UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative

What we do - A Country-led Programmatic Approach to Poverty-Environment Mainstreaming

A definition of poverty-environment mainstreaming
Poverty-environment mainstreaming is the iterative process of integrating poverty-environment linkages into policymaking, budgeting and implementation processes at national, sectoral and subnational levels. It is a multi-year, multi-stakeholder effort grounded in the contribution of the environment to human well-being, pro-poor economic growth and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. A key outcome will be the mainstreaming of poverty-environment issues in the products that form the basis of national planning and expenditure, including poverty reduction strategy papers and MDG strategies. Successful poverty-environment mainstreaming involves considerable groundwork in identifying and accumulating the hard evidence that demonstrates the economic and other benefits to be derived from the process, and a sustained advocacy effort to present this convincing evidence to policymakers and decision-makers. The overall aim is to establish enduring institutional processes within government from national to local levels, with the support and involvement of the wider stakeholder community, to ensure that poverty-environment mainstreaming remains an essential component of strategies for poverty reduction and sustainable growth.

What is our approach to poverty-environment mainstreaming?

Based on experience to date, successful poverty-environmental mainstreaming requires a programmatic approach— adapted to national circumstances. The programmatic approach the PEI recommends for mainstreaming poverty-environment linkages into national development planning comprises three phases, which are typically a cluster of tasks needed for each phase:

1. Finding the entry points and making the case, which sets the stage for mainstreaming.

2. Mainstreaming poverty-environment linkages into policy processes, which is focused on integrating poverty-environment linkages into an ongoing policy process, such as a PRSP or sector strategy, based on countryspecific evidence.

3. Meeting the implementation challenge, which is aimed at ensuring integration of poverty-environment linkages into budgeting, implementation and monitoring processes. Using this approach can help in prioritizing mainstreaming efforts in a specific national context and seeing more clearly how different activities and tactics can be combined to achieve intended outcomes at different stages in the design or implementation of development planning. Also, it can help structure programmes adopted by governments to achieve effective mainstreaming over a sustained time period—often building on more diverse and short-lived activities adopted by multiple stakeholders.  [Read More]

 

Key lessons learned 

1. Programmatic approach: Adopt a medium- or long-term approach to help create synergies, prioritize efforts and combine various activities and tactics to achieve intended outcomes over the long range. This approach can also help government programmes build on diverse, short-lived stakeholder activities and sustain effective mainstreaming.

2. Strategic focus and tactical flexibility: Focus on pro-poor environment outcomes while remaining flexible in terms of the activities, tactics, methodologies and tools to be used: adapt to changing circumstances and opportunities. To the extent possible, the programme should build on previous work carried out in the country.

3. Importance of the governmental, political and institutional context:  Look at the governmental, institutional and political contexts in the country in order to develop a thorough, shared understanding of the situation. This perspective provides a basis for finding the most effective entry points, potential partners and champions.

4. Country-specific evidence: Undertake targeted analytical studies that unearth evidence about the nature of poverty-environment linkages in the country—e.g. integrated ecosystem assessments and economic analyses using national data—to clarify the specific contributions of the environment and natural resources to both the national economy and human well-being.

5. Finance or planning ministry as lead institution: Because of the close relationship between mainstreaming and national development planning, the ministry of planning or finance—or its equivalent—must lead the mainstreaming effort, in collaboration with environmental institutions. Obtain its commitment, and engage key sector ministries from an early stage.

6. Champions: Mobilize practitioners—including high-level decision-makers and government officials—who will advocate for the integration of poverty-environment considerations into development planning at national, sector and subnational levels.

7. In-country partnerships: Develop partnerships with a view to making the case for mainstreaming with the development community, including national and international nongovernmental organizations, funding institutions and donors. Pay particular attention to involving the media by developing strategies for increasing journalists’ knowledge of poverty-environment issues and encouraging them to report on these.

8. High transaction costs: Prepare for high transaction costs and high levels of needed in-country support. Because it seeks to change priorities and involves many government bodies, mainstreaming requires a great deal of staff time and technical support at various levels—e.g. focal points in the relevant ministries, a national coordinator, a technical advisor and specialized teams for assessments and analyses.