EU4Environment Resource efficiency and cleaner production project in Armenia
Project title: European Union for Environment Regional Programme “Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) Project
Total duration of the project: 32 months
Project Location(s): Armenia
Beneficiary (ies): Small and Medium Enterprises
Project partners/Implementing organisations:
The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by five Partner organisations: OECD, UNECE, UNEP, UNIDO and the World Bank.
Project in Armenia is implemented by the Armenian Office of the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus which is an independent, non-profit organization, established to assist in solving environmental problems as well as the development of the civic society in the countries of the South Caucasus.
Project description/goals
The general objective of EU4Environment is to help the partner countries preserve their natural capital and increase people's environmental well-being by supporting environment-related action, demonstrating and unlocking opportunities for greener growth, and setting mechanisms to better manage environmental risks and impacts. The program is implemented by a consortium of international partners, including OECD, UNIDO, UN Environment, UNECE and the World Bank.
The project is aimed to provide a description of support activities and advisory services on the application of Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) in Armenia as a part of the implementation of the project “European Union for Environment (EU4Environment)” – a regional programme to be implemented in six Eastern partner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova,and Ukraine) hereinafter called “EaP countries”. Project overall contributes to “Result 2. Output will introduce Circular Economy principles in Armenia by building national capacity and demonstrating RECP in SMEs”.
Project uses RECP methodology and practices embedded on Circular Economy principles and applies practe piloted within EaP Green RECP Demonstration project (2013 – 2017). Project helps to increase productivity, product quality and competitiveness of SMEs in the country. Results of RECP assessments and implementation of RECP measures designed for selected industry SMEs will also serve to strengthen awareness and demonstrate benefits and best practices on circular economy using Resource efficiency and Cleaner production
RECP aims at
- Resource Efficiency: optimization of the productive use of natural resources (materials, water and energy);
- Waste Minimization; Minimization of the adverse impact of production systems on the environment and nature through the reduction of wastes and emissions;
- People’s well-being: Minimization of risks to people and communities and enable their development.
Project will be implemented in accordance with the following work packages
WP 1. RECP Implementation Management and Institutionalization(Stakeholder meetings, networking activities, annual regional RECP events, alumni meetings and strategies to sustain RECP services).
WP 2. RECP Industry Demonstrations(RECP Coaching and Assessment for 15 new and 10 EaP Green Demonstration SMEs, supported by RECP audits, assessment reports and recommendation packages for each individual company).
As a result of assessments, companies will benefit from economic, environmental and social benefits, improved health, safety and environmental conditions. In particular, RECP audits will enable:
- Reduction of production costs and support to technology enhancements;
- Increase in labor productivity and improvement of health and safety conditions;
- Improvement in product quality using Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production methods and applications;
- Reduction of costs associated with input material, resources, water, waste production and pollution, reduction of GHG emissions and Climate change mitigation;
- Improvement of production conditions, company’s competitiveness and environmental performance;
- Improvement of public opinion about the company.
WP 3. NIP activities for RECP awareness and knowledge management, including coaching and networking activities, preparation of Communication plan, national RECP conferences, and Circular Economy thematic awareness events to benefit from the established knowledge-sharing mechanism and online knowledge-sharing platform. The component will be contributing to the events and presenting Armenia’s RECP experiences and business cases, and newly identified results of RECP audits to stakeholder groups and beneficiaries.
The project includes the following result areas:
Project will improve knowledge, awareness and communication with customers, and will serve to transfer benefits of RECP through: 1) resource productivity and environmental performance of small and medium business companies, 2) improved quality of products and services, 3) creating additional economic and environmental benefits, strengthened health and safety conditions for business owners and start-ups.
Project will have the following outputs:
- Improved access to resource/energy efficiency and cleaner production advisory services provided to 25 SMEs and women-led business companies in Armenia based on circular economy principles and methodology, supported by 25 RECP assessments (audits) within RECP saving catalogue, action and monitoring plans for each company.
- Project will design and provide a coaching program on RECP for the staff of at least 25 demonstration companies and RECP experts to assist demonstration companies during RECP assessment. RECP saving catalogue will provide analysis of economic savings, reduction of water and energy expenses, decrease of emissions, effluents and waste, . technical, economic and environmental feasibility evaluation of the selected RECP measures.
- Enhance knowledge and awareness of producers in pilot demonstration companies on Circular Economy principles and RECP through coaching and audit recommendations improving their environmental, economic and social performance, competitiveness in the market, introducing innovative approaches in selected industry sectors
- Enhance economic development and competitiveness among SMEs using energy-saving business models in line with circular economy policies and practices, based on resource efficiency, clean production, reduction of use of water,energyand material resources, sources,climate mitigation practices relevant for selected industry sectors,
- The developed modality to support the exchange of experience among Circular Economy/RECP experts and business owners to support professional networking in the country via alumni and information events, stakeholder discussions and elaboration of strategy of RECP service provision.
- Establishment of a national professional network for RECP knowledge sharing to promote technical expertise exchange, proper knowledge management and regular exchange among professionals to strengthen the national capacities and collaboration on Circular Economy/RECP in Armenia.
About EU4Environment
EU4Environment was launched in the context of an important political momentum of the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership, which showed good progress towards the “2020 Deliverables for 2020” and reinforced EU support towards environmental goals following the European elections. EU4Environment was also launched in the context of a politically dynamic environment in the EaP countries. This included the important political and institutional changes in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine as a result of government restructuring and/or Parliamentary elections. The Mobilisation and Inception Phase of EU4Environment (January-October 2019) showed that the Action was very timely, relevant and critically needed. By bringing together environmental and economic actors, EU4Environment will help to deliver policy and legislative changes, making planning and investment greener, stimulating the uptake of innovative technologies, adopting new business models, and creating green jobs. It will also promote better environmental governance, improved management of protected areas and forests, and sustainable trade. The scope of the Action was defined in cooperation with all partner countries. The Action builds on important achievements of past cooperation programmes, such as Greening Economies in the Eastern Neighbourhood (EaP GREEN), the Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG), and the Emerald Network, which were completed in 2017-18. It will also ensure synergies with other EU-funded initiatives (EU4Climate, EU4Business, EU4Energy, SIGMA), coordination with European Union Delegations and engagement of the civil society.
