The Global Environment Facility Leonardo A. Ramirez October 13th, 2005
Transcript
The Global Environment Facility
Leonardo A. RamirezOctober 13th, 2005
Agenda
Introduction What is the GEF? Focus on International Waters GEF’s Organizational Structure GEF International Waters Portfolio Experiences Questions for discussion
Introduction - Antecedents
The Brundtland Commission and "sustainable development“ (1987).
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (1992).
Initial experiment (1991).
Restructuration (1994).
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International interest in water issues has grown rapidly over the last few years. In response to this heightened interest, the Brundtland Commission (The World Commission on Environment and Development), proposed "sustainable development" to the world in 1987, and identified water as a key issue amongst global environmental concerns. The idea of sustainable development gained momentum at The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), or the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992. This conference was of particular importance to water issues since new organizations were created as a result of the increasing interest in water issues. The conference adopted Agenda 21 that forms the plan for governments, civil society and international organizations for working toward sustainable development.The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established to forge international cooperation and finance actions to address critical threats to the global environment. It was launched in 1991 as an experimental facility but it was restructured after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio the Janeiro. In 1994 it was restructured as a permanent financial mechanism.
What is The GEF?
The GEF is an independent financial organization that provides grants to developing countries for projects that benefit the global environment and promote sustainable living in local communities.
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The member countries (176) include developing and developed countries, as well as those with economies in transition. Each country has GEF representative officials: a Political/National focal point who coordinates matters related to GEF governance and an Operational Focal Point who oversees project-related matters. These focal points help ensure that projects arise from their country's own priorities.The GEF Council is the main governing body of the GEF. It is comprised of 32 members who represent GEF member countries. All GEF full-size projects must be approved by the GEF Council. The GEF Assembly is comprised of all the countries that are members of the GEF. It meets once every four years to review the policies and operations of the GEF. The GEF Secretariat serves and reports to the Assembly and Council. It is headed by the GEF CEO and chairman Len Wood. The Secretariat coordinates the implementation of GEF activities such as projects, programs, as well as the formulation of policies and operational strategies.
What is The GEF (Focus Areas)
Biodiversity Climate Change International Waters Land Degradation The Ozone Layer Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
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The member countries (176) include developing and developed countries, as well as those with economies in transition. Each country has GEF representative officials: a Political/National focal point who coordinates matters related to GEF governance and an Operational Focal Point who oversees project-related matters. These focal points help ensure that projects arise from their country's own priorities.The GEF Council is the main governing body of the GEF. It is comprised of 32 members who represent GEF member countries. All GEF full-size projects must be approved by the GEF Council. The GEF Assembly is comprised of all the countries that are members of the GEF. It meets once every four years to review the policies and operations of the GEF. The GEF Secretariat serves and reports to the Assembly and Council. It is headed by the GEF CEO and chairman Len Wood. The Secretariat coordinates the implementation of GEF activities such as projects, programs, as well as the formulation of policies and operational strategies.
Focus on International Waters
Focal area includes both marine and freshwater systems.
Proponent of projects that help the developing countries to initiate a joint action to protect their shared waters and develop projects on a sustainable fashion way.
Channel for the implementation of comprehensive,
ecosystem-based approaches to managing transboundary waters and their drainage basins.
Assist countries to identify and work jointly with their neighbors in order to address threats to the shared water body due to human activities.
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Over the past decade, the GEF has been the most important proponent of projects that help the developing countries to initiate a joint action to protect their shared waters and develop projects on a sustainable fashion way. The GEF's international waters focal area includes both marine and freshwater systems. The facility acts primarily as a channel for the implementation of comprehensive, ecosystem-based approaches to managing transboundary waters and their drainage basins. The GEF seeks to assist countries to identify and work jointly with their neighbors in order to address threats to the shared water body due to human activities. This approach is multi-sectoral, and the operational strategy in international waters is to help countries to use their full range of technical, economic, financial, regulatory and institutional activities needed to find solutions for the transboundary waters and their drainage basins issues (GEF, 1996)
GEF’s Organizational Structure
The Member countries:176 countries.Each country has GEF rep. officials
The Council:
Main governing body. 32 members who represent countries.Projects must be approved by the Council.
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The member countries (176) include developing and developed countries, as well as those with economies in transition. Each country has GEF representative officials: a Political/National focal point who coordinates matters related to GEF governance and an Operational Focal Point who oversees project-related matters. These focal points help ensure that projects arise from their country's own priorities.The GEF Council is the main governing body of the GEF. It is comprised of 32 members who represent GEF member countries. All GEF full-size projects must be approved by the GEF Council. The GEF Assembly is comprised of all the countries that are members of the GEF. It meets once every four years to review the policies and operations of the GEF. The GEF Secretariat serves and reports to the Assembly and Council. It is headed by the GEF CEO and chairman Len Wood. The Secretariat coordinates the implementation of GEF activities such as projects, programs, as well as the formulation of policies and operational strategies.
GEF’s Organizational Structure
The Assembly: All the countries that are members of the GEF. It meets once every four years to review the
policies and operations of the GEF.
The Secretariat: Coordinates the implementation of projects
and programs. Coordinates the formulation of policies and
operational strategies.
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The member countries (176) include developing and developed countries, as well as those with economies in transition. Each country has GEF representative officials: a Political/National focal point who coordinates matters related to GEF governance and an Operational Focal Point who oversees project-related matters. These focal points help ensure that projects arise from their country's own priorities.The GEF Council is the main governing body of the GEF. It is comprised of 32 members who represent GEF member countries. All GEF full-size projects must be approved by the GEF Council. The GEF Assembly is comprised of all the countries that are members of the GEF. It meets once every four years to review the policies and operations of the GEF. The GEF Secretariat serves and reports to the Assembly and Council. It is headed by the GEF CEO and chairman Len Wood. The Secretariat coordinates the implementation of GEF activities such as projects, programs, as well as the formulation of policies and operational strategies.
GEF’s Organizational Structure
Implementing Agencies:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
The World Bank (IBRD)
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Implementing Agencies: GEF's implementing agencies - the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank - play key roles in managing GEF projects on the ground. Through them, the GEF has quickly amassed a diverse project portfolio serving the developing world, Eastern Europe, and the Russian Federation - more than 140 countries altogether. Moreover, GEF teamwork by these partners reinforces their individual efforts to mainstream or incorporate global environment concerns into all of their policies and programs. Executing Agencies: This agencies contribute to the management and execution of GEF Projects. In 1999, the GEF Council expanded opportunities for seven organizations to contribute to the implementation of GEF projects, the seven executing organizations are:The African Development Bank (AfDB)The Asian Development Bank (ADB)The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)Nongovernmental Organizations(NGO’s) This organizations play a variety of important roles both in the development and the execution of GEF projects
The African Development Bank (AfDB)The Asian Development Bank (ADB)The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD)The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Nongovernmental Organizations(NGO’s):Participate in the development and the execution of GEF
projects
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Implementing Agencies: GEF's implementing agencies - the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank - play key roles in managing GEF projects on the ground. Through them, the GEF has quickly amassed a diverse project portfolio serving the developing world, Eastern Europe, and the Russian Federation - more than 140 countries altogether. Moreover, GEF teamwork by these partners reinforces their individual efforts to mainstream or incorporate global environment concerns into all of their policies and programs. Executing Agencies: This agencies contribute to the management and execution of GEF Projects. In 1999, the GEF Council expanded opportunities for seven organizations to contribute to the implementation of GEF projects, the seven executing organizations are:The African Development Bank (AfDB)The Asian Development Bank (ADB)The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)The UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)Nongovernmental Organizations(NGO’s) This organizations play a variety of important roles both in the development and the execution of GEF projects
GEF’s Organizational Structure
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP):
Technical advise
Scientific collaboration
Advise on monitoring & evaluation
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The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP): STAP provides strategic scientific and technical advice to the GEF on its strategy and programs. STAP has fifteen members who are internationally recognized experts in the GEF's key areas of work: biodiversity, biosafety, climate change, coastal and fresh water management, sustainable land management, persistent organic pollutants, and integrated ecosystem management. STAP also maintains a roster of experts who advise on individual projects. Its work is supported by a secretariat based at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi.STAP's objectives are:To identify and provide strategic advice on scientific and technical priorities, the scientific and technical coherence of GEF operational programs and strategies, and on emerging issues and gaps relevant to the implementation of operational programs.To provide scientific and technical advice aimed at strengthening the scientific and technical quality and underpinnings of GEF projects.To enhance and improve the collaboration with other scientific and technical bodies, communities and private sector in areas of relevance to the GEF priorities.To advise on capacity building efforts in science and technology relevant for development and implementation of GEF projects.To advise on targeted research relevant to GEF strategic priorities.To advise on monitoring and evaluation indicators for focal areas and cross-cutting issues.
GEF’s Organizational Structure
Monitoring and Evaluation Unit: Project Performance Report
Goal: to integrate the lessons learned from earlier efforts to achieve greater effectiveness.
Thematic reviews and independent evaluations, and by developing program-level indicators.
M&E is a shared responsibility between the GEF Secretariat and its Implementing Agencies: UNDP, UNEP, and the World Bank.
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Monitoring and Evaluation Unit: is particularly vital to GEF's effectiveness for three reasons: GEF's projects are often innovative or experimental, GEF is pioneering coordination among many parties, and its development of successful operational programs requires continuous learning.Thus, integrating lessons learned from earlier efforts to achieve greater effectiveness is a key GEF goal. Each year, GEF engages in an extensive process that monitors its projects and evaluates their progress. This process yields the Project Performance Report (formerly the Project Implementation Review).The GEF´s M&E unit also addresses GEF-wide performance by conducting thematic reviews and independent evaluations, and by developing program-level indicators. The lessons that emerge from these exercises are fed back into project planning and implementation cycles and shared with partner institutions through workshops and publications. Click here for the Project Performance Report and other M&E publications.M&E is a shared responsibility between the GEF Secretariat and its Implementing Agencies: UNDP, UNEP, and the World Bank. The Implementing Agencies have the responsibility for evaluating individual projects; while the M&E unit in the GEF Secretariat is responsible for monitoring and evaluation at the overall level, the focal areas, the programs, as well as cross-cutting issues.
GEF International Waters Portfolio
Source: Millenium Development goals Progress Report 2005
GEF International Waters Portfolio
With a $300 million portfolio that includes 17 projects, The UNDP-GEF is assisting over 70 countries which share 15 lake and river basins.
Some of the projects in this area are:
• Danube Regional Project • Lake Chad • Lake Tanganyika • Niger River Basin • Okavango River Basin • Lake Titicaca • Rio de la Plata and Maritime Front • Tumen River Area • Kura River Basin – in preparation • Nubian Aquifer – in preparation
Source: Int. Waters Brochure GEF 2004
Experiences (Lake Manzala)
Experiences (Lake Manzala)
Source: United nations Project Document
The Lake is exposed to high inputs of pollutants from industrial, domestic, and agricultural sources
Lake that once provided 30 percent of all Egypt's fish
(85 percent) of organ malformation and discoloration
Experiences (Lake Manzala)
Source: United nations Project Document
Success initiative!
Treatment of wastewater via engineered wetlands is a new low cost technology
The success of the project has led national authorities to try to expand it
Experiences (Bermejo River)
Source: PCL library EncyclopediaCombined size of Hungary and Bulgary
Experiences (Bermejo River)
Surce Uitto, J. I. , Duda, A. (2004), Management of transboundary water resources: lessons from international cooperation for conflict prevention
Initial project 16 Dams
Focus the countries on one or two key issues rather than a diffuse environmental campain.
Questions for discussion
Does the world need more “GEF type of Organizations” focused on International waters with a bigger portfolio for the sake of solving transboundary water problems?
Could we state that the jointly development of infrastructure projects with neighboring countries will on a timely matter fix the water scarcity crisis that some regions will face in the future?
The Global Environment Facility
"Freedom alone is not enough without light to read at night, without time or access to water to irrigate your farm, without the ability to catch fish to feed your family."
