Management and Coordination

The Environment and Security Initiative was established in 2003 by OSCE, UNDP, and UNEP. In 2004, NATO became an associated member of the Initiative, and since then coordinates with ENVSEC its environmental activities that are aiming at enhancing the security in vulnerable regions, and supports selected ENVSEC projects that are in line with NATO’s geographical and thematic priorities. From 2006 inwards the Initiative is strengthened by two new members – UNECE and REC.

The ENVSEC Management Board is the key decision-making body of the Initiative, which is composed of representatives from each of the partner organizations, who chair it in turn annually. It provides direction to the Initiative on overall strategy, regional priorities, the ENVSEC work programme and budget. The Management Board derives guidance on key strategic, policy, and regional issues and on support for the implementation of activities from biennial Environment and Security Conferences comprising all participating countries and other stakeholders, and biannual Donors’ Fora with participation of both active and potential donors’ organizations. 

Day-to-day activities of the ENVSEC Initiative are coordinated by the ENVSEC Secretariat, consisting of the Coordination Unit (Senior Programme Manager, Coordination Officer and Administrative Assistant) hosted by UNEP at its Regional Office for Europe in Geneva, and four Regional Desk Officers, one per each region. The latter are responsible for development, monitoring and reporting on implementation of regional work programmes and information-sharing among different actors, through Regional Coordination Meetings organized once a year.

To ensure active participation of beneficiary countries in planning and monitoring of ENVSEC programmes and projects, the countries are asked to provide complementary expertise in the form of dedicated staff – National Focal Points, usually representing national Ministries of Environment and Foreign Affairs.

Implementation of each project activity is the responsibility of one or several ENVSEC partner organizations, designated by the ENVSEC Management Board based on their mandates and capacities.

At the country level, country and field offices of OSCE, UNDP and REC participate actively in project planning and monitoring, with the support of national agencies, NGOs, academia and research institutions when needed.