1. european capacity building initiativeecbi Direct Access: Some Etymology Benito Müller Director ecbi european capacity building initiative initiative européenne de renforcement des capacités ecbi for sustained capacity building in support of international climate change negotiations pour un renforcement durable des capacités en appui aux négociations internationales sur les changements climatiques

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3. Enhanced access to climate finance in the region would benefit from a number of approaches at the national and regional level, including: The use of budget and sector support modalities where robust accountability systems exist or can be combined with capacity support to strengthen these systems, noting that this would not preclude parallel support through national projects The creation of trust funds at both the national and regional levels, although there remains the challenge of deciding who to entrust with their management The designation of implementing entities at the national and regional levels While most countries prefer ‘direct access’ to national level institutions, many of the smaller Pacific Islands prefer using sub‐regional or regional mechanisms Some participants feel confident that they have the institutional structures in place, reasonably adapting to changing circumstances without technical assistance, to effective deploy resources and report on its use Other participants see the need for building the capacity of institutions to enable ‘direct access’ but it was noted that supporting these institutions is the most effective way of building the capacity of the country to address climate change ‘Direct access’ is seen to be more cost efficient in some cases and less so in others; in some cases, it will carry with it the additional costs of building institutions at the national level, but in the case of the Adaptation Fund, the management fee of NIEs is approximately 5 percent, while it is 8‐12 percent for MIEs

4. european capacity building initiativeecbi “From Centralized Retailing to Decentralized Wholesale” It will take a considerable amount of time end effort in building institutional capacity to create the enabling conditions for (enhanced) direct access. But unless this is done, the GCF is will not be able to address the first three points raised in the workshop discussion note

5. european capacity building initiativeecbi The Instrument was formally adopted, in accordance with its paragraph 1, by the three Implementing Agencies of the GEF:[p.5] 21. […] The CEO shall be appointed to serve for three years on a full time basis by the Council on the joint recommendation of the Implementing Agencies. […] The staff of the Secretariat shall include staff members seconded from the Implementing Agencies […] 22. The Implementing Agencies of the GEF shall be UNDP, UNEP, and the World Bank. ‘Implementing Agencies’ ‘Executing Agencies’ 4.b […] the financial management of the Fund, including the investment of its liquid assets, the disbursement of funds to the implementing and other executing agencies

6. european capacity building initiativeecbi 2. The Implementing Agencies (UNDP, UNEP and World Bank) operate according to broad primary roles identified in the GEF Instrument, whereas the Executing Agencies under Expanded Opportunities (ADB, AfDB, EBRD, IADB, FAO, IFAD and UNIDO) have been granted access to GEF resources through a sequence of Council decisions and have been assigned more definite roles based on specific business needs of the GEF (summarized in GEF/C.19/10, GEF Business Plan, FY03-05). 5. The Executing Agencies feel constrained by the limited scope of their access to GEF resources under the Policy of Expanded Opportunities, […]. The Executing Agencies also find that a number of structural and procedural barriers hamper the utilization of their full potential as GEF partners.

7. european capacity building initiativeecbi 2 (j)“Implementing Entities” means the international agency/organization entrusted by the Board to undertake implementation of activities supported by the Fund. These entities may include, but are not restricted to: Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Inter-American Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, World Bank, International Committee of the Red Cross, World Food Program, and World Meteorological Organization. 2 (k) “Executing Entities” are legal entities that are identified by an eligible Party, and approved by the Board, to undertake a range of activities supported by the Adaptation Fund.”

8. european capacity building initiativeecbi 2 (j)“Implementing Entities” means the international agency/organization entrusted by the Board to undertake implementation of activities supported by the Fund. These entities may include, but are not restricted to: Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Inter- American Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, World Bank, International Committee of the Red Cross, World Food Program, and World Meteorological Organization. 2 (j)“Implementing Entities” means the international, regional, sub-regional or bilateral agencies/organizations that have been identified by the Board as meeting the criteria adopted by the Board, in accordance with Decision 1/CMP.3 (5)(c), to access funding to implement concrete adaptation projects and programs supported by the Fund.

9. european capacity building initiativeecbi 2 (k) “Executing Entities” are legal entities that are identified by an eligible Party, and approved by the Board, to undertake a range of activities supported by the Adaptation Fund.” 2 (k)“Executing Entities” are national, sub-regional and regional entities that are chosen by governments of eligible Parties and that meet the criteria set by the Board, to access funding to implement concrete adaptation projects and programs supported by the Fund, subject to such audit mechanisms and due diligence criteria as established by the Board.

10. european capacity building initiativeecbi The Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, […] 1. Adopts the rules of procedure of the Adaptation Fund Board as contained in annex I;

11. european capacity building initiativeecbi 2 (j)“Implementing Entities” means the international, regional, sub-regional or bilateral agencies/organizations that have been identified by the Board as meeting the criteria adopted by the Board, in accordance with Decision 1/CMP.3 (5)(c), to access funding to implement concrete adaptation projects and programs supported by the Fund. 2 (j)“Implementing entities” means the national legal entities and multilateral organizations that have been identified ex ante by the Board as meeting the criteria adopted by the Board, in accordance with decision 1/CMP.3, paragraph 5 (c), to access funding to implement concrete adaptation projects and programmes supported by the Fund;

12. european capacity building initiativeecbi 2 (k)“Executing Entities” are national, sub-regional and regional entities that are chosen by governments of eligible Parties and that meet the criteria set by the Board, to access funding to implement concrete adaptation projects and programs supported by the Fund, subject to such audit mechanisms and due diligence criteria as established by the Board. 2 (k)“Executing entities” are organizations that execute adaptation projects and programmes supported by the Fund under the oversight of implementing entities;

13. european capacity building initiativeecbi Implementing Entities do take ‘(non-) funding’ decisions by pre-selecting projects to be submitted for approval, but the fund board still retains the ultimate decision: funding approval Access to the Adaptation Fund

14. european capacity building initiativeecbi “Eligible activities” means projects, programmes and other types of activities eligible for financial support by the GCF. “Implementing Entities” means the national legal entities and multilateral organizations that have been accredited by the GCF Board as meeting its criteria for accessing funding in order to implement eligible activities approved by the GCF. “Funding Entities” means the national legal entities and multilateral organizations that have been accredited by the GCF Board as meeting its criteria for accessing funding in order to approve and fund eligible activities. “Executing Entities” means organizations that execute eligible activities supported by the GCF under the oversight of accredited Implementing or Funding Entities. “Direct Access” means access to GFC funds through accredited National Implementing Entities and/or National Funding Entities. Proposal for GCF Definitions

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16. It will take a considerable amount of time end effort in building institutional capacity to create the enabling conditions for (enhanced) direct access. But unless this is done, the GCF is will not be able to address the first three points raised in the workshop discussion note