NGO

• Friends of the Environment Association in Alexandria - FOEA

In accordance with the contract signed in February 2000 between the Friends of the Environment Association (FOEA) in Alexandria and Egyptian Pollution Abatement Project (EPAP), the association organized consultation meetings and training workshops for different sectors introducing industrial pollution problem and the role of different organizations and citizens in protecting the environment. 749 persons participated in these activities representing industrial establishments, banks, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), media, education, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA). FOEA organized two consultation meetings attended by representatives of: industry, banks, NGOs, EEAA. The discussion revolved around the problems of industry to comply with environmental laws specially Law 4/1994 and their financing problems.

FOEA organized 7 training workshops for industry, small and medium managerial levels to introduce environmental problems and the health impact of industrial pollution on workers and inhabitants, also the means of applying Environmental Management Systems and adopting Cleaner Production within the establishment. These training workshops were followed by 36 site visits to different industrial establishments by two Environmental Consultants: Dr. Samia Massoud and Dr. Mona Gamal Eldin. These visits helped the industry to work together with the consultants on solving their environmental problems particularly the application of Environmental Auditing and Self Monitoring.

FOEA also organized 9 seminars for various non-industrial sectors as: localities, municipalities, education, sheikhs, priests, etc.. to introduce industrial pollution problem and its health impacts and the role that should be played by each and everyone to preserve our environment. In addition, 2 training workshops were organized for banks to discuss the liability of environmental loans and the feasibility of environmental investment projects to convince banks on providing such loans for industry to comply with the environmental laws.

NGOs also received 3 training workshops on their important role provided by Law 4/1994 to preserve the environment and take action. Media role was not forgotten through a weekly TV program introducing industrial problems in Alexandria in 12 series. In addition to issuing 6 newsletters on the major environmental topics and the soft loans provided by EEAA through the Egyptian Pollution Abatement Project (EPAP) to help industrial establishments comply with the environmental laws.

• Egyptian Society for Environment and Industry in Suez - ESEI

The Egyptian Pollution Abatement Project (EPAP) signed a contract with the Egyptian Society for Environment and Industry in Suez to organize 4 training workshops for industrial establishments in Suez. This training consists of a Basic and Advanced training course targets high and medium managers introducing major industrial environmental problems and the means of applying environmental management systems, and self monitoring systems in industrial establishment. In addition to the importance of Cleaner Production.

These training workshops were accompanied by 4 environmental evenings for the workers and their families in the industrial areas. Important media and environment figures were invited to attend such evenings as: Dr. Ibrahim Abd El Gelil – Chief Executive Officer EEAA, Dr. Omaima Kamel – Head of cultural programs in Radio and TV, Dr. Hassan Ragab – Media Professor American University in Cairo, Dr. Yehia El Mahgary, representative of EPAP. These evenings were also attended by the Suez Governor, Mr. Mohamed Seif El Din Galal. About two hundred persons attended each of the four events.

• Nile Guards and Environment Protectors Association- NAGEPA

EPAP signed a contract with Nile Guards and Environment Protectors Association (NAGEPA) to train 4o fresh university graduates in Shoubra El Kheima on Industrial Environmental Problems to be the core of an Environmental group in the most industrial polluted area – Shoubra El Kheima. These graduates were selected carefully according to their interest in environmental issues and then received one month intensive training on major environmental issues and health impacts environmental legislation specially law 4/1994, in addition to environmental management systems and self-monitoring systems. These lectures were followed by site visits to different industrial establishments to promote environmental awareness among workers. These 40 graduates visited about 200 industrial establishments by the end of the contract with NAGEPA in December 2001. In addition to organizing mass meetings with inhabitants to promote awareness of their rights by Law 4/1994 to sue any industrial establishment polluting the environment.

• Association for Health and Environmental Development - AHED

A contract was signed between EPAP and Association for Health and Environmental Development (AHED) to train 20 NGOs in Greater Cairo on organizing Public Hearings and the importance of the NGOs role in industrial pollution abatement according to Law 4/1994. This training is implemented in cooperation with FOEA for its long experience in such aspect in Alexandria. These 20 NGOs are selected thoroughly according to their will to pursue the road towards industrial pollution abatement and to form a network between these NGOs to cooperate in such activities.

Following this training a training workshop on the importance of the role of NGOs in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures according to Law 4/1994 and the importance of organizing public hearings for the public’s opinion concerning their approval for establishing an industrial establishment within their area. These activities will be summarized in a guideline for NGOs to help them pursue any cases against whomever responsible of polluting the environment. This activity was implemented on 29-30 June 2002 and the 20 present NGOs agreed on few recommendations to be directed through EPAP to the CEO and the Minister of Environment for action. The main recommendation was to make available for any NGO the executive summary of any EIA approved by EEAA.