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Civil Society and Public Participation in the

GEF

Bonizella BiaginiBonizella Biagini

NGO CoordinatorNGO Coordinator

Global Environment FacilityGlobal Environment Facility

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GEF Public Participation Policy:

a work in progress GoalGoal

to expand the role of civil society in all GEF activities and to expand the role of civil society in all GEF activities and operationsoperations

ObjectiveObjective to improve the GEF’s overall performance through to improve the GEF’s overall performance through engagement of civil society representatives, including NGOs, engagement of civil society representatives, including NGOs, local communities, indigenous peoples, and other stakeholderslocal communities, indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders

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Levels of Civil Society Participation in the GEF

Global Environmental and Financial Global Environmental and Financial GovernanceGovernance Council, AssemblyCouncil, Assembly Conventions (Biodiversity, Climate, Conventions (Biodiversity, Climate,

POPs)POPs)

ProjectsProjects

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GEF Projects

Full Size projectsFull Size projects

(Generally, but not exclusively, managed by (Generally, but not exclusively, managed by governments)governments)

MSPsMSPs

(up to $1 Million, can be submitted by NGOs)(up to $1 Million, can be submitted by NGOs) Small GrantsSmall Grants

(Up to $50,000, managed by NGOs and local (Up to $50,000, managed by NGOs and local communities)communities)

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GEF’s Thematic Areas

BiodiversityBiodiversity

Climate ChangeClimate Change

International WatersInternational Waters

Land DegradationLand Degradation

Persistent Organic Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)Pollutants (POPs)

Ozone DepletionOzone Depletion

(CEITs only)(CEITs only)

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The GEF/NGO Network

Regional RepresentationRegional Representation

One Central Focal PointOne Central Focal Point

14 Regional Focal Points14 Regional Focal Points

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GEF/NGO Consultation

Twice a year, prior to the Council MeetingTwice a year, prior to the Council Meeting Funds available for Developing Country Funds available for Developing Country

NGOs (travel, accommodation, per diem)NGOs (travel, accommodation, per diem) Pre-Consultation MeetingPre-Consultation Meeting GEF/NGO ConsultationGEF/NGO Consultation GEF Council (GEF/NGOs as GEF Council (GEF/NGOs as

participants/observers)participants/observers)

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New Activities and Responsibilities for the GEF/NGO Network

GEF/NGOs GEF/NGOs involved in all involved in all three levels of three levels of participationparticipation

GEF/NGO’s GEF/NGO’s expertise should expertise should reflect all focal reflect all focal areasareas

GEF/NGO GEF/NGO networknetwork

Working GroupsWorking Groups

International International NGOsNGOs

NationalNational

NGOsNGOs

Local/grassrootsLocal/grassroots

NGOs and NGOs and communitiescommunities

NGOs NGOs responsibilitiesresponsibilities NetworkingNetworking

CountryCountry

DialogDialog

WorkshopsWorkshops

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Financial Support

GEF-related issues in the international GEF-related issues in the international agenda agenda

Funding Proposals for specific activities of Funding Proposals for specific activities of the GEF/NGO network (GEF, bilateral, the GEF/NGO network (GEF, bilateral, multilateral sources, private foundations)multilateral sources, private foundations)

Full Size, MSPs and Small GrantsFull Size, MSPs and Small Grants

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GEF’s Responsibilities Facilitate NGO participation inFacilitate NGO participation in::

GEF/NGO Consultation and Council MeetingsGEF/NGO Consultation and Council Meetings Conventions (CBD, Climate, POPs)Conventions (CBD, Climate, POPs) Projects Projects Country Dialog WorkshopsCountry Dialog Workshops Outreach ActivitiesOutreach Activities Monitoring & EvaluationMonitoring & Evaluation

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GEF Public Participation Policy

RationaleRationale

Effective public Effective public involvement is critical involvement is critical to the success of GEF-to the success of GEF-financed projectsfinanced projects

DefinitionDefinition

Public involvement Public involvement consists of consists of information information dissemination, dissemination, consultation, and consultation, and stakeholder stakeholder participationparticipation

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Information DisseminationInformation Dissemination Availability and distribution of timely and Availability and distribution of timely and

relevant information on GEF-financed projectsrelevant information on GEF-financed projects ConsultationConsultation

Information exchanges among the government, Information exchanges among the government, the Implementing Agency and other the Implementing Agency and other stakeholdersstakeholders

Stakeholder ParticipationStakeholder Participation Identification of project concepts and Identification of project concepts and

objectives, selection of sites, design and objectives, selection of sites, design and implementation of activities, monitoring and implementation of activities, monitoring and evaluation of projectsevaluation of projects

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Some statistics on NGO participation in GEF-funded projects:

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Top Five International NGOs by Number of Projects, GEF Allocation, and Funding (as of April 2000)

2%

31%

1%

17%23%

26%

Birdlife International

IUCN

Natural Resources Institute(UK)The Nature Conservancy

WWF (International and USA)

All other international NGOs

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Cumulative Growth in Funding to Non-Governmental Groups in GEF-Financed Projects (US $m)

0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

250.00

Pilot Phase Year 1996 Year 1997 Year 1998

84 Projects

109 Projects

156 Projects

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0.00

50.00

100.00

150.00

200.00

250.00

300.00

Biodiversity ClimateChange

InternationalWaters

OzoneDepletion

Multi-Focal

Non-Governmental Funding in 281 GEF-Financed Projects by Focal Area ($ m) as of Oct 2000

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Non-Governmental Groups Involved in 281 GEF-financed Projects (as of Oct 2000)

41%

20%

12%

8%

1%

17%1%

Local/National Groups

In-Country AcademicInstitutionsIn-Country PrivateCompaniesRegional Groups

Regional AcademicInstitutionsInternational Groups

International PrivateCompanies

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Non-Governmental Groups Involved in 281 GEF-Financed Projects by Region (as of Oct 2000)

5%15%

10%

19%19%

23%

9%

Global

Africa

Arab States/Middle East

Asia/Pacif ic

Europe/Central Asia

Latin America/Caribbean

Donor Countries

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Thank you