Seminar objectives, expected outputs and outcomes.
The purpose of the Resource-Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) seminar is to ensure a wider application of RECP in Azerbaijan, where the local market of service providers should be developed, including with sufficient local capacities and skills. It provides introduction to hands-on experience and advanced training on the application of the RECP methodology to the demonstration companies, members of RECP Clubs, and to energy and environmental professionals.
Concretely, the seminar will introduce the participants to how to develop practical in-plant assessment reports for RECP projects both as a part of the interactive RECP training, as well as for new projects in the future.
The participants will be introduced to:
• What RECP is
• How to assess efficiency of production processes and identify opportunity areas
• What good RECP practices are in energy efficiency, water and material management
• RECP training and RECP Clubs and how those are going to be organized
As a result, participants will be able to understand the principles of the RECP methodology and its benefits for manufacturing enterprises. The development of a local expertise is one important means for ensuring long-term results with continued RECP.
An important component of the seminar is the introduction of the RECP training programme – the plans on how selected trainees will be trained and familiarized with the different tools (presentations, templates, worksheets etc.). The goal of the training program is to ensure that the trainees are able to implement the RECP assessments by themselves.
Practical information
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwpf-yvrj0rH9KpIbzmxOEw9sf-mzZy29EU
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Participants
The selected poll of participants will be comprised of specialists working in environmental management, engineering (chemical, industrial, environment, or related fields) who decided to be trained on the RECP methodology and its application, as well as the representatives of those demonstration companies which were selected to undergo RECP assessments, as well as members of two RECP Clubs organized in two focus regions of Azerbaijan within the EU4Environment Action funded by the European Union. Enterprises and experts which were involved in implementation of RECP activities under the EaP GREEN programme (2013-2017) are also invited to the event.
The tentative number of participants is about 50 persons. A recording of seminar will be made available as a training video for the wider audience, upon its completion.
Background
Currently, one of the most important approaches to improving the production and environmental activities of enterprises is the introduction of Resource-Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP). This approach is based on an ongoing assessment of the potential for saving resources, energy, and materials to prevent overspending, reduce emissions and discharges of pollutants into the environment, and to reduce waste generation, which will, above all, contribute to reducing the economic costs of enterprises. RECP is used as an umbrella term for the application of preventive environmental strategies to achieve the triple aims of production efficiency, environmental management and human development. The RECP programme builds the national capacity, fosters dialogue between industry and government, and facilitates investments for the transfer and adaptation of Environmentally Sound Technologies. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has developed the RECP methodology, which is used by specialists of enterprises and experts in the field of environmental management to identify sources of losses from all types of resources, identify the root causes of such losses, and develop and assess the feasibility of activities aimed at reducing or completely eliminating the identified losses.
The RECP capacity building activities
The RECP training aims to build awareness for its trainees on the principles of the RECP methodology. It consists of a set of training sessions and coaching activities that will develop the RECP capacities among Azerbaijani professionals, and demonstrate its benefits at the selected manufacturing companies. In particular, the trainees will learn:
• What RECP is
• How to assess efficiency of production processes and identify opportunity areas
• What good RECP practices are in energy efficiency, water and material management
• RECP project development
• Business planning and RECP financing
The RECP Clubs bring together small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and take them jointly through an intensive training and coaching programme, leading to development of a customized RECP action plan upon the completion of the Clubs' activities. For them, training in the RECP methodology modules is conducted over a period of four-six months. The Club training modules are organized in the following thematic areas: business environmental profile, energy, water and wastewater, materials and waste, chemicals and chemical waste. Then, the RECP action plan is developed by the SMEs, with the support of the RECP experts. The identified measures will support the Club member companies to save energy, water and materials, reduce their negative impact on the environment and human health, increase profit, improve compliance with the Azerbaijani environmental legislation, and increase their access to financial resources in order to invest in cleaner technologies.
Upon the completion of the training and RECP Clubs’ programmes, each trainee, demonstration company and RECP Club member is awarded with a certificate, attesting their participation and contribution within the “Circular Economy and New Growth Opportunities” component of the EU4Environment Action.
About the EU4Environment The EU4Environment Action aims to help the six partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine preserve their natural capital and increase people's environmental well-being by supporting environment-related action, demonstrating and unlocking opportunities for greener growth, and setting mechanisms to better manage environmental risks and impacts. The Action is funded by the European Union and implemented by five Partner organisations: OECD, UNECE, UNEP, UNIDO and the World Bank based on a budget of some EUR 20 million. For more information about EU4Environment, please visit: www.eu4environment.org. For more information about RECP in Azerbaijan, please visit: https://recpaz.wordpress.com/