Partners for Environmental Cooperation is a UK-based multi-stakeholder partnership, set up following the most recent Environment for Europe conference to tackle the environmental and sustainability challenges in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA). It brings together the knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm that resides in the UK and matched the respective talents of the public and private sectors and non-governmental organisations.

PECE projects operate in the EECCA (Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia) region i.e. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Organisation

Defra hosted the Secretariat in the founding stages of the initiative. A steering group, made up of representatives from public sector, business and civil society, is responsible for planning the work programme.

A partnership of LEAD international, Groundwork UK and Creative Concern were invited by the Steering Group to develop a new PECE business plan for future development of PECE and to host PECE Secretariat for 2007-2008. The Secretariat will support the creation of new partnerships and projects by matching skills and interests of members and partners in the EECCA region.

New vision for PECE

• Promotion of knowledge sharing and collaboration on environmental and sustainability issues between PECE members and EECCA partners
• Expansion of PECE membership from UK-only to include institutions in Europe and the EECCA region
• Development of innovative projects focusing on EECCA region priority policies and themes, including capacity building and facilitating and managing change using PECE’s strong multi-sectoral nature
• Database of UK and EECCA institutions – brokering system to match interests
• Online learning groups, online collaboration tools

Networking Events are held on an annual basis to review past and planned projects, providing a forum for networking for interested parties. All members will benefit from a web-based service designed to facilitate partner networking and giving essential information and advice on existing and new project opportunities.