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Sub-regional Workshop for GEF Focal Points Nairobi, Kenya 14 - 16 May 2007. NATIONAL PRIORITY SETTING PROCESS IN MAURITIUS. Background. Mauritius has benefited from GEF funding of US$ 8.5 M: 13 projects since 1991 Average of US$ 570,000 per year over the last 15 years
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Sub-regional Workshop for GEF Focal Points Nairobi, Kenya 14 - 16 May 2007
Background Mauritius has benefited from GEF funding of US$ 8.5 M: • 13 projects since 1991 • Average of US$ 570,000 per year over the last 15 years Current national projects with GEF support (US$ 2.4 M): • Marine Protected Area Network Project • Capacity Building for Sustainable Land Management • National Bio-safety Framework Project • Second National Communication
Background Projects to the tune of US$ 5.8 million in the pipeline: • Strengthening management effectiveness of a Protected Area Network • Energy efficiency and energy conservation in buildings • National Capacity for Coastal Area Management
Main Documents Identifying National Priorities • National Environment Action Plan 2 and National Environment Strategies (NES) formulated, 1999-2010 • NES review to take on new obligations and emerging challenges under Kyoto Protocol and other MEAs • National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (NBSAP), 2006-2016 • National Capacity Needs Self Assessment Strategy Report (NCSA), 2005 • National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP), 1998 • Energy Policy, 2007
Project Formulation process Priorities Under NEAP 2 Priorities Under NBSAP GEF PRIORITIES Project Formulation Capacity Building Priorities Under NCSA + Priorities Under NCCAP Priorities Under Energy Policy
Coordination Mechanism • Inception stage: small team of major stakeholders set up • Relevant line ministries lead project team, creating project ownership • Project team (incl. GEF Focal Point) scrutinises project concepts/ proposals, ensuring national and GEF priorities are met • After PDF approval, official National Steering Committee (NSC) of key stakeholders set up, meets regularly until prodoc finalised
Coordination Mechanism • Co-financing discussions with line Ministries, NGOs, private sector • During project implementation, NSC meets regularly to monitor and provide guidance • In specific cases, technical advisory committee, comprising partly of NSC members and technicians, advises on technical matters • Selection panel of NSC members aids in project recruitment and procurement processes
Results and achievements • Views of key stakeholders incorporated in project formulation process • Duplication of work avoided • National documents and research findings incorporated in framing project proposals • Targets and priority work across all focal areas coordinated • Cross sectoral issues treated in meetings and consultations • Work load holistically shared among executing agencies • e.g., Ministry of Environment and NGOs agreed to implement activities of recently submitted Protected Area Network Project • Consultations with grassroots and community representatives, especially for SGP projects
Constraints and Challenges • Synergies among GEF and other projects not fully exploited • NSC process of seeking co-financing difficult • Budgets allocated to Ministries for financial year based on national priority projects • No specific time frame for GEF project approval makes securing government co-financing for particular project in specific year difficult
Lessons Learned • Reduce dependence on government co-financing • Attract co-financing from private sector, NGOs, AfDB, IFAD, BADEA, EU • NSC meetings can maximise potential in-kind and parallel financing from different ministries
Way Forward • Adoption of Medium-term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) or programme-based budgeting by the Ministry of Finance & Economic Development • Major step to mainstream environment in national strategies • MTEF includes Ministry strategy, programs, activities to achieve desired outcomes, performance indicators • GOM endorsement of Ministry MTEF means commitment to support programs • MTEFs of Ministries of Environment and Agro-Industry & Fisheries highlight Mauritius’ priorities in Climate Change, Biodiversity (Inland, Marine and Coastal), Land Degradation • MTEF shared among donors to attract co-financing for future investment opportunities
Way Forward • Shorten project formulation process • Especially when preliminary studies and background documents exist • Enable savings under RAF, funds better used in project implementation • Use GEF CSP resources • Build capacity and create awareness about GEF project formulation • Increase synergies between GEF and other environmental projects through stakeholder coordination