Invitation Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) may serve as a tool for analysis of environmental impacts and the integration of environmental considerations in strategic planning and decision making. The programme aims at contributing to sustainable development, by supporting capacity building in Strategic Environmental Assessment and integrating environment in strategic planning, decision making and implementation initiated or promoted by the participants. http://itp.sida.se/itp/Programcatalog.nsf/0/AC22FD9AEB85AF06C1257EAC0046D572?opendocument It offers support for your organisation to strengthen, adapt and maintain capacity to implement SEA. Participants will take part of the latest developments in SEA, supported by Swedish experts and resource persons, develop a network of collegaues from Sweden and other countries, and enhance knowledge in new working methods. The training programme methodology is based on the assumption that your organisation wishes to carry out changes and is willing to invest its own resources to achieve these changes. The programme is organized by Niras Sweden AB in collaboration with the Centre for Environment and Sustainability (GMV) at the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology. Objective The objective of the programme is to strengthen SEA capacity in the participants' organisations. The programme will support each participant in initiating and developing an "SEA Project" (SEAP) that will strengthen the use of SEA in planning processes that she/he is involved in. In the long term, the goal is to increase the integration of environmental and sustainability considerations into planning and decision-making processes in the participants' countries. BENEFITS Increased knowledge of different approaches to environmental assessments of policies, plans and programmes (SEA) Increased knowledge of methods and tools for integrating SEA with strategic planning and decision making Increased knowledge of international and regional experience of developing regulations, guidance and procedures for implementing SEA in practice Increased understanding of the importance of transparency, access to information and public participation in planning Improved skills as a “change agent” in initiating and implementing organisational change Strengthened international, regional and national networks in the field of SEA Target Group Only candidates nominated by the appropriate organisations and in accordance with national rules will be considered. Participants may be nominated by organisations and agencies that work actively with plans, policies and programmes at national or regional levels and in different sectors for which SEA is recquired or may be applied. These may be government agencies, ministries, non-governmental organisations or private enterprises involved in fields such as: economic development, water, land use, agriculture, environment, industry, natural resource management or urban development. The programme will seek diversity in the sectors represented. Priority will be given to organisations responsible for conducting, commissioning and/or reviewing SEA. Participants will be selected from organisations with demonstrated intent and possibilities to support the design and implementation of a SEAP within the organisation. Applicants to the programme should: - hold a key position at middle or high level in an organisation with a clear role in implementing or developing SEA, as described above - have the responsibility, mandate and and ambition to manage a project related to strengthening SEA capacity in the organisation - have a relevant academic degree or have appropriate knowledge otherwise acquired - be available and motivated for active participation through the whole training programme. This training has a regional focus. The following countries are invited to nominate candidates: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao DPR, Myanmar and Vietnam Contents The training programme is organized in four integrated thematic modules: Module 1, Introduction to SEA: the concept of and rationale for SEA, and methods and tools for conducting SEA Module 2, International and Swedish regulatory systems and experiences of implementation: the role of regulatory frameworks for SEA implementation and effective environmental integration. Module 3, Good governance and implementation of SEA in practice: the institutional, political, social and economic aspects for enabling the integration of environmental considerations in strategic planning. Module 4, Organisational change: organisational change theory and tools and skills for initiating, leading and managing an SEA Project within an organisation.