GEF LESSONS NOTES 9 www.gefweb.org December 1999 Best Practices in Preparing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans By March 31, 1999, the GEF had approved $24.8 million for biodiversity enabling activities in 121 IN THIS ISSUE countries. Of these, 28 countries reported having fi- nalized their National Biodiversity Strategies and The GEF recently completed an Interim Assess- Action Plans (NBSAPs) and 20 having their NBSAP ment of Biodiversity Enabling Activities, which in draft form as of March 31, 1999.Thirty-three coun- help recipient countries (1) develop national biodi- tries had submitted their first national reports on versity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) as Convention implementation and 32 countries had sub- required by Article 6 of the Convention on Biologi- mitted interim or draft reports. cal Diversity (CBD), and (2) prepare their first national reports to the Conference of the Parties Most countries carried out worthwhile and cost- (COP) to the CBD. effective national biodiversity planning, or are doing so now. Most of the NBSAPs reviewed by the The assessment was a formative evaluation to team were well-informed and impressive docu- assess how well GEF-supported enabling activities ments, containing reasonable assessments of current have assisted countries to meet the relevant obliga- biodiversity status and trends. Given that the stated tions under the CBD. It was based on interviews objectives of enabling activities are extremely and reviews of key documents, as well as special ambitious and set a very high standard for any studies and discussions with key people in a sample country to achieve, it may be more realistic to think of 12 countries that received funds for enabling ac- of these activities as setting the stage for starting tivities: Argentina, Belize, Cameroon, Cuba, Egypt, national biodiversity planning. Notable and signifi- Eritrea, Gabon, Kenya, Mexico, Poland, Ukraine, cant progress has indeed been made by many countries, but developing and implementing nation- and Zimbabwe. Additional case studies were con- al plans that can slow current rates of biodiversity ducted on India, Nepal, and the Philippines. loss, and enhancing the commitment and capacity Broader reviews were commissioned for two re- to implement such plans, are still some way off. gions, the Arab States and the South Pacific Islands. The assessment was undertaken by a team Lessons Learned of staff members from the GEF Secretariat, UNDP, UNEP, and the World Bank. The team leader was In the course of conducting the assessment, the team an international consultant. identified several best practices for preparing NBSAPs. They can be grouped into 12 categories, This issue of GEF Lessons Notes presents best all of which are best understood in the country con- practices identified by the study team. texts in which they were successful. They show how creativity and flexibility can aid in developing NBSAPs. Jarle Harstad Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator G l o b a l E n v i r o n m e n t F a c i l i t y G E F L e s s o n s N o t e s 1. Follow an iterative approach to project prepara- done in Argentina, Eritrea, and Egypt) ensured tion to develop a workable implementation plan. complete stocktaking and an appropriate assess- ment of options and strategies. In Gabon, planners faced budgetary constraints and an overambitious schedule of activities. In consulta- In Argentina, the NBSAP development was ex- tion with the UNDP, activities and budget lines panded beyond academic and NGO stakeholders to were revised to make funding allocations and time include central, provincial, and local governments frames more workable. and some productive sectors. Given this broad base, the resulting document enjoys a high degree of sup- port. Cuba's experience also showed the value of 2. Organize a committed professional team to good coordination with provincial governments. lead and coordinate implementation. The experiences in Cuba, Gabon, and Mexico show 5. Conduct the process in a highly participatory that the success of enabling activities is enhanced manner and use innovative mechanisms to en- by a committed professional team: one that under- hance popular participation. stands project objectives and methodologies, knows how to access resource materials, and implements a Belize promoted active participation by stakehold- participatory approach. In Cuba, each team member ers and demonstrated how biodiversity issues could had a personal commitment to the project. In Mex- be made more relevant. Locally perceived threats to ico, the recruitment of a coordinator considered to biodiversity inspired the themes for each district be an expert in the field, with high credibility and meeting (e.g., Orange Walk focused on timber and experience and good contacts, was an important livestock, and Mango Creek incorporated bananas, factor for effective implementation. aquaculture, and tourism into its discussion). Where the academic community is strong, the 3. Implement with flexibility to adapt to local selection of universities to lead local consultations situations and needs. had several advantages. In Egypt, where univer- sities are regarded as centers of knowledge and Countries able to adapt materials to their particular have very high credibility, the word of a university needs made the best use of the planning guidelines president is "heard." Universities thus issued invi- provided by World Resources Institute, United Na- tations that people accepted voluntarily. If such tions Environment Programme, and the International consultations had been led by politically powerful Union for Conservation of Nature. For example, in local leaders, people would have been likely to view Mexico, the process of NBSAP development was such invitations as obligations. allowed to evolve into a "Mexican approach." A similar approach was taken in Egypt. In Ukraine, implementation was expedited by using a new 6. Provide creative mechanisms to foster sharing model for procurement, and consultants were hired of scientific data and expertise. using environmental NGOs. In Mexico, the lead organization--the National Council for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity 4. Aim for representativeness in selection of sites (CONABIO)--developed agreements of mutual in- and participation of stakeholders. terest with scientific experts. When scientists shared their data, CONABIO published it under the Organizing work so ecological, biogeographical, expert's name. This resulted in data being shared and political zones are taken into account (as was nationally as well as "repatriated" from experts in 2 G E F L e s s o n s N o t e s other countries. The agreement enabled the production starts at the macro-policy level and reaches down of a rich Biodiversity Country Study and Biodiversity through local consultations while the DEAP takes a Data Management System. bottom-up approach, highlighting local issues re- quiring attention at the macro-policy level. 7. Include capacity building in the process of implementation. 10. Make effective use of local and regional ex- pertise. Egypt helped prepare the "next generation" of experts by involving graduate students in its Bio- In Egypt, Ukraine, Poland, and the Philippines, diversity Country Study. Graduate students were active participation of national experts and consul- employed to conduct inventories, consolidate ar- tants generated interest and enthusiasm among the chival material, and help assess biodiversity within local academic and scientific communities and their fields of study, none of which would have been strengthened their networks. It should be noted, possible otherwise. though, that where academic expertise is focused on particular biological fields but lacking in the application of planning guidelines and provisions 8. Develop effective communications to expand of the CBD, it is useful to hold orientation work- awareness. shops to enable experts to develop a common and more comprehensive understanding of the work to Egypt's Biodiversity Country Study was published be done. in both Arabic and English with colored pictures and illustrations that could be understood and used by a wide range of users, including politicians and other 11. Integrate groups at the highest levels into decision makers. larger overall development activities. The Marshall Islands plans to publish its NBSAP as a reference book that can be used by organizations In Egypt, efforts were made to ensure that the and schools. The Philippines published its Biodi- NBSAP was recognized as integral to the country's economic and development plan. The approved or- versity Country Study as a book, Philippine Biodi- ganizational plan for implementation also esta- versity: An Assessment and Action Plan, for use by blished a Supreme Council to be led by the First educators and as a reference for those preparing and Lady. This high level of involvement ensured buy- implementing operational projects. For wider distri- in from all major government departments and bution, a joint venture for commercial publication ministries. was launched. In the Philippines, the NBSAP was supported from the very beginning by the Philippine Council for 9. Build linkages and integrate with other relevant Sustainable Development, under the Office of the initiatives. President. The NBSAP was also based on national priorities that have been clearly outlined in ap- In Zimbabwe, a linkage was established between the proved sustainable development frameworks. The NBSAP and the DEAP (District Environmental Ac- final NBSAP was enhanced by a Presidential Ex- tion Plans implemented by the Ministry of Local ecutive Order requiring all government agencies to Government) that made use of the two projects' dif- integrate appropriate elements into their sectoral fering but complementary structures: the NBSAP plans and programs. 32 G E F L e s s o n s N o t e s 12. Facilitate the sharing of knowledge and expe- Countries well advanced in the preparation of the rience with other institutions and countries. NBSAPs found a forum to share their proposals re- garding activities to follow up on NBSAPs. Similarly, A workshop for NBSAP national coordinators and a workshop for countries in the Middle East organized project managers organized by the South Pacific by UNDP gave participating coordinators an opportunity Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and World to explore experiences in the region and assist each other Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in the South Pacific in identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing options for helped countries in the early stages of their NBSAP biodiversity and in preparing their NBSAPs. development to learn from the experience of others. Other GEF Monitoring and Feedback and Suggestions Evaluation Publications of Interest We hope the GEF Lessons Notes series The full report and a Summary Evaluation will be a catalyst for an ongoing dialogue Report of the Interim Assessment of Biodi- on what is working, what is not, and how versity Enabling Activities are available in people involved in the GEF have found English, French, and Spanish on the GEF solutions to challenges that face all of us. Web site (www.gefweb.org) or from the We welcome your reactions to this edi- GEF Secretariat Monitoring and Evaluation tion. We would also like your suggestions team. of topics of interest to you. Please send us an e-mail at Other recent GEF Monitoring and Evalua- geflessons@gefweb.org tion publications include the 1998 Project or contact us at the coordinates listed Performance Report and an Evaluation of below. Experience with Conservation Trust Funds. 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