June 2007 I. A Letter from the CEO Monique Barbut A Letter from the CEO Provisional Agenda June Council Meeting Stories from Agencies Dear Colleague: a. Okavango Delta Boasts Magnificent Game Viewing Summer is upon us. Here in Washington, we are b. Good Tourism Practices in gearing up for the onslaught of the summer heat. Belize and Ecuador Of course, at the GEF rising temperatures weigh c. Important Lesson Learned often on our minds. from Crocodile Rehabilitation Project d. Bringing Sustainability to the Marine Aquarium Trade This spring I visited Beijing, China, where I rode on one of the three zero-emission, hydrogen- News from the GEF Evaluation Office powered fuel-cell buses now plying the streets of Focal Point News Beijing and saw first-hand a state-of-the-art New Country Support Programme refueling station for the buses, part of a GEF- Knowledge Management Facility Launched funded project at the fore of the global response GEF Strategic Investment Program for SLM to climate change. in Africa GEF NGO Network Election SGP Prizes and Awards New Focal Points/Council Members read more » Announcements: New Staff at GEFSec Archives II. GEF June Council Meeting Download Entire PDF The next meeting of the GEF Council is scheduled to be held June 12-15, 2007 in Washington, DC. An NGO consultation will take place prior to the Council meeting, on June 11, 2007. For more information on the upcoming Council meeting, including the Council papers, please visit the GEF Website: www.theGEF.org read more » III. Stories from the Agencies a. Okavango Delta Boasts Magnificent Game Viewing The Okavango Delta in Botswana boasts some of the most magnificent game viewing in Africa. These attractions draw a lucrative tourism industry, mostly in exclusive hunting and photo safaris, as Botswana has adopted a `high-cost, low-volume' tourism approach. Tourism from the Ngamiland district, one of the most popular safari destinations, brings important revenue to the country: over $200 million a year. read more » b. Good Tourism Practices in Belize and Ecuador A UNEP/GEF project is reaching out to the tourism sectors in Belize and Ecuador. In partnership with the Rainforest Alliance, Conservation International, and local nongovernmental organizations, the project is creating a supply of sustainable tourism services in these countries. At the heart of the project is training a critical mass of tour operators and accommodations owners in the adoption of good practices--such as conserving globally important biodiversity. read more » c. Important Lesson from Crocodile Rehabilitation Project An important lesson has emerged from the Crocodile Rehabilitation, Observance, and Conservation (CROC) project: community consultations and public awareness campaigns can be more effective tools than penalties and patrols to enforce environmental legislation, say Jan van der Ploeg and Merlijn van Weerd, team leaders. The CROC project aims at changing opinions about crocodiles and bringing the species back from the brink of extinction. read more » d. Bringing Sustainability to the Marine Aquarium Trade A booming market exists for marine aquarium fish--estimated at $200-330 million annually. The largest markets for these products are in the United States and Western Europe, with Japan and Hong Kong rapidly increasing their demand. Overfishing and environmental degradation of the fisheries habitat, particularly coral reefs, pose a grave danger both to this trade and resources it depends on. The International Finance Corporation-GEF supported Marine Aquarium Market Transformation Project (MAMTI) is working to put the trade of aquarium ornamentals on a sustainable path in Indonesia and the Philippines--the world's largest exporters of marine tropicals. read more » IV. News from the GEF Evaluation Office The issue of capacity development is a major priority within the global conventions and the GEF. Nearly all GEF medium and full-sized projects include some objectives or activities related to capacity development. However, in most of these projects, capacity development is not the principle objective, but a means to a broader global environmental goal. This has been the principal pathway for addressing country capacity development needs and GEF strategic priorities. read more » V. Focal Point News VI. New Country Support Programme Knowledge Management Facility Launched The GEF Country Support Programme (CSP) is pleased to announce the launch of the new knowledge facility for GEF Focal Points website: http://www.gefcountrysupport.org.In designing this online knowledge facility, the CSP paid close attention to the needs and preferences identified by GEF Focal Points during the 2006 subregional consultations and in surveys conducted in Oct/Nov 2006. read more » VII. GEF Strategic Investment Program for SLM in Africa An international initiative to counter land degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa got the green light at a conference in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, held April 24-25, 2007. The Strategic Investment Program for Sustainable Land Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (SIP), which has been two years in the planning, could eventually raise around $1 billion to rehabilitate damaged and degraded lands and prevent new land degradation. read more » VIII. GEF NGO Network Election The GEF-NGO Network is pleased to welcome five new Regional Focal Points (RFPs): read more » lX. SGP Prizes and Awards Community initiatives funded through the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) have recently been recognized with several prizes and awards for their innovative and effective approaches to delivering global environmental benefits, while at the same time generating sustainable livelihoods for local communities. read more » X. New Focal Points and Council Members XI. Announcements: New Staff at GEFSec Meet Thomas Groh and Lars Christiansen read more » June 2007 A Letter from the CEO A Letter from the CEO Provisional Agenda June Council Meeting Stories from Agencies a. Okavango Delta Boasts Magnificent Game Viewing b. Good Tourism Practices in Dear Colleague: Belize and Ecuador c. Important Lesson Learned Summer is upon us. Here in Washington, we are gearing up for the onslaught of the summer heat. Of from Crocodile course, at the GEF rising temperatures weigh often Rehabilitation Project on our minds. d. Bringing Sustainability to the Marine Aquarium Trade This spring I visited Beijing, China, where I rode on one of the three zero-emission, hydrogen-powered fuel-cell buses now plying the streets of Beijing and News from the GEF Evaluation Office saw first-hand a state-of-the-art refueling station for Focal Point News the buses, part of a GEF-funded project at the fore of New Country Support Programme the global response to climate change. Knowledge Management Facility Launched GEF Strategic Investment Program for SLM Even though fuel cell technology is not yet in Africa commercially viable, by supporting this project we GEF NGO Network Election hope to show how cutting-edge technology along SGP Prizes and Awards with appropriate infrastructure can provide pollution- New Focal Points/Council Members free transport in one of Asia's largest mega-cities. My Announcements: New Staff at GEFSec visit to China coincided with the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's report, Archives which presented an eye-opening picture of the likely Download Entire PDF global implications of rising greenhouse-gas levels. Here at the GEF we are also gearing up for the next Council Meeting. This meeting will offer an opportunity to consider important policy issues concerning the Sustainability Compact that I announced last December. We are submitting for Council review a new project cycle, a set of revised focal area strategies, a proposed results-based management framework, and other measures. These changes are all part of my efforts to streamline the GEF and make it a smoother, more efficient operation. This new direction is essential for the GEF family and for better engagement with countries. For more information on highlights of the Council Meeting, please see the article in this issue of Talking Points. Before closing this letter, I want to invite you to visit the new and improved GEF web site at www.thegef.org. Through this new site, you will have more interactive, user-friendly access to the vast amount of knowledge and resources in the GEF. I invite you to make full use of the site, which contains: · A new search engine which will give you quick access to information throughout the site · Easier access to Council documents and meeting information · A new country portal, still under design but which will contain targeted information for GEF countries, and a link to the exciting new Country Support Program web site created by UNDP · An improved access to the GEF project database · More intuitive sets of horizontal and vertical menus for accessing site information · The beginnings of a new page for stories about GEF projects told by those who are working on the projects · More up-to-date news and access to speeches and statements · Ultimately, a password-protected portion of the site for your own use · Introduction of our new tagline "Investing In Our Planet" The site is still being developed to some extent, and we will continue to refine it in the coming months. Ultimately, this is your site, and I hope you can make it a significant two-way portal of knowledge for your work with the GEF. With best wishes, Monique Barbut CEO and Chairperson Global Environment Facility June 2007 GEF June Council Meeting Highlights of Upcoming GEF Council Meeting A Letter from the CEO The next meeting of the GEF Council is scheduled to Provisional Agenda June Council Meeting be held June 12-15, 2007 in Washington, DC. An NGO consultation will take place prior to the Council Stories from Agencies meeting, on June 11, 2007. For more information on a. Okavango Delta Boasts the upcoming Council meeting, including the Council Magnificent Game Viewing papers, please visit the GEF Website: b. Good Tourism Practices in www.theGEF.org. Belize and Ecuador The Provisional Agenda includes: c. Important Lesson Learned from Crocodile 1. Opening of the meeting Rehabilitation Project 2. Election of a Chairperson 3. Adoption of the agenda d. Bringing Sustainability to 4. Statements by Executive Secretaries of the the Marine Aquarium Trade Conventions 5. Relations with Conventions and other Institutions News from the GEF Evaluation Office 6. Annual Performance Report (EO) 7. Country Portfolio Evaluation: Philippines (EO) Focal Point News 8. Country Portfolio Evaluation: Samoa (EO) New Country Support Programme Knowledge Management Facility Launched 9. Four-year rolling work plan and budget of the GEF Strategic Investment Program for Evaluation office (EO) SLM 10. STAP in Africa 11. Comparative advantages of GEF agencies GEF NGO Network Election 12. Proposed policy on fiduciary standards and SGP Prizes and Awards financial accountability New Focal Points/Council Members 13. GEF project cycle Announcements: New Staff at GEFSec 14. Work program 15. GEF Business Plan FY08-10 and FY08 Archives Corporate Budget Download Entire PDF 16. Focal area strategies and Strategic Programming for GEF-4 17. Results-based management framework 18. Operational guidelines for the application of the incremental cost principle 19. Other business 20. Joint summary of the Chairs Brief Highlights of Selected Agenda Items GEF Project Cycle (GEF/C.31/7) In 2006, the GEF Evaluation Office conducted an evaluation of the GEF project cycle, which concluded that (a) the GEF activity cycle is neither effective, cost-efficient, nor efficient, and that the situation has grown worse over time; and (b) GEF modalities have not made full use of trends towards new forms of collaboration that serve to foster ownership and promote flexibility, efficiency, and results. In December 2006, the GEF Council, after taking note of these conclusions, agreed that no gains would be achieved by streamlining the current project cycle at the margins. The Council requested the Secretariat, in consultation with all the GEF entities, present for Council review in June 2007 options for a new project cycle, with the objective of processing a proposal from identification to start of implementation in less than 22 months (without compromising project quality or undermining financial accountability). The June 2007 Council will be reviewing, GEF Project Cycle (GEF/C.31/7), which proposes a new GEF project cycle that is based on Council's guidance to the Secretariat, GEF Evaluation Office recommendations, as well as the CEO's proposals for reforming the GEF as outlined in the five-point Sustainability Compact presented to the Council in December 2006. The proposed new GEF project cycle will establish a target for average elapsed time of 22 months from PIF approval to endorsement by the CEO. Besides reducing the number of steps in the project cycle, the revised cycle aims to reduce the documentation requirements by sharply focusing the Secretariat reviews of the PIF and the project document on those criteria that are critical to achieving the objectives for which a GEF grant is provided. Other criteria that reflect the GEF operational principles--such as sustainability, replicability, stakeholder involvement, cofinancing commitment, scientific, and technical innovation--are better and more realistically monitored during project implementation through the annual project implementation reporting and review process, as outlined in the Results-Based Management Framework. Such an approach reflects a shift from an "approval" culture to a "results-management" culture. Focal Area Strategies and Strategic Programming for GEF-4, GEF/C.31/10 The policy recommendations for the fourth replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund requested the Secretariat to review and revise as necessary the six focal area strategies, taking into account cross- cutting issues of sustainable forest management and sound chemicals management. The revised strategies were also to provide the basis for a simplified approach to the GEF's operational programs and strategic objectives for the fourth replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund. Working drafts of focal area strategies and two additional draft papers addressing the cross-cutting issues of sustainable forest management and sound chemicals management were presented to the December 2006 Council. The Council reviewed the working drafts and requested the Secretariat to continue its work to revise the focal area strategies as they should focus on global outcomes and impacts of future GEF interventions. They should also provide a basis for the development of measurable results indicators. In addition, the focal area strategies should be focused on a definite set of priority issues reflecting major global environmental concerns. As for cross-cutting issues, they should be more systematically identified, analyzed and integrated in the revised focal area strategies. To ensure a broad and consultative process for revising the focal area strategy, the CEO established five Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) on biodiversity, climate change, sustainable land management, international waters, and sound chemicals management, and a Strategy Advisory Group (SAG) as an overarching coordinating group. Working drafts of the focal area strategies and minutes from the meetings of the TAGs and the SAG were posted on the GEF website throughout the process, along with the terms of reference and membership of the advisory groups. Comments on working drafts received from the GEF partners throughout the process were posted on the website. In particular, Council Members were invited to provide comments on the draft strategy papers presented to the SAG in April 2007. The document GEF/C.31/10, Focal Area Strategies and Strategic Programming for GEF-4, will be submitted for consideration by the June 2007 Council. In this document, the revised strategies and proposed strategic programming for GEF-4 are presented for the six focal areas of the GEF and for the two cross-cutting areas (sustainable forest management and sound chemicals management). Results-Based Management Framework, GEF/C.31/11 The December 2006 Council requested the Secretariat to submit a results based management framework for consideration at the June 2007 meeting. The document, Results-Based Management Framework, GEF/C.31/11, which will be reviewed by the June 2007 Council, provides an overall concept for a results-based management framework for the GEF. The paper outlines the conceptual and methodological building blocks of how the GEF as an institution intends to measure progress toward results and the associated monitoring activities that the Secretariat will undertake in collaboration with the GEF agencies. The results based management framework for the GEF which will be implemented for GEF-4, incorporates monitoring and reporting at three levels: institutional (organization); programmatic (focal area); and project level. The framework is built on the strategic programming for GEF-4 focal area strategies and their associated indicators (GEF/C.31/10) and will be tied closely to the proposed project cycle (GEF/C.31/7). One of the core themes in developing a result-based framework in the GEF is to shift the institution from an "approval" culture to a "results-oriented" culture. The attempt is to move away from a "blue print" approach to project development and design, and towards a results-based adaptable approach focusing on delivering project outcomes and impacts during implementation June 2007 Tourism Companies Join Forces with Local Communities to Preserve Premier African Wildlife Area A Letter from the CEO The Okavango Delta in Botswana boasts Provisional Agenda June Council Meeting some of the most magnificent game Stories from Agencies viewing in Africa. These attractions draw a lucrative tourism industry, mostly in a. Okavango Delta Boasts exclusive hunting and photo safaris, as Magnificent Game Viewing Botswana has adopted a `high-cost, low- b. Good Tourism Practices in volume' tourism approach. Tourism from Belize and Ecuador the Ngamiland district, one of the most c. Important Lesson Learned from Crocodile Rehabilitation Project d. Bringing Sustainability to the Marine Aquarium Trade News from the GEF Evaluation Office Focal Point News New Country Support Programme Knowledge Management Facility popular safari destinations, brings important Launched revenue to the country: over $200 million a GEF Strategic Investment year. Program for SLM in Africa GEF NGO Network Election SGP Prizes and Awards New Focal Points/Council Members Announcements: New Staff at GEFSec Archives Download Entire PDF The Okavango wetlands, the largest Ramsar site in the world, also provide important natural resources and ecological services to an estimated 120,000 people living in local communities, who rely on the wetland's resources as part of their household economy. About 47 percent of communities living in and around the Delta officially live below the $2-a-day poverty line, although goods and services from the wetlands can contribute as much as $1,200 annually to household economies. Degradation of the wetlands, through unsustainable development of tourist infrastructure or overuse of veldt products, would therefore have severe negative implications for community welfare, as well as for the tourism industry and regional biodiversity. In response to this situation, the GEF and United Nations Development Programme have launched the Building Local Capacity for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Okavango Delta project (also known as Botswana Wetlands) to secure the long- term biological diversity of Botswana's wetlands. The project seeks to balance competing uses of land, water, and other wetland resources, while providing for biodiversity conservation objectives. The project is bringing rural communities and tourism operators together to create community and private sector-based management models for the Okavango Delta ecosystems. It is working with established tourism operators in the region, locally-based private sector tourism partners (community lodges, fishing groups and craft producers), community groups, industry associations (including those for fishermen, wildlife management, hotels, and tourism), craft cooperatives, environmental nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the Tribal Land Board and District Councils, who reinvest tourism resource royalties in human development projects. It is establishing communications channels for a two-way flow of biodiversity information between stakeholders. In areas where tourism activities clash with local veldt resource harvesting needs, the project will encourage participatory management and appoint an arbitrator to deal with conflicts. The project will also encourage the tourism industry to re-invest in wetland biodiversity and introduce biodiversity-friendly management into both sport and commercial fishing. In the water sector, a vital concern, the project will develop hydrological models, including biodiversity parameters for the Okavango Delta, and strengthen institutional capacity to regulate water resources harvesting. It will also establish a wetlands monitoring and risk analysis system. Working with conservation NGOs, including the World Conservation Union and the Kalahari Conservation Society, the project will identify gaps in the protected area system and integrate national Important Bird Area (IBA) networks into the national protected area network, thus, contributing to a consolidated, cohesive and sustainable protected area system throughout the Okavango Delta and helping strengthen the protected areas system throughout Africa. All of the elements of the project together will help preserve one of Africa's finest wildlife areas. Photo credit: Curt Carnemark June 2007 A Letter from the CEO Provisional Agenda June Council Meeting Stories from Agencies a. Okavango Delta Boasts Magnificent Game Viewing b. Good Tourism Practices in Good Practices in Tourism Belize and Ecuador c. Important Lesson Learned A UNEP/GEF project is reaching out to the from Crocodile tourism sectors in Belize and Ecuador. In Rehabilitation Project partnership with the Rainforest Alliance, d. Bringing Sustainability to Conservation International, and local the Marine Aquarium Trade nongovernmental organizations, the project is creating a supply of sustainable tourism services in these countries. At the heart of News from the GEF Evaluation Office the project is training a critical mass of tour Focal Point News operators and accommodations owners in New Country Support the adoption of good practices--such as Programme conserving globally important biodiversity. Knowledge Management Facility Launched GEF Strategic Investment Program for SLM in Africa GEF NGO Network Election SGP Prizes and Awards New Focal Points/Council Members Announcements: New Staff at GEFSec Archives Download Entire PDF To accomplish this, the project has tailored internationally sustainable tourism best practices, consistent with guidelines from the Convention on Biological Diversity, to tropical forest and coastal and marine ecosystems. In just the first year alone, over 300 tourism stakeholders have been trained in Belize and Ecuador. In Ecuador, more than 20 major wholesaler tourism purchasers have signed agreements to provide incentives to their suppliers to adopt best practices. Agreements are in place with the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, which is responsible for sending 15,000­20,000 tourists annually to the Galapagos (one of the project's pilot sites) and with the Galapagos Chamber of Tourism, which has over 150 members. Rainforest Alliance and Conservation International have committed to expanding the use of the tools produced through this GEF-financed project and scaling up sustainable tourism throughout their broader global portfolios and through their partners. Photo credit: Stuart Westmorland /CORBIS June 2007 Community Consultations More Effective than Penalties to Enforce Environmental Legislation A Letter from the CEO An important lesson has emerged from Provisional Agenda June Council Meeting the Crocodile Rehabilitation, Observance, Stories from Agencies and Conservation (CROC) project: community consultations and public a. Okavango Delta Boasts awareness campaigns can be more Magnificent Game Viewing effective tools than penalties and patrols b. Good Tourism Practices in to enforce environmental legislation, say Belize and Ecuador Jan van der Ploeg and Merlijn van Weerd, c. Important Lesson Learned team leaders. from Crocodile Rehabilitation Project d. Bringing Sustainability to the Marine Aquarium Trade News from the GEF Evaluation Office Focal Point News New Country Support Programme Knowledge Management Facility Launched GEF Strategic Investment Program for SLM in Africa The CROC project aims at changing GEF NGO Network Election opinions about crocodiles and bringing the SGP Prizes and Awards species back from the brink of extinction. As part of the Mabuwaya Foundation in New Focal Points/Council Members the Philippines' conservation program, Announcements: New Staff at CROC is supported by the Critical GEFSec Ecosystem Partnership Fund, of which the GEF is a partner and the World Bank is Archives the Implementing Agency. Download Entire PDF Although crocodiles are protected by law in the Philippines, indiscriminate hunting, destructive fishing practices (fishing with dynamite, electricity, or chemicals), and the conversion and pollution of wetlands continue to threaten the animals. Most people, including local government officials and village leaders, simply do not know that crocodiles are officially protected by law. And if they know, they often consider the penalty outrageous and unfair, since most people in the Philippine uplands earn less than $2 a day, whereas killing a crocodile carries a penalty of 100,000 pesos ($2,000). As a result, using dynamite for fishing, killing a crocodile, or clearing crocodile habitat is often tolerated at the local level. At the national level, lack of funds, technical capabilities and political support undermines the enforcing of environmental laws in remote areas. As a consequence, habitats and species continue to be threatened, despite the presence of national laws and policy frameworks designed to protect the country's endemic biodiversity. With financial support from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Mabuwaya has conducted a public awareness campaign in the coastal municipalities of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park. Lectures were held and posters were distributed in areas where crocodiles still live. Through community consultations to discuss the best possible ways to protect crocodiles, Mabuwaya learned that local communities are supportive of crocodile conservation and people are proud of contributing to the conservation of a threatened species. Mabuwaya also organized a training workshop for village leaders, where local people designed specific action plans to protect crocodiles and wetlands. In the Philippine uplands, there is a strong social basis to act against environmentally destructive practices as communities see their resource base threatened. During the workshop local regulations were drafted to protect the resources on which communities depend. The village of Diana, for example, made an ordinance prohibiting destructive fishing methods, and the village of Didadungan created a crocodile sanctuary. Local people consider these local rules important, legitimate, and fair, and consequently respect them, demonstrating that in the Philippine uplands the word is sometimes mightier than the sword. As a result, the wetlands are effectively protected and crocodiles have become a symbol for local environmental stewardship. This lesson applies to many environmental conservation projects around the globe. A recent review Global Gains through Community-Based Approaches World Bank Sub-Saharan Africa by the World Bank GEF program shows how World Bank­GEF projects in Africa have achieved global benefits while undertaking community-based investments, thus delivering impact at both the global and local levels. To learn more about the African stories click here: Global Gains through Community-Based Approaches: World Bank­GEF Operations in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2006 Photo credit: Christophe Loviny, CORBIS Bringing Sustainability to the Marine June 2007 Aquarium Trade A booming market exists for marine aquarium fish--estimated at $200-330 A Letter from the CEO million annually. The largest markets for Provisional Agenda June these products are in the United States Council Meeting and Western Europe, with Japan and Stories from Agencies Hong Kong rapidly increasing their demand. Overfishing and environmental a. Okavango Delta Boasts Magnificent Game Viewing degradation of the fisheries habitat, particularly coral reefs, pose a grave b. Good Tourism Practices in danger both to this trade and resources Belize and Ecuador it depends on. c. Important Lesson Learned from Crocodile Rehabilitation Project d. Bringing Sustainability to the Marine Aquarium Trade News from the GEF Evaluation Office Focal Point News New Country Support Programme Knowledge Management Facility Launched GEF Strategic Investment Program for SLM in Africa The International Finance Corporation- GEF NGO Network Election GEF supported Marine Aquarium Market SGP Prizes and Awards Transformation Project (MAMTI) is New Focal Points/Council working to put the trade of aquarium Members ornamentals on a sustainable path in Announcements: New Staff at Indonesia and the Philippines--the GEFSec world's largest exporters of marine tropicals. The Marine Aquarium Council Archives is implementing the project, which has a Download Entire PDF high potential to be replicated and to become a global best practice. To obtain the marine tropicals, the Philippines and Indonesia overwhelmingly rely on the harvest of wild organisms. Many thousands of coastal communities in these countries depend on collection of aquarium organisms for their livelihoods. Often three generations of collectors can be found among the poor families living in the coastal villages. In prior times, these families would only fish in front of their houses. But today, the families need to journey progressively further away, because of overexploitation of coral reefs. These long journeys increase stock mortality rates and pose serious risks to the safety of the collectors. For the marine aquarium industry to genuinely flourish and prosper in the longer term, the MAMTI project is championing a number of fundamental changes: · greater efforts in the source countries to build collectors' capacity in nondestructive collection techniques; · training in handling and shipping methods that maintain the health and quality of the organisms; · training in safe diving and compressor maintenance; · empowerment of the collectors through the formation of cooperatives; · and the teaching of basic business skills for running viable collection and sales operations. Sustainability also requires the scientific assessments of the aquarium fishery resources and management plans of the collection areas, which is being implemented in the two countries. The collectors and collector groups, supported by local government, are in the front line in terms of learning to manage their resources more carefully. They need to be encouraged to use a precautionary approach to resource exploitation, and this is not easy at a time when there is increasing competition for dwindling resources. Control of sales and species selection must also become more rational as the two-way information flow between exporters, importers, and retailers improves. The future of the marine aquarium trade not only requires greater cooperation between collectors, suppliers and exporters, but needs a strong commitment from importers, retailers, and hobbyists. Through the MAMTI project and GEF support, the International Finance Corporation sees hope that this challenge can be met. Photo credit: MAMTI June 2007 News from the GEF Evaluation Office Ongoing Activities A Letter from the CEO Provisional Agenda June GEF Capacity Development Activities Council Meeting Stories from Agencies The issue of capacity development is a major priority within the global conventions and the GEF. a. Okavango Delta Boasts Magnificent Game Viewing Nearly all GEF medium and full-sized projects include some objectives or activities related to b. Good Tourism Practices in Belize and Ecuador capacity development. However, in most of these projects, capacity development is not the principle c. Important Lesson Learned objective, but a means to a broader global from Crocodile Rehabilitation Project environmental goal. This has been the principal pathway for addressing country capacity d. Bringing Sustainability to development needs and GEF strategic priorities. the Marine Aquarium Trade In November 2006, the Evaluation Office began News from the GEF assessing the GEF's capacity. After consultation Evaluation Office with the GEF Secretariat and the Implementing Focal Point News and Executing Agencies, the Evaluation Office New Country Support Programme established an approach to evaluating capacity Knowledge Management Facility development. In line with the approach, the Office Launched is now evaluating the results of all GEF capacity GEF Strategic Investment development support, from Enabling Activities and Program for SLM the Small Grants Programme, through to the in Africa national results of regional projects, in two GEF NGO Network Election neighboring countries, the Philippines and SGP Prizes and Awards Vietnam, which share environmental challenges of New Focal Points/Council global importance. In each country the evaluation Members is examining the nature and results of national and Announcements: New Staff regional at GEFSec interventions Archives and relating Download Entire PDF these to policy, institutional, and individually focused capacity development objectives. The evaluation team will use the findings of the two country studies to generate concise protocols for assessing capacity development results, which can be scaled up for use by a broad range of future Evaluation Office activities, including the Annual Performance Report, country and thematic evaluations, and the Fourth Overall Performance Assessment. For more information and the approach paper, please visit the GEF Evaluation Office website www.thegef.org in the Ongoing Evaluation section; or contact David Todd, dtodd@thegef.org. International Workshop on Evaluating Climate Change and Development The preparation of the international workshop on evaluating climate change and development is progressing well. The workshop will take place on February 2-4, 2008 at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, in Alexandria, Egypt. During the workshop, evaluators, practitioners, government, and civil society representatives will help identify good practice and information gaps in assessing climate change and development projects and programs. The two main themes of the workshop are mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. The Evaluation Office is now searching for relevant evaluations on these subjects and for resource persons and organizations engaged in assessing climate change and development. If you have information or suggestions on this, please let us know at IntWorkshop@TheGEF.org. It is especially important to ensure participation of developing countries and countries in transition. There will be a Call for Papers on the workshop themes. Select papers will receive an award that includes funding to participate in the workshop. The GEF Council, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, IUCN, the International Development Association (IDEAS), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the French GEF, and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina are all generously supporting this vital workshop. For more information, please visit the Evaluation Office website or contact the Secretariat of the International Workshop at IntWorkshop@TheGEF.org June Council Session The GEF Evaluation Office is submitting two Country Portfolio Evaluations--the Philippines and Samoa--to the June Council Session. The Council will also review the 2006 Annual Performance Report and the Office's work plan for FY08-11. All relevant documents, including Management Responses, are available on the GEF website http://www.thegef.org/interior_right.aspx?id=17634 Photo credit: Bibliotheca Alexandrina June 2007 Focal Point News Council Members Hold Constituency A Letter from the CEO Meetings Provisional Agenda June Council Meeting Constituency meetings aim to enhance Stories from Agencies communication, coordination, and outreach efforts between constituency a. Okavango Delta Boasts participants. These meetings provide a Magnificent Game Viewing forum for focal points participating in the b. Good Tourism Practices in constituency to meet and exchange Belize and Ecuador information and lessons learned as well c. Important Lesson Learned as discuss implementation of GEF from Crocodile projects. Constituency meetings also Rehabilitation Project provide an opportunity for participants to d. Bringing Sustainability to meet prior to Council meetings to the Marine Aquarium Trade discuss and develop constituency positions with regard to issues under News from the GEF Evaluation consideration by the Council and to Office ensure that constituency views are Focal Point News reflected in Council deliberations. New Country Support Programme Knowledge Management Facility Moldova Hosts Constituency Meeting Launched GEF Strategic Investment Council Member, Ms. Violeta Ivanov of Program for SLM Moldova, hosted a meeting for the in Africa constituency comprising Albania, GEF NGO Network Election Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, SGP Prizes and Awards Croatia, Georgia, Moldova, FYR New Focal Points/Council Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Members Romania, Serbia, and the Ukraine in Announcements: New Staff at Chisnau, Moldova, on May 18, 2007. GEFSec This meeting, which was opened by His Excellency Constantin Mihailescu, Archives Minister of Ecology and Natural Download Entire PDF Resources and GEF Political Focal Point in Moldova, presented an opportunity for focal points from the countries to interact and discuss various constituency matters. They also discussed proposed policies to be submitted to the June 2007 Council. The Philippines Hosts Constituency Meeting A meeting for the constituency comprising Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu was held in Quezon City, the Philippines, on May 30-31, 2007. Participants at the meeting, hosted by Mr. Fransisco Bravo, the Council Member representing the Philippines, prepared for the upcoming June 2007 Council meeting. Several other issues related to constituency coordination at the regional level were discussed at the meeting. June 2007 New CSP Knowledge Management Facility Launched A Letter from the CEO Provisional Agenda June Council Meeting Stories from Agencies a. Okavango Delta Boasts Magnificent Game Viewing b. Good Tourism Practices in Belize and Ecuador c. Important Lesson Learned The GEF Country Support Programme from Crocodile (CSP) is pleased to announce the launch Rehabilitation Project of the new knowledge facility for GEF d. Bringing Sustainability to Focal Points website: the Marine Aquarium Trade http://www.gefcountrysupport.org. News from the GEF Evaluation In designing this online knowledge Office facility, the CSP paid close attention Focal Point News to the needs and preferences identified New Country Support by GEF Focal Points during the 2006 Programme subregional consultations and in surveys Knowledge Management Facility conducted in Oct/Nov 2006. The Launched knowledge facility supports GEF Focal GEF Strategic Investment Program for SLM Points by providing ready access to in Africa information on priority thematic areas, GEF NGO Network Election knowledge materials targeting their SGP Prizes and Awards concerns, as well as forums to facilitate Focal Point discussion, and exchange at New Focal Points/Council Members the global, regional, constituency, and Announcements: New Staff at country levels. During the subregional GEFSec workshops scheduled in 2007, the CSP is demonstrating the knowledge facility Archives to Focal Points and Council members Download Entire PDF and is available to answer any questions or discuss recommendations for enhancing the website. The knowledge facility is structured on the basis of six main sections: * GEF Information: designed to provide facilitated access to GEF policies and procedures of direct interest to Focal Points * Knowledge Materials: providing guidance materials developed by the CSP, GEF partners, and Focal Points themselves on some of the key concerns identified by Focal Points in relation to their role * Management Tools: providing information on support available through the CSP and National Dialogue Initiative, as well as interactive resources for exchange at the regional, country, and constituency level * Discussion Forums: for on-line discussions and exchange among Focal Points and GEF partners on issues of current interest * Advanced Search: to enable Focal Points to access relevant information and knowledge on key subjects of interest by searching GEF Partner and Convention sites * Partnership Links: providing annotated links to GEF Partner sites and other relevant organizations working on thematic, regional, and knowledge management issues Primarily, the knowledge facility seeks to support GEF Focal Points in their roles and responsibilities at the country and constituency levels. As such, Focal Points will construct and populate sections of the site, such as the country and constituency pages, by contributing their knowledge and experiences in the context of the GEF. While all visitors to the website will be able to view the information contained in most sections of the site, the constituency pages and discussion forum will only be accessible to registered users--Focal Points, Council Members and Alternates, and GEF Partners. For Focal Points and Council Members who would like to log-in to the Discussion Forum, upon entering the "Join a Discussion" page, please click on "Do you need a new password?" and a temporary password will be sent to their e-mail address. Focal Points and Council Members need to enter the e-mail address they have officially registered with the GEF Secretariat. For all other GEF partner agency users who wish to participate in the on-line discussion forums, please contact the CSP to request a password (frances.lim@undp.org). Note that in order to view some of the pages linked to other agency websites, please be sure that you allow pop-ups for this website, if you have installed a "pop-up blocker" on your computer. Please bear in mind that the website remains a work-in-progress and some pages are still under construction. The CSP also plans to add subregional pages and information in Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish, and other languages. We invite users to explore the new website and participate in the discussion forums. We invite focal points to add their country's knowledge and information to their individual country page. This knowledge facility, linked closely to the GEF Secretariat's new website, will remain dynamic and be updated frequently with new information and functionality. We also anticipate that it will expand its scope in time to support Focal Points based on their recommendations. Stephen Gold, Global Manager, and Tehmina Akhtar, Knowledge Management Advisor, GEF Dialogue Initiative and Country Support Programme, prepared this article. Photo credit: CSP website June 2007 Restoring the Health and Wealth of Africa's Degraded Lands: Key Focus of a New International Initiative A Letter from the CEO Provisional Agenda June Council Meeting An international initiative to counter land Stories from Agencies degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa got the green light at a conference in a. Okavango Delta Boasts Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, held April Magnificent Game Viewing 24-25, 2007. b. Good Tourism Practices in Belize and Ecuador c. Important Lesson Learned from Crocodile Rehabilitation Project d. Bringing Sustainability to the Marine Aquarium Trade News from the GEF Evaluation Office Focal Point News New Country Support Programme Knowledge Management Facility Launched The Strategic Investment Program for GEF Strategic Investment Sustainable Land Management in Sub- Program for SLM in Africa Saharan Africa (SIP), which has been GEF NGO Network Election two years in the planning, could eventually raise around $1 billion to SGP Prizes and Awards rehabilitate damaged and degraded New Focal Points/Council Members lands and prevent new land degradation. Announcements: New Staff at GEFSec Up to a third of the African continent is deemed threatened by land degradation Archives as a result of escalating soil erosion, Download Entire PDF declining fertility, salinisation, soil compaction, pollution by agrochemicals and desertification. Land degradation is not only an economic and human tragedy but, if unchecked, will undermine attempts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. The SIP will bring fresh approaches and a wealth of experience to overcome the problem. It will reflect the fact that one of the best ways to defeat land degradation is to get funding, expertise, and know- how directly to the grassroots, including farmers and local communities. The initiative, which has been two years in consultation, is being coordinated under the auspices of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment and the GEF. Monique Barbut, the GEF's Chief Executive Officer, said at the opening of the two-day conference: "The Ouagadougou Conference is a major event that will introduce the new GEF approach in addressing one of the most pressing environmental problems in Africa. The new program emphasizes country partnerships that will channel resources to the ground level where they can make a far reaching impact on the lives and the livelihoods of millions of people on the Continent." "There have been many success stories in the battle against land degradation. What is needed now is a strategic approach that unifies and unites all efforts, leverages the necessary funding and builds upon the knowledge that has been gathered over several years. In doing so we can multiply the success stories and deliver a comprehensive victory against one of the great environmental, social, and economic scourges of the 21st century," she added. The two-day extraordinary conference consisted of presentations on the critical nature of the problem of land degradation to the future development of Africa, the main features of the SIP, and new approaches and proposed solutions to be initiated through the SIP Program. The conference concluded with a statement of support and commitment from African governments and partners and a declaration by the environmental ministers of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN). The African governments signed a joint statement of political commitment and a declaration of collaboration in implementation of SIP by all partners was also adopted. The SIP for Africa has been prepared with the support of all GEF Implementing and Executing Agencies and those agencies involved in sustainable land management in Africa under the convening leadership of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and in close consultation with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Regional Economic Communities. TerrAfrica has actively supported SIP preparation and will ramp up support during implementation of the SIP portfolio. It is anticipated that, subject to GEF Council approval, the implementation phase of the new program will commence in June this year. The GEF is expected to invest about $130-150 million and hopes to leverage a further $500-750 million in cofunding. June 2007 GEF-NGO Network Election Results A Letter from the CEO Provisional Agenda June The GEF-NGO Network is pleased to Council Meeting welcome five new Regional Focal Points Stories from Agencies (RFPs): a. Okavango Delta Boasts Magnificent Game Viewing · Western Africa : Enda Energy-- b. Good Tourism Practices in Environment Development Belize and Ecuador Programme - SENEGAL represented by Djimingue Nanasta c. Important Lesson Learned from Crocodile Rehabilitation Project · South Asia: Foundation for Ecological Security (FES)--INDIA d. Bringing Sustainability to represented by Jagdeesh Rao the Marine Aquarium Trade Puppala News from the GEF Evaluation Office · South East Asia: Global Environment Centre--MALAYSIA Focal Point News represented by Faizal Parish New Country Support Programme Knowledge Management Facility · Western Europe: German NGO Launched Forum Environment & GEF Strategic Investment Development--GERMANY Program for SLM represented by Jurgen Maier in Africa GEF NGO Network Election · North America: The Nature SGP Prizes and Awards Conservancy (TNC)--UNITED New Focal Points/Council STATES OF AMERICA Members represented by Yabanex Batista Announcements: New Staff at GEFSec The election process and results are helping streamline the GEF-NGO Archives Network. Download Entire PDF The election process began with an Election Committee that was put in place in November 2006. On March 16, 2007 a standard message for the election of RFPs for the GEF NGO Network was sent out and a deadline for receiving nomination was set for March 30, 2007. No nominees were received for Southern Africa, Russia and China. A nomination was received from the current RFP for Central and Eastern Europe; however, the Election Committee made the decision to defer elections in this region. To ensure public participation, representation of global regions is key. The Network welcome all new RFPs. For more information please contact: Dorothy Manuel, the GEF NGO Central Focal Point, dorothy@zeroregional.com. June 2007 Community Initiatives Receive Awards for Innovative Approaches A Letter from the CEO Community initiatives funded through the Provisional Agenda June Council Meeting GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) Stories from Agencies have recently been recognized with a. Okavango Delta Boasts several prizes and awards for their Magnificent Game Viewing innovative and effective approaches to b. Good Tourism Practices in delivering global environmental benefits, Belize and Ecuador while at the same time generating c. Important Lesson Learned sustainable livelihoods for local from Crocodile communities. Rehabilitation Project d. Bringing Sustainability to the Marine Aquarium Trade News from the GEF Evaluation Office Focal Point News New Country Support Programme Knowledge Management Facility Launched GEF Strategic Investment Woman from the La Barra Community in El Program for SLM Salvador taking care of crops irrigated using the in Africa solar energy system. Photo: Juan Rene GEF NGO Network Election Guzman. SGP Prizes and Awards New Focal Points/Council El Salvador: Renewable Energy Members Project wins Energy Globe Award Announcements: New Staff at GEFSec In El Salvador, the National Energy Archives Globe Award: "The World Award for Download Entire PDF Sustainability" has been presented to a novel approach that provides access to renewable energy for 73 families, while at the same time protecting the ecosystem and generating economic benefits. SGP's support allowed the Asociación de Desarrollo Comunal Colonia la Barra (ADESCOLAB) to provide access to cheap and clean solar energy and help install fuel efficient stoves. The community-based organization also planted woodlots to reduce unsustainable harvesting in the forest and provide more effective protection of the biodiversity of the San Diego-La Barra ecosystem. In addition, the project has received a National Environmental Prize and attracted the attention of policymakers for its innovative approaches. SGP Projects Tops Central Asia Best Practices SGP projects in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan topped all categories in the "Best Practices Competition in Sustainable Development of Central Asia" awards. First prize was awarded to the SGP project "Mitigation of Threats to Biological Diversity in the Areas Adjacent to Saty Village by Ecology Tourism Development". The SGP funded five out of six best practices chosen in Kazakhstan, and four out of the nine in Kyrgyzstan, highlighting the program's achievement in developing best practices for community-based sustainable development. Honduras: Ecotourism Project Becomes "Green List Honoree" The Moskitian Route, an ecotourism project in Honduras, was awarded third place in Condé Nast Traveler magazine's "2006 Green List," which recognized ecological achievement in 80 projects, tour operators, and world-class quality hotels. The SGP-funded Moskitian Route project was designed to protect the Río Platano Biosphere Reserve, a Natural World Heritage Site that is in danger because of deforestation, colonization, and expansion of agricultural and cattle frontiers. Awarding Innovation and Creativity The UNDP Administrator's Award for Innovation and Creativity has recognized SGP initiatives in Cuba and Iran. In Cuba, the burning of 150 tons of solid waste a day at a garbage dump in Guantanamo was severely affecting the adjoining community of Isleta Sur. A recycling facility has now been set up as an alternative to burning waste and SGP support has helped the community transform three hectares of the dump into a garden with fruit trees. The garden is producing compost, while the recycling facility employs 40 local residents, including 19 women. A community member, who was also awarded the National Environmental Award 2006 (the top annual prize given by the Ministry for the Environment), led the dump's transformation. In Iran, the SGP supported a project with the Salakh Village Council in Qeshm Island in which fishermen and their community were mobilized to rehabilitate local marine resources by developing artificial coral reefs. Fishermen led the design of the project and showed their innovation by creating reef pyramids that were smaller, less expensive, and easier to transport and install. The fishermen and community will monitor the rehabilitation impacts of the project, which was chosen as an Administrator's Award finalist. Equator Prize Finalists: Cutting-edge Initiatives in Biodiversity Conservation More than a third of the 25 finalists for this year's Equator Prize are community initiatives funded through the SGP. Projects from Brazil, Costa Rica, Mali, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Senegal, and Tanzania are in line for the prestigious prize, which rewards outstanding community efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation of biodiversity. "This illustrates the ability of the SGP to foster best practice in the field of community led biodiversity conservation," said Delfin Ganapin, Global Manager of the SGP. "Local communities of the developing world are the source of many of the most innovative and imaginative responses to the challenges of sustainable development," said Jeffrey Sachs, Equator Prize jury member and Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Community Tours Sian Ka'an, one of the finalists, is a community-based, eco- tourism alliance of three Mayan cooperatives in the Sian Ka'an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. The alliance has been able to raise their tour prices by 40 percent by creating much needed community income with minimal environmental impact. The Community Tours Sian Ka'an alliance is supported by SGP and United Nations Foundation. The Equator Prize awards are presented by the UN-led Equator Initiative in partnership with the government of Canada, Conservation International, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Fordham University, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), International Development Research Centre (IDRC), IUCN, the Nature Conservancy, RARE, Television Trust for the Environment (TVE), and the United Nations Foundation. For more information about the GEF Small Grants Programme, updates, and information about the many awards received by the program, please see www.gef-sgp.org, or email sgp.info@undp.org. June 2007 New Focal Points and Council Members A Letter from the CEO Provisional Agenda June Name Country Category Council Meeting Dr. Stories from Agencies Mohamed Council a. Okavango Delta Boasts Sayed Member/Operational Magnificent Game Viewing Khalil Egypt Focal Point b. Good Tourism Practices in Mr. Council Belize and Ecuador Fransisco Member/Operational c. Important Lesson Learned Bravo PhilippinesFocal Point from Crocodile Mr. Rehabilitation Project Raphael d. Bringing Sustainability to Azeredo Brazil Council Member the Marine Aquarium Trade Mr. James Australia Council Member News from the GEF Evaluation Office Hall Focal Point News Dr. Tewolde Alternate New Country Support Programme Berhan Member/Operational Knowledge Management Facility Gebre Focal Point/Political Launched Egziabher Ethiopia Focal Point GEF Strategic Investment Mr. Agus Alternate Program for SLM in Africa Purnomo Member/Operational Indonesia Focal Point GEF NGO Network Election Ms. Andrea Alternate SGP Prizes and Awards Alban Member/Political New Focal Points/Council Members Colombia Focal Point Announcements: New Staff at His GEFSec Excellency Elmi Archives Obsieh Download Entire PDF Wais Djibouti Political Focal Point H.E. Pembe Bokiaga Congo DR Political Focal Point H.E. Ahizi Cote Aka Daniel d'Ivoire Political Focal Point Mr. Cathal Political Focal Peppard Point/Donor Participants (Replinishment)/Donor Ireland Participants (SCCF) Mrs. Jacqueline Trinidad Ganteaume-and Farrell Tobago Political Focal Point Mrs. Bounkham Vorachit Lao PDR Political Focal Point Sr. Miguel Enrique Operational Focal Pellerano Argentina Point Mrs. Ana Maria Hernandez Operational Focal Salgar Colombia Point Mr. George Operational Focal Psarov Ukraine Point His El Operational Focal Ms. Maria- Elena Operational Focal Teodorescu Romania Point Mr. Krishna Operational Focal Gyawali Nepal Point June 2007 Announcements Meet Thomas Groh A Letter from the CEO Provisional Agenda June Council Meeting Stories from Agencies a. Okavango Delta Boasts Magnificent Game Viewing b. Good Tourism Practices in Belize and Ecuador c. Important Lesson Learned from Crocodile Rehabilitation Project d. Bringing Sustainability to Thomas is the Special Assistant for the the Marine Aquarium Trade CEO. News from the GEF Evaluation Thomas previously worked in the French Office Treasury where he focused on Focal Point News environmental policies and ODA issues, New Country Support particularly multilateral development Programme banks and innovative financing Knowledge Management Facility Launched mechanism issues. Thomas' previous work experience includes field work in GEF Strategic Investment Program for SLM Central Asia for a nongovernmental in Africa organization. GEF NGO Network Election SGP Prizes and Awards New Focal Points/Council Members Meet Lars Christiansen Announcements: New Staff at GEFSec Archives Download Entire PDF The new Junior Professional Officer from Denmark, Lars joined the Climate Change and Chemicals team this spring. He will be supporting GEF's work on the new adaptation funds (SCCF and LDCF). Lars is a recent graduate in Geography from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Previous work experience includes Masters fieldwork in Vietnam on sustainability and cost effectiveness of small-scale land use projects.