Water Quality and Quantity Monitoring, Regional Data Exchange
Synopsis / Summary
Environment remains an area that presents significant opportunities for confidence-building measures at the technical level aimed at enhancing communication and laying the foundation for future cooperation between Armenia and her neighbors, Iran, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have already engaged in very effective and enhanced technical level dialogue on trans-boundary water issues in the context of USAID-funded and other donor activities in the past three years. Watershed protection, which can be extended to include sustainable forest management, wetland protection, and biodiversity conservation, is an important element of improved water supply and quality and can be supported in the context of any broader, multi-donor initiative. In addition, information sharing and environmental education cooperation offers a low-cost option for increasing awareness and promoting environmental initiatives, both nationally and regionally, based on the experiences of the different countries. The potential roles of the Regional Environment Center for the Caucasus should be constantly reviewed in this context. Recently UNDP/GEF initiated a project on reducing transboundary degradation in Kura-Aras river basin, which also includes Iran. Joint water quality monitoring between Armenian and Iranian experts will soon take place due to support of the project.
Location of Experience
Armenia
UNDP's / Partner's Role
GIVE SHORT DESCRIPTION OF UNDP'S AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS' ROLE HERE
Timeframe & Status
WRITE STATUS OF PROJECT/INITIATIVE, DURATION, ETC HERE (IF APPLICABLE)
In this chapter, describe the Issue(s)/Problem(s) tackled by the project/intervention
Was there a problem that required this project/intervention?
What was/is the need to act?
-> start your entry after the next sub-heading "Background"
Background
Re-write the usual "Background" so as to answer the question
What was the issue to be solved?
What was wrong/didn’t function/need fixing?
Why was there a need to act?
Best if written from the perspective of an individual, family or group/community. Interviews w/locals give a nice touch early on, if indeed they can set the problem succinctly and clearly (which they usually do, in simple, moving and powerful every-day language...)
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Goal and Objectives
Goal or purpose of the project/intervention
For example: secure access to water by the poor? Water governance in irrigation? Private sector participation? National policy on water governance (revision of laws, localizing water governance, etc…)? Resolve conflicts? save water resources? etc..
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The Solution (Description of Action Taken)
In this section, describe how the project/intervention answered the need set in the preivous chapter ("The Problem"). Explain the "path" that led to the results.
Cover all points below, like in a press story (what, who, where, when, how?)
-> start your entry after the next sub-heading "WHAT"
WHAT
Write about what specific solution was used to tackle the Problem described above
Specify:
The setting (same as "Context"): the different institutional, legislative, social, economic and technical dimensions;
Description of the solution: What approach was chosen? Main outcomes? What was the intended change? What change has eventually been achieved?
Innovation: What is special about this solution/intervention? What makes it different from other approaches?
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WHO
Describe the main stakeholders
Who is implementing?
Who are the stakeholders?
What is the involvement of UNDP, if any?
And who were the project’s direct beneficiaries?
Also,
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WHERE
Show the geographic and socio-economic context
What is the location of the experience?
Any important contextual details: in the countryside, in the city, in a protected area, coastal zone, wetland?
Who lives in this area? What socio-economic / ethnic factors are important?
What are the active groups (farmers, user groups, women…)?
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WHEN
Mention the duration and time-related aspects
When was the project implemented?
What's the status/progress of the project/intervention?
Was the duration appropriate, too long, needed for such a project to evolve?
Does/did time-related factors have any specific influence/impact on the experience?
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HOW
Describe step by step how the project/intervention was set up/implemented
Try to address the following points:
Specify the steps taken/necessary (if possible/relevant starting in reverse chronological order — the last activity first and then moving back to the initial first steps)
Make sure to keep in mind the initial Issue/Problem and tie whatever activity to how well it responds to and/or solves the problem identified in the previous chapter
Focus on the five Main themes of the HDR 2006 to show the linkages between field-based activities and analysis/policy
Stress on innovation versus traditional approaches: Has traditional knowledge/patterns been applied/supported? How did they contribute to advancing the project/intervention? What sort of innovative steps were adopted instead? How well was this all received by beneficiaries; or was there resistance to change?
Cooperation between the partners / stakeholders: How did it work?
External factors/challenges: What influences from outside had an impact on the project/intervention? Were there any specific challenges to overcome?
Finally: What did it cost? What was the Source of Funding: UNDP, donors, government, others?
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The Analysis (Results and Lessons Learned)
In this section, make sure you describe the main results and how/why the "Solution" described in the previous chapter has solved the problems/issues/challenges.
What has been achieved? What are the changes?
What went as planned, what not?
Any insights / lessons learned for future activities?
Also focus on unintended consequences: Surprises, new challenges or new opportunities. Explain why the "path" had led to the results.
-> start your entry after the next sub-heading "Main Results"
Main Results
Describe the main outcomes
What concrete achievements have been made?
What is different / what has changed for the beneficiaries?
For example, detailing the main outcomes and their impact in terms of changes/contribution made towards:
Management and access;
public-private partnerships;
water production and environment; or
sanitation & security
T O P I C S - N E E D - T O - B E - D I S C U S S E D - S T I L L !!!
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Lessons Learned & Replication
To-the-point analysis on WHY the results have (or have not) been achieved
Highlight key elements that were helpful / hindering in the process
Stress on facilitating factors as well as challenges/barriers that contributed to success/failure of parts of the intervention/project.
Why was this a success? Why have certain results not been achieved?
What specifically do you think has triggered certain developments?
Had changes been made to the original plans? Why?
What is the difference compared to other, similar experiences?
Try to identify patterns behind the process or outcome, or important lessons, that would be useful for others planning a similar intervention/project
Would you do everything the same way again? Why? What would you change?
What are key recommendations for similar endeavours? How would you go about to replicate thsi project/experience?
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Testimonies, Opinions, Validation (Reality Check)
"Voices from the field"
For instance, document excerpts from interviews with beneficiaries or other stakeholders to reflect the impact of the intervention and/or the actual or perceived results through a "field lense".
Questions for interviews could inculde
How would you describe the project / the results?
Which problems have been solved? What remains to be done?
Did you learn anything throug/during/becaus of this intervention? Any major insights?
Did everything go as you expected? Were there surprises? Unexpected developments?
Etc...
What has changed compared to the initial problem/situation?
-> This should also be done with an eye to the possibility of future video interviews, or a depiction of the quotations in a multi-media format.
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Outlook (Conclusions and Next Steps)
In this last sub-section, give a short outlook about what else is expected in this project/intervention
Have the results and processes been institutionalized? How?
What has been / will be done to ensure that they are sustained beyond the timeframe of the project/intervention?
What further interventions would be necessary to tackle remaining/new issues?
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References, Sources, and Further Information
Interviewees and Key Contacts
List names and addresses (e-mail, postal) of all people interviewed or resource persons cited
Also indicate who could give further information
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Sorce Documents, References, Cross-Links, and Further Readings
1. Indicate all sources of information used
Apply bibliographic citation
Provide URLs for online documents or note address where printed documents are held
2. Create links to similar projects and/or useful information on WaterWiki or external webpages
-> Consult the Help-pages to find out how to insert internal/external links, upload documents to this site, etc.
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