WHY DOES BTC HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMME?
There are a number of drivers for the decision by BTC Co to develop and implement an Environmental Investment Programme (EIP):
- To demonstrate environmental leadership in the provision of additional benefits for the environment of Turkey;
- To display good corporate citizenship;
- To deliver additional benefits for the environment;
- To address stakeholder concerns;
- To honour BTC Co’s commitment and public statements on biodiversity;
- In recognition of the biodiversity value of the region.
The EIP is about investment for the long-term in biodiversity along the pipeline route. BTC Co EIP is not for the purpose of short-term benefits and mitigation of pipeline construction work. The Environmental Investment Programme encourages sustainability beyond the term of project funding and considers projects to be a joint investment together with villagers, community leaders, NGOs, local and regional authorities, universities, private companies, and other third party donors.
MAIN GOAL AND OBJECTIVES OF THE EIP
The main goal of the EIP is protection and enhancement of biodiversity along the BTC pipeline. The objective of EIP is to deliver actions (projects under several key themes) that are of benefit in the promotion and conservation of biodiversity along the BTC pipeline.
The EIP has been developed to address a main goal supported by a number of secondary aims:
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To provide additional benefits ('additionality') that go further than mitigation of impacts.
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To respond to ongoing initiatives, issues and suggestions raised by stakeholders during the consultation process undertaken as part of the pipeline project to ensure that they are complimentary and avoid duplication.
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To achieve maximum benefit from the level of financial input.
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To maximise opportunities for wider national and international application of outcomes.
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To include international stakeholders in the development of the EIP and reporting on the outcomes of the actions.
PRINCIPLES OF THE EIP
The EIP has been developed and will be implemented according to the principles outlined in Box 1. The Principles have been further developed from those detailed in the Environmental (and Social) Impact Assessments for each country in response to stakeholder comments.
Box 1 : Principles of the EIP
- Impact: deliver tangible benefits and go further than just direct impact mitigation.
- Sustainability: deliver lasting benefits.
- Capacity building: deliver a significant element of technology transfer and capacity building.
- Linkages: consider and build upon the biodiversity priorities of the host country.
- Community Investment Programme: links with the Community Investment Programme (CIP) to facilitate success and sustainability.
- Prevention of duplication: avoid duplicating the efforts of companies, international and local agencies or government departments.
- Leverage of funding: seek opportunities to co-operate with existing organizations and programmes or leverage additional financing.
- Participation: take account of views, roles and rights of NGOs and local communities.
- Partnerships: encourage the development of partnerships.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: strong monitoring and evaluation component with clear targets and measurements of success.
- Transparency: programmes and projects must be transparent and be open to internal and external scrutiny to allow potential beneficiaries, non-governmental organisations and government departments to understand the approach.
- Implemented Under BTC Co Business Principles – the control procedures for managing project & partner performance & cost will be applied.
EIP DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
A project-specific process has been developed to define and implement the programme. This has involved the identification of priority themes for potential investment. Given the operational requirements, funding limitations and time, BTC Co recognises that investments under the EIP will not be able to provide assistance in all identified priority themes. As a result, a selection process has been implemented to identify the key priority themes that most closely comply with a set of criteria developed specifically for the EIP. A Request For Proposals (RFP) was issued for seven themes in February 2004 (first tranche) and now another RFP is now being issued for projects to address three more key themes within the second tranche.
In addition, a set of criteria has been developed for selection of partners and projects in the key themes under the RFP. Input has been sought during development of the process from international and national Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Donor Organisations. The EIP process is illustrated in the flow diagram below and illustrates the stages that have preceded the issue of the RFP:
KEY PRIORITY THEMES FOR INVESTMENT
BP presence in the region for a number of years has enabled dialogue with stakeholders on issues of concern. In combination with specific consultation and field studies that have been undertaken for the BTC Project, a good understanding of opportunities for investment in biodiversity conservation has developed. This has enabled the identification of priority themes as potential areas for investment. Specifically, the Turkey priority themes have been identified from the following sources:
- BTC Project EIA, Public Consultation and Disclosure;
- National plans - the National Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity in Turkey, Strategic Action Plan for Biodiversity in the Mediterranean, Turkish National Environmental Action Plan;
- Stakeholders - including The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA), Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TUDAV), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Society for the Protection of Nature (DHKD), Bird Life International, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and European Union.
Four General Directorates of and biodiversity monitoring unit, biodiversity integration committee and biodiversity conservation awareness committee coordinated by Ministry of Environment and Forest; universities along the pipeline and wetlands technical committee of National Wetland Commission were also consulted to for developing the concept papers of the second request for proposals.
The concept papers in Section 3 describe the set of key priority themes under which the proposals are being invited under this process. Figure 2 illustrates the relationships between these themes and with other initiatives. Of the seven key themes within the first RFP advertised in February 2003 and listed below, six projects have been commenced starting from August 2003. One is expected to be commenced soon.
The ongoing projects under the first RFP are as follows:
- Gap Analysis of Lesser Caucasus Forests;
- Improving The Conservation Status Of Caucasian Black Grouse In Turkey;
- Important Bird Areas in the BTC Pipeline Region-Turkey;
- Important Plant Areas in the BTC Pipeline Region-Turkey
- Sea Turtle Expedition;
- Research on Monk Seals (Gulf of Iskenderun);
- Small Investments Fund (To be commenced soon).
Additional information regarding these projects may be found on the EIP/CIP web site (www.btcinvestment.com).
Further themes, under this RFP are listed below:
- Forest Habitat Enhancement
- Wetlands Management
- Public Awareness & Community Involvement on Biodiversity
Applicants may submit proposals for projects under several themes, but only one proposal per theme..
FUNDING STRATEGY AND OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The EIP budget allocated for Turkey is about US $ 3.3 million to be disbursed to organisations, in the form of grants.
- As part of EIP, the Small Investments Fund Project is also a potential fund source for small ecologically sustainable enterprise projects. The project will be commenced in within the second half of 2004.
- In 2004, BTC Co will begin implementing a limited Social Investment Programme (SIP) using ‘BP100%’ funds, focusing on initiatives based on SMMEs and business support amongst others.
- As part of the broader CIP activities BTC Co (Turkey) will announce a small grants programme: the “Maurice Johnston Award” in 2004.
Applicants who want to apply for both EIP and CIP funding must clearly demonstrate the links between the two programmes, how they will benefit one another and how the projects will be integrated and managed together.
Details for the above opportunities will be announced on the web. Please refer to the www.btcinvestment.com and/or the www.caspiandevelopmentandexport.com site for further announcements.
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