BACKGROUND The history of this project can be traced back to 1988 when the CAR/RCU approached the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to request short-term assistance to prepare a project proposal for a technical cooperation program in the areas identified as common priorities: development of information systems, technical assistance to governments institutional strengthening, and regional exchange of expertise on natural resources management. The Fifth Intergovernmental Meeting of the UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) passed a resolution in 1990 to strengthen the information systems for the management of marine and coastal resources. The subsequent strategic action plan identified Information Systems for the Management of Marine and Coastal Resources (CEPNET) as one of the mutually reinforcing programs of the CEP. This lead to the request to the IDB to fund a study on the possibility of providing technical assistance. The final report of the short-term technical assistance mission formed the basis for the non-reimbursable technical co-operation agreement between UNEP and IDB. The agreement was signed by both parties in the fall of 1994. The total approved funding for the Project is US $1,361,000 with an IDB component of US $1,000,000 and a UNEP component of US $361,000. The project was finally able to begin with the hiring of the Project Manager and the CEPNET Programme Officer in the fall of 1996.

WHAT IS THE PROJECT? In plain words, the project seeks to establish a Wider Caribbean environmental information network, based primarily on the Internet, with the main objectives of strengthening the coastal and marine resources management capabilities of the IDB Bank member countries participating in the CEP, and of strengthening the central role of the CAR/RCU. Each participating country will implement an information clearinghouse WEB page with the purpose of disseminating metadata on coastal and marine information, and of providing information services like: acces to databases and reports; acces to information with map interfaces; basic Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services; and news on national and regional environmental issues; among other services not yet foreseen at the present level of the technology. The early stages are designed to build an internal information management system infrastructure within the CAR/RCU, which means that a Local Area Network will be installed and training will be given to staff on the use of all the software required to use the new system. A state of the art computer will host the RCU's WEB Page and will be linked to the outside world through a dedicated line. It will serve as a model for the WEB pages to be developed in the six participating countries that form the so called Pilot Network Program: Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela - three english speaking countries and three spanish speaking ones. The CEPNET Team coordinating the project will provide technical assistance and training in key areas like metadata generation, WEB page development, WEB-GIS basics and the like. As these countries generate information, the CEPNET team will work closely with their experts to create a 'State of the Coasts' report that will take advantage of the information and services developed for the project. Similar services to the ones described above will be extended to other IDB countries of the region through the Technology Advisory Services. These services will be the culmination of all prior developments and should open the way for follow-on projects using new or additional funding.

SUB-PROJECT I: IMS IMPLEMENTATION Phase I: Internal CEP Network The first step of the project is to install and configure a Local Area Network at the CAR/RCU and to train all staff in the use of general purpose software like Windows 95, use of e-mail, document sharing and word processors. Appropiate staff will be trained in the use of more specific software like spreadsheet software, database software, HTML software, and project management software. During this phase of the project CEP databases and spatial databases will be either transformed to the new system or developed from existing and collected information, also specialized hardware/software requirements for a GIS must be assessed,and the selected system needs to be acquired, installed and configured.

PHASE II: External CEP Network (Internet) A state of the art Internet server will be installed and configured at the RCU and linked to a local ISP (Internet Service Provider ) through a dedicated line. This machine will host the CEP Home Page and will serve as a prototype for the systems to be installed later in the Pilot Network Program countries. The CEP Home Page will contain the following sections: Home Page query engine Metadata query engine Web Links Web-Based Geographic Information System CEP Information (Databases, Documents, Reports, CEPNews newsletter)

PHASE III: PILOT NETWORK PROGRAMME The objective of the Pilot Network Program (PNP) is to establish information management systems in six designated countries: Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. Each one will implement an External WEB Server that mirrors the capabilities of the one installed at the CAR/RCU, hosting their own data and information. The Project will provide appropriate training and guidance to enable the countries personnel to become experts themselves on the various areas needed. The various activities for each PNP country contemplated in this phase include : The production of a Needs Assessment that determines information on data sources, computer technology and personnel needs The development of a Country Workplan that addresses project tasks and activities, resources, timetable, and budget The IMS implementation on a WEB Server Training in all the functional areas associated with the IMS implementation Populating the databases with data identified in the Country Workplan Production of a report that deals with the project sustainability and long-term viability of the Project Development of a "State of the Coasts Report" using the databases and services built in the previous phases

SUB-PROJECT II: TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES The purpose of Sub-Project II is to provide expert assistance to the seventeen IDB member countries in the region for the implementation of an IMS of similar scope to the ones developed for the PNP countries. These services could include program consultation, assist with a technical IMS implementation, provide training and/or create a demonstration project.

TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP (TAG) The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) will be established to monitor the technical developments associated with the Project. TAG members will provide detailed feedback and recommendations on technical implementations including the internal and external CEPNET servers, network linkages, electronic communications, system and Internet development standards, and databases. In addition, the TAG will prepare and submit reports on the developments and implementations. Six persons will be invited to participate in this group, plus the Project Manager and an IDB representative. The invited members will be selected based on their demonstrated knowledge of information management systems and Internet related technologies, coastal and marine environmental resources issues, and their strong interest in the success of the CEPNET project. In addition to regular correspondence by e-mail and other communication tools, there will be four formal two-day meetings of the TAG (June 1997, November 1997, June 1998 and October 1998).

PROGRAMING AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE (PEC) The PEC will be comprised of one representative from IDB, two from the CAR/RCU, and three members from the Monitoring Committee and Bureau of Contracting Parties of the CEP. The PEC will provide the necessary liaison between the project team and representatives of the CEP countries. The PEC's work shall include an on-site evaluation of the fully integrated database management system at CAR/RCU headquarters, an assessment of the proposed training and implementation programs and a review of the terms of reference for the external evaluation of the Project. Three meetings will be held (June 1997, January 1998 and November 1998). The November 1998 meeting will take place at the completion of the Project and the external evaluation in order to review the final report, assess the success of the programs and direct any improvements that may be deemed necessary. The PEC may also conduct on-site inspections of installations in the participating Pilot Network Program countries and hold discussions with representatives of the ministries responsible for the environment or the technical focal point as appropriate.

© 1997 - UNEP - CEP/RCU