FNR-RIO REPORTING 2 nd MEETING WOLLOR E. TOPOR Liberia

CONTENT 1.Introduction Statement of Problem Historical background of FNR-Rio Reporting 2.Accomplishments of FNR-Rio Liberia 3.FNR-RIO-Liberia Institutional Framework 4.FNR-RIO-Liberia Financial Arrangement 5.Challenges 6.Needs

Introduction Liberia has ratified and is a signatory to many MEAs e.g. Rio Conventions (FCCC, CB and CCD) MEAs require reporting

Statement of the Problem Duplication Overlaps Inefficient reporting CBD CCD FCCC  Content  Format Consequences Unnecessary artificial institutional fragmentation offers independent direction on

Historical Background 1998, UNEP, Proposed a harmonized information mgt system 2007, JOINT LIAISON GRP OF THE RIO CONVENTIONS, Considered the need for capacity building that will lead to an integrated Rio Reporting 2009, Approval of the pilot project on integrated processes and approaches to facilitate national reporting of Rio

Project overall objective: to pilot nationally-driven integrated processes and approaches to reporting to the three Rio Conventions (CBD, UNCCD and UNFCCC). Piloting Integrated Processes and Approaches to Facilitate National Reporting to Rio Conventions (FNR-Rio) UNEP GEF WCMC Afghanistan Eritrea Mauritius Palau Lao PDR Liberia

INCEPTION AND 1 ST PSC MEETING, Cambridge, WCMC FEBRUARY 2010 Afghanistan Eritrea Mauritius Palau Lao PDR Liberia

DATEACTIVITYREMARKS April 7, 2010 Official appointment of National Project Coordinator Dr. Wollor E. Topor of the University of Liberia There was a delay in this appointment due to the administrative problems in EPA (e.g. death the ED) -Recruitment of the NPAUnpublished recruitment June 3, 2010 Inception Workshop and the First Steering Committee Meeting held In attendance: Min. Agric.; Dep. Min. of Planning and Economic Affairs; Dep. Min. of Internal Affairs for Technical Affairs; Managing Director of FDA; Hon. Thomas Romeo Quoiah, then Acting Ex. Dir. of the EPA who served as Chair of the NSC Accomplishments

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INCEPTION WKSHOP & THE 1 st NSC MEETING: 1.The pilot project is mainly for information and sharing on the Rio Conventions; 2.Liberia being one of the pilot countries must work to make it succeed; 3.Reporting period is not fixed which needs to be addressed for harmony in reporting the Conventions; 4.Harmonization requires serious consultations and/or National Reporting must be done in consultations with all stakeholders. 5.Who provides leadership for the reporting process?

HIGHLIGHTS... 6.Inadequate data in several sectors 7.Inadequate trained personnel 8.Poor infrastructure; 9.That other institutions like MoF, LISGIS, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the MoG & D, MICAT and other International and national NGOs have a stake in the FNR-Rio Reporting.

DATEACTIVITYREMARKS August 2010 Recruitment and appointment of the NC September 2010 The NC submitted zero draft of the Analysis Report The report was forwarded to three focal persons (UNCCD, UNCCC and UNCB) for their inputs. Dec. 21, 2010 Validation WorkshopIn attendance were the GEF Focal Person along with the 3 Focal Persons of Rio Conventions; stakeholders from various government agencies, institutions, civil societies and the media. Accomplishments

Figure 1. FNR-RIO-Liberia Institutional Framework PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA BOARD OF DIRECTORS POLICY COUNCIL UNFCCC Focal Point CB Focal Point CD Focal Point EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR- EPA NATIONAL PROJECT COORDINATOR (NPC) NATIONAL PROJECT ASSISTANT (NPA) NATIONAL CONSULTANT (NC)

1. National Project Coordinator makes request to the Finance Office Attachments to the request based on PCC law: 3 Proforma invoices 2. The Finance Office prepares payment voucher which is sent to the ED 3. The ED scrutinize voucher, sign (if no objection or if request is in line with the project budget) and send back to the Finance Office 4. A check is prepared in the selected vendor’s name with the following signatories: NPC and EPA Comptroller Figure 2. FNR-RIO-Liberia Financial Arrangement

Challenges Inadequate human resource capacity Limited cooperation from the Focal Persons within the EPA and the NPC (being a non-EPA personnel) No motivational incentive for the NPC (representation allowance)

Challenges All reports from Focal Points are sent to the office of the Executive Director. Often times, these reports are filed. The reports become useful only when they are included in the Annual Report of the Agency sent to the President of Liberia annually In keeping with Article 20, of the CBD, reporting procedures are not left to national authorities. Rio Conventions is hampered by different reporting cycles and information,

Needs Recruitment should follow international guidelines to be able to attract qualified and interested staff (cream of the crop) A mandate sanctioned by the EPA-ED that the 3 Focal Persons with the FNR-Rio Staff should meet at least twice a month (1 st and 3 rd Fri of each month) The GEF Chair, the 3 Focal Persons and the FNR- Rio Staff should meet at least once a month

Needs It will be appropriate in Liberia’s condition to provide incentive to the NPC There is a need to establish a system of tracking, monitoring of the implementation of terms agreed to under the Conventions and their related protocols within the EPA.