Roles of GEF National Focal Points & Experiences in GEF Coordination and Integration

Sub-Regional Workshop for GEF Focal PointsMiddle East and North Africa

Casablanca, Morocco, 24-25 November 2008

Overview

I. GEF Focal Points and their key roles

II. Experiences with national coordination mechanisms

III. Experiences in integration of GEF into national development policies and plans

Sources for this Presentation

Presentations by GEF Focal Points on country experiences in GEF Coordination and Integration during 15 Sub-Regional Workshops (2007-08)

Case studies documented for CSP by national GEF Focal Points on GEF coordination (2007-08)

GEF National Dialogue Initiative and CSP study “GEF National Coordination - Lessons Learned” (2005)

Country presentations at Third GEF Assembly National Dialogue side-event on GEF coordination (2006)

Key Roles of GEF Focal Points

National coordination: Sectoral coordination (inter-ministerial and inter-agency), including

with convention focal points

Outreach to other national stakeholders (civil society organizations, academic/scientific institutions, private sector)

Liaison with GEF Agencies

Linkages with other international cooperation agencies

Regional coordination: Participation in GEF constituency meetings and activities (CSP,other)

Engagement with regional cooperation frameworks

Involvement in regional projects and initiatives

Global coordination: Liaison with GEF Secretariat

Constituency representation on GEF Council (on a rotating basis)

FPs help inform, mobilize andengage wide range of stakeholders

FPs facilitate coordinationwith sectoral agencies on

integrating global environmentinto development plans

FPs helpinfluence policy

by upscaling lessons

From policy makersto local groups

Across range ofsector activities /

environmental issues

II. Experiences with National GEF Coordination Mechanisms

Support Focal Points’ coordination roles

Different models and compositions

National GEF Committee most common

May include: Government, civil society, private sector, GEF Agencies, other donors

Provide sectoral expertise

Provide institutional continuity given FP changes

Common Challenges & Benefits ofcoordination mechanisms

Challenges:• Focal Point personnel changes hamper continuity• Resource constraints• Broad stakeholder participation proving difficult to achieve• GEF procedures frustrate national stakeholders

Benefits:• Facilitates endorsement of GEF project concepts by Focal

Points• Increases awareness and appreciation of GEF and its

mandates and activities• Encourages greater local, sectoral, and national

involvement in GEF programs and projects• Promotes participation in monitoring of GEF projects

Elements of successful national GEF coordination mechanisms

Leadership by committed, informed, dynamic individuals

Broad participation by national stakeholders, including civil society

Effective links with convention focal points and activities

Enable integration of GEF in national priorities & strategies

Informed about global environmental issues and up-to-date on GEF policies and procedures

Clearly defined roles for Agencies (whether as regular members, observers, or resources persons)

Monitoring role of national GEF projects and portfolio and application of lessons learned

Capable of growth and evolution

III. Experiences in Integration of GEF in national development policies & plans

Benefits of integrating GEF:

Enhances relevance of global environment issues within broader national development policies and plans at all levels

Reveals commonalities and synergies between national GEF portfolios and related government and donor activities

Improves flow of information among stakeholders and the quality of decisions made on environment & development issues

Encourages and sustains involvement and commitment of national stakeholders on environmental issues

Elements of success in integration of GEF

Institutional leadership can enable inter-sectoral and regional coordination

Overall strategies and visions can create an enabling environment for addressing environmental challenges in development planning

Project objectives when clearly aligned with national development objectives can enable better linkages and integration

Project results can contribute towards implementation of national policies, plans and programmes

Integration of environmental management involves addressing aspects of policy change, institutional capacity, and individual competencies

Integration across sector and regional levels involves coordinated planning and development of harmonized and shared goals among a range of actors

Commitment can be increased by an understanding of the interdependence of environment and economic and social development

Examples of Integration of GEF (1)

China: Effective linkages maintained between GEF projects and

national development objectives Projects developed with clear objectives aligned with

development and implementation of national programmes and actions

Projects have promoted implementation of a number of national key plans and programmes

Institutional placement of GEF activities under the Ministry of Finance has led to strong inter-sectoral coordination, as well as provincial-level coordination

Examples of Integration of GEF (2)

Namibia: GEF programme is closely linked to Namibia’s Vision 2030,

which is based on the country’s 5-year National Development Plans (NDPs)

Recognition that attainment of the MDGs and Vision 2030 requires a paradigm shift to incorporate environment

Recognition that environmental management needs to be integrated into all aspects of the policy environment, institutional setting and individual competencies

Examples of Integration of GEF (3)

Greater Mekong Sub-Region: Countries of the region, in partnership with ADB, focused on

integrating environmental sustainability considerations into development of the Greater Mekong sub-region.

A landscape management approach applied where environmental concerns are embedded into development planning at the regional and sectoral levels (North-South Economic Corridor, tourism, transport, energy sectors).

Emphasis on the fundamental premise that “if we do not take care of our natural resources and biodiversity, the region cannot realize its economic potential”.

For more Information:

Visit the CSP Knowledge Facility: www.gefcountrysupport.org

National Coordination page:http://www.gefcountrysupport.org/report_detail.cfm?projectId=139

Mainstreaming Environment page: http://www.gefcountrysupport.org/report_detail.cfm?projectId=175

Links to country presentations developed by Focal Points on 2007 Sub-Regional Workshop pages:

http://www.gefcountrysupport.org/report_detail.cfm?projectId=162