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GEF IW Conference, Budapest 14-18 October, 2000

WB Session and OP 8: Observations and tentative ideas of what this means for our work on international waters (OP 8). GEF IW Conference, Budapest 14-18 October, 2000. Organize my comments along Tony’s questions:. Can the IW approach work? Is it working? Is it too early too tell?

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GEF IW Conference, Budapest 14-18 October, 2000

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  1. WB Session and OP 8:Observations and tentative ideas of what this means for our work on international waters (OP 8) • GEF IW Conference, Budapest • 14-18 October, 2000

  2. Organize my comments along Tony’s questions: • Can the IW approach work? • Is it working? • Is it too early too tell? • Are there important constraints we are ignoring? • What are the implications for the GEF and more specifically for OP 8? • Personal views - food for thought!

  3. OP8 - specific waterbodies with “chronic” problems: 260+ international river basins 50 large marine ecosystems (LME) Number of shared groundwater aquifers

  4. International Waters Challenge - Scope & Scale - No blueprints! Poverty ->Development Political relations Insecurity -> Security Degradation -> Sustainability

  5. Q1: Can The TDA/SAP Approach Work ? • Role of TDA/SAP • Arrive at consensus on problems, priorities and actions - common understanding of the problems • Okavango - created harmony between the parties • Lengthy, time-consuming process; 2-4 yrs often • Benguela Current • Process (key outcome) more important than the output • Similar exercises done before - no blueprints available - all will to a certain extent be unique • Ownership created through the process

  6. Q1: Can The TDA/SAP Approach Work ? • Role of TDA/SAP • Can we really go the long way as prescribed by the TDA? Maybe consider to start with smaller, immediate actions - success attracts success! • Format requirements - tedious and often difficult! • Namibia - Benefit proved faster than the GEF route • Overall a useful instrument! • Key questions: How to translate the SAP into national actions? • Requires national commitment and national processes

  7. Q2: Is it working? • OP 8 Purpose - “remedial actions” • Linkage between water resources reform process and regional environmental management objectives often not addressed as required in OP8 • Little emphasis on use of economic incentives and instruments, when applicable, as management tools • Private sector participation limited • Involvement of other ministries/sectors - driven by environment and water - Danube - Min. of Ag.

  8. Q2: Is it working (II)? • Little attention to lake and wetland management and watershed management (WWF, IUCN) • Transboundary implications of dams - WCD?? • Considerable risks associated with creation of expectations that cannot be realistically achieved and failure to recognize time frames require for results - need for an exit strategy? • Dissemination of SAP to the general public, often lacking • When do we start work on the ground? Uncertainty

  9. Q3: Is it too early to tell? • Yes, little environmental improvement so far • North-American Great Lakes - six years to set up institutional system; 12 years to see environmental improvements • Social outcomes as important in the short/medium term • Major accomplishments; over 50 projects • First generation IW projects under implementation - too early to assess results! • Developed framework for cooperation • Second generation just starting • Monitoring and evaluation built more effectively in

  10. Q4: Are there important constraints we are ignoring? • Link to poverty alleviation, human health, vulnerability and sustainable development policies in general • Overall need for reforms in various sectors; e.g. civil service reform (Lake Victoria) • Political climate for reforms uncertain

  11. Q5: Strategic Implications for GEF and IAs? • Rewrite OP? No - negotiated document • Flexible, pragmatic interpretation/application • GEF and IAs need to “walk the talk” • Ownership required by the riparians……. but • Disbursement schedule has to be followed! • Solution - use consultants - local capacity building? • Streamlining of procedures; PDF A/B (350’ too small)/C • Riparians in the driving seat! - not consultants or IAs • but clearer demonstration of commitment required • commitment = ownership

  12. Q5: Strategic Implications for GEF and IAs (ii)? • Sustainability • Key approval criteria? • Need to strengthen secretariats; stabilize staffing, set realistic budgets - responsibility of the riparians not GEF! • Sustainability of investments - requires policy reforms • Need to diversify range of national ministries involved and increase emphasis on local governments • Give more credibility to existing regional institutions (e.g. West Africa)

  13. Q5: Strategic Implications for GEF and IAs (iii)? • Involve NGOs more actively and ensure accountability • TDAs and SAPs should be prepared by riparians - Facilitators can be provided (Benguela Current) • Cooperation not competition between IAs and others! NGOs are tired of watching the infighting • multiple IAs - creates difficulties! • High transaction costs; delays, funding gaps etc. • Need for information sharing, transfer of lessons, comparison of results between the OPs

  14. Q5: Strategic Implications for GEF and IAs (iv)? • Can one SAP lead to several projects? • Ability to deal with acute problems? • Long-term involvement/support required (Niger, Chad - long-term program providing bridging mechanism) • GEF improve its outreach activities - NGO complaint! • should be able to provide clear guidance now • clear rules required, goal post should not change during the process • GEF vocabulary • Qs and comments during this conference reflect this

  15. Summary of the Challenges • Creating and sustaining dialogue at the basin level - use convening power • Identifying and supporting initiatives that create an enabling environment for cooperation • Creating partnerships through which initiatives can be supported • Creating and sharing a global knowledge base to support collaboration among riparians • Supporting development investment in projects that enhance cooperation Basin Level The Transboundary River or Lake Basin • Promote a new water management and development policy framework in each riparian country • Investment should reward and support policy and institutional reform -- not expand or rehabilitate unsustainable infrastructure, nor reward unsustainable policy frameworks The Riparians

  16. Concluding Thoughts (David Grey) • Can pick you friends not your neighbors; international waters challenge is to make your neighbor your friends; • BUT • good fences can make good neighbors! • Lesson: no blueprint, comprise, change course • & • do not let the best be the enemy of the good

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