STELLA assisted the European Commission in monitoring the implementation of projects financed by the Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE)-Third Countries. The assignment covered a wide geographical area including 12 Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, West Bank and Gaza), Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Albania in the Balkans, and St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad in the Baltic region. STELLA managed the monitoring of more than 70 projects focusing on capacity building in the fields of environment and sustainable development, including integrated coastal zone management, water and wastewater management, solid waste management, and legislation and regulatory support. STELLA reviewed and assessed progress made by projects and identified potential administrative, technical, and financial problems encountered on the ground. STELLA also played an important role in strengthening the communication and liaison between the Commission and the LIFE-Third Countries beneficiaries, as well as promoting the dissemination of lessons learned and success stories.

The objectives of this assignment financed by the World Bank were to: (1) Assess the amount of Carbon Emission Reductions (ERs) that Tunisia's wastewater sector could achieve, focusing on the Greater Tunis, Nabeul-Hamamet, and Sousse areas, and (2) Identify potential and viable Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) wastewater projects. STELLA met with officials from the Ministry of Environment and key stakeholders involved in the wastewater sector (ONAS), and visited selected wastewater treatment plants (Choutrana, Sud-Méliane). STELLA collected relevant data on wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) with a capacity of more than 18,000 people-equivalent, calculated the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) released due to the current sludge treatment practice, and assessed to what extent these emissions could be reduced. Wastewater CDM projects approved so far by the UNFCCC consist of installing anaerobic sludge digesters and flaring or using the methane produced on site. STELLA also conducted an economic and financial analysis of the potential CDM projects. We compared the economic and financial costs and benefits of anaerobic digestion projects for the six largest WWTP, based on a discounted cash flow analysis over the lifetime of the project. We calculated the Net Present Values (NPV) of each project based on expected revenues (with and without the sale of carbon credits) as well as investment and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs.

For the European Commission, STELLA coordinated the selection of the best project proposals to receive financial support from the EC Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE) Third Countries (TCY). LIFE TCY aims at contributing to the establishment of capacities and administrative structures needed in the environmental sector and developing environmental policy and action programmes in third countries bordering on the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas. In response to a call for proposals for the extension of LIFE III, the EC received about 100 new proposals from 13 eligible countries and territories (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, West Bank and Gaza, and the Baltic shoreline of Russia: St Petersburg and Kaliningrad regions) and from international organisations. The objective of the assignment was to select the best project proposals in accordance with the criteria in the LIFE Regulation and to provide technical support and assess the projects considered eligible by the Commission services. STELLA led a team of seven evaluators who assessed eligible proposals according to the following criteria: Technical and financial reliability of the applicants; Conformity with the scope of LIFE TCY, as defined in the LIFE regulation; Coherence and quality: projects should be technically and financially feasible; Institutional/capacity building effect, viability and sustainability; Interest of the project; and Dissemination/visibility.

As part of the Water Resources Sustainability activity (WRS), STELLA staff designed and built a wastewater treatment and reuse plant in Drarga (20,000 people) near Agadir. With technical and financial support from the WRS project team, the Municipality of Drarga has learned to operate the plant and sell treated wastewater to farmers for irrigation. The plant relies on a combination of anaerobic lagoons and sand filters. The Municipality collects sewage fees to recover all of the operation and maintenance (O&M) costs and some of the plant's capital costs. STELLA staff helped the municipality negotiate a cost-sharing agreement with Etablissement Régional d'Aménagement et de Construction (ERAC)/Sud, a housing development public agency, whereby ERAC/Sud assumed total responsibility for building the main sewer line in Drarga. ERAC/Sud's contribution represented about 30 percent of the total cost of improving sanitation in Drarga.

STELLA participated in the preparation of a financing proposal for the decentralisation and restructuring of the Aden National Water and Sanitation Authority (NWSA) branch and five sub-branches. A team of three experts went to Aden and the towns covered by the Aden NWSA sub-branches to meet with key stakeholders in Yemen. The formulation team assessed the current situation of the NWSA (management structure, staffing, technical capacity, financial situation), estimated the current and future population's needs for water supply and sanitation, and identified the institutional and technical needs of Aden NWSA branch and sub-branches. The team developed a project proposal describing the objectives and contents of the upcoming project, including its main activities, specific tasks, a preliminary timetable, and a cost estimate.

For UNESCO and Morocco's Ministry of Environment (Observatoire National de l'Environnement du Maroc), STELLA staff developed a national strategy for environmental protection and sustainable development. STELLA staff reviewed past, current, and future environmental policies and development programmes. STELLA staff estimated expenses associated with these policies and the costs of environmental degradation, such as health effects due to high ambient concentrations of lead and particulate matter, infant mortality due to diarrheic diseases, revenue losses from non-recycled materials, and loss of agricultural production due to erosion. Using an economic approach, STELLA staff evaluated the impact of these costs on Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Based on this analysis, STELLA staff worked with the Ministry of Environment to establish environmental quality objectives that will ensure sustainable development and explained how environmental protection measures such as pollution prevention, economic incentives, and institutional strengthening will allow Morocco to reach these objectives.

As part of the Environmental Management Project financed by a World Bank loan to the Kingdom of Morocco, STELLA staff worked with the Ministry of the Environment to establish measures to reduce pollution and promote resource conservation, use appropriate technologies, and increase public environmental awareness. STELLA staff also designed a long-term plan for institutional development and capacity building through training, both in-country and overseas. After preparing an environmental code that provides a framework for environmental laws, STELLA staff reviewed existing laws on hazardous materials and wastes and suggested changes to increase prevention. STELLA staff also proposed a format for collective environmental protection agreements between industrial sectors and the government.

For the World Bank/Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme (METAP), STELLA staff managed the organisation of two three-day workshops (one in English and one in French) and two two-week courses for senior Mediterranean government officials. Training was in English in Damascus (Syria) for participants from Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Lebanon, Slovenia, Syria, and Turkey, and in French in Mohammedia (Morocco) for participants from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia. The primary goals of the training programme were to (1) foster an improved understanding of the relationship between economic development and environmental protection, (2) provide analytical tools and procedures for integrating environmental considerations into national economic development initiatives, (3) develop environmental planning and management capabilities, and (4) promote the exchange of ideas and experiences among participants. Training topics included: understanding the link between development and the environment, exploring the direct and indirect causes of environmental degradation, planning for environmental action, coastal zone management, targeting environmental policies, selecting implementation tools, financing environmental programmes and projects, conducting risk assessments and environmental audits, and engaging the public. The course also covered specific topics such as waste management, water supply and sanitation, and air pollution control. Participants prepared their own back-at-work action plan.

STELLA staff provided technical support to the World Bank in drafting an urban environmental strategy for the Middle East and North Africa region. STELLA staff reviewed specialised literature (World Bank project documents, national environmental action plans, United Nations Development Programme reports, United Nations Centre for Human Settlements reports, World Health Organisation reports, Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme papers, etc.) and analysed trends in urban population growth and poverty. STELLA staff then prepared a regional urban environmental profile highlighting three priority issues: land use and coastal zone management, waste management, and air pollution control. For each priority issue, STELLA staff examined the nature, causes and impacts of environmental degradation, and formulated strategy options for improving the environment. STELLA staff prepared a draft strategy paper with specific recommendations to protect and improve the urban environment in the Middle East and North Africa.

Under the Water Resources Sustainability activity, STELLA staff has implemented a soil and water resources conservation pilot project in the Oued Nakhla watershed between Tétouan and Chefchaouen. The five-year project included direct interventions to reduce soil erosion originating from croplands, existing gullies, ravines, and degraded matorral. Activities included planting olive and almond trees, repairing irrigation channels, controlling gullies, planting trees for firewood production and perennial grasses for livestock forage and encouraging the use of fuel alternatives to wood in households. The pilot project reduced (1) soil losses in the watershed by over 12,000 tons per year and (2) the annual rate of loss in dam reservoir storage capacity by about 2.5%. STELLA staff also fostered active participation from the farmers to improve long-term management of the watershed's resources. STELLA staff conducted numerous workshops covering all topics relating to project implementation activities. These topics included construction of "cuvettes", beekeeping, goat production, grass strips, agricultural implements, improved crop production techniques for wheat and forages, disease and pest control in olives, cooking stoves, and replication of project activities.

STELLA staff completed two Desk Studies (DS) for the US Trade and Development Agency. First, STELLA staff reviewed a proposal by Sadat International and Edgeboro International for a feasibility study of a solid waste landfill in the city of Sidi Abdellah, Algeria. Given the strong opposition from environmental NGOs and because of the difficulty of collecting tipping fees, STELLA staff recommended that the first phase of the feasibility study focus on cost recovery and financial feasibility. Second, STELLA staff reviewed a proposal by Brown, Vence & Associates (BVA) for a feasibility study of Solid Waste Management (SWM) projects in Jijel, Algeria. BVA's proposal was to develop a SWM plan for Jijel, but with no direct link to a specific project. STELLA staff suggested that BVA improve their proposal by collecting more data on Jijel's municipal SWM budget and focusing on a more specific project with a measurable rate of return.

For the World Bank, STELLA staff reviewed a report characterising hazardous waste management practices in Tunisia and assessing the country's needs for waste management facilities. The report presents estimates of hazardous waste quantities generated in Tunisia by waste type, describes current waste management practices, and identifies existing waste management laws and regulations. Building on the pollution prevention hierarchy (from source reduction to disposal), the report develops short- and long-term waste management scenarios. The report recommends building pre-treatment and treatment facilities as well as controlled landfills in three regions. STELLA staff discussed the report's findings with the World Bank, including alternatives for implementing the report's recommendations.

STELLA provided the technical supervisor for the six-year, $10.5 million Water Resource Sustainability (WRS) activity with USAID/Morocco. The WRS activity aimed at improving water resources management and pollution control and used appropriate technologies, policies, and community participation to implement three pilot projects: wastewater treatment and reuse in Agadir, pollution control from tanneries in Fez, and soil/water conservation in the Rif region. As part of these projects, STELLA staff designed and built the Drarga (6,000 people) wastewater treatment and reuse plant and Morocco's first chromium recovery facility in Fez. We also provided technical assistance to the Drarga Municipality in plant budgeting, cost recovery analysis, and automatic billing. In the Rif, the activity has planted over 130,000 olive and fruit trees, stabilised 3.5 km of ravine by installing gabions and planting soil-retaining trees, and created six village committees. STELLA staff helped establish negotiated partnerships among local and central stakeholders (municipality, utility, tanners, and farmers). We also prepared an environmental impact assessment of each pilot project. In addition, STELLA staff assisted the Department of Environment and its numerous partners at the national and local level by providing training and technical assistance in water policies and technologies and community participation. We organised numerous workshops, seminars, and roundtables to raise public awareness and create project ownership, and train beneficiaries on cost-benefit analysis, wastewater treatment and re-use technologies.

For the Water Resources Sustainability activity, STELLA staff designed and built Morocco's first chromium recovery facility in Fez. This facility receives the tanning baths from 16 tanneries in the Dokkarat industrial zone, recovers the chromium from the baths through precipitation and acidification, and sells it back to the tanneries for reuse. The sale of chromium covers the facility's operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. The tanneries also pay a pollution fee contributing to reimbursing the $1 million investment. STELLA staff has established a partnership among local and central stakeholders, including RADEEF (local sanitation company), and has helped the partnership negotiate a cost-sharing agreement. The facility has reduced the quantity of chromium discharged by the tanneries into the sewer and the river by 90 percent.

Using methodologies developed under the Water Resources Sustainability activity to control soil erosion in the Nakhla watershed, STELLA staff implemented a similar watershed protection management activity in the Souss-Massa River Basin. These methodologies include multi-disciplinary, multi-agency, participatory approaches, social assessments, direct involvement of farmers and villagers, rapid implementation of actions that directly or indirectly reduce soil erosion and increase water conservation, implementation of activities that generate additional income for participants (in particular women), and careful monitoring of indicators towards progress. STELLA staff has conducted feasibility studies of soil conservation, water conservation, rangeland and forest management, irrigation management, and income generating activities. Sustainable forest conservation and management activities improve conservation and productivity of Argan and Thuya forests as well as animal grazing management as measured by extent of adoption of practices such as rotational grazing, animal exclusion, and development of alternative feed sources. They also reduce the amount of wood collected for fuel by women, thanks to increases in energy efficiency (cooking stoves) and adoption of alternative fuel sources. STELLA staff fostered broad public participation through participatory workshops and training sessions to disseminate the project approaches and methods to potential beneficiaries in the Souss-Massa basin where similar projects can be implemented.

In support of the Water Resources Sustainability (WRS) activity, STELLA staff prepared and facilitated two three-day workshops on the cost-benefit analysis of water and environmental projects. Using adult learning participatory techniques (brainstorming, working groups, exercises), we trained about 50 professionals (25 during each workshop) from Moroccan government agencies (central and local) and NGOs in assessing and comparing the economic and financial costs and benefits of water and environmental projects. We prepared the training materials and documentation in French, including tailor-made overhead transparencies, Moroccan case studies, and background reading materials. The training programme emphasised the need for and methods to understand and internalise the costs of environmental degradation. We organised a field trip to observe first-hand the types and costs of environmental degradation resulting from human activities (e.g., erosion resulting from poor land farming practices). Six months after these two training workshops, we organised follow-up hands-on workshops with the same participants to assess the costs and benefits of the three pilot projects to be implemented by the WRS activity.

For the US Agency for International Development's Project in Development and Environment (PRIDE), STELLA staff evaluated strategy options for pollution prevention by the agro-processing industry in Morocco (sugar plants, olive oil mills, and canneries). STELLA staff reviewed data on pollution generated by agro-processing plants, previous pollution prevention efforts or efforts currently underway, and the institutional and legal framework for pollution abatement efforts. STELLA staff analysed these data and conducted environmental audits of one sugar plant and one olive oil mill to estimate the potential for pollution prevention in these industrial sectors. Drawing on the US experience in this area, STELLA staff suggested a series of measures to speed up the process of pollution prevention in the agro-processing industry in Morocco. These measures include economic and financial actions (increased water prices, investment incentives), awareness activities (pollution prevention audits), and training.

For Morocco’s Ministry of the Environment (MoE), STELLA staff evaluated industrial pollution in the Mohammedia-Casablanca region. The study was financed by a grant from the World Bank and the European Investment Bank through the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme (METAP). STELLA staff conducted pollution prevention and control audits of the 10 most polluting industrial facilities in the region (petrochemical, fertiliser, detergent, oil refining, thermal power, food processing, tannery, aluminium, electroplating). These audits have allowed MoE to launch partnerships with the industry representatives of Mohammedia-Casablanca. They have also allowed Morocco to implement the strategy of environmental protection and sustainable development that MoE had just prepared. To conduct these audits, STELLA staff used a methodology consisting of three steps and 19 activities. Key activities included a pollution prevention workshop with about 20 facility decision-makers and plant managers, the audit including sampling and the evaluation of control pollution options and clean technologies, and the preparation of an action plan to improve environmental quality in the Mohammedia-Casablanca region. After the audits, STELLA staff prepared action plans for each of the 10 facilities. Finally, STELLA staff organised a public meeting to sign the action plans

For the USAID Pollution Prevention Project (EP3), STELLA staff designed and prepared the script in French and English for a slide show on pollution prevention, with taped narration and music. The 100-slide, stand-alone slide show was presented in Tunisia and Morocco, where it was received very favourably. The USAID also produced it in Spanish and on videotape for distribution worldwide. After an introduction stressing the need to act now for the sake of current and future generations, the slide show explains the concept of pollution prevention and provides illustrative case examples from the cement, printing, painting, tanning, electronics, and detergent industries. Reflecting on the perceived and real reasons why pollution prevention does not happen more often, the slide show suggests ways for promoting pollution prevention: establishing pollution prevention programmes; setting clear, precise goals, recognising and rewarding people and institutions that prevent pollution; undertaking pollution prevention audits; providing on-the-job training for professionals; and educating students and children about the importance of the environment.

For the World Bank/Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Programme (METAP), STELLA staff coordinated the environmental audits of Tripoli/El-Mina, Lebanon, and Oran, Algeria. STELLA staff also provided solid waste expertise for the environmental audit of Limassol, Cyprus. Finally, STELLA staff reviewed the environmental audit and strategy reports prepared for two other cities (Sousse, Tunisia and Tangiers, Morocco) and synthesised the five municipal environmental audits. In Oran, STELLA staff directed data collection and analysis efforts by one team of 12 local and international experts, and was responsible for preparing the final audit and strategy report. The audit team assessed the existing situation and evaluated the costs of several options to improve the environment, including the ""no-action"" approach. The audits identified priority projects in water supply and sanitation, solid waste management, coastal zone management, and land use.

STELLA staff assisted the Ministry of the Environment in preparing the Lebanon 2001 State of the Environment Report (SOER). The 2001 SOER used a "dual framework" methodology to describe and analyse environment-development linkages in Lebanon. It described the state of different environmental media (water, air, biodiversity, and soil/land) and the key linkages between them and various socio-economic development sectors (population, agriculture, industry, construction, transport, tourism and recreation, and energy). To prepare the 2001 SOER, STELLA staff met with more than 60 professionals and key stakeholders and reviewed about 150 new reports and references to provide the most up-do-date assessment of the state of the environment in Lebanon. STELLA staff prepared the 2001 SOER (240 pages) in English and Arabic, and in HTML format for easy browsing on the Internet.

STELLA staff has led the organisational development and capacity-building efforts in support of a World Bank project to implement regional Solid Waste Management (SWM) collection and disposal services in the districts of Jenin and Al-Khalil (Hebron). STELLA staff assessed organisational development and capacity building needs of local governments and of the planned regional SWM councils in each district. We surveyed local governments and formulated short- and long-term recommendations to build up the capabilities of local governments and each SWM Council. We identified staffing needs, job profiles, and basic functions of the key professional staff of each SWM Council and helped the Jenin Council recruit staff. We also provided technical assistance and training to Council Board members, professional staff of the Council's Executive Unit, mayors and village council presidents, and municipal professionals. Training areas included understanding the roles and responsibilities of the SWM Council and local governments, conducting targeted public awareness campaigns, organising primary and secondary solid waste collection services, and assessing privatisation options and cost recovery issues. STELLA staff also prepared manuals and procedural guidelines on each of those topics.

STELLA staff has assisted UNDP and Syria's Ministry of Irrigation in reducing industrial pollution in the upper Orontes River through the implementation of environmental management practices and systems that comply with international standards. STELLA staff designed pilot projects to reduce water consumption by reusing treated effluents and to prevent pollution from an oil refinery, a fertiliser unit, and a sugar company. The pilot projects had the objective of implementing environmental management systems in each plant and preparing the plants for ISO 14000 certification. These projects also developed local capacity to promote, support, and replicate the implementation of environmental management standards in Syria. STELLA staff conducted two training workshops on environmental management systems and ISO 14000 certification.