National Dialogue Initiative COUNTRY LEVEL COORDINATION ACTIVITIES IN IRAN Iran GEF National Dialogue Tehran, 30 April – 1 May 2007

Environment Coordination System in Iran Supreme Council of Environment National Committee of Sustainable Development National Committee On Climate Change National Committee On Stockholm Convention National Commission On Bio-diversity/ Biosafety National Committee On GEF National Committee On Combating Desertification ? National Committee On International Waters

Iran’s Focal Points for GEF related International conventions: Climate Change Convention Stockholm Convention Bio-diversity/Bio- safety Convention Combating Desertification Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Agricultural Jihad

Other Iran’s Focal Points Trans-boundary Water Basins Global Environment Facility Ministry of Energy Ministry of Foreign Affairs Operational Political

Who is doing what?  Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been designated as the focal points for the said Conventions, on technical issues other Ministries and Organizations have been nominated to the relevant secretariats as the Competent National Authority. Examples:  Biodiversity SBSTTA: - Department of Environment  Biodiversity Clearing House Mechanism: - Department of Environment  Biosafety National Competent Authority: - Department of Environment

Interactions between NCSD and Various NSCs  National Committee on Sustainable Development determines the policies and objectives of the national sub-committees.  On important issues, it also assigns the sub-committees with special tasks to undertake as necessary.  Basically, all national sub-committees including the GEF National Sub-Committee should periodically report back to the National Committee on Sustainable Development.

Iran’s GEF Focal Point Ministry of Foreign Affairs GEF National Sub-CommitteeGEF/SGP Steering Committee

Members of the National GEF Sub-Committee - Air Quality Control Company - Department of Environment - Environment NGOs Network - Fisheries Organization - Forest and Rangeland Organization - Management and Planning Organization - Meteorological Organization - Ministry of Agricultural Jihad - Ministry of Finance - Ministry of Energy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Ministry of Health - Ministry of Science and Higher Education - Ministry of Industries and Mines - Ministry of Petroleum - Shipping and Harbors organization - Tehran University: Environment Branch - Waste Recycling Organization

Members of the National GEF/SGP Steering Committee - Academic institutions: Tehran University - Department of Environment - Local communities: - Fars Green Center - Green Message, Isfahan - IRSEN - MEPS Society - Parow, Kermanshah - Qeshm Pearl Community - Ministry of Agricultural Jihad - Management and Planning Organization - Ministry of Foreign Affairs - National Coordinator of GEF/SGP in Iran: Ms. Laleh Daraie from UNDP Office in Tehran

The functions of Iran’s GEF National Sub- Committee * The GEF National Sub-Committee along with other committees regularly hold sessions to discuss their program of work and the latest relevant developments. * During the last Iranian year, (April 2006-March 2007) the National GEF Sub- Committee held 3 meetings and a half-day training course: - to refresh and update its work program; - to get familiar with the latest GEF developments; - to build the necessary capacity for project concepts preparation; - to hear the progress report of the national GEF project directors; - to determine the limitations and obstacles in implementation of the projects; - to decide and coordinate about the steps to be taken during GEF-4; - to request all ministries and organizations to actively involve in submission of new project concepts for GEF-4.

Continued: GEF Coordination system in Iran * the GEF focal point (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), in addition to the GEF committee meetings holds bilateral consultation/discussion with various ministries and organizations to identify the areas of interests for cooperation with the GEF and preparation of new project concepts as well as removing the barriers;

The Weakpoints of the Existing GEF Coordination System * The existing monitoring and reporting system between the said national sub-committees including that of the GEF and the NCSD does not function properly; * Although, the national sub-committees including the GEF NSC should periodically report back to the National Committee on Sustainable Development, in practice, both sides have not been able to stick to their tasks efficiently so far; * The interaction between the GEF National Sub-Committee and the GEF/SGP Steering Committee is not considerable; * Due to the lack of expertise as well as a particular financial/human resources, some of the ministries and organizations have not been able to engage proactively in national GEF related activities; * The complexity of the rules and strategies of the GEF and its ongoing developments during recent years.

What could be done to enhance the existing coordination system?  All National GEF Project Directors should report to the National GEF Sub-Committee meetings on their achievements, possible obstacles and the necessary steps to be taken, on a regular basis;  Each GEF projects implementation should be reviewed annually by a tri-partite review team consisting of the representatives of the GEF Implementing Agencies (UNDP, UNEP, WB), MFA and the national executing Agency;  The NCSD should invite the National GEF Sub-Committee to report on its activities twice a year.  The NCSD should annually request the National GEF Sub- Committee to present a progress report for consideration of the Supreme Council of Environment.