1. Perspectives on GEF-3 from Our Partners:
   1. UNDP (Frank Pinto)
   2. UNEP (Olivier Deleuze)
   3. World Bank (Steve Gorman)
   4. Pacific SIDS (Robert Aisi)
2. New CEO appointment
3. Curtain-Raiser on Assembly
4. Report on Events: IYDD
5. Prepping Countries for GEF-4: report on Sub-Regionals
6. Project Round up:
   1. Sustainable Energy Program in
       Europe and Russia
   2. Coral Reef Initiative
   3. Namibia
   4. NZAID
7. SGP and UNDP: An Update
8. Evaluation Office
9. STAP

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Pacific Small Island Developing States and the GEF:
Reflections on a Partnership for Sustainable Development

Ambassador Robert Aisi
Permanent Representative of PNG to the United
Nations, GEF Council Member, and Pacific Islands Forum Representative

I am pleased to offer these reflections on the GEF’s interactions with Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) during its third replenishment cycle, dubbed GEF-3, and how these have made a positive difference.

Background
The GEF-3 period, beginning in 2002, was marked by a strengthening of partnerships and intensified collaboration between the Pacific SIDS, the GEF and its Secretariat, Implementing Agencies, and regional and local partners. The understanding of the complex global environmental problems and opportunities to better link with GEF processes have been greatly enhanced as a result of GEF dialogue processes, and active participation in the Conventions. Similarly, there has also been an improved appreciation by the various Conventions’ and GEF forums of the Pacific SIDS’ special needs, priorities and the difficulties encountered in timely access to GEF resources, including the capacity to fully comply with the requirements for accessing and utilizing those resources.

Achievements
While GEF-2 support to Pacific SIDS was mostly in the areas of biodiversity, climate change and international waters, GEF-3 support was expanded to include persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and multi-focal areas. Notably, GEF-3 financial assistance to Pacific SIDS increased by 185 percent for national projects, 4 percent for regional projects, and overall by 38 percent compared to GEF-2. Moreover, during GEF-3, over half of national projects were enabling activities. This has enabled Pacific SIDS to collect the much needed baseline data and information, including the completion of initial national greenhouse gas inventories for all Pacific SIDS.

Another advance during GEF-3 was support for establishing enabling environments and strengthening local and regional institutions in the Pacific SIDS. The Small Grants Programme was expanded to cover all Pacific SIDS. These developments have helped raise awareness and strengthened local expertise, leading to a better understanding by the countries on how to address environmental issues, and the importance of tackling these issues at the local level. Pacific SIDS have gained better understanding of the impacts of climate change and the need for adaptation. Pacific SIDS are at various stages with their access to GEF’s adaptation funds.

There is an improved awareness that fresh water systems, transboundary water bodies, and large marine ecosystems need country-driven, ecosystem-based management programs. Of significant importance is that GEF-3 has assisted Pacific SIDS in their efforts to conclude and bring into force the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (WCPFC) in 2004 and the ongoing efforts (Oceanic Fisheries Management Project Phase II) to help Pacific SIDS manage their resources in a sustainable manner. Pacific SIDS have adopted the ecosystem approach to fisheries management wholeheartedly, and both the Pacific Islands regional fisheries organizations, such as FFA (Forum Fisheries Agency) and SPC (South Pacific Commission), are committed to assisting Pacific SIDS to implement the basic framework of the ecosystem approach by the voluntary deadline of 2010 agreed to at the Johannesburg Earth Summit. Moreover, GEF-3 enabling activities in biodiversity and persistent organic pollutants have translated into an improved awareness of how fragile the Pacific ecosystems are, and the dangers POPs pose to human health and the environment.

Pacific SIDS have appreciated the advantages of bringing synergy between GEF focal areas (e.g., biological diversity, climate change, international waters and land degradation) to address these holistically and to optimize multiple benefits. During the GEF 3 period, countries received support to begin the process of securing GEF resources for enabling activities as well as for integrated ecosystem management and sustainable land management approaches.

Various national and regional coordination and consultation mechanisms have been established. This included the ‘Country Team’ approach—an appreciation that to effectively tackle environmental issues there is a need to bring together many actors from different cross-cutting thematic areas. Regional policies on Ocean and Energy, and a Regional Framework on Climate Change have been adopted at the highest political level, and GEF-3 has helped in their implementation. These policies and frameworks are all mirrored in the Pacific Plan—the guiding effort for enhancing and stimulating economic growth, sustainable development, good governance, and security for Pacific SIDS through regionalism.

Challenges Ahead
But despite these achievements, the Pacific SIDS are fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead. The access and capacity issues facing Pacific SIDS are still very real, and quite accurately outlined in the findings and recommendations of the Overall Performance Survey conducted by the Evaluation Office. These issues must be addressed, both through capacity building programs as well as modalities of access that recognize limited national capacity, the need for smaller, more flexible funds for SIDS, and the need for backstopping by regional organizations.

Partnerships between the GEF and the Implementing Agencies, Executing Agencies, and national institutions must continue to be strengthened. This would also involve enabling activities that foster mainstreaming integrated ecosystem management into national policies, regulations, incentive structures, and the budgeting processes. By doing so, we would ensure that stakeholder partnerships are forged, and investments are made to simultaneously address local, national, and global environmental issues within the context of sustainable development for the Pacific SIDS. If the track-record of GEF-3 is any indication, I am sure we can continue to build on these successes in the fourth replenishment cycle.