the most frequently asked questions and the corresponding
replies.
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