OAS Department of Human Development

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM “International Course on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Strategic Assessment (ESA) for Wetlands Management”

                                                                                                                                                                        OAS/DHD-CIR.087/2008

1. Study venue: Ramsar Regional Center for Training & Research on Wetlands in the Western Hemisphere (CREHO), address: Ciudad del Saber, Clayton, Edificio 826-A, Panamá, Panamá. Tel: (507) 317-1242. Fax: (507) 317-0876. E-Mail: [email protected]

2. Coordinator of the course: Rosa Montañez. E-Mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

3. Modality: Onsite

4. Start and end dates: November 24^th, to December 5^th, 2008

5. Course duration: Two (2) weeks

6. Language: English

7) Objectives of the course: The goal is to provide participants both analytic and methodological knowledge and skills needed to use and apply tools for environmental impact assessment and environmental strategic assessment within the framework of conservation and wise use of wetlands. The curricula has been designed on the basis of guidelines and laws concerning EIA and ESA for land planning and decision-making processes of environmental licensing under the Ramsar Convention.

8) Content of the course:

• EIA and ESA Conceptual Framework - Definitions - EIA and ESA as planning and decision-making tools for wetlands management
• Ramsar Convention Guidelines and the EIA-ESA - Resolutions, recommendations and guidelines of the Ramsar Convention relating to EIA and ESA - The Ramsar Convention and the environmental impact assessment within the framework of wise use of wetlands
• Guidelines from the Environmental Impact Commission (IAIA) - Biodiversity, ecology and environmental impact - Regional and local governmental policies
• International Legal Issues Regarding EIA and ESA - International framework for environmental impact assessments and environmental strategic assessments
• EIA in Practice - EIA guidelines as support for wise use of wetlands 6. ESA in Practice - ESA phases and inclusion of wetlands-related issues

9. Requirements:

• Professionals or technicians from the government and non-governmental organizations linked to decision-making processes regarding wetlands ecosystems, people responsible for policy development, site managers (protected areas, private reserves or properties located in wetlands). Will be an asset the experience and work on Ramsar Sites, National Wetlands Committees, policy formulation and decision making process for wetlands..

· At least three years of professional experience in the environmental sector with emphasis on wetlands ecosystems. Will be an asset if the experience is related with environmental impact assessment and/or strategic environmental assessment related to wetlands ecosystems.

· Have command of both spoken and written English. Where English is not the first language, the applicant must present a certificate or evidence of competence in English.

· Be physically fit to fulfill the obligations of the course.

· A minimum of basic computer skills.

· Copies of University transcripts or in special circumstances copies of relevant diplomas and certificates are required.

• Candidates must submit:
• Admission Request Form
1. CV indicating formal education and experience in the area of natural resources and/or wetlands.
2. Summary of specific interest for taking the course and how the course and the knowledge will be useful and apply in terms of impact in his/her work and responsibilities.
3. Official letter from the institution where he/she works authorizing his/her participation.

• Submission of completed application form by the deadline set by the National Liaison Organization (ONE).[1] It is the candidate’s responsibility to ascertain the deadline set by the ONE in his or her country of residence

10. Benefits:

· For successful candidates, DHD/OAS round trip economy class air tickets from country of origin or residence to place of study. ².

· Ramsar Regional Center for Training and Research on Wetlands in the Western Hemisphere (CREHO) will cover

§ Room and board

§ Medical service is free but students must pay for any drugs, analysis or treatments prescribed

§ Local transportation

§ Other expenses concerning training registration and tuition

11. Responsibilities of selected candidates:

· Selected scholarship recipients are responsible for obtaining the necessary visa(s) to enter the country of study and the corresponding transit(s). The OAS will not be responsible for any costs relating to obtaining visas or transfer documentation.

· Each scholarship recipient is responsible for arriving in time for the commencement of activities on the date established by the institution offering the course or program.

· The selected candidates must confirm their acceptance to the OAS Department of Human Development in Washington, DC., through the OAS country office in their respective countries and through the ONE in order for the OAS to proceed with making the necessary travel arrangements to purchase the air travel tickets, economy class, round-trip, between their country of origin and the study location or, if the scholarship is refused, to appoint another candidate.

· If the scholarship recipient fails to travel on the scheduled dates, or changes routes, after the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS) has purchased his/her travel ticket, he/she will be responsible for paying the difference in ticket costs in order to arrive at the course site in time. The scholarship recipient will furthermore have to reimburse the GS/OAS the total cost of the airfare for his/her travel from his/her country of residence to the site where the Professional Development Course will take place and back if, after the ticket has been purchased, he/she declines the scholarship without written authorization from the Department of Human Development. The latter includes any additional costs, if any, incurred by the GS/OAS, such as extra costs for accommodation during the scholarship recipient’s travel to and from the country where the course will be held.

· If the scholarship recipient renounces, cancels or otherwise terminates the scholarship after the scholarship has begun, without showing sufficient cause to the GS/OAS, he/she will have to reimburse GS/OAS the amount of all scholarship expenses spent on his/her behalf.

12. Presentation of candidacies: The online application form must be completed on-line and can be accessed at: http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/onsite.aspx?culture=en&navid=282

Once the applicant has completed the online application form and submitted it, a copy will be sent automatically to his/her e-mail account. This completed form must be printed, signed and submitted to the National Liaison Office (ONE) with all other forms (http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/formspd.aspx?culture=en&navid=282) that must be completed electronically or in typewritten format.

The following is the list of National Liaison Organizations (ONEs) in the OAS Member states: http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/ones.aspx?culture=en&navid=282

Please note that the official announcement is published in the language of instruction of the course and is available via the Educational Portal of the Americas Web page at: http://www.educoea.org.

Any questions regarding submission of applications for this course should be sent to: [email protected]

IMPORTANT NOTICE: THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS CORRESPONDING TO THE 2008 REGULAR BUDGET

Maria Levens, Director

Department of Human Development