in this context, the UNDP’s environment initiatives supported the Government of Timor-Leste in ratifying the three Rio Conventions and the Kyoto Protocol. UNDP has also supported a cost-benefit analysis for the Montreal Protocol and Vienna Convention which will inform the discussion on ratification of these agreements. As a means of creating a coordination mechanism for the implementation of these agreements and to create a forum for discussion on environment and natural resource management, UNDP supported the Government in establishing an Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Environment and Natural Resource Management. It is expected that this will act as a forum for discussion amongst key Ministries and State Secretariats on key projects and new initiatives and their impacts on the environment, and as such will serve to reinforce the need for inclusion of environment in the policy and planning development processes. These activities were developed under the Environmental Governance Support Programme (EGSP), closed since December 2008.
In addition to the above activities, and as an integral component of the EGSP, a National Capacity Self Assessment on the implementation of the Rio Conventions was developed, presenting analysis on the capacity gaps and key areas of intervention for Capacity Development under these. These issues are being addressed under the ongoing projects and it is expected that new programmes will also address this. The Government is also using this document as a reference in their annual planning.

Current projects of the portfolio include the Sustainable Land Management project (under the UNCCD) that aims to mainstream and build capacity at all levels for SLM, working towards having the principles of SLM integrated into national policy and planning; this project is implemented with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ National Directorate for Forestry and in close collaboration with the State Secretariat for Environment. Under the UNFCCC, Timor-Leste is entering the inception phase of the National Adaptation Programme of Action.
It is expected that through the project, knowledge on the impact of Climate Change on Timor-Leste will be furthered and that a national structure to support adaptation will have been set up. In the course of this year, it is also expected that the Initial National Communication will also begin, addressing the following key areas: greenhouse gas inventory; mitigation options; adaptation and vulnerability assessment; education, training and public awareness; technology transfer; and research and systematic observation. These projects are implemented with the State Secretariat for Environment.

Similarly, under the UNCBD, the UNDP and GoTL are now beginning to implement the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) that proposes to develop a national policy, strategies and action plan for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the Programme of Works on Protected Areas to support sustainable planning and management of the Protected Areas Network in Timor-Leste.
In 2009, UNDP Environment will also be implementing an initiation plan on Environmental Mainstreaming in Timor-Leste with three key outcomes: the development of a project document for the UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative including a UNV implemented component on demonstration pilots for Public Awareness on Environment; the development of a project document on Climate Change mitigation through the promotion of access to sustainable energy; and technical advisory services.
It is also expected that in the context of this project support will be provided to develop a National Environmental Policy and to begin further work in the context of Environmental legislation.
The project to be developed under Climate Change mitigation and sustainable access to energy will be directly linked to the pilot project on rural energy (Participatory Rural Energy Development Programme) implemented by UNDP in close collaboration with the State Secretariat for Energy Policy and will refer to the Rural Energy Policy UNDP and the GoTL developed in the context of this project.
Operationally, the Environment projects are implemented in close collaboration with the Government of Timor-Leste, ensuring that all key documents are developed in consultation with stakeholders and partners and that project teams regularly meet with their direct counterparts. As part of our management structure, UNDP Environment projects ensure that the Project Management Board (composed of the relevant Ministers and Secretaries of State) meets regularly and that at these meetings the project team presents progress of the project and status of key activities, to allow for close monitoring of the project by the key counterparts.
These meetings also provide opportunity for requests for support and political guidance in the implementation of the activities of the project and the development of documents.
Key documents of the projects are also taken by the relevant direct counterparts for approval at the Council of Ministers. In this manner, the activities of UNDP Environment aim to provide support to the planning mechanisms of the Government of Timor-Leste and to enhance national capacity in managing environmental resources, while improving upon the quality of life of the Timorese.