The Umbrella project makes the object of a partnership between the Italian Ministry of Environment and Territory, UNEP/ROE and REC, with the involvement of EURAC as well, and it is mainly intended to facilitate the implementation of the Carpathian Convention by Member States.

The Project includes four main sections:
• Definition of the Carpathian Convention implementation geographical area
• Support to the institutional items and to the setting up of the Permanent Secretariat
• Guide to the implementation of the Convention
• Legal audit
The two former areas are directly managed by UNEP/ROE, whereas the two latter areas are managed by REC. The IMA Coordination Unit provides the necessary support also in the light of the experience that has already been acquired in the implementation of the Alpine Convention.

• Definition of the Carpathian Convention implementation geographical area: It is still a pending issue to be settled by the Carpathian Convention, whose final solution is up to the decision to be made by the first Partners' Conference. The partners are required to draft a report including a series of proposals, which will serve as scientific basis providing support to  member States in their decision-making process.

• Support to the institutional items and to the setting up of the Permanent Secretariat: The Carpathian Convention is supported by a Permanent Secretariat. The Unit assists the interim Secretariat, which is based in Vienna and is managed by UNEP/ROE to take care of the institutional, administrative and financial aspects.

• Guide to the implementation of the Convention: part of its publication is under the Unit's responsibility and is intended to illustrate the international law principles enshrined in the Carpathian Convention and the implementation models of these well proven international principles. It is addressed to the local authorities of the Countries involved.

• Legal audit: it is an auditing process aimed at the collection of information on the administrative and legislative systems of the seven Member States concerning the relevant environmental aspects within the Convention. One of the first tasks that have been performed by the IMA Coordination Unit is the drafting of a questionnaire that has served as the basis for the audit, whereas REC has dealt with the identification of national experts in the various Countries, in charge of filling in of the questionnaire. The analysis of the information collected by means of the questionnaire will allow to identify the actual legislative basis, which is the starting point in view of the in-depth analysis of the key sectors to be carried out during the implementation of the Convention, which has recently entered into force.