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GEF and Civil Society

GEF governance reforms to enhance effectiveness and civil society engagement Faizal Parish GEC, Central Focal Point , GEF NGO Network GEF-NGO Consultation Washington DC, 21 June 2009. GEF and Civil Society. Civil society as key stakeholders in GEF GEF Public Participation Policy

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GEF and Civil Society

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  1. GEF governance reforms to enhance effectiveness and civil society engagement Faizal Parish GEC, Central Focal Point , GEF NGO NetworkGEF-NGO ConsultationWashington DC, 21 June 2009

  2. GEF and Civil Society • Civil society as key stakeholders in GEF • GEF Public Participation Policy • GEF NGO Network • Expectations for the fifth replenishment • Future issues

  3. 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 safeguard global environmental benefits and ensure sustainability of GEF programmes. • Civil Society should be a main partner for effective implementation and long term sustainability of GEFs work

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

  5. Environmental Degradation has major local and global impacts

  6. Communities can protect and restore the environment and promote sustainable use

  7. GEF Public participation Policy • Adopted by GEF in 1996 • Effective public involvement is critical to the success of GEF-financed projects. • Public involvement improves the performance and impact of projects • The GEF recipient countries with support from GEF and GEF agencies are responsible for ensuring effective public involvement • Resources and support should be allocated to NGOs and other stakeholders to ensure that they have a strengthened role in GEF implementation. • Stakeholders should be engaged at the earliest phase of project identification and throughout design, implementation, and evaluation.

  8. GEF NGO Network • Established in 1996 • Links together 600 organisations accredited to GEF • Coordinated by a global Coordinating Committee, a Central Focal Point and 15 Regional Focal Points • Partnership with between Network and GEF reiterated through Council decision November 2008 • Task Force on replenishment set up May 09

  9. Issues related to the replenishment • Over exploitation of natural resources, pollution and climate change affect millions worldwide. • Conservative estimates of finance requirements to adequately address environment issues exceeds $200 billion per annum • Global consensus in conventions and global fora on need to take a more community-based or multi-stakeholder approach • GEF 4 resources ($0.8 billion/year divided by 140 recipients and 6 focal areas) are totally inadequate to meet the current and growing needs • Current procedures and mechanisms ( especially RAF) exclude civil society and have cut resource flows dramatically in GEF 4. • The proportion of CSO implemented MSPs has declined 70% between GEF2/3 to GEF 4

  10. Adequacy of GEF • GEF 4 resources ($0.8 billion/year divided by 140 recipients and 6 focal areas) are totally inadequate to meet the current and growing needs • GEF Focal area strategies exclude communities • Current procedures (especially RAF) exclude civil society and have cut resource flows dramatically in GEF 4. • The proportion of CSO implemented MSPs has declined 70% between GEF2/3 to GEF 4

  11. Key directions • Objective of the Reform should be to adjust the GEF governance and operational structure to better respond to today’s challenges, including scale, scope and pace of change in the natural environment and its impact on human development. • Change GEF modus operandi to achieve better and more efficient and effective delivery of impact, that is to say, global environment benefits; •  The GEF governance and strategy setting mechanisms need to include all stakeholders active in sustainable development at the national, regional and global levels in order to ensure balance in defining and delivering its programs.

  12. Areas for change • Total Allocation • Focal Area strategies • Civil society engagement in planning and implementation • Programmatic approach • Resource allocation • Institutional Reform • Civil society access to resources

  13. Total allocation • Minimum $10 Billion direct donor contribution • Additional contributor options • Flexible approach • Develop innovative financing • Enhance cofinancing

  14. Focal Area strategies • Need fundamental change to ensure effective civil society participation • Too technical or technology driven • Need to stimulate and facilitate multi-stakeholder partnership to solve problems • Draw on community based approaches for sustainability • Integrated approaches with link to sustainable livelihoods

  15. Civil society engagement in planning and implementation • Full implementation of GEF public participation policy • Needs assessment and priority setting • National dialogues and planning processes • National GEF Steering Committees • National plans for securing GEBs • Project concept identification and design • Implementation and evaluation • Efficiency, transparency and effectiveness

  16. Programmatic approach • Ensure the GEF better delivers on global environment benefits in the current context and challenges of development. • Promoting integration and common approach across themes, countries/regions • Driven by common needs or environmental issues rather that administration • Consultative transparent process building as much as possible on existing frameworks

  17. Resource allocation • Current RAF has failed in its objectives • Too complex, excluded civil society from GEF • Resource allocation only workable with large Replenishment ($10 billion) Plus linkage to a common country strategy • Should exclude international waters and forests

  18. Institutional Reform • Fully implement public participation policy • Independent legal status • Direct access options • Strengthen efficiency and transparency of GEF agencies • Increase resources for capacity building and knowledge management • Enhanced country-ownership and integration into regional processes. • Enhance implementation of convention targets • Enhance role of Civil society in decision making

  19. Civil society access to resources • Enhance access to resources by civil society • Target of at least 20% of resources direct to civil society GEF 2/3 GEF 4

  20. strategy for participation and the financing of CSOs • Effectively engage CSOs in the replenishment process • Organise National and regional consultations on replenishment and strategy • multi-stakeholder review to prepare a strategy for full inclusion of the CSOs in the overall reform. • Joint GEF-Civil society proposal on how to fully integrate CSOs in the GEF reform

  21. The GEF NGO Network therefore calls for: • A high GEF 5 replenishment of at least $10 billion • Further reforms in the GEF governance to ensure that civil society is adequately engaged in GEF planning and implementation. • Enhance direct funding to CSOs through MSP. FSP and SGP to at least 20% • Effective engagement in Replenishment process with Consultation, Review and development of a focussed strategy for full inclusion of civil society CSOs in the overall reform.

  22. Thank you

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