Policy links
All EfD centers work closely with government and non- government institutions on policy issues of concern to their countries or regions. Please read more at each center´s section. The Sida Helpdesk for Environmental Economics works with international donors and development cooperation agencies.
The EfD initiative strives to build strong policy advice that is research-based and relevant for policy planning and implementation in developing countries. By developing and strengthening research-based policy advice, the EfD research and training components may have synergetic effects and may have a wider use than otherwise would have been the case.
Policy advice functions as one of three legs on which the environmental economics capacity building is founded, together with research and academic training. Through various means it strives to build a bridge between research, and policy planning and decision making. The rationale behind developing a strong component of policy advice is the current gap between academic research and government policy formulation. Typically, the two areas of work rarely meet or influence each other. This is a missed opportunity.
Sida Helpdesk for Environmental Economics at EEU
In an effort to reduce this gap, the Environmental Economics Unit (EEU), University of Gothenburg, has established the Helpdesk for Environmental Economics. It functions as a conveyor of research results to policy planning and decision making on issues relevant to poverty reduction and sustainable economic development and environmental management.
The Sida Helpdesk for Environmental Economics at EEU, University of Gothenburg, collaborates closely with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and with a larger group of international donors and development cooperation agencies. Key forums in which the Helpdesk participates include:
OECD/DAC EPOC on Natural Resources Governance and Capacity Development:
This working group brings together expertise from Ministries of International Development and Ministries of Environment to improve capacity development.
OECD/DAC Task Team on Strategic Environmental Assessment:
SEAs is a tool to improve decision making for policies, plans, or programs. A task team has developed guidance on how to promote the practical use of SEAs in development cooperation such as sector support, mega projects, budget support, etc. More information can be found at the following website: www.seataskteam.net.
Poverty-Environment Partnership (PEP):
PEP is a network of bilateral aid agencies, multilateral development banks, UN agencies, and international NGOs that aims to address key poverty-environment issues. More information can be found at the following website: www.povertyenvironment.net/pep/.
The World Bank; Institution-centered Strategic Environmental Assessment: As part of EEU’s research collaboration with the World Bank (Environment Department), EEU i) develops methods to assess the impacts of institution-centered SEAs conducted on Forest Sector Reform in Kenya, ii) identifies lessons learned from institution-centered SEAs conducted at the World Bank’s request in Bangladesh, Western Africa, and Kenya, and iii) develops methodological guidance to enhance the World Bank’s and other SEA practitioners’ use of institution-centered SEA.
EEU also collaborates with the World Bank regarding its Sida-funded program “Strategic Approaches to Environment and Development,” which - in addition to the pilot program on SEA - also includes support to integration of environment in PRS and in Poverty Assessments.
Joint analytical work on environment at the country level: The Helpdesk will contribute to sharing and making use of country level environmental analytical work among development partners. This involves the EU, the World Bank, UNEP, UNDP, and several bilateral donors. As part of this effort the Helpdesk will participate in meetings with the European Commission with the aim of increasing the usability of Country Environmental Profiles.
European Union: EEU communicates with key people in the European Commission in order to obtain information and discuss environmental integration in EU’s Development cooperation. A typical activity includes formulating written comments on EU’s Country Strategy Papers.
