OPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGAGEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN GEF PROJECTS presented by Ermath Harrington GEF Regional Focal Point

GEF and Civil Society - Context Civil society as key stakeholders in the work of GEF Civil society as key stakeholders in the work of GEF GEF Public Participation Policy GEF Public Participation Policy GEF decisions on GEF and Civil Society GEF decisions on GEF and Civil Society Options for engagement of Civil Society in projects in the Caribbean Options for engagement of Civil Society in projects in the Caribbean GEF NGO Network GEF NGO Network

Civil society as key stakeholders in the work of GEF Important stewards of natural resources and environment Important stewards of natural resources and environment Direct beneficiaries from sound environmental management Direct beneficiaries from sound environmental management Directly impacted by poor environmental management Directly impacted by poor environmental management Can provide major contributions to safeguarding global environmental benefits and ensuring sustainability of GEF programmes. Can provide major contributions to safeguarding global environmental benefits and ensuring sustainability of GEF programmes. Civil Society should thus be a main partner for effective implementation and long term sustainability of GEFs work Civil Society should thus be a main partner for effective implementation and long term sustainability of GEFs work

EXAMPLES OF KEY LOCAL ISSUES Many national and local communities depend on natural resources for sustainability Many national and local communities depend on natural resources for sustainability Environmental Degradation has major local and global impacts, particularly for vulnerable economies of the Caribbean Environmental Degradation has major local and global impacts, particularly for vulnerable economies of the Caribbean Communities can protect and restore the environment and promote sustainable use Communities can protect and restore the environment and promote sustainable use

GEF Public participation Policy Adopted by GEF in 1996 Adopted by GEF in 1996 Effective public involvement is critical to the success of GEF-financed projects. Effective public involvement is critical to the success of GEF-financed projects. When done appropriately, public involvement improves the performance and impact of projects by: When done appropriately, public involvement improves the performance and impact of projects by: Enhancing recipient country ownership of, and accountability for, project outcomes Enhancing recipient country ownership of, and accountability for, project outcomes Addressing the social and economic needs of affected people Addressing the social and economic needs of affected people Building partnerships among project executing agencies and stakeholders Building partnerships among project executing agencies and stakeholders Making use of skills, experiences, and knowledge, in particular, of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community and local groups, and the private sector in the design, implementation, and evaluation of project activities Making use of skills, experiences, and knowledge, in particular, of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community and local groups, and the private sector in the design, implementation, and evaluation of project activities

GEF Public participation Policy Key principles Public involvement activities should be designed so that they contribute to the environmental, financial, and social sustainability of projects. Public involvement activities should be designed so that they contribute to the environmental, financial, and social sustainability of projects. Projects should, as appropriate, address the social, cultural, and economic needs of people affected by GEF-financed projects. Projects should, as appropriate, address the social, cultural, and economic needs of people affected by GEF-financed projects. Involvement of Private Sector has to be advocated Involvement of Private Sector has to be advocated Public involvement activities will be conducted in a transparent and open manner. Public involvement activities will be conducted in a transparent and open manner. All GEF-financed projects should have full documentation of public involvement activities. All GEF-financed projects should have full documentation of public involvement activities. There should be transparency in the preparation, conduct, reporting, and evaluation of public involvement activities in all projects. There should be transparency in the preparation, conduct, reporting, and evaluation of public involvement activities in all projects.

Enhancing engagement of CSOs in GEF 5 (Approved November 2010) CSOs invited to National dialogues and national portfolio identification exercises to propose ideas for potential projects or programmes. CSOs invited to National dialogues and national portfolio identification exercises to propose ideas for potential projects or programmes. CSOs to be consulted in development of Project Concept (PIF) CSOs to be consulted in development of Project Concept (PIF) PIF to identify engagement of CSOs and proposed role PIF to identify engagement of CSOs and proposed role Project Document to include stakeholder engagement plan. Project Document to include stakeholder engagement plan.

Additional steps by GEF to enhance engagement Developing policy framework for GEF and indigenous peoples Developing policy framework for GEF and indigenous peoples Enhancing implementation of the GEF Public involvement Policy Enhancing implementation of the GEF Public involvement Policy Capacity Building for Civil Society to enhance their engagement Capacity Building for Civil Society to enhance their engagement Monitoring and enhancing CSO access to GEF resources Monitoring and enhancing CSO access to GEF resources

Options for engagement of CSOs in projects Project implementers (SGP, MSP, FSP) Project implementers (SGP, MSP, FSP) Project partners or service providers Project partners or service providers Project advisers/steering committee members Project advisers/steering committee members Project target groups Project target groups Monitoring and enhancing CSO access to GEF resources Monitoring and enhancing CSO access to GEF resources

CSOs in Action Public Awareness and participation Public Awareness and participation Technical guidance and training Technical guidance and training Community participation Community participation Sustainable livelihoods Sustainable livelihoods Environmental education Environmental education Recycling/waste management Recycling/waste management River and forest rehabilitation River and forest rehabilitation

CSO Issues in the Caribbean – Some Questions and Points for Consideration Understanding the Caribbean Regional Situation of Action Failure of regional governments to engage or be engaged by CSO’s Lethargy in the setting up of National Steering Committees Complicated and sometimes quickly changing rules and procedures for access to GEF resources Can there be a separate funding window for CSO’s for GEF Funds from the Conventions ? GEF projects must be integrated into national policies Have the private sector strategies for the Earthfund and Biological Conventions been drawn up. Has the STAR programme been operationalised? Early and meaningful dialogue for the use of and programming of funding- between the GEF and Civil society

CSO Issues in the Caribbean – Some Questions and Points for Consideration Easier access to the funding for NGO's engaged in the conventions. If this approach is taken, then when CSOs advocate for funding at Convention meetings and their advocacy is adopted, the next question is always how is it going to be financed. If a seperate window for CSOs is developed and then administered via the secretariats for the various conventions, e.g. UNCCD Secretariat for UNCCD issues, then CSOs can then write to the Secretariat to get the funding. Applications need to be more user friendly and direct A revised strategy for engaging the private sector & civil society in decision making/transparency How can funding for capacity building of CSO’s be encouraged in order to ensure that projects can become sustainable business enterprises that can then meet community and national needs There needs to be use of technology via streaming of proceedings to have many other CSO’s who could not attend access to the ECW and even allow for log in participation.

GEF NGO Network Established in 1995 to facilitate CSO input to GEF Governance Established in 1995 to facilitate CSO input to GEF Governance More than 400 active members in 15 regions More than 400 active members in 15 regions Facilitate Civil society input to GEF policy making and implementation. Facilitate Civil society input to GEF policy making and implementation. Organise CS consultations and provide input on each agenda item of GEF council Organise CS consultations and provide input on each agenda item of GEF council Monitor and build capacity at regional and national level for CSO engagement in GEF activities Monitor and build capacity at regional and national level for CSO engagement in GEF activities

GEF NGO Network Guidance to government focal points and agencies on options for CSO engagement in GEF programmes Guidance to government focal points and agencies on options for CSO engagement in GEF programmes Current Regional Focal point – Caribbean Forest Conservation Association Current Regional Focal point – Caribbean Forest Conservation Association Details on Details on CSO’s are encouraged to get accredited through the GEF NGO Network CSO’s are encouraged to get accredited through the GEF NGO Network

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