GEF Familiarization Seminar 2012 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

UNEP in the GEF The only Implementing Agency of the GEF whose core business is the environment; Supports strategic and policy direction of GEF, and performs legal obligations; Helps operationalise the GEF Trust Fund by assisting countries and proponents to access funds; Work directly with countries ("direct" relations to executing partners without need for country presence ); and packaging partnerships on GEF projects. Enhances scientific rigor and relevance, including by providing the secretariat of the STAP

UNEP’s Medium Term Strategy and Programme of Work Climate Change – Mitigation & Adaptation Ecosystem Management Disasters and Conflicts Environmental governance Harmful substances and hazardous waste Resource efficiency

UNEP’s GEF Portfolio Since the 1992, UNEP has developed 576 projects with GEF support of almost $1 billion ($0.97 billion), with an additional two dollars for leveraged every GEF dollar ($1.9 billion grant co- finance)

UNEP’s Comparative Advantage in the GEF 1.Scientific assessments, monitoring, early warning; 2.Linking science to policy (capacity building, enabling activities, legal support) at nat’l, reg’l and global levels; 3.Technology transfer and support, and through partnerships, lifting barriers to upscaling; 4.Build capacities at country and reg’l level to test innovative solutions; 5.Regional, transboundary and global cooperation; 6.Awareness raising, advocacy, and knowledge management.

Scientific Assessments, Monitoring, Early Warning - examples Carbon benefits of GEF projects, Economic Assessment of Adaptation Options – CC Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and Strategic Action Plans (SAP) – IW Bioindicators and biomarkers – POPs Millennium Ecosystem Assessment -BD

Linking Science to Policy at Nat’l, Reg’l and Global Levels - examples Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (BD), followed by The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity Initiative (see National Invasives Strategy and Action Plans (BD) Biosafety Frameworks (BD) National Communications (NCs), Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), National Action Plans for Adaptation (NAPAs) - CC National Capacity Self-Assessments (NCSAs)

Innovation, Technology Transfer and Lifting Barriers - examples Technology Transfer Networks, e.g. phasing out Incandescent Lamps – global & countries - CC Greening the Tea Industry in East Africa – CC Greening the Cocoa Industry (10 countries) – BD

Regional and Global Cooperation Regional Assessment of Persistent Toxic Substances, Phasing out DDT and Introducing Alternatives – POPs South China Seas Project/UNEP Regional Seas – IW Flyways-based wetland & bird conservation (Siberia to South China) – BD Regional Invasive Alien Species Projects (Africa, Asia, Caribbean) - BD

Awareness Raising, Advocacy, and Knowledge Management Assessment of Impacts of and Adaptation to Climate Change (AIACC), Wind and Solar Energy - CC Communities of Conservation – Safeguarding the World’s Most Threatened Species/AZE Sites (BD) – social marketing IW: LEARN -International Waters Learning Exchange and Resources Network - IW

UNEP-GEF-5/emerging issues Biodiversity : Access and Benefit Sharing; Invasive Alien Species; marine protected areas; ecosystem restoration; migratory species…. IW : ABNJ; marine litter & micro-plastics; coastal erosion & adaptation; carbon accounting methodologies for coastal management… Climate Change : Mitigation : Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs); Black Carbon; hydrofluorocarbons, adaptation: migration; modeling. Land degradation : Ecosystem restoration; Conserv. agriculture POPs and Ozone : Integrated life-cycle approaches, chem & waste Synergies : Green Economy; Convention obligations/reporting as One

UNEP in the GEF