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Overview of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). At the Expanded GEF National Steering Committee Meeting 22 nd – 23 rd April, 2014 Gombe Jewel Hotel, Abuja. Outline. What GEF is all about The Institutional Framework Drivers of Environmental Degradation GEF Structure and Governance
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Overview of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) At the Expanded GEF National Steering Committee Meeting 22nd – 23rd April, 2014 Gombe Jewel Hotel, Abuja
Outline • What GEF is all about • The Institutional Framework • Drivers of Environmental Degradation • GEF Structure and Governance • GEF Focal Points • GEF Funding Windows • GEF On-going Projects in Nigeria • Who can apply for GEF grants • How to apply • How to benefit more from the grant
About the Global Environment Facility (GEF) • The GEF was initiated by concerned countries (mainly industrialized) in 1991 at a preparatory meeting of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; • The establishment of GEF as a mechanism was made formal in 1994 by the Instrument for the Establishment of the Restructured Global Environment Facility; • GEF has a membership of 183 countries in partnership with international organizations, civil society organizations, and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives.
About GEF Cont’d. • It provides funding for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. • Also, it is the designated financial mechanism for Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Minamata Convention on mercury signed in 2013. • As a Financial Mechanism, GEF assists countries in meeting their obligations under the conventions they have signed and ratified; • These Conventions and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) provide guidance to the two governing bodies of the GEF: i.e. the GEF Council and the Assembly
GEF Structure and Governance • The GEF Instrument: It is the instrument which established the GEF. It was accepted by member countries and adopted by the Implementing Agencies in 1994; • GEF Trust Fund and Trustee: The GEF was established with the GEF Trust Fund which consists of the contributions received from participating countries. The World Bank serves as the trustee of the GEF Trust Fund and is accountable to the GEF Council; • GEF Replenishment: The GEF replenishment is the process by which donor countries contribute money to the GEF Trust Fund at four-yearly intervals and Nigeria is a participant; • The GEF Secretariat: is headed by the CEO and Chairperson who reports directly to the GEF Council and Assembly. The present CEO is Dr. Naoko Ishii, she assumed office on 1st August, 2012 to run for four years; • The GEF Secretariat oversees the formulation and implementation of the work programs and ensures that the GEF operational strategies and policies are followed.
GEF Structure Cont’d. • The GEF Assembly: Comprised of 183 member governments and meets every four years to review, evaluate GEF policies, operations and membership. The Assembly also considers and approves proposed amendments to the GEF Instrument; • The GEF Council: is the main governing body of the GEF and functions as an independent board of directors, with primary responsibility for developing, adopting, evaluating and approving programs/projects; • Council Members are the representatives of 32 constituencies, as appointed by their constituency groupings of countries, 16 from developing countries, 14 from developed countries, and two from countries with transitional economies (East Europe & Central Asia) meet twice each year; • Constituency: Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo belong to a constituency with Liberia as Council Member and Sierra Leone as Alternate Member. Nigeria’s tenure-ship ended in 2003.
GEF Focal Points • Member Countries has designated government officials responsible for GEF activities known as GEF “Focal Points," including the: • Political Focal Point, and • Operational Focal Point • The Focal Points play a key role in ensuring that GEF projects are country-driven and based on national priorities. • The Political Focal Points (PFP)are responsible for GEF governance issues, policies and communications with their constituencies. • The Operational Focal Points (OFP) are responsible for in-country program coordination of GEF projects and other operational activities. • The Federal Ministry of Environment is both the PFP & OFP for GEF in Nigeria
GEF Funding Windows • Full-Sized projects (FSPs) from US$1m and above • Medium-Sized Projects (MSPs) up to US$1m • Small Grant Programme (SGP) max. US$50,000 • Enabling Activities: Up to $350,000 for biodiversity and climate change focal areas, $500,000 for POPs and $200,000 for land degradation to help countries prepare national inventories, strategies, action plans, National Implementation Plans (NIPs), National Communications and reports under these conventions.
GEF On-going Projects in Nigeria • Conservation & Sustainable Management of Niger Delta Biodiversity (UNDP); • Sustainable Urban Transportation in Lagos (World Bank); • Setting up Mini Grids based on Photo Voltaic (PV), Hydro & Biomass Sources to Augment Rural Electrification in Ebonyi (UNIDO); • Promoting Energy Efficiency in Public and Residential Sectors, (UNDP); • Less Burnt for a Clean Earth: Minimization of Dioxin Emission from Open Burning Sources in Nigeria (Persistent (UNDP). • Small Grant Program for CSOs (UNDP);
On-going Projects Cont’d. • Fadama III: Scaling up of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) [World Bank (WB)]; • Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) containing equipment management and disposal (WB); • Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management (NEWMAP): Component of Great Green Wall Initiative; • Lake Chad Regional and Natural Resources Conservation (AfDB); • Regional Project on Equatorial Africa Deposition Network (EADN) (UNEP).
System for Transparent Allocation of Resources (STAR) • Nigeria was allocated US$23.07m to cover the focal areas of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Land Degradation in 5th replenishment (July 1, 2010 -June 30, 2014); • All the allocation here been utilized; • Final approval of the last two projects submitted is waiting for Council approval.
Who can Apply for GEF Grant? • Any eligible individual or group may propose a project. However, in order to be taken into consideration a project proposal has to fulfill the following criteria: • Country has to be eligible; • It has to be consistent with national priorities & programs; • Must address one or more GEF focal areas, improving global environment or advance the prospect of reducing risks to it; • Consistent with GEF operational Strategy; • Involving the public in project design & implementation and • Is endorsed by the government (s) of the country(ies) in which it will be implemented.
How to apply • Before drafting the project proposal the applicant should contact the Country Operational Focal Point and verify his/her proposal complies with the criteria mentioned above. • GEF Agencies assist eligible applicants in the development, implementation & management of GEF projects. • They are the channel between countries & the GEF for the project approval process & participate in the GEF governance as well as in the development of GEF policies and programs. • The choice on the Agency should be based on its respective comparative advantages as stated in the document “Comparative Advantages of the GEF Agencies “. (GEF Lib.)
How to apply cont’d… • Once these preparatory steps are taken the proponent should develop the Project Identification Form (PIF), in close coordination with the GEF Agency & following their internal project cycle procedures. Once the PIF is ready the Agency will submit it to the GEF Secretariat for approval.
Some Suggestions on how Nigeria can benefit more from the GEF • Though Nigeria has benefited immensely from the GEF, however, the situation could be improved if the following are observed: • Built capacity on project Development. • Project Proponent should forward a well articulated concept to the GEF Operational Focal Point for Endorsement. • The Project proponent in collaboration with the Operational Focal Point should ensure that prompt comments on the proposals are made by relevant offices of the GEF focal areas and reverted to the Project Proponent for incorporation and further development. • Project Proponents should explore the opportunity offered through the Implementing Agencies.
