SUBREGIONAL WORKSHOP FOR GEF FOCAL POINTS IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA Dakar 21-23 May, 2007

1. SUBREGIONAL WORKSHOP FOR GEF FOCAL POINTS IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA Dakar 21-23 May, 2007 THEME:Togo’s experiences regarding the elaboration of national GEF strategies and priority setting. By : Mr. Yao Djiwonu FOLLY GEF Operational Focal Point

2. a) Background This process is supported by an enabling legal and policy environment • Favourable environmental law, legal provisions and environmental policy declaration; • Despite this, results remain insufficient

3. a) Background (cont’d) Opportunities • Institutionalization of Conventions Focal Points and agreements within GEF purview • Broad feedback and dissemination of Dakar workshop outcome on RAF to key stakeholders • Relocation of the GEF Operational Focal Point under ministerial cabinet.

4. a) Background (cont’d) Threats • Lack of financial resources; • Lack of collaboration on the part of ministry departments and several stakeholders. Motivation • Monitoring of GEF project and programme portfolio and improvement of country’s performance regarding resource mobilization • RAF put into place.

5. a) Background (cont’d) Process management - Broad dissemination of and feedback on the outcome of the Dakar workshops on the RAF; - Two workshops (launch and validation) chaired by the Minister in charge of Environment; - Creation of a select committee for the elaboration of the basic document and work schedule; - Compilation of information and summary of priorities; - Sessions for drafting, reviewing and adopting the document by experts in selected priority areas.

6. b) Key Actors • Minister: Chairmanship of launch and adoption workshops and communication of outcome to partners and actors concerned. • GEF Focal Point coordination team: Dissemination of and feedback on outcome re. the RAF; informal consultations of the GEF IAs and EAs; organization of coordination meetings of FPs and national execution entities of conventions within GEF purview; workshop preparation and moderation of activities.

7. b) Key Actors (cont’d) - National execution entities and focal points of conventions within GEF purview, key central administrators, key NGOs, key government ministries, coordination team of Poverty Reduction Programme, GEF FP coordination team: Elaboration of document and collaboration in workshops preparation. - GEF Implementing Agents and other international partners: Participation in validation workshop.

8. c) Results and Achievements - National reference document broadly disseminated; - Increased coverage and dissemination of GEF activities on state and private media. - Increased facilitation and coordination roles of the GEF Focal Point; solicitation to help mobilize financing aimed at integrating GEF activities in the poverty reduction programme and cost-evaluation that result therefrom.

9. d) Constraints - Fairly vague knowledge of GEF programmes and policies on the part of several stakeholders; - Insufficient integration of environmental issues in the in the programmes and projects of several stakeholders; - Lack of financial resources; - Lack of collaboration on the part of several key stakeholders; -Actions taken: high-level political involvement; communication; information.

10. e) Lessons Learnt - Need to have ready access and to facilitate its dissemination; - Need to be able to organize coordination meetings; - Need to have ready access to the authorities within the framework of one’s activities and to enjoy a measure of autonomy.

11. f) Conclusions and recommendations - Need to place the institution housing the Focal Point under the Ministerial Cabinet; - Need to institutionalize the focal points of the conventions under GEF purview; - Need to have a minimum of resources and enjoy a measure of administrative and financial independence.

12. THE END Thank you