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GEF Subregional Consultations Off to a Flying Start:
Eight Events Complete Global Reach
The GEF’s Country Support Program (CSP)
is off to a flying start, and eight subregional consultations have been
held around the globe during July and August 2006.
• Dakar,
Senegal from April 20-21, for countries from West and Central
Africa;
• Pretoria,
South Africa from April 24-25, for countries from Eastern and
Southern Africa;
• Alexandria,
Egypt from May 18-19, for countries from North Africa, Middle
East, West and South Asia;
• Bratislava,
Slovak Republic from May 22-23, for countries from Europe
and the CIS;
• Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia from June 13-14, for countries from East and
Southeast Asia;
• Panama
City, Panama from July 6-7, for countries from Latin America;
• Bridgetown,
Barbados from July 10-11, for countries from the Caribbean;
and
• Nadi,
Fiji, from August 3-4, for the Pacific Small Island Developing
States
At these events, GEF Operational and Political Focal Points (OFPs and PFPs)
and members of the GEF-NGO Network received detailed briefings on the Resource
Allocation Framework (RAF) and the Country Support Program (CSP). The objectives
of these events were to provide an overview and guidance on the GEF’s
new operational policies and modalities, including the new RAF; and seek feedback
from GEF Focal Points on their needs and priorities under the new CSP for Focal
Points.
Between 45-75 participants attended each consultation, including senior
level government officials, NGO representatives, regional organizations,
and staff
from the GEF Secretariat and its GEF Implementing and Executing Agencies.
Detailed information, including minutes of each consultation and recommendations
made
by GEF focal points and the GEF-NGO Network, are available at the GEF
Secretariat website at http://thegef.org/Partners/partners-Nongovernmental_Organ/partners-nongovernmental_organ.htmland
the National Dialogue Initiative website at http://cfapp2.undp.org/gef_dialogue/schedule/2006-subregl.htm.
At the Subregional Consultations it was felt that the RAF is posing new
challenges for countries as they develop and prioritize GEF co-funded
projects in line
with national strategies. The GEF has always encouraged the establishment
of in-country consultation mechanisms with involvement of relevant
stakeholders to facilitate such prioritization processes. With the advent
of an allocation
system within GEF4, the GEF views such national multi-stakeholder consultative
mechanisms as a key underpinning of RAF implementation. Meanwhile,
the CSP is expected to provide focal points with a broad range of support
in carrying
out their responsibilities, including supporting such consultative
mechanisms
at the national level. Accordingly, the CSP is also expected to provide
at least some support for RAF implementation. Some focal points have
already started
the process of putting in place the coordination and other mechanisms
that will help countries to identify national priorities for GEF funding.
At the GEF Assembly, the GEF Secretariat and the Implementing Agencies
are organizing a side event: “Integrating GEF Programs and Strategies at
Country Level-Experiences in GEF National Coordination.” The objective
is to share countries’ experience in pre-RAF approaches to in-country
coordination, building consultation mechanisms and prioritization of GEF programs,
as well as in newer RAF-based approaches. Issues to be addressed during this
side event include:
• The role of coordination processes
• GEF prioritization and integration
• How
the CSP, National Dialogues, and NCSAs can support national coordination
to facilitate the prioritization
and integration of GEF projects |
