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