GEF and Civil Society

1. OPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGAGEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN GEF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMESpresented byFaizal Parish Regional/Central Focal Point GEF NGO Network

2. GEF and Civil Society • Civil society as key stakeholders in the work of GEF • GEF Public Participation Policy • GEF decisions on GEF and Civil Society • Options for engagement of Civil Society in projects in South and East Asia • Key concerns of CSOs in this meeting • Proposed next steps • GEF NGO Network

3. Many indigenous cultures and local communities depend on natural resources

4. Environmental Degradation has major local and global impacts

5. Civil society as key stakeholders in the work of GEF • Important stewards of natural resources and environment • Direct beneficiaries from sound environmental management • Directly impacted by poor environmental management • Can provide major contributions to safeguarding global environmental benefits and ensuring sustainability of GEF programmes. • Civil Society should thus be a main partner for effective implementation and long term sustainability of GEFs work

6. GEF Public participation Policy • Adopted by GEF in 1996 • Effective public involvement is critical to the success of GEF-financed projects. • When done appropriately, public involvement improves the performance and impact of projects by: • Enhancing recipient country ownership of, and accountability for, project outcomes • Addressing the social and economic needs of affected people • Building partnerships among project executing agencies and stakeholders • Making use of skills, experiences, and knowledge, in particular, of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community and local groups, and the private sector in the design, implementation, and evaluation of project activities

7. GEF Public participation PolicyKey principles • Projects should, as appropriate, address the social, cultural, and economic needs of people affected by GEF-financed projects. • Responsibility for assuring public involvement rests within the country, supported by the GEF Implementing Agencies • Public involvement activities will be conducted in a transparent and open manner. • All GEF-financed projects should have full documentation of public involvement activities. • There should be transparency in the preparation, conduct, reporting, and evaluation of public involvement activities in all projects.

8. The GEF Agencies will • support countries in: • involving stakeholders at the earliest phase of project identification and throughout design, implementation, and evaluation. • providing relevant, timely, and accessible information to as many stakeholders as possible; • provide the financial and technical assistance necessary for recipient governments and project executing agencies to ensure effective public involvement. • facilitating broad as well as project-specific consultations, especially at the local or sub-national levels; and • promoting the participation of stakeholder groups throughout the project cycle. This promotion includes awareness raising and capacity strengthening activities. • Develop guidelines for public involvement in their own GEF-financed projects

9. Enhancing engagement of CSOs in GEF 5 (Approved November 2010) • CSOs invited to National dialogues and national portfolio identification exercises to propose ideas for potential projects or programmes. • CSOs invited for Extended Constituency Meetings • CSOs to be consulted in development of Project Concept (PIF) • PIF to identify engagement of CSOs and proposed role • Project Document to include stakeholder engagement plan.

10. Further steps being considered to enhance engagement • Developing policy framework for GEF and indigenous peoples • Enhancing implementation of the GEF Public involvement Policy • Capacity Building for Civil Society to enhance their engagement • Monitoring and enhancing CSO access to GEF resources

11. Options for engagement of CSOs in projects in South and East Asia • Project implementers (SGP, MSP, FSP) • Project partners or service providers • Project advisers/steering committee members • Project target groups • Facilitating engagement of indigenous and local communities • Monitoring and enhancing CSO access to GEF resources

12. Areas of CSO action in Region • Public Awareness and participation • Technical guidance and training • Community participation • Sustainable livelihoods • Environmental education • Recycling/waste management • River and forest rehabilitation • Renewable energy • Protected area management

13. Key concerns by CSOs in this meeting • Recent reductions in funding for CSO-led projects • Historically little strategic involvement of CSOs in the development of country plans and projects. • GEF Public Participation policy needs to be fully implemented in this region - In particular – • Engagement of CSOs in national consultation and Portfolio development processes. • Development of clear guidelines for Civil society engagement – generic and country specific • Effective participation of civil society in project development and formulation. • Special Policy/mechanisms for engagement of indigenous communities • Enhanced consideration of Gender and social issues

14. Proposed next steps • Strengthening of networking and collaboration among CSOs in the region – at regional and country level • Building of capacity of CSOs in region to work effectively with GEF • Development of guidelines for enhanced CSO engagement in project and programme development. • Meetings in each country between CSOs and the GEF Operational focal point (agreed by GEF Council Nov 2010). • CSOs to work in partnership with OFPs to develop options for CSO engagement in projects and programmes. • Documentation and monitoring of level of CSO engagement • Reporting on progress and constraints to annual regional ECW meetings. • Written proposal to meeting tomorrow.

15. GEF NGO Network • Established in 1995 to facilitate CSO input to GEF Governance • More than 400 active members in 15 regions • Facilitate Civil society input to GEF policy making and implementation. • Organise CS consultations and provide input on each agenda item of GEF council • Monitor and build capacity at regional and national level for CSO engagement in GEF activities

16. GEF NGO Network • Guidance to government focal points and agencies on options for CSO engagement in GEF programmes • Current Regional Focal points – • South Asia – Foundation for Ecological Security, India • South East Asia – Global Environment Centre, Malaysia • NE Asia - under election • Details on www.gefngo.org