The GEF Small Grants Programme Experience – Belize

Philip BalderamosNational Coordinator

March 1st, 2011

Objective

To share SGP Belize experiences of working with civil society partners, including programme accomplishments, challenges and lessons learnt.

Overview

• Evolution of GEF SGP in Belize• Accomplishments • Challenges and Constraints • Lessons Learnt• Next Steps• Conclusion • Preview of field trip

Protected Areas Map

Evolution of GEF SGP in Belize • Launched 1993 and moved through all phases of the GEF SGP

• COMPACT Programme along with Local Consultative Body added in 2001

• In OP3 refocused Country Programme Strategy (CPS) and programmatic priorities on a geographic and thematic basis

• Prioritized working with Indigenous Peoples, Vulnerable Communities and emerging civil society organizations

Evolution of GEF SGP Cont’d • Projects should include Global Environmental Targets, Community Livelihoods and Community Empowerment components

• Diversified portfolio among GEF Focal Areas

•Case study country for global GEF SGP evaluation

• 2010 - World Heritage Local Ecological Entrepreneurship Programme (WH-LEEP) added as a sub-programme to COMPACT (through partnership among GEF, Conservation International, UNF, UNDP and Daiwa Securities Group)

Accomplishments

• Expanded and enhanced national Protected Areas Network

• Built NGO and CBO Co-management Capacity

• Pioneered Community-based Fishermen Associations

• Pioneered alternative livelihood and sustainable fishing projects for Fishermen

Accomplishments Cont`d• Pioneered Marine Tour Guide Skills Training

• Supported Integrated Marine Science within primary schools curriculum

• Supported Integrated Watershed Management in communities

• Established regional linkages ( Mexico, Guatemala, Jamaica, Dominica and Barbados)

Accomplishments Cont`d

• Promoted and enhanced the revival of Honey Production

• Empowered and involved Mayan Women in leadership and decision making roles

• SGP project up-scaled to medium sized project

• 145 SGP projects total US $ 2.5 M

• 32 COMPACT projects total US $1.6 M

Challenges & Constraints

• Geography - high operational costs

• Low capacity of grantee partners

• Community level changes and conflicts

• Co-financing requirement of 1:1

• Low levels of admin budgets for SGP and COMPACT

Lessons Learned

• Long term donor and grantee partnership necessary

• Ongoing monitoring and support of community level grantees essential

• Capacity Building (leadership skills, conflict resolution, communication, project management and reporting, etc.) within projects necessary for community based grantees

• Exchange visits between community groups very effective

Lessons Learned

• International Waters projects should involve transboundary funding

• Community management of fisheries resources requires revision of fisheries legislation (now being done)

• Communities did not sustain alternative cooking technologies

Next Steps

• Revise and refocus Country Programme Strategy and COMPACT Site Strategy in line with OP5 GEF SGP global ProDoc and changing national conditions and priorities

• Strengthen Programme and Project Monitoring and Evaluation

• Introduce software-based programme and project management tool (Miradi)

Conclusion

• SGP continues to be an accessible country driven funding mechanism, supporting community level interventions in a timely, efficient and cost effective manner to generate environmental, economic and social benefits.

Field Visit Preview

• Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS) - important national/regional community conservation initiative

• A cluster of three projects

• Support conservation goals of CBS – to protect regionally and globally significant biodiversity resources

• Integrates community livelihood opportunities, community empowerment and environmental sustainability

• Opportunity to buy products and support the Community Baboon Sanctuary