Ministerul Mediului si Gospodaririi ApelorMinisterul Mediului si Gospodaririi Apelor

Session 6 - Enhancing National GEF Session 6 - Enhancing National GEF Coordination, Communication and OutreachCoordination, Communication and Outreach

Developing the National Capacity for the Developing the National Capacity for the Design and Implementation of GEF Design and Implementation of GEF

Co-Financed ProjectsCo-Financed ProjectsRomanian ExperienceRomanian Experience

7-9 March 2007, Istanbul, Turkey7-9 March 2007, Istanbul, Turkey

Ministerul Mediului si Gospodaririi ApelorMinisterul Mediului si Gospodaririi Apelor

The Romanian Government faces a number of challenges in the The Romanian Government faces a number of challenges in the environment sector such as air pollution control (air quality environment sector such as air pollution control (air quality management), sustainable management of country’s natural management), sustainable management of country’s natural resources, water resources and quality management, biodiversity resources, water resources and quality management, biodiversity conservation, and the prevention of soil degradationconservation, and the prevention of soil degradation

The MEWM has benefited from important international assistance from The MEWM has benefited from important international assistance from the EU, bilateral donors, and in the last 10 years from the Global the EU, bilateral donors, and in the last 10 years from the Global Environment Facility – GEF.Environment Facility – GEF.

In the last decade, the Government of Romania has worked in close In the last decade, the Government of Romania has worked in close partnership with several GEF Implementing & Executing Agencies – partnership with several GEF Implementing & Executing Agencies – World Bank, FAO, UNDP, UNIDO, UNEP for the implementation of GEF World Bank, FAO, UNDP, UNIDO, UNEP for the implementation of GEF projects.projects.

Since July 1994, Romania has developed and implemented a number Since July 1994, Romania has developed and implemented a number of important projects in biodiversity, climate change, international of important projects in biodiversity, climate change, international waters and POPs, with a total budget of over $30 million. waters and POPs, with a total budget of over $30 million.

Addressing the Addressing the Challenges: Romania’s Challenges: Romania’s

ExperienceExperience

The Work of the Romanian The Work of the Romanian GEF Operational UnitGEF Operational Unit

To enhance coordination, MEWM established a To enhance coordination, MEWM established a small/integratedsmall/integrated GEF Operational GEF Operational UnitUnit, comprised of the GEF Political and Operational Focal Points and one support , comprised of the GEF Political and Operational Focal Points and one support staff.staff.

National level coordination is the primary responsibility of Romanian GEF National level coordination is the primary responsibility of Romanian GEF Operational Focal Point.Operational Focal Point.

Under the umbrella of GEF’s Country Support Programme (CSP), the MEWM Under the umbrella of GEF’s Country Support Programme (CSP), the MEWM started the creation a GEF centralized data base, to consolidate the existing started the creation a GEF centralized data base, to consolidate the existing strategies and programmes, to enhance communication, and to raise awareness strategies and programmes, to enhance communication, and to raise awareness with regard to the GEF and GEF funded projects in the country.with regard to the GEF and GEF funded projects in the country.

The The integratedintegrated GEF unit is involved in collecting information, project lists, project GEF unit is involved in collecting information, project lists, project reports etc. from the various implementing agencies, in order to build the reports etc. from the various implementing agencies, in order to build the necessary institutional memory with regard to the GEF implemented projects in necessary institutional memory with regard to the GEF implemented projects in the countrythe country

In order to increase transparency and accountability among the various In order to increase transparency and accountability among the various stakeholders involved in project implementation, a dedicated web link will be stakeholders involved in project implementation, a dedicated web link will be created on the official site of the MEWM. created on the official site of the MEWM.

GEF National Consultative GEF National Consultative MeetingMeeting MEWM,MEWM, 21 August 21 August 20062006

A National Consultative Meeting was organized by the GEF Political and A National Consultative Meeting was organized by the GEF Political and Operational Focal Points at the Ministry.Operational Focal Points at the Ministry.

The meeting aimed to inform all involved parties on the new RAF The meeting aimed to inform all involved parties on the new RAF policies, as well as to consult with them on GEF strategies and policies, as well as to consult with them on GEF strategies and available programmes.available programmes.

Main ObjectivesMain Objectives::- Raising awareness about GEF’s strategic directions, policies and Raising awareness about GEF’s strategic directions, policies and proceduresprocedures- Presenting and discussing the RAF allocation for RomaniaPresenting and discussing the RAF allocation for Romania- Developing the GEF portfolio and identifying prioritiesDeveloping the GEF portfolio and identifying priorities for afor a strong strong GEF pipeline GEF pipeline

Main resultsMain results::- The new GEF project portfolio responds to needs identified through The new GEF project portfolio responds to needs identified through this eventthis event- GEF policies are integrated into national planning frameworks and GEF policies are integrated into national planning frameworks and programmesprogrammes

““The Global Environment Facility – The Global Environment Facility – Resources for Environment and Resources for Environment and Communities” Communities” Bucharest,Bucharest, 23 23 November 2006November 2006

A GEF Awareness Raising event was organized by the Ministry/GEF A GEF Awareness Raising event was organized by the Ministry/GEF Focal Points in collaboration with the GEF Small Grants Programme.Focal Points in collaboration with the GEF Small Grants Programme.

The Objective was to promote the GEF strategy and the projects in the The Objective was to promote the GEF strategy and the projects in the GEF portfolio in Romania.GEF portfolio in Romania.

Results were:Results were:

An opportunity for dialogue between the Government, International An opportunity for dialogue between the Government, International Organizations, business sector and NGO’s, to define ways to efficiently Organizations, business sector and NGO’s, to define ways to efficiently and effectively co-operate to best achieve sustainable development and effectively co-operate to best achieve sustainable development projectsprojects

A consolidated image of the GEF portfolio with both large-scale as well A consolidated image of the GEF portfolio with both large-scale as well as Small Grants projects presented to stakeholders and general public. as Small Grants projects presented to stakeholders and general public.

General awareness raising through a dedicated exhibition and General awareness raising through a dedicated exhibition and coverage in mass media (TV and radio broadcasts, newspaper articles).coverage in mass media (TV and radio broadcasts, newspaper articles).

Community Involvement in SGP funded initiatives

AchievementsAchievements

All above mentioned activities have helped strengthen the All above mentioned activities have helped strengthen the country’s capacity to programme and implement projects country’s capacity to programme and implement projects funded by GEF and to enhance and support a strategic and funded by GEF and to enhance and support a strategic and coherent Romanian GEF portfoliocoherent Romanian GEF portfolio

A National consultation strategy exists - with the purpose to A National consultation strategy exists - with the purpose to introduce various projects, provide dependable feed-back, introduce various projects, provide dependable feed-back, and to enable direct links between key participants in the and to enable direct links between key participants in the decision making processdecision making process

Advantages of an Advantages of an integrated GEF Focal Point integrated GEF Focal Point UnitUnit

By locating the GEF Political and Operational Focal By locating the GEF Political and Operational Focal Points within an integrated Unit, there is:Points within an integrated Unit, there is:

Recognition of the interdependence between Recognition of the interdependence between policies of the GEF and its operations in countrypolicies of the GEF and its operations in country

Creation of a single point of contact, on all GEF Creation of a single point of contact, on all GEF related matters, for internal as well as international related matters, for internal as well as international institutionsinstitutions

Cost effectiveness in GEF efforts in communication, Cost effectiveness in GEF efforts in communication, information dissemination and consultationinformation dissemination and consultation

Better coordination at the country level with Better coordination at the country level with focused effort to make the GEF project cycle more focused effort to make the GEF project cycle more efficientefficient

ConclusionsConclusions

Efficient coordination, communication and outreach to the Efficient coordination, communication and outreach to the different categories of stakeholders significantly contribute to:different categories of stakeholders significantly contribute to:

Raising awareness of the local population with regard to the global Raising awareness of the local population with regard to the global environmental issues and the GEF role in addressing these issuesenvironmental issues and the GEF role in addressing these issues

Building local capacity to deal with global environmental problems, Building local capacity to deal with global environmental problems, and contributing to the achievement of global environmental benefitsand contributing to the achievement of global environmental benefits

Establishing effective partnerships between central and local Establishing effective partnerships between central and local government, private sector, NGOs, local communities to address government, private sector, NGOs, local communities to address global environmental issues at local levelglobal environmental issues at local level

Ensuring the country’s GEF projects portfolio is in line with the GEF Ensuring the country’s GEF projects portfolio is in line with the GEF strategy and national prioritiesstrategy and national priorities..

Thank you!Thank you!

Silviu STOICA – GEF OFP, RomaniaSilviu STOICA – GEF OFP, Romania

Ministry of Environment and Water ManagementMinistry of Environment and Water Management

General DirectorGeneral DirectorGeneral Directorate for Management of Structural General Directorate for Management of Structural InstrumentsInstrumentsMinistry of Environment and Water ManagementMinistry of Environment and Water ManagementTel: +40-21-300Tel: +40-21-300..7777..77; Fax: +40-21-31677; Fax: +40-21-316..0707..7878E-mail address: E-mail address: sisilviu.lviu.sstoica@mmediu.rotoica@mmediu.roWeb site: Web site: www.mmediu.rowww.mmediu.ro