Mainstreaming GEF projects in UNDP CO Programme: Albania

1. Mainstreaming GEF projects in UNDP CO Programme: Albania RBEC Environment and Energy Practice Workshop Batkhuyag Baldangombo UNDP Albania

2. Discussion points • Environmental situation in Albania • UNDP environmental portfolio • Challenges/Issues faced • Efforts in mainstreaming • Outcome evaluation/Impact assessment • CO restructuring • Currents achievements

3. Albania – Republika e Shqiperise • Surface Area 28,748 km² • Population of 3,373 million (1999). • Administration: • 12 prefectures, 36 districts • Since 1998 the country has seen steady progress. As of 2003: • GDP growth average 7% per year, • Inflation at 2-4%, with stable currency • However: • 46.6% of the population is below the poverty line of $2 per day • 53% of the population lives off the land. • High levels of migration (15% is abroad) and unemployment. • Fragile Socio-economic relations low levels of tolerance and little confidence in institutions of justice or public administration.

4. Environment in Albania • Rich biodiversity: • 30% of European plant species and 42% of mammals are found. • Wetlands, lagoons and large lakes provide winter habitat for migratory birds. • 36% of the vertebrate species are endangered or threatened. • Protected area coverage 5.8% of the territory (Forests 36%, Pastures ~16%; Arable land ~24%) • Main causes of Environmental degradation • Poor NRM (soil erosion, farming practices, loss of biodiversity) • Poor access to services (access to WSS, waste management non efficient energy use) • Deterioration of human living environment (natural and man-made disasters; environmental hot spots; climate change impacts)

5. Environmental portfolio • UNDP Albania contribution within its SRF outcome framework aimed: • Promoting environmental governance in mainstreaming sustainable development and implementing relevant policy, legal and regulatory measures • Capacity development to implement global environmental conventions. • Main Partners • The Ministry of Environment (MoE). • Close partnership with other donors, primarily, with the EU, GEF, REC, GTZ, SIDA, WB, and the Netherlands.

6. Current UNDP projects supporting sustainable development and environmental protection in Albania

7. Challenges/Issues facing • Heavy focus on security and transitional economy problems (In 2003 state budget allocation accounted for 0.24%) • Regional priority driven programmes. • 3 UNDP/GEF programmes • 2 WB/GEF programmes • Opportunistic approach • Lack of in-house capacity/pro-activeness

8. Environmental/GEF programme mainstreaming efforts • Outcome Evaluation (February 2004) • UNDP programme impact assessment (October 2004) • Review all initiatives contributing to the environmental outcome achievements in the country • Internally: • Relevance and impact of environmental projects, • Environmental components within LGP and MDG supported activities, • Environmental indicators and the challenges posed by the MDGs; • Externally: • National settings on institutional arrangements, • Policy environment, • National capacities and ownership • Donors’ environmental assistance framework,

9. UNDP’s Future Assistance in Environment sector • New Environment and Energy programme is focusing ‘Governance and Local Environmental Management’ with focus on building capacities at the local level in order to create the enabling environment for MDG 1 and 7 specific targets in support of the promotion and attaining government’s commitment in achieving MDG goals. • The new programme will also be based on the corporate Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture and Biodiversity (WEHAB) mandate. • Future UNDP assistance should balance its activities at the national and local level.

10. … continued • Support to institutional capacity at the regional level should have balanced institution building, capacity development and demonstration approach and participation of Local government and people. • Ongoing GEF funded projects shall include sustainable economic development components with a focus on enhancing local development processes • Capacity development through demonstration projects (GEF/SGP, Clean and Green) have had the greatest impact on environmental public awareness, economics, livelihoods and planning at the regional level.

11. New MDG-zed programme MDG SUBSTANTIVE PROGRAMME PROJECT/PROGRAMME OF THE MDG MDG ENABLING ENVIRONMENT CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE MDGs ICT FOR THE MDGs DATA ADVOCACY & PARTNERSHIP LINKING THE GLOBAL MDG CAMPAIGN TO THE LOCAL MDG CAMPAIGN FUND RAISING FOR THE MDGs CCF 2002-2005 DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE 43% PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND CIVIL SERVICE STRENGTHENING DECENTRALISATION AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE STRENGTHENING GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS HUMAN SECURITY 36% ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR HUMAN SECURITY PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY SECURITY SOCIO-ECONOMIC SECURITY ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY CROSS-CUTTING AREAS 21% GENDER INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY CO restructuring

12. MDG-zed PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

13. Current achievements • GEF-SGP collaboration with LGP programme • small grants for communities to implement RDS • Production of env. educational book • Expansion of full- and medium- size project portfolios • Mobilizing additional funding to support alternative livelihoods initiatives under existing projects • REC collaboration under MWC project • SLM, Solar energy

14. Thank you