Tools to Support GEF National Focal Points

1. Tools to Support GEF National Focal Points Sub-regional Workshop for GEF Focal Points Europe & CIS 1-2 April 2008, Belgrade

2. Objectives of FP Tools Supporting FPs to: • Strengthen country ownership of GEF projects; • Enhance impact of projects on the ground; • Ensure that GEF proposals & activities in country are consistent with country priorities & country commitments under global environmental conventions; • Facilitate broad based in-country consultations on GEF operational matters

3. Overview of Available Tools • Country Support Program • Constituency Meetings • National Dialogue Initiative • Operations Manual • Country Pages • Familiarization Seminars • Newsletter - Talking Points

4. 1. Country Support Program • Objective: • To strengthen the capacity of GEF national Focal Points (FPs) to support and coordinate GEF activities in their countries and constituencies • Rationale: • Needs expressed by Focal Points • Evaluation of Focal Point Support Program • OPS 3 recommendations • 3rd replenishment recommendations • Approved: November 2005 Council • Total budget: $12m • Duration: 4 years, 2006 – 2009

5. CSP Components Component 1 Direct Support Component 2 Sub-Regional Information Exchange & Training Workshops Component 3 Knowledge Facility

6. CSP I: Direct Support The CSP for FPs provides: • $8,000 available as direct financial support annually to OFPs for in-country activities based on Annual Work Plan (AWP) • Financial support to enable participation of O & P FPs at up to 2 constituency meetings each year • Limited number of FPs to attend GEF Familiarization Seminar every year

7. CSP I – Process 1. SSFA - The Government to sign a Small Scale Funding Agreement (SSFA) with UNEP. 2. Annual Work Plan (AWP) - The Government to submit the AWP to GEFSEC for approval. 3. On completion of steps 1, 2 and approval by GEFSEC, UNEP will disburse resources. For more information about the types of activities for which Direct Support may be requested, please refer to the “Revised Guidelines for Focal Point Support” available on the GEF website at: www.thegef.org

8. CSP II: Sub-Regional Information Exchange & Training Workshops • Since early 2007, CSP has been organizing a series of annual sub-regional workshops for FPs • The workshops provide an opportunity for FPs to: • exchange information and share their experiences; • be updated on evolving GEF policies and procedures; and • interact with GEFSEC and Agency staff in order to discuss priority issues

9. CSP II: Sub-Regional Information Exchange & Training Workshops for FPs (cont’d) • The design and content of the sub-regional workshops are based on requests and needs expressed by GEF FPs during earlier consultations • Also, each year, the CSP conducts annual surveys to identify priority topics of interest to FPs, including specific experiences countries would like to share

10. CSP III: Knowledge Facility • This Knowledge Facility (KF) aims to address the knowledge needs of FPs and to assist them in carrying out their roles and responsibilities with respect to managing global environmental issues within their national development contexts • Helps FPs address their immediate information needs related to GEF, its policies, procedures, lessons and experiences

11. CSP III: Knowledge Facility (cont’d) • Serve as a constantly accessible resource for acquisition of knowledge, experience, and best practice targeted to meeting FPs needs and to facilitate their learning through exchange, discussion, research, and action • Including discussion forums for FPs, private information exchange among GEF constituencies and country managed 'country pages‘ • The GEF Knowledge Facility for FPs is available at: www.gefcountrysupport.org

12. 2. Constituency Meetings Objectives • Develop constituency positions with regard to specific Council issues • Share information and obtain feedback on the outcome of Council meetings and obtain feed-back on Council decisions • Review country and constituency coordination issues to enhance communication and outreach efforts • Decide upon constituency governance issues such as the order in which countries will assume Council Member and Alternate seats (rotation agreements) • Discuss implementation of GEF projects and share lessons learned

13. Constituency Meetings - Process I. Council Member Support Program (CMSP) provides funding to Council Members to hold Council Meeting II. Input to agenda from FPs so issues can be addressed III. Travel of FPs covered through component I - Direct Support

14. 3. National Dialogue Initiative (NDI) Objectives • Promoting in-depth understanding of the GEF's strategic directions, policies and procedures • Strengthening country coordination and ownership in GEF operations and sharing lessons learned from project implementation • Achieving greater mainstreaming of GEF activities into national planning frameworks and coordination and synergies amongst the GEF focal areas and convention issues at the national level

15. National Dialogue Initiative (cont’d) In 2007/2008 countries have used recent National Dialogues to: • Inform national stakeholders about global environmental issues and GEF's strategic directions, policies, procedures • Take stock of GEF portfolios and activities in the country • Further develop national GEF strategies and define priorities for funding • Strengthen inter-sectoral cooperation on environmental issues  • Enhance inter-agency collaboration and partnerships • Strengthen national GEF coordination mechanisms and processes  • Promote integration of GEF themes in national environment and sustainable development plans and policies

16. National Dialogue Initiative (cont’d) To apply to host a multi-stakeholder GEF National Dialogue: • Send a request to the GEF CEO, Ms. Monique Barbut • Briefly specify objectives and expected outputs

17. 4. Operations Manual • The need to have a GEF Operations Manual has become a necessity with the advent of the new GEF project cycle. • The Operations Manual is necessary to understand the new procedures and to serve as a template for projects and guidance for operations. • In 2007, GEFSEC, Agencies, Trustee, STAP, and Evaluation Office collaborated to produce the Operations Manual to be presented in an information document at the April 2008 Council meeting.

18. 5. Country Pages The Country Profile pages presents detailed information on: • Projects’ status, Council and Alternate Members, O & P FPs, and accredited NGOs for each country. • Secured information on projects under consideration in GEFSEC. To access this information you may use the same e-mail and password used to access the CSP website. You may also apply for a password through the CSP webpage or by following the procedure on the country profile page. • The secured information contain the status of PIFs submitted for CEO approval/clearance and the status of projects that have been submitted for CEO endorsement. Further refinements of the data available will be introduced as appropriate.

19. Country Pages (cont’d) • As part of the reform process undertaken by GEFSEC, the GEF website is undergoing a process of improvement and updating. This includes the introduction of Country Profile pages. • GEF Country Profile pages are available at: www.gefonline.org/Country/CountryProfile.cfm

20. 6. Familiarization Seminars • To familiarize a limited number of new FPs with GEF strategies, programs, policies and procedures • Opportunity to network with GEFSEC staff and also with GEF Agency staff

21. 7. Newsletter - Talking Points • A newsletter published quarterly providing information and updates on GEF activities, and processes • Its target audience includes GEF FPs, GEF agencies, NGOs, etc… • It is now web-based and downloadable, increasing its accessibility to target audience • FPs are welcome to share their experiences on GEF projects or good practices on GEF coordination at the national level