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Module IEA process features
2 IEAs are designed to generate information on the status and dynamics of the environment and its

interaction with human well-being. They are typically known first and foremost for their products:
reports, websites or databases. However, in order to produce such information and expect it to have
both high levels of scientific credibility and policy relevance, an IEA also must have a well-planned and
9-12 December, 2013 The ultimate success of an IEA process depends on who is in charge of and who participates in the
well-managed process.

process, in what specific role, how the process is structured, and how it allows for flexibility to adapt to
local cultural, administrative, legal and other conditions.

The design of IEA processes can learn from the experience of UNEP’s global GEO program, its regional
sub-assessments, and the growing number of national and sub-national IEA efforts. Based on this
experience, we have identified key IEA process attributes that can help guide planning of new initiatives
at the national and sub-national levels.

? Participatory. This means that different stakeholders are involved in an interactive process that
promotes knowledge and information exchange, and makes clear their position and interests on
issues. Engaging participation helps identify IEA issues that truly matter, strengthens the analysis

of the observed change, and builds ownership of the IEA’s findings among audiences who are
supposed to follow up with action.

? Multidisciplinary and multisectoral. IEA is multidisciplinary because the analysis takes into account
different branches of science in such a way that the process of discussion, construction and analysis
from different disciplines enriches the assessment. It is multisectoral because environmental issues
have many economic and social inter-linkages, so participation of different sectors (public and
private) is necessary to carry out a sound assessment as well as to ensure that results of the
assessment lead to articulate responses and actions from different sectors.

? Integrated. In the IEA designation, integrated refers to a number of aspects of the assessment:

1. Linking state of the environment analysis with policy analysis;
2. Incorporating global and sub-global perspectives;

3. Incorporating historical and future perspectives;
4. Covering a broad spectrum of issues and policies; and

5. Looking at dynamic and complex interactions between the environment and human well-being
in place-based contexts (e.g., particular countries, ecosystems, cities, regions, watersheds). 4

4. See Module 1 for details

8 National IEA Process Design and Organization