Global Environmental Facilities-GEF - 5

GEF Focal Point for Myanmar

Hla Maung TheinNCEA

25th March, 2011

Initial STAR Allocation

(System for Transparent Allocation of Resources)

Structure of Presentation

• Background of GEF

• GEF 5 Initial STAR allocation

• Project types

• GEF focal areas

• Adaptation Fund

• Projects in Myanmar

• GEF Application Process, Procedure &

Priority

• Opportunities, Constraints and Future

Activities

Background of GEF

What is the GEF?

•The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established inOctober 1991 as a financial mechanism to assist in the protection of the global environment and to promote environmental sustainable development.

•The GEF would provide additional grants to cover the "incremental" or additional costs associated with transforming a project with national benefits into one with global environmental benefits.

Four strategic goals cover all activities under GEF mandate: Strategic Goal 1 – conserve, sustainably use and manage

biodiversity, ecosystems and natural resources globally, taking into account anticipated impacts of climate change

Strategic Goal 2 – reduce global climate change risks by (1) stabilizing atmospheric GHG concentrations through emission reduction actions; and (2) assisting countries to adapt to climate change, including variability

Strategic Goal 3 – promote the sound management of chemicals through their life-cycle to minimize the effect on human health and global environment

Strategic Goal 4 – build national and regional capacities and enabling conditions for global environmental protection and sustainable development

GEF’s Strategic Goals

GEF Agencies

• The World Bank (WB)• Asian Development Bank (ADB)• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United

Nations (FAO)• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)• United Nations Development Organization (UNIDO)• African Development Bank (AFDB)• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

(EBRD)• Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)• International Fund for Agricultural Development

(IFAD)

Role of GEF Agencies

GEF Agencies are responsible for creating project proposals.

GEF Agencies play key roles in managing GEF projects on the ground. 

More specifically GEF Agencies assist eligible governments and NGOs in the development, implementation, and management of GEF projects.

GEF Fund

The GEF also serves as financial mechanism for the following Conventions:

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)• United Nation Framework Convention on

Climate Change (UNFCC)• Stockholm Convention on Persistent

Organic Pollutants (POPs)• UN Convention on Combat Desertification

(UNCCD)• Montreal Protocol on Substances that

Deplete the Ozone Layer

Financial History of the GEF

The GEF Trust Fund is divided into 4-year

GEF Pilot Phase - 1991-1994 -- $1 Billion US Dollars

ReplenishmentsGEF - 1 - 1994-1998 – $2.2 Billion US DollarsGEF - 2 - 1998-2002 – $2.8 Billion US DollarsGEF - 3 - 2002-2006 – $2.9 Billion US DollarsGEF - 4 - 2006-2010 – $3.1 Billion US Dollars

World Bank is the Trustee of the GEF Trust Fund

GEF Coordination Mechanism for Myanmar

NCEA, Ministry of Forestry is the political and operational focal points of GEF.

And it also is the Focal Points for UNFCCC, CBD, Stockholm Convention, UNCCD and other MEAs, Myanmar.

GEF 5 Initial STAR

allocation

Duration: July 2010 to June 2014 (4

years)

Amount: US$ 4.34 billion

Other funds:

Adaptation Fund

Least Developing Countries Fund

Special Climate Change Fund

GEF – 5 Initial STAR Allocation

Climate change (1360 M$) Biodiversity (1210 M$) Land degradation (405 M$) Enabling Activities, Global and

Regional Activities and Sustainable Forest Management (20% of these allocation)

Allocation in Focal areas

Climate change (7.12 M$) Biodiversity (6.72 M$) Land degradation (1.51 M$)

Total Fund (15.35 M$)

GEF-5 Fund for Myanmar

Project Types

Project types

• GEF provides grants to various types of projects ranging from several thousand dollars to several million dollars. These are:• Full-Sized Projects (FSPs) • Medium-Sized Projects (MSPs)• Enabling Activities (EAs)• Programmatic Approach (PA)• Climate Change Adaptation Projects

(CCAPs)• Small Grants Programme (SGP)

Full-Size Projects (FSPs) Over US$1 million

Project concepts may be developed by governments, non-governmental organizations, communities, the private sector, or other civil society entities

Must respond to both national priorities and GEF focal area

Must satisfy eligibility requirements under the Conventions.

Project proponents work closely with national GEF Operational Focal Points (who formally endorse project concepts) and the GEF Agency, to develop concepts and move through the project cycle

FSPs are subject to project review criteria and are approved by the GEF Council.

Medium-Size Projects (MSPs) Up to US $1 million

MSPs offer opportunities for a broad range of programming that is typically smaller in scale than FSPs.

Funding such projects increases GEF flexibility in allocating and encourages a wide range of stakeholders to propose and develop project concepts.

MSPs are limited to a maximum of $1 million in GEF

Their approval is delegated by the Council and it is subject to project review criteria, similar to FSPs.

Enabling Activities

The GEF finances Enabling Activities related to Convention obligations under the CBD, UNFCCC and Stockholm Convention (PoPs)

To help countries prepare national inventories, strategies, action plans, and reports under these conventions

They represent a basic building block of GEF assistance to countries.

The Secretariat proposes that the GEF will support enabling activities up to US$-500,000 in addition to national STAR allocations.

Programmatic Approach (PA)

• Programmatic Approaches represent a partnership between country/ies, the GEF and other interested stakeholders, such as the private sector, donors and/or the scientific community.

• This approach secures larger-scale and sustainable impact on the global environment, through integrating global environmental objectives into national or regional strategies and plans.

•  A program usually contains several projects that are linked through common objective/s of the program aimed to foster integration of global environmental issues into the country(ies) development agenda.

Small Grants Programme (SGP) Up to $ 50,000 - Funded by GEF as a corporate

programme, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the GEF partnership.

The SGP supports non-governmental and community organizations, providing small grants for community-based projects in the GEF focal areas.

GEF Focal Areas

Climate changeBiodiversityLand degradationInternational watersChemicals, including POPs (Persistent

Organic Pollutants) and ODS (Ozone Depletion Substance)

Cross-cutting theme: Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)

Focal Areas for GEF funds projectsFocal Areas for GEF funds projects

Climate Change

Goal is to support developing countries and economies in transition toward a low-carbon development path

Objectives : Promote demonstration, and transfer of advanced low-

carbon technologies Promote market transformation for energy efficiency in

industry and buildings Promote investment in renewable energy technologies Promote energy efficient, low-carbon transport and urban

systems Conserve and enhance carbon stocks through sustainable

management of land use, land-use change, and forestry Continue to support enabling activities and capacity

building

Biodiversity

Goal is conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and maintenance of ecosystem goods and services.

Objectives: Improve sustainability of protected area systems Mainstream biodiversity conservation and

sustainable use into production landscapes/seascapes and sectors

Build capacity to implement Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and Access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing

Integrate CBD obligations into national planning processes through enabling activities

Land Degradation Goal is to contribute to arresting and reversing current

global trends in land degradation, specifically desertification and deforestation

Objectives: Maintain or improve flow of agro-ecosystem services to sustain

livelihoods of local communities

Generate sustainable flows of forest ecosystem services in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid zones, including sustaining livelihoods of forest-dependent people

Reduce pressures on natural resources from competing land uses in wider landscape;

Increase capacity to apply adaptive management tools in sustainable land management

International Water

Goal is to promote collective management of transboundary water systems and to implement policy, legal, and institutional reforms and investments contributing to sustainable use and maintenance of ecosystem services

Objectives:• Catalyze multi-state cooperation to balance conflicting

water uses in transboundary surface and groundwater basins while considering climatic variability and change

International Water : Objectives : Objectives conts:conts:

Catalyze multi-state cooperation to rebuild marine fisheries and reduce pollution of coasts and Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) while considering climatic variability and change

Support capacity building, portfolio learning, and targeted research needs for joint, ecosystem based management of transboundary water systems

Promote effective management of Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) directed at preventing fisheries depletion - joint with Biodiversity

Undertake pilot-scale demonstrations of pollution reduction from Persistent Toxic Substances (PTS)

ChemicalChemical

Goal is to promote sound management of chemicals throughout their life-cycle in ways that lead to minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and global environment

Objectives: Phase out POPs (persistent organic pollutants) and

reduce POPs releases

Phase out ODS (ozone-depleting substances) and reduce ODS releases

Pilot sound chemicals management and mercury reduction

Sustainable Forest Management Sustainable Forest Management cross cutting programcross cutting program

Goal is to achieve multiple environmental benefits from improved management of all types of forests

Objectives: Reduce pressures on forest resources and generate

sustainable flows of forest ecosystem services Strengthen enabling environment to reduce GHG emissions

from deforestation and forest degradation and enhance carbon sinks from LULUCF activities

Countries which present projects that combine resources and objectives in more than one GEF focal area for a transformative impact in Sustainable Forest Management should receive additional resources as incentive, in addition to resources allocation

GEF-5: the Vision for Integrated GEF-5: the Vision for Integrated Natural Resources ManagementNatural Resources Management

The GREEN, The WHITE, The BLUE and The REDD

BiodiversitySustainable

Forest Management

WaterFunctions

Restoring &Sustaining

Coastal Resources

LD / Sustainable Land Management

CarbonSequestration

Adaptation Fund

Climate Change Adaptation Projects

Projects that fall under the area of Adaptation of the Climate Change focal area can apply for funds available:

• Adaptation Fund• Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)• Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF)

Major Requirement for Adaptation Fund

Developing Countries,Parties to the Kyoto Protocol andVulnerable to the adverse effects of

climate change are eligible to applying for AF project

Adaptation Strategy: Objectives

Reduce vulnerability to the adverse impacts of climate change – e.g. reduced risks to economic losses through implementation of adaptation measures

Increase adaptive capacity to respond to the impacts of climate change – e.g. within relevant development sectors and natural resources; diversified and strengthened livelihoods and sources of income

Promote transfer and adoption of adaptation technologies – e.g. successful demonstration, deployment and transfer of relevant adaptation technologies as defined under the Climate Convention

Applying Procedure

Executing Entity can apply either using a National Implementing Entity (NIE – Govn.) or a Multilateral Implementing Entity (MIE – GEF window agencies)

Two Types of AF

Small-size Projects – up to 1 million US$

Regular-size Project –above 1 million US$

Priority Areas of Adaptation Projects

Countries with

• Low- lying coastal• Arid and semi-arid areas• Areas liable to flood, drought, and

desertification• Fragile mountainous ecosystem

Project Review Criteria (AF)

Country Eligibility Project EligibilityResource AvailabilityEligibility of NIE/MIEImplementation Arrangement

Project/ Programme Proposal (AF)

Part I – Project/ Program InformationPart II – Project JustificationPart III – Implementation ArrangementsPart IV – Endorsement by Government and

Certification by the Implementing Entity

Projects funded by GEF in

Myanmar

Present Projects (Enabling Activities)

Project title GEF agency

IA Focal areas

National Bio-safety Framework (2007)

UNEP NCEA, MAS, FD, DoF

Biodiversity

Preparation of National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) (on going)

UNEP MHD Climate change

Development of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) (on going)

UNEP FD Biodiversity

Initial national communication (INC) (on going)

UNEP NCEA, Lined Ministries

Biodiversity

BOBLME (ongoing) DoF Inter. water

Plan to propose projects

Project title GEF agency

IA Focal areas

• Community based natural resource management in the dry zone of Myanmar

UNDP, FAO

FD, MAS, Climate Change Adaptation

• Energy efficiency project

UNIDO MOE, MOI 1/2 FSPs, Climate change

• Peatland Management project (EA)

IFAD NCEA, FD, MAS

EA, Climate change

• Implementation of Climate Change activities to promote resilience of the community in Coastal Areas

? NCEA and line Depts.

EA, Climate Change Adaptation

• PoPs (EA) UNIDO NCEA, and line Depts.

EA, PoPs

The GEF Application

Process

Procedures and Priority

The GEF Application Process

PROJECT START

PIF Submitted and approved by GEF

Project Preparation: developing full project documentation and submission to GEF

GEF SEC- CEO Endorsement

Partners consultation and GEF OFP Endorsement to develop PIF

Procedures Procedures

Look into the Environment IssuesLook into the Environment Issues See the problem and find how serious it is…See the problem and find how serious it is…

Prepare the Funding ProposalsPrepare the Funding ProposalsShould submit via one of the GEF Agencies (ADB, UNDP, UNEP etc.)

GEF Agency see the possible way to GEF Agency see the possible way to facilitate and submit to GSF Secfacilitate and submit to GSF SecHow long? Wait until next GEF council meetingEach agency has their own mandate/capacity and arrangement

ProceduresProcedures

GEF Sec agrees directly: Focal Area of GEF Sec agrees directly: Focal Area of GEF?GEF?Look into the Focal Area of GEF?

Priority of CountryPriority of CountryLook into the Priority Area of Country? (needs Focal Point’s endorsement)

Co-finance of ProjectCo-finance of ProjectCo-financing way? (GEF fund only partial/not more than half of project budget. To boost up or to make more sus. way).

Procedures Procedures

Report by accountable wayReport by accountable wayReport through accountable way? (GEF fund would be reported via Government or accountable agency (Int’l Agency)).

Fund flow is Ok!Fund flow is Ok!See the STAR? Other limit (max vs min) (GEF fund not too small not too big). Discuss with GEF Agency for detail project implementation and agree.

Environmental Concern Issues

Challenges towards SFM Landuse changes Deforestation and forest degradation (Illegal logging, fuel-wood)

Threats to Biodiversity Habitat fragmentation and shrinking

Illegal wildlife trade Law enforcement

Land degradation Exhausting land production capacity/ soil deterioration

Increasing cultivable land demand

National priorities (EPA 2009)

Environmental Concern Issues

Water Resources Water Quality degradation Insufficient drinking water resources especially during dry season

Solid Waste Management Rapid industrial and urban development

Waste treatment technology

Climate Change Extreme weather conditions, flood, draught and storms

Natural disasters

Impacts of mining industry on Environment

Soil and water contamination

Health problem

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National priorities (EPA 2009)

Opportunities, Constraints

and Future actions

Opportunities

Signed for required ratifications and appointed GDNA

Fund MobilizationCo-financing available (UN agencies,

INGOs, Govt. depts.)Strengthening the capacity through

sharing of experiences, ideas and transfer of knowledge on Global Environment Issues

Compliances of Conventions obligations

Opportunities conts:

Strengthening the existing expertise on proposal formulation with the technical assistance of GEF Window Agencies

Strengthening the existing Network (ETWG, DRR, FSWG, Taskforces and political will by Govt.)

Constraints

Limited knowledge and experience on GEFLimited capacity in GEF funded project

preparation and implementationLack of national coordination mechanism and

weakness of existing Coordination mechanism (esp. Programmatic approach)

Poor awareness on procedure and process on GEF application

Likely complex, controversial and long process for accessibility to GEF fund is

Unable to apply in this year for Adaptation fund through MIE

Future Actions

To extend awareness of GEF procedures, priorities and practices To identify National Executing Agency and Leading GEF Agency To identify national priorities under each focal area and linkage with

GEF 5 strategic priorities To build partnerships (co-financing & technical) to undertake new

and innovative GEF projects; To develop project concepts (objectives, major activities and

outcomes) for Adaptation and STAR allocation To submit the project proposal to GEF SEC during time frame of GEF

5 To form Institutional GEF Coordination Mechanism to determine

national priorities, to develop project concepts and proposals and approvals monitor project implementation and also supports the mainstreaming of environmental concerns into national development planning.

To operate National GEF Portfolio Identification Exercises assistance with relevant GEF window agencies

Urgent need (Project concepts and proposal

preparation)

Identify national priorities with incremental value to be funded under GEF.

Identify possible co-financing at national levelIdentify National Executing Agency (NIE)Identify Lead GEF Agency (MIE) on the basis of

their comparative advantage (UNDP, WB, UNEP, UNIDO, FAO, ADB, IFAD)

Identify focal points / contact personsProject types (FSPs, MSPs, SGP)

To operate National GEF Portfolio Identification Exercises assistance with relevant GEF window agencies

Thank You for Your Attention

What’s the Way?

To start early and complete project preparation and implementation for

allocated resources to ensure Adaptation Fund and GEF 5 projects