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CAPACITY-BUILDING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR CARIBBEAN ENTERPRISES
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
22 - 26 NOVEMBER, 2004
The Centre for Development of Enterprise (CDE) in collaboration with the International Network for Environmental Management (INEM), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), the Caribbean Business Services Ltd. (CBSL) hosted an international seminar from 22 – 26 November 2004 on “Environmental Management Systems for Caribbean Enterprises”, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
The seminar marked the second phase of the Sustainable Management Action Research and Training (SMART) programme, which CDE and INEM launched in May 2004.
The 5-day Seminar covered horizontal and sector specific topics for areas such as tourism and agro-food. Topics included.
Implementing ISO 14001 through group approaches for small and medium-sized enterprises; Introducing EMS in very small businesses; Developing environmental services in the private sector; Developing and financing environmental management pilot projects; and Linking and integrating international standards, norms and labels with EMS.
Thirty environmental professionals from 7 ACP countries attended the SMART seminar. An important objective of the meeting was that the participants became part of the CDE consultant’s network. It was intended that they constitute a database of well-trained and qualified consultants from the private sector for Environmental Management in the Caribbean region. The formation of a regional professional association was also discussed.
A direct result from the technical workshops held during the seminar were some 15 project ideas which were drafted for national and regional projects covering five Caribbean countries and involving a potential of 50 private companies to be assisted mainly in the tourism and agro-food sector.
Five of the Institute’s members took part in the seminar (Peter Reeson, Denise Forrest, Bert Brown, Paul Carroll & Ianthe Smith) and since that time the JIEP’s Council has embraced the SMART programme and developed two projects which will be funded by the CDE, mainly ‘EMS implementation in eight SMEs and the “Establishment of a Regional Association of Environmental Professionals.’ The objectives of these projects are to build capacity in environmental managers and professionals and to share experiences and develop a network among Caribbean Environmental Professionals.
CAPACITY-BUILDING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR SOUTHERN AFRICAN ENTERPRISES
MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE
19-23 September 2005
Denise Forrest and Paul Carroll represented JIEP at the SMART Seminar in Southern Africa at the invitation of the CDE. Approximately 45 environmental professionals from the private sector in that region participated in the training seminar which followed a similar format to that held in November 2004 in Trinidad. The Jamaican team added a special dimension which was the experience with the formulation of projects using the CDE/SMART procedures and this was invaluable to their colleagues from Southern African countries. Denise Forrest chaired the Opening Ceremony and along with Paul Carroll chaired a seminar for Mozambique business community on issues of EMS and opportunities for funding.
Additionally, the Jamaican made presentations on the following topics:
Challenges of EMS Implementation in Developing Economies – the Case of Jamaica Drafting programs and financing programs in the CDE framework illustrated by two cases: Developing environmental management pilot projects: Walkers Wood and Maroon Town. What are The Critical Success factors? Setting up regional associations: The JIEP in Jamaica.
A joint presentation was also done on the Ten Golden Rules for a project development and execution. The presentation focused on the need for a dedicated team working together to guide the conceptualizing, development and implementation of actions to improve sustainability. The SMART Team representatives also provided guidance to working groups in the design of project to establish national/regional organisations. The idea of national regional associations of environmental professionals had much support. Much interest was shown in the Jamaican/Caribbean model.
The Seminar opened up opportunities for South South collaboration between the JIEP and environmental professionals in Southern Africa.
Project 1 - EMS Implementation in Eight SMEs
The JIEP is collaborating with the Center for Development of Enterprise (CDE) to implement Environmental Management Systems in Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs). In today’s world, business and the environment are inextricably linked. International standards covering environmental management have been developed to provide organisations with the elements of an effective management system, which, can be integrated into the decision-making process to achieve efficiency as well as economic and environmental objectives. One such standard is the International Organisation for Standards (ISO) 14001. Big business is well on the way with EMS implementation. The challenge is to assist small businesses that do not have the capacity or resources to implement EMS but which yet are a significant part of the world’s trade and business.
This project seeks to implement EMS in eight SMEs selected through the interventions of CDE/JIEP and its consultant. The components of the project are as follows:
Phase 1 – Capacity Building and Company Recruitment Phase 2 – Company Environmental Assessment & Commitment Phase 3 – EMS implementation and certification
The eight companies involved in the project are Walkerswood Caribbean Foods, Central Packaging, Canco, Southern Foods, Jamaica Broilers Processing Plant, Maroon Pride, Chukka Cove Adventures and Tijile. The four SMART Team Jamaica consultants, Peter Reeson, Bert Brown, Paul Carroll and Denise Forrest, will act as consultants for the companies with the support of Camilla Joergensen, an EU consultant from Denmark. The project is scheduled to be completed in January 2007 and will result in certification of eight companies to ISO14001.
Project 2 - Caribbean Association of Environmental Professionals
The establishment of a Caribbean Association of Environmental Professionals is one of the two projects currently being implemented by the JIEP with funding from the Center for the Development of Enterprise (CDE) in Brussels.
The JIEP continues to lead activities aimed at the establishment of the regional body and it hosted a workshop at the Jamaica Pegasus (3 – 5 May 2006) that was attended by many of the regional environmental professionals who had participated at the earlier SMART Caribbean Seminar in Trinidad & Tobago. Participating in the workshop were 16 professionals from Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Facilitators of the workshop were the 3P Consortium for Environmental Management in Germany.
A steering committee headed by the JIEP’s Denise Forrest was elected to further advance the formation of the CAEP and a first AGM is being planned for mid-2007 in the eastern Caribbean. Other members of the Steering Committee are Peter Reeson, JIEP President; Dr. Paulette Bynoe of Guyana; Dr. Vernese Inniss of Barbados; and Farzia Hausil of Suriname.
Challenges of EMS Implementation in Developing Economies – The Case of Jamaica
From Trinidad to Maputo in 300 days!
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