The Republic of Kazakhstan, as a member to the UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) since 2001, targets to introduce internationally sound institutional and legislative frameworks on environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA). Efficient implementation of the Espoo Convention and its Protocol on SEA in the country is seen as a valuable contribution to the on-going "green" economic reforms.

The EU funded project "Supporting Kazakhstan's Transition to a Green Economy Model", implemented by the UNDP in partnership with UNECE at a request of and in close co-operation with the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan since November 2016, includes activities to support Kazakhstan in strengthening its national capacity to integrate the SEA procedures into the national legal, regulatory and administrative frameworks for joining the UNECE Protocol on SEA. This project - among other activities - envisages a pilot application of the SEA procedure to the Concept for development of fuel and energy complex until 2030 (hereinafter also 'Concept').

The first expert discussion under the SEA pilot is scheduled to take place in Astana on 8-9 November 2017 in the format of a start-up working meeting.

The meeting is organized by the UNECE in close co-operation with the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the Human Health Institute. It will bring together up to 35 members of the SEA pilot Working Group, comprising from representatives of the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan; national experts as well as representatives of international organizations. The event is designed to familiarise the participants with the SEA procedures and methodology, to launch the discussions on environmental optimisation and modifications of the Concept and identify the preliminary scope of SEA for the Concept.

The expected outcomes of the meeting are to help the national SEA experts to better understand the steps and analyses to be carried out within the SEA pilot; elaborate a detailed work plan of the SEA to the pilot process including, inter alia, the consideration of amendment of the Concept; and undertake an initial analysis of the linkages between the environmental and health objectives and the Concept.