REPORT: PEER REVIEW VISIT TO LAHTI, FINLAND 9.9.-20.9.2013

Greetings from Helsinki

Eco-Buss

Pilleri Waste Center

DT Center

Environmental Info Center

Kivimaa School

Anna Aalto, Project Leader Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd [email protected] |+358 50 559 4046 www.lahti-bojanala.net

Aim of the peer review: The peer review focused on the environmental week of Lahti that was celebrated between the 16th and 22nd of September 2013. Environmental week has been celebrated in Lahti since 1997 with annually varying environmental themes. Lahti Region Environmental Services acts as the coordinator of the event and is responsible for the marketing of the Environmental Week to different stakeholder groups that will take part through their own events. In addition, Lahti Region Environmental Services promotes the week and stakeholder events to the citizens, supports stakeholders in the organization of the event and reports on the implementation of the event. The aim of the peer review was especially to provide: Development ideas for the Lahti Region Environmental Services o How to get more participants in the event? o How to get more stakeholders to organize events during the Week? Ideas for the implementation of Ho Municipal Assembly’s Sanitation Week o How is stakeholder involvement organized in Lahti? o What type of support is Lahti Region Environmental Service providing to the stakeholders that organize events during the Environmental week? o How should Sanitation Week be marketed?

Participants of the review: PARTNER Rustenburg

Madibeng

Ho

NAME POSITION Ms. Violet Kgomotso Waste Education and Setshedi Awareness Officer at Waste Management Unit Mr. Kemogae Water Services Technician at Patrick Ramesega Water and Sanitation Unit Mr. Reuben Environmental Specialist Moatshe Mr. David Bebens Supervisor: Household & Business Waste Collection Mr. Cornelius Fugar Municipal Planning Officer Mr. Richard Buamah

Environmental Health Officer

Mr. Samuel Glago

Environmental Health Officer

CONTACTS [email protected] +27 823 244 323 +27 722 250 307 [email protected] +27 82 434 2234 [email protected] +27 072 191 6153 [email protected] +233 24 313 2284 [email protected] +233 24 238 9450 [email protected] +233 24 880 3599 [email protected]

Anna Aalto, Project Leader Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd [email protected] |+358 50 559 4046 www.lahti-bojanala.net

Peer review program 10th -20th of September 2013 Peer review kick-off meeting Location: Environmental Counselling Center, Lahti Region Environmental Services Time: 10th September 2013, 9.00 - 10.00 Interviews and meetings with event coordinators from Lahti Region Environmental Services Kari Porra, Director Time: 10th September 2013, 15.30 Päivi Sieppi, Manager of Environmental Counselling Time: 10th September 2013, 10.00 - 12.00 Sari Knuuti, Resident liaison officer Time: 13th September 2013, 10.00 - 12.00 Lotta Palomäki, Environmental Educator Time: 16th September 2013, 9.00 - 10.00 Site visits to the Environmental Week events and stakeholders Event/stakeholder: Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd Time: 13th September 2013, 13.00 - 16.00 Event/stakeholder: Lahti Parish Time: 16th September 2013, 15.00 - 16.00 Event/stakeholder: Päijät-Häme Waste Disposal Ltd Time: 17th September 2013, 9.00 - 11.00 Event/stakeholder: Kanerva kindergarten Time: 18th September 2013, 8.30 - 9.30 Event/stakeholder: Kivimaa school Time: 18th September 2013, 10.00 - 12.00 Event/stakeholder: Climate Doctor, Trio Shopping mall Time: 19th September 2013, 13.30 - 15.30 Event/stakeholder: Environmental village Time: 20th September 2013 Peer review closing meeting Participants: Kari Porra, Director Päivi Sieppi, Manager of Environmental Counselling Location: Casseli restaurant, Lahti harbour Time: 19th September 2013, 17.00 - 20.00

Anna Aalto, Project Leader Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd [email protected] |+358 50 559 4046 www.lahti-bojanala.net

Evaluation of the Environmental Week in Lahti Strenghts Communication, marketing and stakeholder involvement

Hard working, passioned and committed staff Availability of educational materials Internet facilities widely available and can be used for communication Eco-buss for community education Environmental education system extends from kindergarten to school and so forth Involvement of the industry and work places Integrated approach High level of education and a skilled workforce Available resources (human and material)

Weaknesses One language approach Not enough permanent staff Inadequate funds; funding limits the possibilities to implement events Time constraints Visibility in Town is low Lack of noice/celebration Too “formal” for certains citizen groups Municipalities do not celebrate jointly Difficulty to reach passive people through internet Everybody are doing their own thing which is not always visible to outsiders; themes are also individual Lack of involvement from the private sector

Opportunities

Threaths

Funding agencies available (e.g. EU) Availability of companies that can be willing to support the activities NGOs that can be willing to support the activities Litterate community with high level of education and responsiveness to the environmnental message Universities and research institutions are available Stronger branding Internet, TV, radio Flags to the center School children can go to local radio to promote the event More involvement of the community/parents to the kindergarten and school events Information sharing between kindergartens and schools

Braindrainage of skilled and unemployed graduates Unemployed skilled graduates might change carriers if there is no employement opportunities Apathy towards the celebration by some stakeholder groups, e.g. community groups Incohesiveness of the themes of environmental initiatives in the city

Anna Aalto, Project Leader Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd [email protected] |+358 50 559 4046 www.lahti-bojanala.net

Support to stakeholders

Availability of the ecobuss facilitates reaching out the stakeholders Environmental Counselling center Availability of environmental education tools Technical experts available City council is ready to support environmental initiatives

One language approach: lack of materials in different languages other than Finnish Individualistic approach by stakeholders Theme is not followed very closely Active participation is not wide-spread Lack of staff and funds

Donor funding available Environmental passion among the community members Launch an environmental forum; helps to distribute information and will provide a database of environmental initiatives in the city and feedback for joint planning Planning committee should decide the theme and communicate early on the theme Involve the workers, not only top-management

Lack of involvement from the community and stakeholders to the planning of the event Lack of the sense of community Individuality and “mind your own business” attitude

Anna Aalto, Project Leader Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd [email protected] |+358 50 559 4046 www.lahti-bojanala.net

Recommendations and Conclusions As a conclusion from this peer review process, there are three main recommendation that the team would like to put forward for the consideration of the Lahti Region Environmental Services. 1. Creating noice and visibility for the environmental week The event should be more visible in the streets of Lahti More communal, celebratory events should be organized to engage larger citizen groups Foreign residents should be engaged via multi-language approach Environmental week needs stronger branding Local radio could be utilized to share the message; school children and stakeholders can be invited to talk on the radio 2. Creating more coherence of the environmental work within the city Many stakeholders of the city have their own environmental programs with their own, indivitual themes; there should be a joint annual theme that would bring together different stakeholders More interaction should be created between schools and between kindergartens as well as to engage parents to the environmental activities of the schools and kindergartens 3. Environment forum should be launched to bring together stakeholders and citizens to meet each other and to share ideas and experiences Forum members would bring the information of the environmental week to the communities Forum members would be involved in choosing an annual theme for the environmental work of the whole city The municipalities in the region should come together to celebrate environmental week jointly Environmental week should have a detailed plan that includes the participation from the different stakeholders and municipalities Annex 1: Feedback forms from the participants a) Mr. Samuel Glago, Ho Municipal Assembly, Ghana b) Mr. Richard Mawutor Buamah, Ho Municipal Assembly, Ghana c) Mr. Reuben Moatshe and Mr. David Bebens, Madibeng Local Municipality, RSA d) Mr. Kemogae Patrick Ramesega, Rustenburg Local Municipality, RSA e) Ms. Violet Kgomotso Setshedi, Rustenburg Local Municipality, RSA f) Mr. Cornelius Fugar, Ho Municipal Assembly, Ghana Anna Aalto, Project Leader Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd [email protected] |+358 50 559 4046 www.lahti-bojanala.net

Name: Samuel Glago, Ho Municipal Assembly, Ghana

ANNEX 1A: FEEDBACK FORM

Question What did I learn during the working visit? Is there some ideas I can implement in my own work? (try to name at least 3)

Answer I learnt about green office project and thought it is good for implementation I also learnt about recycling options: separation, use of end product for other product and manure & biogas Time management and awareness creation

What do I think that Lahti is doing well in their environmental work?

They are doing well in Green office project to protect the environment. Information and counselling centres sreated. Expertise, designs and technologies available for use when needed. Availability of funds for supports and educational materials.

What changes/activities would I recommend for Lahti? Where could we improve on in Lahti? (try to name at least 3)

Sanitation week to be made practical/attractive with variety of activities to involve the citizens. More or adequate staff in the offices for effective delivery and needed to be employed.

Greetings to my colleagues/ Open comments

Thanks to all organizers and stakeholders for this important event for good coordination. This visit is really important and a full school for me to emulate into my life and day to day activity at work. Thanks to North-South cooperation. Kiitos.

Anna Aalto, Project Leader Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd [email protected] |+358 50 559 4046 www.lahti-bojanala.net

Name: Richard Mawutor Buamah, Ho Municipal Assembly, Ghana

ANNEX 1B: FEEDBACK FORM

Question What did I learn during the working visit? Is there some ideas I can implement in my own work? (try to name at least 3)

Answer

What do I think that Lahti is doing well in their environmental work?

They are doing well in protecting the environment trough green office adoptation. They are well in stakeholders involment during the activities. Good co-operation behaviour between Southern partners

What changes/activities would I recommend for Lahti? Where could we improve on in Lahti? (try to name at least 3)

Sanitation week should be made practical to involve citizens

Greetings to my colleagues/ Open comments

I will try to utilize more of the lessons of organising climate change programme in Ghana. I wish long life for the project.

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I learnt about green office practice composting dry toilet Marketing waste minimization amoung different assemblies Technology transfer of dry toilet model

Anna Aalto, Project Leader Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd [email protected] |+358 50 559 4046 www.lahti-bojanala.net

Name: Madibeng Local Municipality Delegation (Mr. Reuben Moatshe and Mr. David Bebens) ANNEX 1C: FEEDBACK FORM Question What did I learn during the working visit? Is there some ideas I can implement in my own work? (try to name at least 3)

Answer The establishment of Environmental Counselling Centre. This is implementable in my area as Environmental Information Center. Methods of separation of waste at source and throughout the waste stream. Composting, recycling and green office. The use of eco-car/van in awareness-raising. Establishment of green office. Effective communication method with stakeholders. Effective use of internal expertise e.g students. Integrated approach to address environmental issues. E.g church.

What do I think that Lahti is doing well in their environmental work?

Integrated approach enable them to reach most of their communities. Inculcation of environmental responsibility and value clarification of the Environment from kindergarden. E.g use of bicycles to reduce emissions.

What changes/activities would I recommend for Lahti? Where could we improve on in Lahti? (try to name at least 3)

Different groups to meet in one place at the end of environmental week to do environmental activities jointly and learn from each other e.g cultural activities to convey environmental message. Converging all the foreign nationals in one place and offer environmental awareness through interpreters.

Greetings to my colleagues/ Open comments

We are pleased to have met and interacted with these group of colleagues and delegates from where we have learnt at lot. You made our visit a worthwile and you have given us courage to implement what we learned. Colleagues from Ghana you are friends in deed and your warm hearts will take you a long way. Good luck in your implementation of DT project and other environmental activities. Our sister municipality RLM, you are always a pace setter and a fountain from where we always suck new ideas. Thanks for always being there for us. To Anna Aalto and team we thank you for the warm reception and assistance you have given. Indeat you are a good team and a source of inspiration. God Bless. Re a leboga, Akpe, Kiitos. Anna Aalto, Project Leader Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd [email protected] |+358 50 559 4046 www.lahti-bojanala.net

Name: Mr. Kemogae Patrick Ramesega, Rustenburg LM Question What did I learn during the working visit? Are there some ideas I can implement in my own work? (try to name at least 3)

What do I think that Lahti is doing well in their environmental work?

ANNEX 1D: FEEDBACK FORM

Answer I have learnt a lot of approaches, techniques in the following areas:  Dry Sanitation  Composting Process  Various Water Treatment Techniques

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The handling procedures of environment and waste management Very positive in protecting the environment Reduction of air pollution General health care, by use of by-cycles Efficient ways of conducting awareness campaigns Promoting environmental activities/events

What changes/activities would I recommend for Lahti? Where could we improve on in Lahti? (try to name at least 3)

Target private sectors to buy in to the environmental concept

Greetings to my colleagues/ Open comments

It has been a great pleasure for me to be in Lahti for the past 2 weeks. In my personal view, the visit reached the expectations. I must take this opportunity to extend vote of thanks to the Lahti Region Environmental Services, Project Coordinator (Anna Aalto) specifically and her crew for making this working visit a success, the hospitality. Appreciations also goes to the rest of the team, RLM, MLM and HO municipality delegates, for every contribution during the run of the programme. Kiitos to people of Lahti.

Lahti Region Environment Services should engage local governance to impose a legislature, which will mandate private sectors to participate in environmental activities, by also funding events, support with contributions.

Anna Aalto, Project Leader Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd [email protected] |+358 50 559 4046 www.lahti-bojanala.net

Name: Ms Kgomotso Setshedi, Rustenburg LM

ANNEX 1E: FEEDBACK FORM

Question What did I learn during the working visit? Is there some ideas I can implement in my own work? (try to name at least 3)

Answer The practical meaning of expertise: 1. Green office information and the practical demonstration 2. Information centre with all the resources especially the environmental bu 3. Sanitation practices and the innovative demonstrations of the Dry Toilet. 4. Päijät-Häme waste disposal

What do I think that Lahti is doing well in their environmental work?

Lahti is really doing well in their environmental work; it is very difficult to find the challenges or problems in all their work for environment. I was also carried away by the green activities and the education at the Kanerva Kindergarten and the Green Flag demonstrations at the Kivimaa School. One can clearly see good environmental practices in every corner of the buildings and in the streets.

What changes/activities would I recommend for Lahti? Where could we improve on in Lahti? (try to name at least 3)

Gender equality: women and youth empowerment Does Lahti have disadvantaged individuals, such unemployed youth? We need to hear from their opinions on how they see environment. Engagement of the entire community, we meet people in the offices a lot and I am not sure is because of the language or not. Are there no nongovernment activities or structures? Language is a barrier in most cases; start encouraging officials and companies to start developing materials in at least two languages and English be number one

Greetings to my colleagues/ Open comments

Anna Aalto, Project Leader Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd [email protected] |+358 50 559 4046 www.lahti-bojanala.net

Name: Mr. Cornelius Fugar, Ho Municipal Assembly, Ghana

ANNEX 1F: FEEDBACK FORM

Question What did I learn during the working visit? Is there some ideas I can implement in my own work? (try to name at least 3)

Answer

What do I think that Lahti is doing well in their environmental work?

Management of waste and the involvement of children in environmental issues at a very early stage.

What changes/activities would I recommend for Lahti? Where could we improve on in Lahti? (try to name at least 3)

Residents to be more involved in the environmental week celebration The City Council should create more job opportunities in Lahti. The City Authorities to consider developing Lahti into a tourism destination of choice in Finland.

Greetings to my colleagues/ Open comments

I want to use this opportunity to thank all friends and colleagues we have met here in Lahti over the last two weeks, and those that we met back home in Ghana. They have made our stay very enjoyable and memorable. These past two weeks are going to remain in our memories for a very long time. I have enjoyed every minute of my stay in Lahti. Always remember that, we may not always hold your hands but we will forever hold your hearts.

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Saving energy by turning off all electrical gadgets including lights when not in use Living a sustainable lifestyle Start the Green office concept.

Many lessons were learnt over the past two weeks and we hope to apply these lessons in our work when we get back to our various offices. We want to thank all stakeholders involved in the planning and executing of this programme. We hope to apply these lessons diligently so that the world would be a better place for all of us.

Anna Aalto, Project Leader Lahti Region Development LADEC Ltd [email protected] |+358 50 559 4046 www.lahti-bojanala.net