The overall aim of the three workshops was to enhance understanding of and strengthen the capacity of the regional and local authorities for the implementation of the Protocol on SEA in Belarus. It further aimed to improve participants understanding of the benefits of and possibilities for using SEA as a tool in strategic decision making at the local and regional levels. The workshops demonstrated how SEA can be applied to plans and programs addressing issues of regional development and provided insight to participants how to apply SEA methodology. Specific objectives of the workshops were: • To introduce participants the concept and use of SEA and illustrate the process through a (hypothetical) case study; To relate the lessons learnt from the case study to the context in the participants; • To illustrate possible ways for effective SEA implementation following the provisions of the UNECE Protocol on SEA; • To provide participants with examples of tackling specific environmental issues, for example climate change, within SEA; • Raise awareness of the possibilities for utilizing SEA in resolving problems related to plans and programmes typical to the border regions; • Improve co-operation between Belarusian provincial authorities and provincial authorities from neighbouring States; • To obtain and discuss recommendations on future actions for improving the use of SEA methodology in Belarus; • To distribute training materials and case studies in Russian to the relevant provincial authorities for reference materials and further use (e.g. for further trainings by Ministry).