Enhancing GEF Civil Society Engagement in East Africa

1. GEF Regional Civil Society DialogueGEF East Africa ECW: Kigali, Rwanda

2. Background and Objective The GEF has a long history organizing civil society meetings in conjunction with its ECWs This dialogue – responding to the GEF’s updated civil society vision - includes an expanded number of CSOs and an increased ambition to facilitate a constructive dialogue between CSOs, GEF national focal points and agencies about opportunities to enhance stakeholder and civil society engagement in GEF programs and operations

3. Value of civil society engagement in the GEF • Enhance recipient country ownership and accountability • Liaise with communities and other local stakeholders • Infuse skills, experiences, and knowledge • Serve as facilitators, conveners and advocates

4. GEF and Civil Society 1992: GEF Small Grants Programme 1995: GEF Independent NGO network (a.k.a GEF’s CSO network) 1996: GEF Public Involvement Policy 2017: GEF Policy on Stakeholder Engagement 2017: GEF Policy on Gender Equality 2017: GEF Updated Vision to Enhance Engagement of Civil Society 2018: GEF Environmental and Social Safeguards 2018: GEF Policy on Access to Information

5. Serve as project executors/co-executors • Leverage co-financing • Provide expert local knowledge to project design and implementation • Participate in monitoring of project impacts and outcomes • Influence policy and advocating for the GEF’s mission and in replenishment processes • Serve as GEF Project Agencies (WWF, IUCN, CI) CSOs Roles

6. Objectives • Strengthen projects through local knowledge • Increase impact of GEF investments • Strengthen monitoring and evaluation functions of GEF’s project implementation and performance • Improve transparency and awareness of the GEF at the local and national level • Enhance GEF’s policies and strategies Updated Civil Society Vision

7. Updated Civil Society Vision Statement • GEF achieves greater results and impact through collaboration with CSOs • Civil society contribute to projects on the ground by building awareness, engaging with recipient country governments, and participating with Council members • Civil Society play an advisory role for the GEF Council on institutional policies and guidelines and helps formulate strategies effectively • GEF CSO Network plays a key role role in advocacy and outreach to civil society at the global level by supporting dissemination of information and contributing to policy and strategy development

8. Areas of Enhanced Engagement • Continued support of civil society engagement at the national and regional levels (GEF project cycle and GEF Country Support Programme) • Continued strengthening of civil society to engage with the GEF (GEF Country Support Programme –ECWs, IPAC GGP etc. ) • Selection of CSO Representation at GEF Council Consultations and Meetings (CSO network and CSO with technical expertise) • Structure of Council - CSO Consultations and at Council Meetings (preparatory meetings and rules of procedures) • CSO engagement in other activities (Assembly, Policy Development etc.)

9. For more information contact Pilar Barrera Rey Senior Operations Officer, Partnerships Coordinator pbarrera@thegef.org

10. Group Discussion What are some key lessons learned about GEF’s civil society engagement at both policy and project level? • What are some key remaining the challenges? • What could be done better moving forward?