The role of institutional strengthening in international environmental consulting
| Author | M. Le Marchant,J. Horberry |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/pad.4230110407 |
| Date | 01 July 1991 |
| Published date | 01 July 1991 |
PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Vol.
1
1,381-399 (1991)
The role
of
institutional strengthening in international
environmental consulting
J.
HORBERRY AND
M.
LE MARCHANT
Environmenial Resources
Lid
SUMMARY
This article aims to describe, with the aid of a number of case studies, the role consultants
are playing
in
bringing improved environmental management to fruition in developing coun-
tries.
In
spite of environmental considerations entering the political agenda in the early 1970s,
global environmental deterioration continues. Donor agencies have thus recently greatly accel-
erated their assistance in this area, but are themselves not equipped
to
deal with many of
the problems and issues and
so
have hired consultants to undertake aspects of the work
programme. Typically consultants are undertaking sector studies, pollution control, environ-
mental improvement studies, and project and programme assessment, and are seen as being
primarily responsible for technical aspects. It has become clear that unless technical recommen-
dations are firmly tied into institutional and management structures, the goal of long-term
sustainability of projects
will
not
be
realized. Whilst the need for institutional strengthening
in
this respect is widely recognized, it often fails to materialize as a consequence
of
internal
resistances. Furthermore, environmental goals are still often seen as secondary and contradic-
tory to economic development goals, and are therefore not taken adequately seriously. The
article includes four case studies, which illustrate the kinds
of
measures which are currently
considered to
be
necessary to ensure the implementation
of
sustainable development pro-
grammes and projects.
INTRODUCTION
The context
Environmental issues have occupied the attention of the international community
ever since the Stockholm Conference
on
the
Human
Environment
in
1972. Since
then, tremendous progress has been made in sensitizing governments
and
non-govern-
ment organizations to the importance of the environment,
as
witnessed by the rapid
growth of new institutions and legislation. Equally, much of donor assistance now
gives explicit attention to environmental issues. However, global deterioration of
the natural environment continues to be
a
serious impediment to sustainable develop-
ment and
a
critical issue which must be addressed by all parties concerned.
Sustainability is
a
key
issue
in
the environment development debate. The concept,
as
defined by the Brundtland Commission Report, ‘Our Common Future’, is
‘a
Dr. John Horberry
is
Director
of
the International Development Division
of
Environmental Resources
Limited,
106
Gloucester Place, London WlH 3DB. Melissa
Le
Marchant is a
Consultant
with the Inter-
national Development Division
of
Environmental Resources Limited.
0271-2705/91/04038 1-19$09.50
0
1991 by John Wiley
&
Sons, Ltd.
382
J.
Horberry and
M.
Le
Marchant
process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments,
the orientation of technological development, and institutional change are all in
harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and
aspirations’. Sustainability emphasizes the importance of long-term considerations
in the development process, and draws attention to the fact that much of past develop-
ment has been pursued without due regard to the environment.
Recognition of the need for sustainable development has stimulated urgent calls
for new environmental policies and institutions for environmental planning. Particu-
larly in developing countries, where environmental problems are not only often more
severe but also where the consequences are more serious, there is a need to establish
mechanisms to build a continual assessment and monitoring of environmental factors;
a need to incorporate environmental concerns and planning at policy-making level
in both country and sector strategy documents; and a need for greater environmental
accountability within the bodies responsible for development.
Donor assistance is increasingly being provided in the environmental field, and
has included the allocation of funds to environmental management projects and
technical assistance to governments to establish environmental policies and legisla-
tion, to strengthen environmental institutions, to develop environmental planning
and management mechanisms and to encourage the participation
of
environmental
interest groups in the planning and implementation of economic development.
There has therefore already been a flurry of environmental activities on the part
of donors and governments. But this by itself is not enough: it does not ensure
that the desired changes actually become effective. The key issue is how one can
translate the policies and procedures into environmentally sound and sustainable
development on the ground. This implementation gap has been the main bottleneck
to the success of numerous attempts at environmental programmes. It is the gap
between formal policies and legislation and the effective administrative and technical
mechanisms for their implementation. The successful implementation of a programme
depends largely on the degree of institutional capacity available to carry out this
implementation.
Equally, there has been neglect
of
the management component of environmental
programmes. This too hinges on institutional issues: for effective management of
the environment on a sustainable basis, it is vital that changes are incorporated
into the institutional framework of the relevant organizations and, in particular,
that mechanisms are included that allow for the strengthening of the relevant institu-
tions when and where necessary. Only by ensuring this will there be the necessary
management capabilities in the long run.
The
role
of consultants
As
in all development sectors, consulting organizations provide a range of pro-
fessional services to donors and governments, undertaking studies aimed at analysing
needs for environmental management, providing technical assistance as programmes
are implemented and putting in place technical and management capability where
needed. Below we consider several consulting roles that are specific to the environmen-
tal field.
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