TAI Training
Introduction
Objectives
Shared Understanding
Common Vision
Plan of Action
Division of Labor
Research Method
Principle 10Principle 10
Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level.
“
”
Aarhus ConventionAarhus Convention
”European
Convention, but open to all
Legally binding
1998: UNECE adopted Aarhus
UNEP Guidelines on AccessUNEP Guidelines on Access
Voluntary Guidelines
Adopted February 2010
Provides guidance to implement Principle 10
Access RightsAccess Rights
Public Participation
Access to Information
Right to a Clean
Environment
Access to Justice
What does “Access” look like?What does “Access” look like?
?
?Inclusive
Transparent
Accountable
?
Access to InformationAccess to Information
Gives people the tools to participate
Allows for informed decision-making
Promotes transparency
Public ParticipationPublic Participation
Provides a forum
Ensures voices are heard
Promotes dialogue around important issues
Provides a forum
Ensures voices are heard
Promotes dialogue around important issues
Access to JusticeAccess to Justice
Provides a forum for grievances
Ensures people are treated fairly
Creates accountability
The Access InitiativeThe Access Initiative
49 Countries
170 CSOs
Network OrganizationNetwork Organization
Global Secretariat (WRI)
Decentralized network
Three levels of leadership:
1) Global Secretariat
2) Regional lead organizations
3) National coalition of CSOs
Africa
Europe
Southeast Asia
South Asia
Latin America
Global Secretariat
(WRI)
TAI Core Team MembersTAI Core Team MembersAfrica
Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) Uganda; Bioresources Development and
Conservation Programme Cameroon (BDCPC) Cameroon
EuropeEnvironmental Management and Law
Association (EMLA) Hungary
South Asia
Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment (LIFE) India
Latin America
Corporación PARTICIPA Chile; and Iniciativa de Acceso-Mexico, Mexico
South East Asia
Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) Thailand
North America
etcWorld Resources Institute (WRI) USA
Growth of TAIGrowth of TAIGrowth of TAIGrowth of TAI
Duties and ResponsibilitiesDuties and Responsibilities
• Facilitate global strategy
• Global networking and outreach
• Fund raise
• Assist in training
• Training national coalitions
• Develop regional strategies
•Primary support for national coalitions
• Review assessments
• Fund raise
• Final review of assessments
Global Secretariat
Regional Leads
Duties and ResponsibilitiesDuties and Responsibilities
• Convenes national coalition
• Coordinates training workshops
• Organizes researchers
• Communicates with TAI network
• Handles budget
•Initiates advocacy
•Fundraise
• Conducts legal analysis
• Researches case studies
• Fills out TAI indicators
• Writes report
• Promotes advocacy
• Fundraise
National LeadNational TAI
CoalitionNational
Advisory Panel
• Primary support for national coalitions
• Help select case studies
• Review assessments
CommunicationsCommunications
Regional Lead
Organization
Global Secretariat
(WRI)Coach
TAI Model of InfluenceTAI Model of Influence
Close gaps in access law, institutions and practices
Governments and Int’l Institutions
CSOs
TAI assessments Advocacy tools
Flexible Research DesignFlexible Research Design
Benefits of Joining TAI?Benefits of Joining TAI?
Credible research Capacity building
Learning community Information sharing Regional advocacy
Brand and prestige Advocacy tools Funding
Solid Research
Methodology
TAI Benefits
TAI Coalition
21
7 Step Action Plan7 Step Action Plan
Form a national coalition1.
Form an advisory panel2.
Plan a TAI assessment: Chose priority sectors and case studies
3.
Data Collection: interviews, legal analysis etc
4.
Data Analysis: evaluate government performance
5.
Draft assembly and review process6.
Publish results and begin advocacy7.
What Does it Mean to Join TAI?What Does it Mean to Join TAI?
Assess your government’s progress in implementing Principle 10
Build National-Level Coalitions
Work with multiple stakeholders
Advocate for reform or initiate capacity-building projects
Disseminate information
Future of TAIFuture of TAI
Widen Network
• Expand to new countries• Engage new partners• Continue country assessments
Deepen Advocacy
Diversify Activities
• Continue to engage in countries that have completed assessments
• Emphasize “on the ground change”• Advocate for reforms
• In countries that have completed assessments, support other activities
• Encourage action plans and better communication strategies
• New water assessment• Poverty-sensitization
TAI Training:
Methodology
TAI Assessment: Four Pillars
Acc
ess
to
Just
ice
Acc
ess
to
Info
rmat
ion
Pu
blic
P
arti
cip
atio
n
Cap
acit
y B
uild
ing
How are the four pillars evaluated?How are the four pillars evaluated?
PRACTICE
LAW The TAI Assessment
measures LAW and
PRACTICE
Constitutional Law
TAI Assessment StructureTAI Assessment Structure
Constitutional Law
Case Studies
Access to Information:
27 indicators
Public Participation:31 indicators
Access to Justice:
33 indicators
6 constitutional law indicators applied once per assessment
+General Law
16 general law indicators applied once per assessment
+
Capacity Building:
12 capacity building
indicators applied
once per assessment
Valuing Indicators: Constitutional LawValuing Indicators: Constitutional Law
1. How clear and inclusive are constitutional guarantees to the right to a clean and/or safe environment?
What are the case studies?What are the case studies?
They study access rights “on the ground”
`
Capacity Building and Poverty are also measured using the above case studies.
Case StudiesCase Studies
Emergencies
Air QualityMonitoring
Facility Reporting
Policymaking
Regulatory
Project level
Access to Information
Public Participation
Environmental Harm
Water QualityMonitoring
State of EnviroReports
Non-Compliance
Access to Justice
Access to Information
Public Participation
Access to Information Case Studies
Public Participation Case Studies
Access to Justice Case Studies
Poverty Case StudiesPoverty Case Studies
Captures the concerns of the poor
Minimum of 6 case studies Access to information (2)
Public Participation (2)
Access to Justice (2)
Poverty-sensitized indicators
Prescriptive Case Types
Case Types at
Researchers’ Discretion
Total Minimum
Cases
Access to Information 4 4 8
Public Participation 3 3 6
Access to Justice 3 1 4
TOTALS 10 8 18
Number of Case StudiesNumber of Case Studies
Measuring Capacity BuildingMeasuring Capacity Building
1) The government’s ability to provide access
2) The public’s ability to access the system
3) The environment for media and CSOs
Indicator Values
IndicatorResearch Guidelines
Explanation of Value
Understanding the TAI IndicatorsUnderstanding the TAI Indicators
Recording SourcesRecording Sources
Legal Research
Interviews
Media
Case FormsCase Forms
Case forms SUMMARIZE the case.
It should include:
•Local Context•Background•Relevant details
Sources for Legal AnalysisSources for Legal Analysis
Best Practices for ResearchBest Practices for Research
TAI OutcomesTAI Outcomes
TAI OutcomesTAI Outcomes