sub-regional workshop for gef focal points east and southern africa
DESCRIPTION
Sub-Regional Workshop for GEF Focal Points East and Southern Africa 25-27 June 2008, Windhoek, Namibia. Tools to Support GEF National Focal Points. Objectives of FP Tools. Supporting FPs to: Strengthen country ownership of GEF projects; Enhance impact of projects on the ground; - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Tools to Support GEF National Focal Points
Sub-Regional Workshop for GEF Focal PointsEast and Southern Africa
25-27 June 2008, Windhoek, Namibia
Objectives of FP Tools
Supporting FPs to:
Strengthen country ownership of GEF projects;
Enhance impact of projects on the ground;
Ensure that GEF proposals & activities in country are consistent with country priorities & country commitments under global environmental conventions;
Facilitate broad based in-country consultations on GEF operational matters
Overview of Available Tools
1. National Dialogue Initiative
2. Country Support Program1. Direct Support
2. Sub-regional Workshops
3. Knowledge Facility
3. Constituency Meetings
4. Operations Manual
5. Country Pages (PMIS)
6. Familiarization Seminars
7. Newsletter - Talking Points
1. National Dialogue Initiative (NDI)
Objectives
Promoting in-depth understanding of the GEF's strategic directions, policies and procedures
Strengthening country coordination and ownership in GEF operations and sharing lessons learned from project implementation
Achieving greater mainstreaming of GEF activities into national planning frameworks and coordination and synergies amongst the GEF focal areas and convention issues at the national level
National Dialogue Initiative (cont’d)
In 2007/2008 countries have used recent National Dialogues to:
Inform national stakeholders about global environmental issues and GEF's strategic directions, policies, procedures
Take stock of GEF portfolios and activities in the country Further develop national GEF strategies and define
priorities for funding Strengthen inter-sectoral cooperation on environmental
issues Enhance inter-agency collaboration and partnerships Strengthen national GEF coordination mechanisms and
processes Promote integration of GEF themes in national environment
and sustainable development plans and policies
National Dialogue Initiative (cont’d)
To apply to host a multi-stakeholder GEF National Dialogue:
Send a request to the GEF CEO, Ms. Monique Barbut
Briefly specify objectives and expected outputs
2. Country Support Program
Objective: To strengthen the capacity of GEF national Focal Points
(FPs) to support and coordinate GEF activities in their countries and constituencies
Rationale: Needs expressed by Focal Points Evaluation of Focal Point Support Program OPS 3 recommendations 3rd replenishment recommendations
Approved: November 2005 Council Total budget: $12m Duration: 4 years, 2006 – 2009
CSP Components
Component 1 Direct Support
Component 2 Sub-Regional Information
Exchange & Training
Workshops
Component 3 Knowledge Facility
CSP II: Sub-Regional Information Exchange & Training Workshops
Since early 2007, CSP has been organizing a series of annual sub-regional workshops for FPs
The workshops provide an opportunity for FPs to: exchange information and share their experiences be updated on evolving GEF policies and procedures interact with GEFSEC and Agency staff in order to discuss
priority issues
CSP II: Sub-Regional Information Exchange & Training Workshops for FPs (cont’d)
Design and content of Sub-regional Workshops based on requests and needs expressed by GEF FPs during GEF sub-regional consultations and workshops, national
dialogues Annual surveys to identify priority topics of interest, including
specific experiences countries would like to share
CSP III: Knowledge Facility
Aims to address the knowledge needs of FPs and to assist them in carrying out their roles and responsibilities with respect to managing global environmental issues within their national development contexts
Helps FPs address their immediate information needs related to GEF, its policies, procedures, lessons and experiences
CSP III: Knowledge Facility (cont’d)
Serves as constantly accessible resource for acquisition of knowledge, experience, and best practice targeted to meeting FPs needs
Facilitates FP learning through exchange, discussion, research, and action
Including discussion forums for FPs, private information exchange among GEF constituencies and country managed 'country pages‘
The GEF Knowledge Facility for FPs is available at: www.gefcountrysupport.org
CSP I: Direct Support
The CSP for FPs provides:
$8,000 available as direct financial support annually to OFPs for in-country activities based on Annual Work Plan (AWP)
Financial support to enable participation of O & P FPs at up to 2 constituency meetings each year
Limited number of FPs to attend GEF Familiarization Seminar every year
CSP I – Process
1. SSFA - The Government to sign a Small Scale Funding
Agreement (SSFA) with UNEP.
2. Annual Work Plan (AWP) - The Government to submit the AWP
to GEFSEC for approval.
3. On completion of steps 1, 2 and approval by GEFSEC, UNEP will disburse resources.
For more information about the types of activities for which Direct Support may be requested, please refer to the “Revised Guidelines for Focal Point Support” available on the GEF website at: www.thegef.org
3. Constituency Meetings
Objectives Develop constituency positions with regard to specific
Council issues Share information and obtain feedback on the outcome of
Council meetings and obtain feed-back on Council decisions Review country and constituency coordination issues to
enhance communication and outreach efforts Decide upon constituency governance issues such as the
order in which countries will assume Council Member and Alternate seats (rotation agreements)
Discuss implementation of GEF projects and share lessons learned
Constituency Meetings - Process
I. Council Member Support Program (CMSP) provides funding to Council Members to hold Constituency Meetings
II. Input to agenda from FPs so issues can be addressed
III. Travel of FPs covered through component I - Direct Support
With advent of new GEF project cycle, need for Operations Manual to understand new procedures, serve as template for projects, guidance for operations
The Operations Manual is necessary to understand The Operations Manual is necessary to understand the new procedures and guide operationsthe new procedures and guide operations
GEFSEC, Agencies, Trustee, STAP, and Evaluation Office collaborated to produce Operations Manual presented at the April 2008 Council meeting.
4. Operations Manual
Overview of the Revised Project Cycle PIFs – PPGs - Preparation, Review Criteria and
Clearance Procedures CEO Endorsement of FSPs, CEO Approval of MSPs and
EAs Project Implementation-Monitoring-Supervision Project and Program Evaluation Project Suspension-Cancelation-Termination
Operations Manuel – Main Topics
5. Country Profile Pages - Project Management Information Systems - PMIS
The Country Profile pages (PMIS) presents detailed information on:
Projects’ status, Council and Alternate Members, O/PFPs, accredited NGOs for each country
Secured information on projects under consideration in GEFSEC
To access this information, O/PFPs use same e-mail and password used to access the CSP website or may also apply for password through CSP webpage or by following procedure on country profile page
The secured information contains status of PIFs submitted for CEO approval/clearance, status of projects that have been submitted for CEO endorsement
Further refinements of data available will be introduced as appropriate
Country Profile Pages – PMIS (cont’d)
As part of reform process undertaken by GEFSEC, the GEF website is undergoing a process of improvement and updating, including introduction of Country Profile pages
GEF Country Profile pages are available at: www.gefonline.org/Country/CountryProfile.cfm
6. Familiarization Seminars
To familiarize a limited number of new FPs with GEF strategies, programs, policies and procedures
Opportunity to network with GEFSEC staff and also with GEF Agency staff
7. Newsletter - Talking Points
A newsletter published quarterly providing information and updates on GEF activities, and processes
Target audience includes GEF O/PFPs, GEF agencies, NGOs, CBOs, others stakeholders
Web-based and downloadable to increase accessibility
FPs encouraged to share their experiences on GEF projects or good practices on GEF coordination at the national level
A post of Conflict Resolution Commissioner exists at GEFESC
The incumbent works directly with member countries and Agencies to help resolve disputes and address complaints and other issues of importance to GEF operations
Critical mission is to create an atmosphere of trust and confidence within the GEF family
Other options available to dealing with conflicts are: GEF Agencies, Program Managers and/or Country Relations Officers
Conflict Resolution
Should a Member State still have an issue, please send a formal letter or e-mail to the GEF CEO, Ms. Monique Barbut
To learn more about the work of the Conflict Resolution Commissioner and the process being developed at the GEFSEC, please contact Mr. Sekou Toure, the Conflict Resolution Commissioner, Tel: (+202) 458-4059 - Fax: (+202) 212-9553 - E-mail: Stoure1@the GEF.org. More information is available at: www.thegef.org.
Conflict Resolution