Enhancing GEF National Coordination, Communications & Outreach

1. Enhancing GEF National Coordination, Communications & Outreach Uganda’s Experience: The National Convention Coordination Group (NCCG) The National Operational Focal Point Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development Kampala UGANDA

2. Introduction • Uganda’s National Political/Operational Focal is held by the DST in the MFPED. • The OFP ensures that GEF projects are country driven & based on national priorities. • MFPED is responsible for overall national development planning and macro-economic framework. • OFP heads a GEF National Steering Committee comprised of representatives from: MWE, MAAIF, NEMA, MUK, NCST, FPs for CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD, POPs, SGP, GEF IAs and NGOs. • All Convention Focal Points & GEF funded programmes are coordinated by the National Steering Committee under the OFP.

3. The National Steering Committee’s Mandate is to: • Coordinate all GEF activities. • Review all GEF project proposals and ensures that the are in line with the Government set policies in the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). • Prioritise projects for GEF funding. • Approve or reject project proposals for GEF funding. • Provide oversight monitoring of the implementation of on-going GEF funded projects including site visits. • Disseminate information on GEF to stakeholders. The NSC meets on a quarterly basis and is supported by two technical staff in MFPED that form its Secretariat.

4. National Convention Coordination Group (NCCG) • Uganda is among 5 countries implementing a pilot project focusing on “Capacity Building to Alleviate Poverty through Synergistic Implementation of Rio MEAs’. • The NCCG was established in 2005 with the objective to provide a framework for the individual and institutional collaboration for the synergetic implementation of the MEAs and acts as a Steering Committee to the MEAs project.

5. Membership of the NCCG • Institutions actively involved in implementing various components of the MEAs, work through a collaborative network and facilitate coordination among the existing relevant ministries and stakeholders, these include: • Focal points for the Multilateral Environment Agreements/Conventions: CBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC, Convention on Wetlands and International Waters; and • Relevant key ministries: MWE, MAAIF & MFPED. • MWE heads the NCCG.

6. Achievements • A multi-stakeholder NCCG established and steers the project and developed partnership among its members. • Ownership has been built through working together on 3-year work-plan, carrying out public awareness together. Resulted in shared vision. • Dissemination of information on MEAs through the media. • Dedicated project manager that provides backstopping to the NCCG. • Established cooperation with other stakeholders, UNDP/GEF-SGP, grantees- NGOs and Schools. • Plans sensitization of Parliamentary committee on Natural Resources.

7. Challenges • The members of the NCCG are committed on their own jobs and take the NCCG activities as secondary. Difficulty in getting members to participate fully in the NCCG activities • Proper communication strategy is still lacking. • Coordination with the local governments is still weak and they have low capacity to implement MEAs – low awareness of MEAs. • Data and information on MEAs are lacking.

8. Lessons Learnt • Drawing broad participation of the key players through the NCCG has enhanced decision-making and implementation of MEAs. • Through collaboration with the SGP facilitated resource mobilisation for micro grants through co-funding and joint activities, impact was realised. • Some of the Communication programmes have been achieved through utilization of some of the existing programmes in the MWE. • The beneficiary through their activities created awareness of MEAs.

9. Conclusion The Coordination of GEF programmes/ projects are streamlined within the existing Government institutions this has strengthened the ownership of the programmes/projects and are consistent with set national policies and priorities.

10. Thank You