Good governance is today in the centre of attention as a precondition of success in any other area of intervention. Factually all policies, strategies and initiatives geared towards sustainable development will have to include – or at least be aware of – issues of governance and policy making, from the national down to the local levels.

Countries face increased challenge to cope with decentralization, democratization and privatization processes. Formerly authoritarian governments have embarked on devolution of power and civil society participation. Line agencies and emerging service providers need to familiarize with new roles and responsibilities in line with limited budgets.

ECO renders assistance to:

• the translation of international environment-related conventions into national policies
• the formulation of coherent strategies and action programmes and their implementation planning (e.g. poverty reduction strategies, national forest programmes, porgrammes for combatting desertification)
• the participation of all relevant stakeholders in this process (including NGOs);
• the mobilization of resources for land management through mainstreaming into relevant development initiatives;
• the use of existing experience in the process of mainstreaming land management at all levels
• institutionalized stakeholder participation (including NGOs) and networking - e.g. in the form of installing and upkeeping political dialogues
• integrated support to administration and law reform
• dissemination of best practices and lessons learnt

In project design and backstopping ECO assists in the:

• identification of goals and approaches
• application of PCM/RBM, ZOPP, PRA/RRA methodologies and techniques in preparation and implementation
• clarification of roles and capacities of groups and stakeholders identification of capacity building needs
• process management
• team building facilitation, coaching of groups and individuals
• monitoring and evaluation

Consultation and dialogue in multi-stakeholder fora

Participatory planning at comunity level

Your contact:
Dr. Stefan Mann