UNEP support to GEF - complementarity & alignment

1. UNEP support to GEF - complementarity & alignment Max Zieren, Division of the Global Environment Facility UNEP- Regional Office Asia and Pacific

2. OBJECTIVE • UNEPs role in the GEF • Alignment of UNEP and GEF actions in support of countries – examples portfolio • Emerging environment issues • Streamlining/service standards UNEP, and challenges

3. UNEP’s MTS/PoW • Climate Change – M&A • Ecosystem Management • Disasters and Conflicts • Environmental governance • Harmful substances and hazardous waste • Resource efficiency - SPC

4. UNEP in the GEF • The only Implementing Agency of the GEF whose core business is the environment; • Supports strategic and policy direction of GEF, and performs legal obligations; • Helps operationalise the GEF Trust Fund by assisting countries and proponents to access funds; • Enhances scientific rigor and relevance, including by providing the secretariat of the STAP • Help to mainstream environment into other sectors through partnerships (including One-UN, PEI, UN REDD, etc)

5. UNEP Medium Term Strategy 2010-2013 Vision Statement ‘Nairobi, Declaration’ – approved by the UNEP GC 1997 “”The leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, that promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and that serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment””.

6. UNEP MTS and GEF alignment UNEP GEF

7. UNEP’s GEF Portfolio - Global Since the GEF was established in 1991, through to the third quarter of 2009, it has approved 464 projects to be implemented by UNEP with a total value of approximately US$ 922 million, which in turn has generated US$ 2.1 billion in co-financing.

8. UNEP’s Comparative Advantage in GEF • Scientific assessments, monitoring, early warning; • Linking science to policy (Capacity Building, Enabling Activities) at national, regional and global levels; • Innovation, technology transfer and lifting barriers; • Regional, transboundary and global cooperation; • National projects where mutually beneficial & justified • Awareness raising, advocacy, and knowledge management.

9. Scientific Assessments, Monitoring, Early Warning • Carbon benefits of GEF projects, Economic Assessment of Adaptation Options, analysis and research Liquid Biofuels – CC • ‘Millennium Ecosystem Assessment’ -BD • Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and Strategic Action Plans (SAP) – IW • Bioindicators and biomarkers- POPs

10. Linking Science to Policy at National, Regional and Global Levels • Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (BD), followed by TEEB the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity • National Invasives Strategy and Action Plans (BD) • Biosafety Frameworks (BD) • National Communications (NCs), Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), National Action Plans for Adaptation (NAPAs), Solar and Wind Energy Assessment- CC • National Capacity Self-Assessments (NCSAs)

11. Innovation, Technology Transferand Lifting Barriers • African Rift Geothermal Development Facility, Co-Generation for Africa, Greening the Tea Industry in East Africa, Bus Rapid Transport Jakarta – CC • Prevention and Management of Invasive Species, Voluntary Forest Certification & Ecosystem Services, National Biosafety Frameworks - BD

12. Examples: cutting edge Projects • CC: JGI/ARGEO - Joint Geophysical Imaging (JGI) Methodology for Geothermal Reservoir Assessment: • Innovative Geothermal prospecting using an overlay of different techniques tested in Kenya; • Technique has reduced geothermal costs by 1/3rd. • As a result, Kenya has plans to develop 9 GW’s electricity, more than current world production. • BD: Removing Barriers to Invasive Plant Management in Africa: • First multicounty project in Africa targeting, in a comprehensive way, the threats of invasive species. • Project set format for GEF IV & V strategic programs on IAS • Project framework replicated by various other national GEF IAS projects;

13. Regional and Global Cooperation • Technology Transfer Networks, e.g. phasing out Incandescent Lamps – global & countries - CC • Regional Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances, Phasing out DDT and Introducing Alternatives – POPs • Flyways-based wetland & bird conservation (Siberia to South China) – BD • Conservation & Sustainable Use Agro-biodiversity - BD • South China Seas Project/UNEP Regional Seas/COBSEA, IW Learning Network - IWs

14. Examples - Innovative Projects • BD: Siberian Crane Wetland Project (China, RF, Iran and Kazakhstan): • First ‘Flyways’ project funded by GEF; • Successful multi-country cooperation along the 5000+km long flyway of waterbirds combined with national conservation action; • Project strong on science-based wetland hydrology & restoration, multiple stakeholder agreements on water allocations, environmental monitoring, and expanding the protected area network and its management effectiveness.

15. - continued • BD: Conservation and Sustainable Management of Below Ground Biodiversity - India, Indonesia, Brazil, Kenya, Uganda, Mexico • BD: Expanding FSC Certification at Landscape-level through incorporating additional eco-system services - Indonesia, Vietnam, Nepal, Chile • POP: Pacific POPs Release Reduction Through Improved Management of Solid and Hazardous Wastes – Regional (Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Samoa)

16. Awareness Raising, Advocacy, and Knowledge Management • Assessment of Impacts of and Adaptation to Climate Change (AIACC), Liquid Biofuels, Wind and Solar Energy (CSP) - CC • Integrated Managed Aquifer Recharge, Integrated Water Resources Management – IWs • Indigenous Peoples Network for Change & Access to CBD (BD)

17. Example • IW: LEARN -International Waters Learning Exchange and Resources Network: • Strengthen International Waters Management (IWM) by facilitating structured learning and information sharing; • IW:LEARN Information Management System at www.iwlearn.net; • Project partners include South-East Asia Regional Learning Centre and the Transboundary Waters Information Exchange Network for South-Eastern Europe.

18. UNEP in GEF-5 and emerging environmental issues • Biodiversity : • ABS; Invasive Alien Species & life support systems; marine protected areas; ecosystem restoration; migratory species; 2010 Targets. • International waters : • High seas; hypoxia and nutrient overload; marine litter & micro-plastics; coastal erosion & adaptation • Climate Change : • Mitigation : NAMAs; barriers to tech transfer; Black carbon/ABC; HCFC; • Adaptation : migration; modeling to local scale

19. - continued • Land degradation : • Urban sprawl • Ecosystem restoration • Conservation agriculture • POPs and Ozone : • Integrated, life-cycle approaches, chemicals & waste • Synergies : • Green economy -SPC; • Convention obligations – reporting as one

20. Streamlining and Access • Improvements already in place • Harmonization and reduction of duplication between GEF processes and UNEP core processes (e.g. documentation, appraisal & M&E procedures) • Service standards and tracking tools (ADDIS to go public in mid-2010) • UNEP GEF Regional Focal Points and country support Regional Offices

21. Some current challenges • Ensuring UNEP’s interventions are founded on sound science – e.g. new UNEP Science Coordinator. • GEF project cycle remains cumbersome despite good reforms (delays with both GEFSEC, IAs as well as NEAs) • Co-finance burden for many partners and countries

22. challenges - continued • Incentives for regional cooperation & multi-country projects (mechanism of Set Aside funds as ‘top-up’ to STAR) • Some misconception regional GEF projects – as being too costly or no national benefits. • Lack of incentives for inter-agency cooperation on projects • Integrating UNDAF, bi-lateral programming etc with GEF Voluntary Business Planning

23. END • Questions for dialogue • How does this alignment help countries to address priority needs ? • Does the focus on the six areas of comparative advantage match country concerns on One-UN delivery ? Are there gaps ? • How can UNEP enhance its support to countries in programming GEF requests within the current constraints ?