Integrated management for Rumanian Local Authorities

Dear Participants:

last week I was invited by Fundatia de Perfectionare Profesionala in Administratia Publica, an organisation with long term expertise regarding capacity building of local authorities. Last week, the second traing on Integrated Managementfor Sustainability took place and representative of 8 rumanian and 3 moldavian municipalities participated.

Climate change was not the main focus of the workshop. The local authorities want to know more about IMS as an instrument to improve basic aspects such as management of water resources including waste water treatment, increase renewable energy, take the right decisions for sustainable infrastructures or to increase jobs - specially within the "green economy" and for young people.

But of course, all these aspects are related to and influenced by climate change.

We discussed (not easy, because we needed translation) intensely that IMS requieres a change of thinking in the administration - a challange specially in those new EU member states where there is no tradition to follow all steps of a management cycle and to look for a participatory approach.

The Rumanian and Moldavian local authorities expect by implementing an environmental or sustainability management system also better access to financial support from the European Commission and other funding institution. And yes, a well structured and transparent management system will underline the profesionality of the local authority and increase trust. Funding institutions can be much more confident, that local authorities with proper management will have less conflicts and will achieve the agreed objectives!

Fundatia de Perfectionare will continue to offer training on IMS as the National Rumanian Training Hub. The Rumanian Environmental Ministry is supporting these approach and Lake Constance Foundation contributes with background material and experiences.

The German Environmental Ministry and German Environmental Agency support the dissemination and implementation of IMS in Eastern European Countries by co-financing training, translation of guidance etc.

Best wishes, Marion