Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency National Capacity Self Assessment (GEF/UNDP) The Third GEF Assembly Side Event – 30 th August,2006 Cape town Integrating global environmental issues within the country’s national programs Egypt’s Experience Yasmine Fouad Deputy Project Director NCSA/Egypt The Third GEF Assembly Side Event – 30 th August,2006 Cape town

The Content of Presentation NCSA Project Objective and results Project outcome Stocktaking and gap identification phase Identification of essential capacity constraints GEF National Steering committee Mandate Status / Outputs The Way Forward

Project objectives in Egypt help different stakeholders in Egypt measure and assess their capabilities, detect their points of strengths and weaknesses, define their priorities with regard to global environmental management. Assessment of the institutional capacity of EEAA as a planner and coordinator for environment at the country Link to other projects and activities under the GEF as being a multi focal area

Expected results Establishment and management of the NCSA/ PMU Stocktaking and gap identification Prioritization and Focusing In Depth Analysis Development of the NCSA action plan Awareness raising

Project outcome What? Number of joint working programmes, synergies between different concerned national institutions.How? the process set up of the project will help establish and sustain a consultative mechanism for better coordination and creation of synergies among the international conventions

Stocktaking and gap identification phase Review the obligations of each Convention, particularly the guidance related to capacity development issued by the COP’s Compile the relevant information, documents and other literature on the three thematic areas Review and describe the existing capacity in the three thematic areas at both the national and local levels, including legislations, policies, strategies action plans, institutions, stakeholders and on line activities listing of capacity constraints at the three levels, systemic, institutional and individual levels preliminary findings on the cross cutting issues and synergy from the perspective of each thematic area

Major capacity constraints identified Coordination mechanism mechanism Strategic planning “Mainstreaming” Environmental dimensions into other sectorals plans ( EEAA main Mandate ) Monitoring and self assessment self assessment (Technical Advisory Committee) GEF National Steering Committee

Establishment of the GEF National Steering Committee Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs( operational focal point) Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( Political Focal Point) Ministry of Water resources and irrigation ( International Waters) Ministry of Electricity – Energy efficiencies and renewable energy ( climate change) Ministry of Agriculture land degradation ( desertification) National experts in Biological diversity- climate change – International water – pollutants organic – land degradation and Institutional development International Organizations: UNDP-UNEP- The World bank. Other international experts with experience in GEF: Mostafa Tolba Members of committee

Mandate Evaluation of previous GEF Projects / lessons learnt as well as current ongoing projects to hinder any obstacles to over come the implementation of those projects Identify Egypt status regarding the GEF Strategic and operational matters Engage relevant ministries to present project proposal to be eligible for GEF Funding. Selection of appropriate projects to be submitted to the GEF for funding/ Pipeline projects based on developed criteria Empowerment of this committee through the national sustainable development committee

Status / Results have been conducted for Committee with the following activities: Five meetings have been conducted for Committee with the following activities: Orientation on the GEF portfolio for members Orientation on the GEF portfolio for members - Reaching consensus on the mandate of the committee and expected output Review of the Stocktaking and gap identification reports for obligations of the three Rio conventions Review of the Stocktaking and gap identification reports for obligations of the three Rio conventions Evaluation on the GEF modality and activity cycle Evaluation on the GEF modality and activity cycle Review of current ongoing projects /lessons learnt /best practices Review of current ongoing projects /lessons learnt /best practices Development of GEF national criteria for selection of projects for funding Development of GEF national criteria for selection of projects for funding Preparation of Egypt status in the third GEF AssemblyPreparation of Egypt status in the third GEF Assembly

National Criteria for The GEF Generate global environmental benefit Consistent with the country's National Environmental Action plan ( ) and the sectoral plans ( i,e climate change action plan,biodiversity action plan – desertification action plan / NAP) Provide concrete local benefit Ensure full participation of stakeholders in the design and the implementation phase Ensure sustainability of the project through the development of an exit strategy since the design of the project Ensure that the project has positive impact on one or more of other GEF thematic areas ( mainstreaming concept)

National Criteria for The GEF (cont’d) Encourage partnership between the national government, private sector and civil society Develop environmental and social impact assessment for proposed projects Identify the magnitude of the project problem Develop clear monitoring and evaluation system with indicators to measure the progress towards achieving the outputs of the project Ensure high likelihood/assumptions for the success of the project Fulfill one or two of the objectives of the conventions

The way Forward Submission of concept ideas to GEF Approval / rejection of proposed projects via GEF Review and selection of projects

Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency National Capacity Self Assessment (GEF/UNDP) Thank You