National Dialogue Initiative IRAN’S NATIONAL STRATEGY AND PRORITIES FOR GEF-4 Iran GEF National Dialogue Tehran, 30 April – 1 May 2007

Iran’s Objectives for the GEF-4 Absorbing the maximum funds allocated to Iran’s projects during GEF-4;  Making the necessary capacity for designing and timely implementation of GEF funded projects;  Diversification of projects through entering other GEF related activities;  Supporting creation of a wider GEF Resource Allocation Framework;  Maintaining the GEF/SGP achievements in Iran through allocation of the required funds;

GEF Allocation for Iran’s Projects Under the RAF Bio-diversity Projects: - $ 6,700,000. Climate Change Projects: - $ 16,500,000. Total GEF Allocation: - $ 23,200,000.

Iran’s priorities set forth by its 4 th National Development Plan * Biodiversity: - Bio-safety management - Sustainable forest management - Sustainable management of protected areas - Coastal and marine eco-system management * Climate Change (mitigation and adaptation) - Energy Efficiency - Renewable sources of Energy - Sustainable transportation in big cities * International Waters - Restoration of Hamun (Sistan) basin * Land Degradation - Afforestation and reforestation * Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) - Sound chemicals management (Pesticides and wastes management)

Iran’s project proposals for GEF-4 1-Biodiversity: * Integrated Management of Caspian Forests with the Participation of Local Communities in Selected Pilot Areas; Building on Yakhkesh Experience, $ 600,000 + $ 300,000, Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Management Organization; * Ecosystem-based Participatory Approaches to the Selection and Management of Protected Areas in Iran, $ 1,200,000 + $ 500,000, Department of Environment; * Support to the Implementation of the National Bio-Safety Framework in Iran, $ 600,000 + $ 150,000, Department of Environment * Protection of Marine Eco-System in Coastal Areas through Community Based Activities, $ 750,000, Fisheries Organization (Shilat) * Sustainable Forest Management for Arid, Semi-Arid and Dry-Sub humid Lands through Contribution of Local Communities, $ 900,000, Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Management Organization; * Sustainable Agriculture and Reducing Land Degradation through Community-Based Agro-Forestry Activities, $ 900,000, Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Management Organization;

Iran’s project proposals for GEF-4 2- Climate Change (mitigation and adaptation) * Industrial energy efficiency improvement, $ 2,500,000., Ministry of Energy (under discussion); * Removal of barriers to large scale commercial wind energy development, Ministry of Energy, ($ 5,725,000., approved during GEF-3, to be implemented in GEF-4); * Tehran transport emission reduction, $ 6,000,000., Organization of Transportation and Traffic Control of Tehran; Projects to be decided for inclusion in GEF-4: Removal of Barriers for Wide Scale Adoption of Solar Water Heaters, $ 2,000,000., IFCO; Residential Energy Efficiency, $ 3,000,000., IFCO

Iran’s project proposals for GEF-4 3- International Waters: * Restoration Protection and Sustainable Use of Hamun (Sistan) Basin, $ 2,000,000, Ministry of Energy;

Iran’s project proposals for GEF-4 4- Land Degradation: * Resubmission of Sustainable Land Management Project into GEF pipeline, Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Management Organization; * Controlling wind erosion critical foci (WECF) through participation of local communities for preventing the degradation of natural resources, GEF grant $ 950,000., Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Management Organization; * Mitigating the adverse impacts of desertification through participation of local communities in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid watersheds, $ 975,000., Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Management Organization;

Iran’s project proposals for GEF-4 5- Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) * Ongoing Project: Preparation of the POPs National Implementation Plan under the Stockholm Convention (Enabling activity Project), $ 496,000, Department of Environment; * Demonstration of Sustainable Alternatives to DDT and Strengthening of National Vector Control Capabilities in Middle East and North Africa”, $ 1,450,000, Ministry of Health;

Iran’s project proposals for GEF-4 6- Small Grant Program (SGP) * During GEF-4, an amount of $ 1,600,000 is going to be allocated for SGP projects in two focal areas of Bio-diversity and climate change. * This amount includes $ 800,000. ($ 200,000. annually) for each of the said focal area under the RAF system during GEF-4.

The list of Criteria for selection of Iran’s project proposals during GEF-4  The set of criteria as a prerequisite for undertaking the selection process: * Fit with the GEF Strategies and eligibility criteria * Country priorities * Low risk of Failure and high potential for successful outcomes * Sustainability and replicability * Involving diversified partners * Building on past experiences (including the GEF SGP projects) and available knowledge * Involving a multitude of ecosystems/species * Conducive to participatory approaches