Transcript English - Global Environment Facility

Developing National GEF
Strategies and Setting Priorities
Nino Tkhilava
GEF Operational Focal Point in Georgia
Europe and CIS workshop for GEF Focal Points 7-8 March, Istambul
Background information
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The Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural
Resources of Georgia is the key Government authority for
coordination of GEF activities within the country;
The GEF Political Focal Point is the Minister and the OFP is
the Head of Integrated Environmental Management
Department;
Georgia is active in four Focal Areas: Biodiversity, Climate
change, International waters, and Persistent Organic
Pollutants;
Georgia is not a recipient of the Small Grants Programme;
Georgia is in the group allocation for Biodiversity and
Climate change under the RAF.
Key Project partners
The Minister (PFP)
Deputy ministers
Divisions
respons. for FA
Head of the
Department (OFP)
Division for
coord. of Projects
NGOs
IA
EA
Gov. Aut
Scient.
Inst.
 Country Support Programme for GEF Focal Points gives the
possibility to coordinate the work;
National GEF coordination activities
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Coordination activities are supported by CSP;
Workshops on GEF policies and procedures are
organized on a permanent basis;
Meetings to promote country level coordination in
particular Focal areas are considered as an important
mechanism;
Workshops to identify synergies in cross-focal areas are
to be further developed;
Creation of a GEF website at the national level needs
some further guidelines from GEF Secretariat (at least
general templates are to be prepared).
Priority Setting process in Georgia
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National Environment Action Plan (NEAP). 5 years
medium term priorities in the field of environment
protection;
Millennium Development Goals in Georgia. Goal 7 is to
ensure environmental sustainability within the country;
The Special Committee of the Government for
development of Action Plan (medium term) is established
in the year of 2007. Consists of representatives of all
ministries. The Minister of Finance of Georgia is the
chair of the Committee;
GEF Focal Point and stakeholders use above documents
for identification of priorities in line with GEF strategy.
Ongoing Activities and Constrains
(Challenges) (1)
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No clear information on the ongoing reforms of GEF and
instructions on the future work under RAF and other activities
from GEF Secretariat;
Role of IAs/EAs in the ongoing processes should be further
assessed by GEF and Governments;
Working with IAs/EAs without country presence of these
organizations. Project implementation modalities/assistance
suggested by some EAs without strong government/country
ownership and their capacity building;
The only IA from all IAs/EAs which has its implementation
modality - National Execution is the UNDP;
Delays in the implementation of the first two years of GEF4
(PIF and Project concepts might be out of date);
The same applies to the Second part of GEF4.
Ongoing Activities and Constrains
(Challenges) (2)
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RAF:
 The Project on Enabling Activity was developed through
assistance of UNDP, endorsed by GEF OFP and submitted
to GEF– seven months - no response;
 (1) Strengthening Protected Area System; (2) Promotion of
Sustainable Transport in the City of Tbilisi; and (3)
Adaptation of Coastal Zone to Climate Change – no clear
future;
The fate of the regional Kura-Aras initiative is unclear due to
the cancellation of the project concept and so far nonexistence of new strategy in this focal area;
PDF As for two POPs projects were developed under GEF3.
Unclarity on POPs strategic priorities within GEF4.
Lessons Learnt
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GEF projects are considered as key means for mainstreaming
global environmental issues through activities at the national
level;
Monitoring and tracking of the implementation of the GEF
projects at the national level are not sufficient;
Collaboration between Operational Focal Point and IAs and
EAs is an important milestone for development,
implementation and evaluation of GEF projects;
Awareness raising campaign on the GEF role - important
component;
Co-financing problems occur when project approval is
delayed.
Conclusions and Recommendations
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Country Support Programme is to be continued;
GEF Secretariat should provide OFPs with more detailed
information about ongoing reforms;
The work under the RAF system is to be further clarified;
IAs and EAs should present revised Action Plans and
assessment of their own work within each Focal Area;
The coordination between Countries and IAs/EAs is to be
further strengthened;
The coordination between GEF OFPs and the official
representatives of the Constituency group in the Council is to
be improved.
Thank you very much for your attention
Nino Tkhilava, GEF OFP
Head of Integrated Environmental
Management Department
Ministry of Environment Protection and
Natural Resources of Georgia
6 Gulua str., 0114
Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel: (+995 32) 275 750
Fax: (+995 32) 275 728
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]