BOTSWANA POVERTY & ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE BRIEFING

1. BOTSWANA POVERTY & ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE BRIEFING

2. UNDP-UNEP POVERTY & ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE (PEI): HISTORY • UNDP POVERTY & ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE • Supported by DFID & EC • Grew out of WSSD, PEP formed • UNEP POVERTY & ENVIRONMENT PROJECT: • Supported by Norway & Belgium • FORMED UNDP-UNEP PEI 2005 • Redesign of UNEP P & E activities • Joint programming, budgeting & staff recruitment • Leading example of interagency co-operation

3. UNDP-UNEP POVERTY & ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE (PEI): WHAT WE DO Supporting governments to: • Integrate Environmental Sustainability into National Development Processes (e.g. PRSPs & NDPs) so that development is not undermined by unsustainable use of natural resources • Build National Capacity to: • Identify links between poverty & environment • Integrate environmental sustainability into national development processes

4. UNDP-UNEP POVERTY & ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE (PEI): WHY WE DO IT • Unsustainable use of the environment reduces the social & economic benefits produced • E.G. People get sick & die, farmers grow less & earn less • Development is hindered by environmental damage • The contribution of environment to social & economic development is often poorly understood • Environmental sustainability not operationally integrated into national development processes (e.g. PRSPs): Words but not action.

5. EXAMPLES OF POVERTY-ENVIRONMENT LINKS • First picture shows a grossly polluted canal in Mali • The 2nd is people living next to that canal & using this polluted water – because they do not have any other source of water. • So they get sick from water borne diseases & malaria – ie pollution causes sickness & the costs associated with that • The 3rd picture is of a very steep hillside in Rwanda – soil erosion is a major problem • Soil erosion reduces agricultural productivity & causes silting of hydro electricity reservoirs = decreased electricity production

9. UNDP-UNEP PEI: COUNTRY PROGRAMMES • Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Mali & Mauritania • Experience in country PEI programmes = key lessons learnt & model for mainstreaming environment into development processes • Proposal to scale-up to additional countries developed & accepted by key donors (EC, UK, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Netherlands)

10. Implementation Approach • Country programme preparation (6 - 9 months) • Country programme implementation -Phase I (18-24 months) • Identifying links between environment & development • Operational integration of environment sustainability into national development plans • Country programme implementation - Phase II (2 years +) • Strengthening country capacity to integrate environment into development processes at national & sectoral levels • Strengthened domestic revenue base for environmental investments (reducing dependence on donors)

11. Lessons • Need for comprehensive, programmatic approach to mainstreaming - a project approach will not work. • Deep engagement necessary • Focus on results not agency • Very detailed mapping of government macro & sectoral policy, planning & decision-making processes (“machinery of government”), institutions & individuals relevant to the national development process is required. ‘Development Intelligence.’ • The Planning/Finance ministry must be an equal or the prime focal ministry in the process from the very beginning.

12. Lessons • A realistic assessment of country commitment at different levels & in both environment & planning ministries is necessary. • Supporting a country-led environmental mainstreaming process has high transaction costs, because it is new, seeking to change government priorities & involves a number of ministries. ‘Stubborn persistence & attention to detail’ • Detailed country-specific evidence on the links between environment, poverty reduction & pro-poor growth is needed to convince policy makers, economists & planners that investment in environment sustainability is worthwhile.

13. Lessons • The application of integrated economic & environment project, programme & policy appraisals needs to become a standard operating procedures for planning/finance & sectoral ministries. • Developing a full partnership approach with key in-country donors is vital for long term success on several fronts • (Capacity building, sector mainstreaming, sustainable domestic financing for environmental sector) • Timely support from UNDP Country Office critical.

14. Links between NDP, UNDAF and PEI • 10 KRAs including: • Sustainable Economic Growth • Sustainable Environment • Enhanced well-being and social responsibility Vision 2016 (7 Pillars) NDP 10 (16 Goals) Sub-sector Goals: Economic, Social, Security, Administration Ministry/Department, District Goals • UNDAF Clusters: • Governance and Human Rights Promotion • Economic Diversification and Poverty Reduction • Health and HIV and AIDS • Environment and Climate Change • Children, Youth and Women Empowerment United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UN/GoB UNDAF & Programme) UNDP/UNEP/GoB Poverty and Environment Initiative

15. GoB/UNDP/UNEP Poverty and Environment Initiative (PEI) • Stage 1: November 2008 – April 2009 • To design aGoB/UNDP/UNEP PEI programme that contribute to the achievement UNDAF and NDP 10 Outcomes. • Key Activities: • Identification of key environment, growth and poverty reduction issues in Botswana • Institutional analysis and mapping of policy processes and initiatives, roles and responsibilities of GoB and development partners related to environmental issues within the context of NDP-10 • Review NDP-10 and other relevant planning documents to identify entry points for mainstreaming environment into national sectoral and local level planning processes • Identify potential ‘champions’ in government, civil society, private sector, media and donors; focal points within government; and relevant donor and government-donor coordination mechanisms

16. GoB/UNDP/UNEP Poverty and Environment Initiative (PEI) • Stage 1: November – April 2009 • Key Activities (continued) • Recommend effective implementation arrangements, e.g. establishment of an inter-departmental task team/steering committee/working groups that includes environment, planning/finance and key sectoral ministries. • Results: • Enhanced awareness of the links between poverty and environment and environment and economic growth and their contribution to national development priorities • Joint UN Programme to support the UNDAF and NDP outcomes that leads to improved integration of environmentally sustainable natural resource management in NDP-10, poverty and related sector strategies as well as increased resources for sustainable environment and natural resource management

17. GoB/UNDP/UNEP Poverty and Environment Initiative (PEI) • Stage 2; June/July 2009 – 2016 • Implementation of GoB/UNDP/UNEP PEI Programme that contributes to the following UNDAF Outputs • Governance and Human Rights Promotion: • Effective coordination of collection, analysis and use of quality disaggregated data (statistics) in decision making • Strategy for the national statistical system developed • Economic Diversification and Poverty Reduction: • National and District Frameworks developed for local economic and social development in all districts • Regulatory instruments to improve poor people’s access to financial services and productive assets/resources strengthened

18. GoB/UNDP/UNEP Poverty and Environment Initiative (PEI) • Economic Diversification and Poverty Reduction (contd.): • Enhanced technical and oversight capacity of the Multi-Sectoral Committee on Poverty Reduction and the Socio-Economic Policy Sub-division of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to manage the implementation of the National Strategy for Poverty Reduction • Poverty reduction is mainstreamed into national and district development plans • Effective social protection mechanisms established based on vulnerability assessments, research and analysis. • Environment and Climate Change: • Environment and conservation mainstreamed into national development and poverty reduction framework

19. GoB/UNDP/UNEP Poverty and Environment Initiative (PEI) Next Steps: • Identification of National and International expertise to facilitate the consultative process for development of draft Joint Programme • Agreement with Government of Botswana on the PEI framework including resources and staffing • Implementation, monitoring and evaluation within the UNDAF implementation framework

20. Summary • Contribution of sustainable management of environmental natural resources to development priorities insufficiently recognised or integrated into national & sectoral development processes. • Consequently, development priorities, including poverty reduction, will be more difficult to achieve. • Environmental degradation is a serious issue in many countries in Africa and elsewhere • UNDP-UNEP PEI supports mainstreaming of environment into national & sectoral development processes to reduce environmental degradation to help achieve development priorities in a sustainable manner. • NDP & UNDAF key opportunity for a successful PEI in Botswana