1. Country Presentation- GEF Operational Focal Point, Sri Lanka GEF Sub-Regional Workshop 2-3 December 2007, Bali, Indonesia Anura Jayatilake Director, Environmental Economics & Global Affairs Division Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources GEF Operational Focal Point, Sri Lanka

2. Background  Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources is the GEF- OFP in Sri Lanka  Sri Lanka is one of the first countries which accessed GEF financing.  To date Sri Lanka has received approximately US$ 49.22 million for implementing 20 projects within the island from 1992 to July 2006. -18 are single country projects - remaining two are global initiatives under the focal areas of biodiversity and climate change  The GEF funds have also generated co-financing amounting to US$ 189 Million from other donor agencies and the Sri Lanka government.  Sri Lanka gets Country Support Programme (CSP) Funds through the UNEP and CSP Funds Received US$ 800 for year 2006  CSP funds for 2007 not yet received- Required documents were already submitted

3. Key Players Government Institutions 1. Ministry of Agriculture 2. Ministry of Mahaweli Development 3. Ministry of Power & Energy 4. Forest Department 5. Department of Wildlife Conservation 6. Ministry of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources 7. Coastal Conservation Department 8. Ministry of Health 9. Central Environment Authority 10. Department of Soil Science 11. National Building Research Organization 12. Ministry of Industry & Investment Promotion 13. Ministry of Science and Technology 14. Universities GEF Implementing Agencies/Executing Agencies 1. UNDP 2. UNDP –GEF Small Grants 3. World Bank 4. ADB

4. Results and Achievements 1. National GEF Strategy : Sri Lanka’s National GEF Strategy is expected to enhance country capacity to more effectively access and use GEF funds to best advantage for protecting the globally significant environment in Sri Lanka while promoting sustainable development and poverty eradication. The specific objectives of the National GEF strategy for Sri Lanka are:  To identify and focus on broad national priority areas for accessing GEF funding.  To better utilize funds allocated to Sri Lanka through the RAF for biodiversity conservation and climate change.  To enable a clear understanding of the GEF funding requirements.

5. The specific objectives of the National GEF strategy Cont….  To identify an institutional mechanism for the GEF Focal Point to: (a) prioritize projects for GEF funding, (b) ensure transparency and technical competence during national assessments to endorse projects for GEF funding, (c) effectively facilitate the GEF funding process in Sri Lanka, (d) help project proponents successfully apply for GEF funds, (e) enable monitoring and coordination of GEF funded projects.  Provide a base to communicate/negotiate with regional partners, lending agencies and bilateral donors. The national GEF strategy will be reviewed and modified every two years to reflect changes in national priorities and polices and the GEF funding priorities.

6. Results and Achievements Conti….. Increase awareness of the GEF strategic priorities, policies and programs  The 100 information dockets were prepared regarding the RAF (Cycle4) and primary data was collected.  The RAF documents were translated into the local language (Sinhala) and ready for public awareness/dissemination. Create institutional memory of GEF policies and programs in the appropriate government ministry  In order to effective implementation of the GEF funded projects the national focal point officials made field visits for those projects in different locations as planned.  The Initial discussions were held to create GEF information database in relevant EAs and several other EAs were identified.  Regular presentations were held on GEF projects in the relevant government ministries and agencies.

7. Results and Achievements Cont… Increase coordination among national agencies  Four workshops on GEF project development throughout the island with state, private & NGO participation conducted.  An interagency/ministry coordination committees was established to increase coordination among national agencies to effective resource utilization. Increase the accessibility of GEF information for the GEF partners and proponents  The existing Web site was updated with a link to National GEF Focal point information and preparation of a GEF data base is in progress. Improve synergies between various country strategies and frameworks with linkages to GEF activities  After the national meetings with key global environmental stakeholders the convention focal points in Sri Lanka was identified & broachers prepared. Two workshops were held for broader development programme to suite country policy strategies. Strengthen stakeholder involvement in global environmental programs  The several Joint meetings were held for co-financing of GEF Projects with the non GEF implementing agencies function in Sri Lanka.

8. Constraints and suggested solutions 1. Lack of capacity of the National Focal point official in coordinating and facilitating GEF activities and resources. Therefore Improvements were needed in the capacity of OFPs in GEF programs and accessing GEF available materials. 2. Limited capacity and skills and a lack of informational support and access to information. Improvements were needed in the capacity of OFPs in accessing GEF available materials. It is proposed to have a regional awareness programme to disseminate information on how the GEF works and to share experiences. 3. Lack of coordination among GEF implementing agencies, Project proponents and the National focal point. In this regard it is suggested to develop proper coordination mechanism among the above agencies.

9. Constraints and suggested solutions Conti….. 4. In Sri Lanka the national focal point and the field office located in two different places due to lack of space availability. Therefore it would be appreciate the GEF can provide additional financial allocations to develop effective communication system to coordinate activities between national focal point and the field office. 5. Financial support is very limited. It is hardly sufficient to hold national stakeholder workshop. At the moment necessary financial support for communication, stationeries are being provided by other outside programmes. More financial support is needed to carry out National Focal point function properly.

10. Lessons learnt and good practices that could be shared with other Focal Points  The Reference library (Environment Treaties Reference Center-ETRC) functions as a facilitator for national level implementation of all MEAs. This is a special case where a separate approach is found especially to enhance compliance with international agreements, treaties, protocols etc. If this ETRC concept works it can be introduced to other developing countries as a new strategy to promote MEAs implementation.  As well as the new information received by the GEF secretariat and information obtain regularly from the GEF web site were stored in the existing reference library in the Ministry of Enviroment and Natural Resources and disseminate among the relevant stakeholders. This arrangement is very much appreciate by stakeholders and helpful in developing new project concepts.  Develop web based data system on each GEF focal area and update periodically. So GEF can use these data when allocating GEF resources among the Countries in future Programmes.

11. Conclusions and Recommendations  CSP is helpful to extend OFP activities effectively in Sri Lanka  proposed to have a regional awareness programme to disseminate information on how the GEF works and to share experiences.  GEF should given high priority for Capacity development programmes for officials of GEF Focal Points.  It is recommend to allocate GEF resources to Countries based on the current data in respective focal areas (eg: GHG data, Biodiversity etc.)