57539 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) November 2009 Global Environment Facility Evaluation Office GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) November 2009 (The main findings and recommendations of this evaluation were presented to the GEF Council in June 2009.) Evaluation Report No. 51 © 2009 Global Environment Facility Evaluation Office 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20433 Internet: www.gefeo.org Email: gefevaluation@thegef.org All rights reserved. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the GEF Council or the governments they represent. The GEF Evaluation Office does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. 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ISBN-10: 1-933992-23-9 ISBN-13: 978-1-933992-23-5 Credits Director of the GEF Evaluation Office: Robert D. van den Berg Evaluation Team Leaders: Claudio Volonté, Chief Evaluation Officer, and Sandra Romboli, Evaluation Officer, GEF Evaluation Office Evaluation Team: Tarek Genena, Nadine Ibrahim, and Cecilia Vaverka, EcoConServ Environmental Solutions Editing and design: Nita Congress Cover photo: St. Katherine's Protectorate, Egypt, Sandra Romboli, GEF Evaluation Office Evaluation Report No. 51 A FREE PUBLICATION Contents Foreword ...................................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................... viii Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................... ix 1. Main Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................ 1 1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 Conclusions .............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Recommendations .................................................................................................................................................. 8 2. Evaluation Framework .......................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Background .................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Objectives ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.3 Methodology.................................................................................................................................................. 12 2.4 Limitations of the Evaluation ..................................................................................................................... 13 3. Context of the Evaluation ..................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Egypt: General Description........................................................................................................................ 15 3.2 Status of Environmental Resources in Key GEF Focal Areas............................................................. 17 3.3 Environmental Legal, Institutional, and Policy Framework ............................................................... 26 3.4 The GEF in Egypt ......................................................................................................................................... 32 4. The GEF Portfolio in Egypt .................................................................................................... 37 4.1 Limitations of Portfolio Data at the Country Level .............................................................................. 37 4.2 Projects in the GEF Egyptian Portfolio ................................................................................................... 38 4.3 Allocation by Focal Area ............................................................................................................................ 47 4.4 Project Status ................................................................................................................................................. 47 4.5 Allocation by GEF Agency ......................................................................................................................... 47 4.6 Allocation by National Executing Agency .............................................................................................. 48 4.7 The SGP and the SCCF ............................................................................................................................... 49 4.8 Regional and Global Projects ..................................................................................................................... 51 iii 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt .......................................................................................... 54 5.1 Biodiversity..................................................................................................................................................... 54 5.2 Climate Change ............................................................................................................................................ 62 5.3 International Waters ................................................................................................................................... 69 5.4 Land Degradation ......................................................................................................................................... 79 5.5 Persistent Organic Pollutants .................................................................................................................... 79 6. Relevance of GEF Support to Egypt ..................................................................................... 83 6.1 The GEF Portfolio and Egypt's Sustainable Development Agenda and Environmental Priorities 83 6.2 Relevance of GEF Allocations by Focal Area to Environmental Priorities and Frameworks .... 89 6.3 Relevance to the GEF Mandate ................................................................................................................. 90 6.4 Relevance of the RAF Index to Country Priorities ............................................................................... 93 6.5 Relevance to GEF Agency Strategies and Frameworks ....................................................................... 94 7. Efficiency of GEF-Supported Activities in Egypt ............................................................................................................................................ 95 7.1 Resources Required for Project Processing ............................................................................................ 95 7.2 Roles and Relationships.............................................................................................................................100 7.3 Learning .......................................................................................................................................................103 7.4 GEF Focal Point Mechanism ..................................................................................................................106 7.5 Emerging Issues Concerning the RAF...................................................................................................107 Annexes A. Terms of Reference.....................................................................................................................................111 B. Evaluation Matrix .......................................................................................................................................122 C. GEF Portfolio in Egypt, 1991­2008........................................................................................................128 D. Interviewees .................................................................................................................................................133 E. Sites Visited ..................................................................................................................................................135 F. Workshop Participants..............................................................................................................................136 G. Framework for Analysis of Results and Summary of Project Results ............................................137 H. Small Grants Programme Projects .........................................................................................................147 I. Country Response ......................................................................................................................................158 References ................................................................................................................................. 160 Boxes 3.1 National Criteria for Selection of GEF Projects .................................................................................... 35 5.1 Innovative Practice: Community-Based Natural Resource Management ..................................... 59 5.2 Good Practice: Energy Efficiency Improvement and GHG Reductions ........................................ 64 5.3 Good Practice: Implementation of the SAP for the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden ..................... 72 5.4 Good Practice: Innovative Approach and Technology in the Lake Manzala Engineered Wetlands Project........................................................................................................................................... 77 iv GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) 5.5 Good Practice: Nationalization of the MDG7 through the NCSA .................................................. 81 Figures 3.1 Map of Protected Areas in Egypt ............................................................................................................. 18 3.2 Important Bird Areas in Egypt ................................................................................................................. 20 3.3 Sector Percentage Share of Net GHG Emissions in Egypt, 1990/91 ................................................ 21 3.4 Agro-Ecological Zones in Egypt .............................................................................................................. 24 4.1 Distribution of GEF Funding to Focal Areas across GEF Phases ..................................................... 39 4.2 GEF Support to Egypt by Agency and Replenishment Period .......................................................... 48 6.1 Cofinancing of GEF Projects in Egypt by Focal Area and Source, 1991­2008.............................. 87 7.1 GEF Activity Cycle ....................................................................................................................................... 99 Tables 3.1 Changes in Egypt's Key Socioeconomic Indicators ............................................................................. 16 3.2 Protected Areas in Egypt by Date of Establishment, Size, Location, and Decree ........................ 19 3.3 Current Status of POPs in Egypt .............................................................................................................. 27 3.4 Overview of Policy and Institutional Framework by Focal Area ...................................................... 28 3.5 Relevant Conventions for GEF Focal Areas .......................................................................................... 31 4.1 Projects in the GEF Egypt Portfolio ......................................................................................................... 38 4.2 GEF Funding by Project Modality ........................................................................................................... 39 4.3 Main Objectives of GEF-Supported Activities in Egypt by Focal Area and Modality ................. 40 4.4 RAF Allocation and Use as of December 30, 2008 .............................................................................. 46 4.5 GEF Support to National Projects in Egypt by Focal Area, 1991 through GEF-4 ........................ 47 4.6 GEF Support to National Projects in Egypt by Status and Focal Area, 1991 through GEF-4 .... 47 4.7 GEF Support to National Projects in Egypt by Focal Area and Agency, 1991 through GEF-4.. 48 4.8 GEF Support to National Projects in Egypt by National Executing Agency, 1991 through GEF-4 .................................................................................................................................... 49 4.9 SGP Allocations in Egypt by Operational Phase as of December 2008 ......................................... 50 4.10 Number of GEF Regional and Global Projects in Which Egypt Participates by Focal Area and Agency................................................................................................................................ 52 4.11 Scope of Regional and Global Projects in Which Egypt Participates .............................................. 53 6.1 Cofinancing Ratios by Agency, Modality, Focal Area, and GEF Replenishment Period ............. 87 6.2 ODA Disbursements and GEF Commitments ..................................................................................... 88 7.1 Project Preparation Costs as a Percentage of GEF Grant ................................................................... 96 7.2 Agency Fee for National Projects ............................................................................................................ 98 7.3 Duration of Activity Cycle in GEF-Supported FSPs in Egypt ............................................................ 99 7.4 Duration of Activity Cycle for GEF-Supported MSPs in Egypt......................................................... 99 7.5 Planned and Actual Durations of FSPs, MSPs, and Enabling Activities in Egypt ......................101 Contents v Foreword This evaluation was one of two country portfolio visible and higher on the political agenda, and evaluations undertaken in 2009 examining sup- some biodiversity projects have generated consid- port provided by the Global Environment Facil- erable cofinancing from line ministries, nongov- ity (GEF) in the Middle East. Egypt was selected ernmental organizations, and the private sector. for evalaution on the basis of its historically large In climate change, activities have achieved results, and diverse portfolio, which includes projects in particularly in the area of energy efficiency. all focal areas implemented by various GEF Agen- The Evaluation Office and the GEF operational cies. The portfolio also has a large number of com- and political focal points in Egypt invited a large pleted projects and has received individual alloca- number of national stakeholders, including repre- tions under the Resource Allocation Framework sentatives of the national government, GEF Agen- for both climate change and biodiversity. Egypt cies, nongovernmental organizations, and other has also benefited from the GEF Small Grants civil society partners, to discuss the findings of the Programme since 1992. evaluation on March 10, 2009. During the work- The evaluation found that GEF activities in Egypt shop, the evaluation's context and methodology have been instrumental in focusing the attention were presented as well as preliminary findings and of decision makers on the environmental issues any emerging recommendations. A very fruitful at hand, promoting national policy changes, and open forum discussion followed, which was jointly mainstreaming environmental considerations into chaired by the operational focal point and the GEF public policy, particularly in the climate change Chief Evaluation Officer. The feedback received and biodiversity areas. The long-term sustainabil- was highly constructive, and comments have been ity of project results remains a challenge. incorporated into this report as appropriate. Another finding was that GEF support to biodi- The evaluation was presented to the GEF Council versity in Egypt has been of strategic importance. in June 2009, together with the Annual Country The GEF has contributed significantly to devel- Portfolio Evaluation Report, which synthesized oping institutional capacity within national and the main conclusions and recommendations from local authorities. Its activities have also helped three country portfolio evaluations undertaken raise awareness on biodiversity issues on the part by the Evaluation Office in Cameroon, Egypt, and of decision makers outside environmental circles, Syria. Consequently, the Council asked the GEF local administrators, the media, and the public Secretariat to explore, within the GEF partner- at large. Consequently, biodiversity is now more ship, modalities to address the gap in available vii resources for combating land degradation to sup- I thank everyone involved for their active and sup- port key challenges facing countries such as Cam- portive participation in the process of conducting eroon, Egypt, and Syria and to conduct a survey this evaluation. The Evaluation Office remains of countries that are, like Syria, in the exceptional fully responsible for the content of the report. circumstance of having limited access to GEF partner international financial institutions. The government of Egypt has responded to the evaluation, and its response can be found in Rob D. van den Berg annex I of this report. Director, GEF Evaluation Office Acknowledgments This report was prepared by a team led by Claudio Yasmine Fouad, Director of the GEF Unit at the Volonté, Chief Evaluation Officer, and Sandra Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, and Romboli, Evaluation Officer, of the Global Envi- Mohamed Bayoumi, Assistant Resident Repre- ronment Facility (GEF) Evaluation Office. The sentative at the Cairo Office of the United Nations team's lead consultant was Tarek Genena, who Development Programme, provided full coopera- was assisted by Nadine Ibrahim and Cecilia tion and participated actively in the evaluation. Vaverka, researchers at EcoConServ Environmen- The Evaluation Office is particularly thankful to tal Solutions. them for facilitating access to GEF stakeholders. The team is also grateful for the field mission sup- port provided by the GEF Unit. viii GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Abbreviations CBD Convention on Biological Diversity NEAP National Environmental Action Plan CDM Clean Development Mechanism NGO nongovernmental organization CEO Chief Executive Officer NIP National Implementation Plan CO2 carbon dioxide NSSD National Strategy for Sustainable CPE country portfolio evaluation Development EEAA Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency NTEAP Nile Transboundary Environmental Action Project EEIGGR Energy Efficiency Improvement and Greenhouse Gas Reduction ODA official development assistance ESCO energy service company PDF project development facility FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of PERSGA Regional Organization for the the United Nations Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden FSP full-size project PIF project identification form GDP gross domestic product POP persistent organic pollutant GEF Global Environment Facility RAF Resource Allocation Framework GHG greenhouse gas SAP Strategic Action Programme ICZM integrated coastal zone management SCCF Special Climate Change Fund IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development SGP Small Grants Programme INC Initial National Communication UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification LE Egyptian pound MDG Millennium Development Goal UNDP United Nations Development Programme MEMAC Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre UNEP United Nations Environment Programme MSEA Ministry of State for Environmental UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific Affairs and Cultural Organization MSP medium-size project UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention MWRI Ministry of Water Resources and on Climate Change Irrigation UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development NBI Nile Basin Initiative Organization NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategy and USAID U.S. Agency for International Action Plan Development NCSA National Capacity Self-Assessment WWF World Wlldlife Fund All dollar amounts are U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. ix 1. Main Conclusions and Recommendations 1.1 Background z Provide feedback and knowledge sharing to (1) the GEF Council in its decision-making pro- Egypt has been a long-standing partner of the cess to allocate resources and develop policies Global Environment Facility (GEF), receiving GEF and strategies, (2) the country on its participa- financial support since 1991 through a variety of tion in the GEF, and (3) the different agencies projects and activities in collaboration with GEF and organizations involved in the preparation Agencies, government agencies, nongovernmen- and implementation of GEF support tal organizations (NGOs), and civil society. From November 2008 to March 2009, the GEF Evaluation The scope of the Egypt CPE included all Office carried out an evaluation of GEF support to 19 national projects, totaling $87.87 million in Egypt for the period 1991­2008. The evaluation GEF support, as well as 7 regional projects and was conducted by staff from the GEF Evaluation 1 global project. In addition, the national com- Office and a team of Egyptian consultants. ponent of the Small Grants Programme (SGP) has received $4.32 million, thus bringing the GEF country portfolio evaluations (CPEs) were total amount Egypt has received from the GEF launched in 2007 following the GEF Council's to $92.19 million. All GEF focal areas are to request that the Evaluation Office assess national some extent represented in these projects, as are GEF-supported activities. Based on the standard the three main GEF Implementing Agencies-- terms of reference for CPEs, the evaluation of the United Nations Development Programme GEF support to Egypt had the following specific (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Pro- objectives: gramme (UNEP), and the World Bank. z Independently evaluate the relevance and effi- Egypt has played an important role in the inter- ciency of GEF support in the country from national environmental arena for many years, several points of view: national environmental with strong participation in and contribution to frameworks and decision-making processes, global and regional conventions. Several inter- the GEF mandate and achievement of global national organizations, including the GEF and environmental benefits, and GEF policies and UNEP, have been fortunate to have Egyptians at procedures their helms. Egypt and the GEF Evaluation Office z Assess the effectiveness and results of com- were partners in organizing and implementing the pleted and ongoing projects in each relevant Alexandria Conference on Climate Change and focal area Development in May 2008, which coincided with 1 a concerted effort in Egypt to further raise aware- In addition to building capacity, GEF-supported ness of adaptation issues. biodiversity projects have enabled the develop- ment of comprehensive frameworks such as poli- Conclusions cies, legislation, and strategic action plans; these include the National Biodiversity Strategy and GEF activities in Egypt have been instrumental in Action Plan (NBSAP), the Wetland Strategy, the drawing the attention of decision makers to global Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and regional environmental issues. GEF activities Plan for the Red Sea, the National Capacity Self- have resulted in national policy changes and main- Assessment, national reports to the Convention streaming, particularly through climate change for Biological Diversity (CBD), and management and biodiversity projects. The GEF has also suc- plans for protected area sites. The GEF has intro- ceeded in contributing to the policy dialogue, for duced a more sustainable model for develop- example in regional international waters projects. ing coastal areas by pioneering the concept and requirements of coastal zone planning. Several Results and Effectiveness biodiversity projects have also initiated a suc- Conclusion 1: GEF support to biodiversity in cessful model for community involvement and Egypt has been of strategic importance. empowerment, decentralization, improved local governance, and the incorporation of innovative The GEF has played a major role in Egypt in the livelihood schemes in conservation activities. area of biodiversity; this was particularly the case The importance of these successful examples is during the GEF's early years, when other donors that, even though they are not necessarily fully showed less interest in supporting biodiversity sustainable, they set a precedent for biodiversity conservation in Egypt. It remains true to the pres- projects in Egypt through the introduction of ent day, when donors' support to the environment new approaches and models. Over time, these is gradually phasing out. practices have become an integral part of the rel- Most of the GEF biodiversity projects in Egypt evant organizations and of biodiversity projects in that have reached completion are enabling activi- general. ties. Through these efforts, the GEF has con- The SGP's activities in this regard are of particular tributed significantly to developing institutional note: they have helped mobilize local communi- capacity within national and local (governorate) ties and establish the link between global and local authorities and enhancing national capacity in benefits. The SGP has supported biodiversity biodiversity. GEF activities have also helped raise activities awareness of biological diversity issues on the part of decision makers outside environmental circles, z addressing local environmental and/or sustain- local administrators, the media, and the public at able development issues, large. The result has been greater prominence and z reaching marginal populations and poorer visibility for biodiversity on the political agenda; it communities, has also helped some biodiversity projects gener- ate considerable cofinancing from line ministries, z creating job opportunities and generating NGOs, and the private sector. income. 2 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Conclusion 2: Climate change activities have other areas as well, which have resulted--and are achieved results, particularly in terms of energy still expected to result--in reasonable CO2 reduc- efficiency. tions. For example, market transformations have Egypt has been successful in accessing GEF fund- been created in the energy efficient lighting sys- ing for climate change activities, and there are tem market, energy service companies (ESCOs) projects addressing each of the GEF's climate market, and energy efficiency appliances market; change strategic priorities, focusing on energy also, sectoral policies and regulations that support efficiency, sustainable transport, and renewable project goals have been developed. These latter energy. With the development of the GEF Climate include energy efficiency standards and labels for Change Strategy, adaptation projects have been three electrical appliances, and energy efficiency recently introduced in Egypt. The GEF is appar- codes for new residential buildings. Nine ESCOs ently driving the climate change agenda in Egypt, have been established to provide advice in energy as the country has yet to complete a national efficiency and financing. And the government strategy in this area. The GEF has introduced cli- is preparing a National Strategy for Improving mate change issues to Egypt by building national Energy Efficiency in Egypt, all of which demon- capacities. strates that energy efficiency is well on its way to being mainstreamed. GEF support to enabling activities has contrib- Four relatively new GEF national projects in cli- uted to institutionalizing climate change in the mate change are ongoing or are about to start: the government and to elevating the issue on the "Solar Thermal Hybrid Project" (GEF ID 1040), national agenda. A climate change institutional "Bioenergy for Sustainable Rural Development" mechanism consisting of a policy-making inter- (GEF ID 1335), "Sustainable Transport" (GEF ministerial committee and a technical secretariat ID 2776), and "Adaptation to Climate Change in at the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency the Nile Delta through Integrated Coastal Zone (EEAA) has been established. A climate change Management" (GEF ID 3242). These projects will policy dialogue has been initiated, and indigenous implement long-awaited actions and provide inno- capabilities in the areas of climate change assess- vative approaches to national problems that have ment, mitigation, and project development have significant global impacts. Similar approaches been enhanced. have not previously received any substantial sup- The GEF Energy Efficiency Improvement and port from other donor agencies. Greenhouse Gas Reductions (EEIGGR) project has had particularly important impacts in the Conclusion 3: International waters projects climate change area. While the project fell far have laid the foundation for collaboration from achieving its initial reduction target of 11.7 among countries and demonstrated innova- tive technologies and approaches for water million tons of cumulative carbon dioxide (CO2) conservation. reduction by the planned completion date, it has continued to achieve CO2 reductions in the proj- GEF support to international waters projects in ect extension period and has since surpassed the Egypt is relatively large compared to that in other initial target. It is estimated that EEIGGR has countries. In total, the evaluation estimates that achieved a cumulative CO2 reduction of 16.8 mil- 15 projects, national and regional, are dealing with lion tons. The project has had concrete results in international waters issues. 1. Main Conclusions and Recommendations 3 National Projects competing demands on the already overcommit- The international waters projects in the national ted Nile waters. portfolio have been pilot demonstration projects In both projects, indigenous and local commu- to stimulate research in the areas of wetlands engi- nity knowledge has been built into the respective neering and groundwater resources. For example, target areas. There have been spin-off results, the "Lake Manzala Engineered Wetlands" project and the experiences and knowledge gained have (GEF ID 395) demonstrated a low-cost technol- been--and still are being--transferred to individ- ogy capable of treating large bodies of wastewater uals and institutions in the region. in Egypt, thus reducing the impact of land-based sources of pollution on the Mediterranean Sea Regional Projects while addressing the national development chal- GEF support has reached all of the main trans- lenge of untreated wastewater. The project has boundary water bodies in Egypt: the Mediterra- treated only a minor fraction of the water flow- nean, the Red Sea, the Nile River, and the Nubian ing to the coastal Lake Manzala, but there is wide- Aquifer. The evaluation found that these regional spread consensus among researchers and deci- projects have succeeded in the following: sion makers that this project has great potential for replication in Egypt and other countries of the z Initiating a dialogue among countries of the region. At this point, however, limited attempts region that might not have taken place other- have been made at replication; and no clear vision wise--with regard to the Nile Basin Initiative exists for dissemination, replication, or scaling up (NBI) and the Nubian Aquifer, such dialogue is the constructed wetlands technology. of particular strategic importance to Egypt z Supporting regional institutional set-ups, such The other national demonstration project, as that of the NBI and the Regional Organiza- "Developing Renewable Groundwater Resources tion for the Conservation of the Environment of in Arid Lands: A Pilot Case--The Eastern Des- the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA)--the ert of Egypt" (GEF ID 985), has identified the likelihood of these mechanisms being sustain- sources, extent, and histories of groundwater in able and functional has proven to be quite high, alluvial aquifers as well as predicted rainfall pat- and they are likely to continue to function after terns over the Eastern Desert. It has investigated project completion, albeit with reduced effec- groundwater flow in the alluvial aquifers flooring tiveness, as has been evidenced by the PERSGA one of the main valleys of the Eastern Desert, pro- duced a replicable model in neighboring Middle Evaluations of experience in Egypt and other Eastern and Saharan countries, and contributed countries with regional international waters proj- to the preservation of freshwater ecosystems in ects have revealed the following problems: the region. It has demonstrated the benefits of z Coordination among national institutions selecting, designing, and approaching research responsible for water resources is not always so as to respond to policy and development con- efficient, as there is the added complexity of cerns. Moreover, it has successfully managed to involving and coordinating the numerous such link research to development focused on a vital institutions in each country. natural resource: groundwater. The project per- mits utilization of an untapped water resource z The dissemination and use of information and that, if sustainably managed, would reduce the regional products resulting from these projects 4 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) by national institutional stakeholders are less With the assistance of a GEF-funded enabling than satisfactory. activity, Egypt prepared its National Implemen- tation Plan (NIP) for the Stockholm Convention z Regional projects require a relatively longer on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2005. Prepara- time to achieve their objectives and produce tion of the NIP allowed the government to address tangible results due to their often inherent POPs issues in a structured way and to define the complexity. manner in which it intends to fulfill its obligations z The capacities and competence of organiza- to eliminate or reduce POPs production. However, tions vary considerably across countries; this while the NIP project facilitated collaboration and results in capacity-building activities being nei- raised awareness concerning POPs among rel- ther appropriate nor sufficiently useful. evant ministries and authorities, implementation z Regional projects without national compo- of the plan has yet to be initiated. nents do not always provide tangible benefits or support for national institutions. Their Conclusion 5: The long-term sustainability of achieved results remains a challenge. activities are not sufficiently visible, especially when compared to relatively large bilateral Long-term sustainability of project results has projects. Accordingly, these projects do not been typically undermined in Egypt by inadequate always receive the political attention and sup- planning and insufficient resource allocation at port they need. the local level. For example, in biodiversity, sig- nificant challenges remain in the management of Conclusion 4: GEF support to Egypt in the areas protected areas, conservation, and enforcement. of land degradation and persistent organic pol- Actions to involve the private sector to mobilize lutants has been limited. financial resources are still insufficient. In the area of land degradation, worldwide demand Sustainability is often undermined by the chal- for GEF support has exceeded the available lenge of anchoring complex environmental resources. This is a particularly difficult situation projects and priorities within public structures for countries such as Egypt where land degrada- and institutions. Handover of project results to tion is one of the major challenges in the environ- national institutions takes place too late in the mental sector. The only GEF-supported project project cycle to ensure smooth exit strategies. solely focused on land degradation in which Egypt Moreover, national resources are not introduced participates is the regional MENARID project. gradually during project implementation to facili- However, this project is in its early stages, and so tate phaseout of GEF resources.Measurements are far, there is no national component or activities in not put in place by project management, such as Egypt. A national project under MENARID was withholding/delaying final disbursement pending initially planned, but this had not materialized at satisfactory performance of a project in achieving the time of this evaluation. minimum levels of sustainability. Even though GEF support for persistent organic Another challenging area for sustainability is pollutants (POPs) projects is recent, GEF activities that dissemination of project outcomes and out- have managed to put this important environmen- puts to policy makers, executive bodies, and tal issue on the Egyptian government's agenda. the public does not receive adequate attention. 1. Main Conclusions and Recommendations 5 Dissemination of GEF project results is one of mechanisms. For example, a promising aspect of the key tools for achieving sustainability through the biodiversity portfolio concerns socioeconomic policy changes, wide-scale replication, and--con- project impacts. Recently completed and ongo- sequently--tangible local and global benefits. A ing projects have recognized the significance of finding common to the majority of projects is the increasing the ecological sustainability of cur- insufficient effort, resources, and time devoted rent livelihoods, in addition to raising awareness to dissemination of project results. All too often, and building capacity at the local level, and suf- project executors tend to see the number of activi- ficiently managing to engage local communities. ties carried out and outputs produced as a sign of This reflects the significance of community par- success, giving short shrift to those communica- ticipation and awareness throughout the project, tion and dissemination activities that hold the given the shared interests they have in the local potential for real project impact. ecosystem. The short actual operational lifetime of a project Relevance (as distinct from its preparatory time and time awaiting implementation) often limits the degree Conclusion 6: In general, GEF projects and activ- of dissemination that can be achieved. Typically, ities address national priorities and coincide well with the environmental agenda in Egypt. there is insufficient time and budget for effective dissemination using the resources of the project. The majority of GEF projects and activities in Egypt In addition, when the project is institutionally address national priorities and align well with the anchored and handed over, it often lacks needed national environmental agenda as reflected in pol- financial resources, leaving the responsibility for icy and legal frameworks, including the National widespread dissemination to the very limited Environmental Action Plan (NEAP), Law 4/1994, resources of the national institution. Law 102/1983, and other relevant policy direc- tives and strategy documents to the extent these The potential for replicability needs to be better priorities are relevant to the GEF focal areas. incorporated in project design so as to reap the full benefits of the knowledge and experience Conclusion 7: GEF support in Egypt has been of generated by projects. One possibility is to intro- particular strategic importance as compared to duce the idea of "second phases" for potentially that of other donors in the environment field. successful projects dedicated to adaptation and dissemination. This approach would be particu- In the past 15 years, Egypt has received relatively larly important for projects that introduce a new large amounts of official development assistance technology or system that may need an adaptive (ODA) for work in the environment. However, the follow-up phase. Building on the results of the ini- GEF has provided support in areas other donor tial phase with the aim of effectively disseminating agencies have largely refrained from supporting, and replicating results and experiences could be particularly wetlands management and biodiver- more cost-efficient than approving a new project. sity conservation, energy efficiency, sustainable transport, biomass energy, and POPs. As noted In recent years, the likelihood of sustainability has earlier, this pattern of support was especially improved in Egypt through a shift from a port- apparent in the GEF's early period when it first folio largely driven by technological approaches established itself as a means of support for national to one that involves more community-oriented environmental challenges with global significance, 6 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) but continues to hold true now as donor support decisions are not made until the midterm review to the environment is gradually phased out. is carried out, resulting in unjustifiable delays. In other projects, midterm reviews are carried out Efficiency ahead of time in order to resolve a problem or adapt a project design. While it can be noted that Conclusion 8: In line with the findings of ear- the GEF Agencies and the EEAA's GEF Unit play lier evaluations, the project preparatory phase an important role in attempting to address prob- in Egypt was found to often be too long, run- ning the risk of altered country priorities as well lems related to delays in implementation, sustain- as GEF priorities by the time of approval and ability, and project performance in general, their implementation. interventions were usually aimed at individual ini- tiatives. In the case of the SGP, more field follow- The GEF project preparation process in Egypt is up and technical assistance to projects is needed lengthy due to a combination of factors involving at the various stages of the project cycle. the GEF Secretariat, the Implementing Agencies, and the government. This corroborates with find- Conclusion 10: The effectiveness of the focal ings of previous evaluations, including those of point mechanism in Egypt has improved since the Joint Evaluation of the GEF Activity Cycle and the establishment of the GEF Unit and the GEF Modalities (GEF EO 2007). The total time from National Steering Committee. pipeline entry to project start-up in Egypt takes on Since the Egyptian government established the average about 77 months or 6.4 years, which is one GEF Unit and National Steering Committee, the of the longest averages when compared to previ- GEF project approval process is more system- ous CPEs conducted in Costa Rica, the Philippines, atic and follows clear priorities, and GEF project South Africa, and elsewhere. A new project cycle proposals have become more country driven. was introduced following recommendations of The diversity of representation on the committee the joint evaluation, and 22 months was set as the has proven successful and has firmly rooted it in maximum allowable project cycle length for proj- the relevant ministries. However, the evaluation ects prepared and approved in GEF-4 (2006­10). found that there is no national GEF framework This shorter cycle has yet to materialize in Egypt. that reflects a vision and draws a roadmap for GEF activities in Egypt. The GEF does not require Conclusion 9: Project supervision and/or steer- countries to have such a framework. ing committees need to be more proactive and responsive in addressing problems and in facili- Coordination and collaboration among GEF proj- tating timely project implementation. ects were found weak, particularly for regional GEF projects, like other ODA projects, often face and global projects. The ownership of and com- start-up, implementation, or handover and sus- mitment to GEF regional and global projects-- tainability problems. In some cases, these prob- especially those with no national components-- lems stem from overly ambitious or inaccurate are relatively weak and are most often limited project designs that are not always resolved by the to narrow circles of individuals and institutions project's supervisory or steering mechanisms dur- directly involved in the projects. This circum- ing implementation. Decisions or interventions to stance could be attributed to a number of rea- facilitate efficient implementation are not always sons. Development of regional and global projects taken in a timely manner. In some cases, adaptive often takes place without sufficient involvement 1. Main Conclusions and Recommendations 7 of national institutional stakeholders. Also, global Committee were to prepare a national GEF frame- and regional projects do not usually produce any work, with GEF-5 (2010­14) in mind. This frame- short-term tangible results that may yield visibil- work should be fully supported by the government ity. Therefore, "buy-in" from national executive to ensure buy-in and integration with national bodies to global and regional projects is typically strategies. Such a framework would include a weak. Focal points of regional and global projects national vision and strategic plan for future GEF could facilitate coordination through improved activities in Egypt. Because it would ensure a dissemination of products such as reports, case planned program rather than a set of projects, pri- studies, and project experiences. vate sector involvement could be better attracted. Observation Recommendation 3: Improve the overall effec- tiveness of GEF support. It is suggested that a comprehensive and updated database of GEF activities in Egypt be developed Improvement of the overall effectiveness of GEF and maintained. This database should cover all support could be accomplished in various ways: projects and activities in the country, and include z The GEF Unit should work toward enhanc- all documentation relevant to the projects such as ing the coordination and collaboration of the project documents, evaluations, and verifications. institutions active in GEF projects, particularly This database should be shared and maintained including the regional and global projects. Fur- by and among all the GEF partners, including the thermore, it could enhance the possibilities for GEF Secretariat, GEF operational focal point, and synergy among projects in different focal areas, GEF Agencies. as well as with the SGP. z The National Steering Committee should have Recommendations an enhanced supervisory function as well as an Recommendation to the GEF Council explicit mandate to tackle project sustainability issues. Recommendation 1: The GEF Council should address the significant gap in available z The GEF Unit could play a more central role in resources in land degradation to support key the integration and dissemination of GEF proj- challenges facing countries like Egypt. ect outputs and outcomes. The planned GEF The possibility of additional allocations for activi- national Web site would be a significant step ties in the land degradation focal area should be in that direction. For efficient dissemination further explored. There is widespread demand in to take place, the unit's human and financial Egypt for activities in this area. resources need to be substantially improved. The effectiveness of GEF regional activities could Recommendations to the Government of be improved through a number of measures, Egypt including, but not limited to, the following: Recommendation 2: Prepare a GEF national z Enhance the visibility of regional projects and framework to enhance the strategic use of GEF their activities so they come to the attention of funds. decision makers, and expand the sphere of their GEF support could become more strategic and influence to move beyond countries' relatively effective if Egypt's GEF Unit and National Steering limited environmental circles. 8 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) z Emphasize early involvement of national stake- The SGP should help pave the way and prepare for holders in project design and preparation. medium-size projects (MSPs) and full-size proj- ects (FSPs), as well as follow up on and use their z Ensure that the design of projects' capacity- products and results. To this end, a stronger link building and training components takes into between FSPs/MSPs and the SGP could be estab- consideration the differing capabilities and lished. More importantly, GEF activities at large capacities of individuals and institutions in the would be more effective and sustainable with the various countries in the region. involvement of and linkage to the SGP. Where this z Make use of the competent institutions and kind of collaboration has taken place on an ad hoc individuals in the region to undertake capacity- and rather limited scale, it has already had suc- building and training activities. cessful results. 1. Main Conclusions and Recommendations 9 2. Evaluation Framework This chapter presents the background informa- recommendations from these CPEs as well as from tion, objectives, and methodology related to and Cameroon (the Cameroon CPE was not com- used in the GEF country portfolio evaluations. pleted until after the April 2008 Council meeting) were synthesized in a single report and presented 2.1 Background in June 2009 to the GEF Council to assess and The CPEs were initiated following a decision by report on experiences and common issues across the GEF Council that the GEF Evaluation Office different types of countries (GEF EO 2009b). should conduct evaluations of the GEF portfolio Egypt was selected for evaluation in 2008 on the at the country level. The overall purpose of the basis of its historically large and diverse port- GEF CPEs is twofold: folio, which includes projects in all GEF focal z To evaluate how GEF-supported activities fit areas implemented by all relevant GEF Agen- into national strategies and priorities, as well as cies, and its large number of completed projects within the global environmental mandate of the with potentially important results. In addition, GEF Egypt has received individual allocations under the Resource Allocation Framework (RAF) for z To provide the Council with additional infor- both climate change and biodiversity, and the mation on the results of GEF-supported activi- country has benefited from the GEF Small Grants ties and how these activities are implemented Programme since 1992. This evaluation will not Countries are selected for portfolio evaluation have any impact on Egypt's current or future RAF from the 160 countries eligible for GEF support, allocation. based on stratified randomized selection and a set of strategic criteria. 2.2 Objectives Based on the overall purpose of the CPEs, the To date, the Evaluation Office has conducted evaluation for Egypt has the following specific seven CPEs: for Costa Rica (pilot case in 2006); objectives (annex A presents the terms of refer- the Philippines and Samoa (in 2007); and Benin, ence for the Egypt CPE): Cameroon, Madagascar, and South Africa (in 2008). Documents for the completed evaluations z Independently evaluate the relevance and are available on the GEF Evaluation Office Web efficiency of GEF support in the country from site. Most recently, portfolio evaluations were several points of view: national environmental undertaken in Syria and Egypt. The findings and frameworks and decision-making processes, 10 the GEF mandate and achievement of global Scope of the Evaluation environmental benefits, and GEF policies and The main focus of the evaluation is projects procedures implemented within the boundaries of Egypt, z Assess the effectiveness and results of com- that is, national projects. The GEF has provided pleted and ongoing projects in each relevant about $87.87 million for 19 national projects, focal area and $4.32 million for SGP projects, from 1991 to December 2008. In the same period, Egypt z Provide feedback and knowledge sharing received GEF support for 17 regional projects and to (1) the GEF Council in its decision-making 6 global projects (see annex C for the complete process on allocating resources and develop- GEF portfolio in Egypt). The degree to which ing policies and strategies, (2) the country on Egypt has benefited from this regional and global its participation in the GEF, and (3) the differ- support varies; it was thus decided that of these ent agencies and organizations involved in the regional projects, five projects with a national preparation and implementation of GEF sup- component--including a national budget alloca- port tion--would be fully reviewed in the evaluation, The CPE will also be used to provide information while two projects with no national component and evidence to other evaluations conducted by but with activities or a demonstration site in the GEF Evaluation Office. The evaluation does Egypt would be discussed as appropriate. Projects not aim to assess or rate the performance of the with neither national components nor activities GEF Agencies or partners, or of national govern- are only mentioned briefly in this report. With ments. In addition, the evaluation only analyzes respect to the six global projects, only one, which the performance of individual projects as part of lacks a national component, has carried out activ- the overall GEF portfolio, without rating the indi- ities in Egypt; this project is discussed as relevant. vidual projects. The evaluation focuses primarily on a review of all the national projects supported by the GEF at Key Evaluation Questions all stages--that is, approved by the GEF Council Chapters 5, 6, and 7 address the three main areas or the GEF Chief Executive Officer (CEO), proj- of the evaluation, namely the results and effective- ect identification form (PIF) or project prepara- ness, relevance, and efficiency of GEF support, tion grant approved by the Council, endorsed by respectively. Each chapter begins by listing certain the CEO, under implementation, completed, or key questions that have guided the evaluation pro- canceled. The SGP is assessed against national cess. Each question is supported by an evaluation strategies and not in terms of individual projects. matrix (see annex B), which contains a tentative Project concepts in government or GEF Agency list of indicators or basic data, potential sources pipelines were not included. of information, and methodology components. The matrix was continuously developed through- The GEF portfolio assessed in this evaluation is out the evaluation process. The evaluation made thus the aggregate of the national projects plus the use of the indicators in GEF project documents, eight selected regional and global projects. The as well as indicators in each of the focal areas, the focus of the evaluation is determined by the sta- RAF, and any appropriate national sustainable tus of the project, as shown in table A.4. In addi- development and environmental indicators. tion, attention was given to the context in which 2. Evaluation Framework 11 the projects were developed and approved and z At the country level, documents relevant to in which they are being implemented. Chapter 3 the broad national sustainable development highlights the three main contextual areas:1 and environmental agenda, priorities, and strategies; specific policies, strategies, and z Potential for securing global environmental action plans relevant to focal areas; GEF-sup- benefits in each focal area. This situational ported strategies and action plans relevant to analysis provides a basis for assessing whether the global conventions; and national environ- the maximum potential national and global mental indicators benefits have been obtained. z At the GEF Agency level, country assistance z Relevant national environmental policy, legis- strategies and frameworks and their evalua- lative, strategy, and institutional frameworks. tions and reviews, specifically from the World This provides a starting point for assessing the Bank and UNDP relevance of the portfolio to national frame- works and priorities. z Evaluative evidence at the country level from GEF Evaluation Office evaluations, such as the z GEF policies, principles, programs, and strat- Joint Evaluation of the GEF Activity Cycle and egies. These are outlined to enable the evalua- Modalities, the overall performance studies, or tion of the portfolio's relevance to the GEF. from national evaluations 2.3 Methodology z Statistics and scientific sources, especially for national environmental indicators The Egypt CPE was conducted between Novem- ber 2008 and March 2009, and the evaluation z Interviews with GEF stakeholders, includ- team consisted of staff from the GEF Evaluation ing individuals from the GEF Unit; relevant government departments; national execut- Office and consultants from an environmental ing agencies; presently active GEF Agencies consultancy firm based in Cairo. The team was including UNDP, UNEP, and the World Bank; headed by a task manager from the GEF Evalua- local NGOs; bilateral donor agencies; project tion Office. The methodology included a series of managers; and the SGP (interviewees are listed elements using a combination of qualitative and in annex D) quantitative methods and tools. The qualitative aspects of the evaluation are based on the follow- z A number of field visits to project sites, includ- ing sources of information. ing interviews with GEF beneficiaries at the community level where possible (sites visited z At the project level, project documents, proj- are listed in annex E) ect implementation reports, terminal evalua- tions or closure reports, verification evaluation z Information from the national consultation reports, and reports from monitoring visits workshop held to enable comment and discus- sion on the draft report before it was finalized, as well as written comments (workshop partici- This is further discussed in a report prepared 1 in the course of this evaluation, "Egypt CPE Techni- pants are listed in annex F) cal Paper: Global Environmental Benefits Assessment Analysis and Environmental Institutional, Legal, and The quantitative analysis used indicators to Policy Framework Analysis" (GEF EO 2009a). assess the efficiency of GEF support using projects 12 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) as the unit of analysis--that is, the time and cost of which to evaluate the effectiveness and results of preparing and implementing projects. Indicators GEF projects. The evaluation therefore considers were also used to measure GEF results obtained, the objectives and internal coherence of portfo- more specifically, the degree to which global lio projects and activities, and how the portfolio environmental improvement objectives were has evolved. The evaluation frameworks used for achieved, as well as project performance, includ- assessing GEF support to Egypt include the coun- ing reports during and after project implementa- try programs of GEF Agencies, as well as Egypt's tion. The evaluation team used standardized tools national sustainable development and environ- and protocols for the CPEs and adapted these to mental policy, and the strategic frameworks and the Egyptian context. These tools included priorities within which these projects are pre- pared, approved, and conducted. z a matrix outlining the information relevant to the evaluation and expected sources (see An additional challenge the team encountered annex B), was related to the issue of what projects to include z a project review protocol to conduct the desk in the evaluation. Discrepancies between the proj- and field reviews of GEF projects, ect lists provided by the GEF Evaluation Office and the GEF Unit in the Egyptian Environmental z an interview guide for conducting interviews Affairs Agency, as well as uncertainties related to with different stakeholders. which regional and global projects had a national Projects were selected for visits based on whether component, caused confusion and delays. they had been completed and on their geographic It must be noted that GEF support within any given location. area only represents one contribution among oth- The process and outputs of the evaluation are out- ers, and that it is provided through partnerships lined in the terms of reference (see annex A). The bringing together several institutions. Given these three main phases of the evaluation were to circumstances, it is not the intention of the CPE to seek to attribute development or environmental z conduct the evaluation, including two visits by impacts directly to the GEF, but rather to exam- representatives of the GEF Evaluation Office; ine the GEF contribution to overall achievements. z participate in a consultation workshop with Moreover, the aim is to establish a credible link major stakeholders, held in March 2009, to between the institutional, technical, and financial present a draft evaluation report; support provided and the benefits realized. z prepare a final report incorporating any com- To the extent possible, the assessment of results is ments, which subsequently was presented to focused at the level of outcomes and impacts rather the GEF Council and the government of Egypt. than outputs. Project-level results are measured against the overall expected impacts and out- 2.4 Limitations of the Evaluation comes from each project, with expected impacts One of the challenges facing the evaluation team at the focal area level being assessed in the context stems from the fact that there is no GEF country of GEF objectives and indicators of global environ- strategy, and consequently no specified program- mental benefits. Outcomes at the focal area level matic objectives, indicators, and targets against are primarily evaluated with respect to catalytic 2. Evaluation Framework 13 and replication effects, institutional sustainability and the GEF Agencies, which was not always and capacity building, and awareness. complete. A full set of documents was only avail- able for a limited number of projects, and gather- Evaluating the impacts of GEF-funded initia- ing the existing ones was a time-consuming task. tives has proved to be a somewhat complicated Obtaining information about the regional and task. Many projects do not clearly specify their global projects that lack a national component expected impacts--and sometimes not even the proved very challenging, as this information was outcomes. The information provided by project neither available at the GEF Unit in Egypt nor reports and terminal evaluations is often confined centrally at the GEF Evaluation Office, which has to outcomes and outputs, and contains limited been a constraint in carrying out a comprehensive evaluation of impacts. Project documents also do not always provide clear, consistent formula- review of some of these projects. The fact that the tions of objectives, indicators, and targets or base- GEF portfolio in Egypt spans 17 years has made lines against which progress can be assessed. The it difficult to locate all key stakeholders, which absence of information on project impacts can be means that the picture of some earlier projects is ascribed to the time frames of evaluation cycles, less inclusive. Gaps in documentation and insti- with evaluations usually conducted before mea- tutional memory were particularly encountered surable impacts can be expected. Notably, it was in connection with enabling activities that ended not within the scope of this evaluation to conduct some years ago. Shortcomings in monitoring and primary research to complement project reports evaluation at the project and GEF program levels or identify impact, which constrained the evalua- also posed challenges to the evaluation team. tion team to secondary sources. Finally, the evaluation was conducted within a By and large, the evaluation team relied on docu- rather tight time frame, given the duration, diver- mentation supplied by the GEF Evaluation Office sity, and size of the GEF portfolio in Egypt. 14 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) 3. Context of the Evaluation 3.1 Egypt: General Description Egypt's economy relies on four main sources of income: tourism, remittances from Egyptians Geography, Population, and Economy working abroad, revenues from the Suez Canal, Egypt's total area is approximately 1 million and oil. An economic reform program aimed at square kilometers, of which less than 6 percent fostering foreign direct investments and improv- is cultivated or inhabited territory (Economist ing the country's business environment was intro- Intelligence Unit 2008); the rest is predominantly duced by the Egyptian government in 2004. It fea- desert land. Egypt has shorelines on the Medi- tured a dramatic reduction of customs and tariffs, terranean and Red Seas. It borders Libya to the a unified tax law, and numerous improvements west, Sudan to the south, and Israel and Gaza to in the overall regulatory structure and has led to the east. Egypt's natural boundaries consist of rapid economic growth after several years of stag- more than 2,450 kilometers of coastline along the nation. Foreign direct investment in Egypt has Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf of Suez, the Gulf of increased considerably over the past few years, Aqaba, and the Red Sea. Most of the country lies rising from $3.9 billion in 2005 to $11.1 billion in within the wide band of desert that stretches from 2007 (Central Bank of Egypt 2009). Real growth North Africa's Atlantic coast across the continent in gross domestic product (GDP) for 2007 was and into southwest Asia. The River Nile is the 7.1 percent (Economist Intelligence Unit 2008), country's main source of water, providing about with the main engines of growth being the Suez 96 percent of Egypt's renewable water resources. Canal, construction, telecommunication, and tourism. Current government efforts focus on There are four distinct agro-ecological zones in equity and social policies, while maintaining the Egypt, one of which--the Nile Valley and Delta-- pace of implementation of pro-growth measures. is the most important region, even though it cov- ers only about 5 percent of Egypt's total area. In 2006, Egypt ranked 71st among 149 nations on The Nile Valley and Delta comprise the country's the Environmental Performance Index. The index primary cultivable area, as well as being home uses outcome-oriented indicators and focuses on to some 95 percent of the country's population two overarching environmental objectives: reduc- (Encyclopædia Britannica 2009). This concentra- ing environmental stresses to human health, and tion of population, land use, agriculture, and eco- promoting ecosystem vitality and sound natural nomic activity makes the area extremely vulner- resource management (Esty and others 2008). able to potential impacts on its water resources. Social indicators have improved noticeably over 15 the last decade, particularly with regard to infant tourism activities, Egypt faces a number of pub- mortality, malnutrition, and life expectancy lic health and environmental problems caused by (table 3.1). Recent reforms have resulted in a sub- air and water pollution and by waste. The grow- stantial reduction of poverty: while 23.4 percent of ing population--which, according to some esti- the population lived on less than $1 a day in 2005, mates, may exceed 100 million by 2020--places a this was true for 18.9 percent of the population considerable stress on natural resources and has in 2008 (World Bank 2009). Moreover, Egypt has been coupled with increased rural-urban internal recorded improvements in the value of its Human migration; Egypt's urban population has in fact Development Index during the period 2000­05, tripled over the last few decades (EEAA 2007). as it increased from 0.642 points in 2000 to 0.708 Egypt's high rate of population growth and den- points in 2005 (UNDP 2009). sity along the Nile Valley and Delta, together with industrial activities concentrated primarily along Opportunities and Challenges for the the Nile River and in the large cities in the Delta, Environment has resulted in an increased burden on the car- Due to a significant population increase and rying capacity of the country's limited natural an expansion in its industrial, agricultural, and resources. In addition, Egypt's dependency on the Table 3.1 Changes in Egypt's Key Socioeconomic Indicators Indicator Value 1990s/early 2000s Value mid-2000s Population size 66.5 million (2000) 81.7 million (2008) Population growth (annual) 1.8% (2000) 1.7% (2007) School attendance by population age 5­24 n.a. 96% male, 94% female (2000­06) Literacy rate of population age 15+ n.a. 71%; male, 83%, female, 59.4% (2005) GDP growth (annual) 4.5% (1997) 7.1% (2007) Per capita GDP growth 2.6% (1997) 5.2% (2007) official development assistance $1.090 million (2001) $787 million (2007) Unemployment 7.9% (1999) 10.9% (2005) Population living on < $1/day 23.4% (2005) 18.9% (2008) Gini coefficient 29 (2000) n.a. Life expectancy 61 years (2000) 71 years (2007) birthrate 2.33% (1997) n.a. Under age 5 mortality rate (per 1,000) 51 (2000) 35 (2006) energy use (oil equivalent per capita) 683 kg (2000) 841 kg (2005) electric power consumption (per capita) 1.01 kWh (2000) 1.25 kWh (2005) Number of subscribers to electricity network n.a. 21.5 million (2006) HIv prevalence (age 15­49) n.a. 0.1% (2007) New registrations of passenger cars 55,470 (2004) 200,760 (2008) economic contribution of tourism n.a. $9.7 million (2006) Surface area protected for biodiversity 5.3% (2002) 15% (2008) Sources: World bank 2008; CIA 2008; Central bank of egypt 2008; oeCD 2009. Note: n.a. = not available. 16 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Nile is making it increasingly vulnerable. The cur- species, and more than 1,000 fish species can be rent levels of water extraction for irrigation, and found in Egypt. Invertebrates are highly diverse, the large pollution loads discharged into the river with insect diversity varying between 5,000 and and water channels, have become a major prob- 10,000 species, more than 200 coral species, 800 lem for downstream users, who recycle polluted mollusks, and more than 1,000 crustaceans (CBD waters for irrigation and human consumption. n.d.) Overall levels of domestic and industrial sewerage collection and treatment are minimal. Although Egypt is dominated by desert and arid land, the country's biodiversity should be consid- Several challenges are associated with the poten- ered of global significance for a number of reasons. tial impacts of climate change in Egypt, where sea level rise and variation in the Nile's stream z Many plant and animal species in Egypt are on flow would have serious implications on human the very edge of their geographical or ecologi- settlements and large parts of agricultural lands cal range and therefore have very limited toler- and industrial areas, with potentially adverse ance for ecological pressures. Prime examples effects on jobs, food security, and population dis- of this are coral reefs and mangroves. placement. Additional environmental challenges z Some species represent holdovers from earlier include a scarcity of freshwater resources, insuf- periods when climatic conditions in the region ficient sanitation systems, inadequate solid waste were different. With the habitat becoming collection and disposal, and human pressures on more arid, these species have retreated to a few coastal zones and marine resources mainly due to isolated refuge locations, such as the hilly sites tourism. in North Sinai or the mountains of Gabel Elba. 3.2 Status of Environmental z While it is recognized that the Red Sea and Nile River biogeographical corridors are key migra- Resources in Key GEF Focal Areas tory bird routes on the Africa-Paleartic flyway Biodiversity (EEAA 1998), knowledge of much of Egypt's Situated in the northeast corner of Africa at the biodiversity is sketchy and outdated, and taxo- junction of four biogeographical regions (Irano- nomic knowledge is poor and unclear for some Turanian, Mediterranean, Saharo-Sindian, and groups of species. Afro-tropical) and at the center of the great Saharo- Sindian desert belt that runs from Morocco to the Biodiversity Threats high, cold deserts of central Asia, Egypt is home to Habitat destruction remains one of the largest a wide diversity of marine and terrestrial habitats threats to biodiversity in Egypt, primarily because and fauna and flora. Although it has a relatively the country's barren nature restricts the distri- low number of species and few endemic species, bution of plants and animals to oases, marshes, Egypt's biodiversity is extremely varied in com- mangroves, and the Nile system. The species position. More than 800 species of nonflowering found in Egypt are very narrowly distributed or plants, 2,302 flowering species and subspecies (62 highly localized, which makes habitat conserva- endemic and 2 threatened), 116 mammal species tion crucial. Invasive species are a major cause of (13 threatened), 447 bird species (7 threatened), biodiversity loss in Egypt. While close to 50 inva- 109 reptile species (6 threatened), 9 amphibian sive species have been identified, the capacity and 3. Context of the Evaluation 17 legislation to manage them remain relatively lim- Protected Areas ited. The major threats to the Red Sea are oil leak- Recognizing the importance of ecosystems and ages from the oil platforms near Suez, potential species for the country's sustainable develop- spills from ships navigating the waters, impacts ment and their significance as part of the global from tourism developments, improper solid waste heritage, the government has devoted special disposal, urban and industrial sewage treatment, attention to the establishment and manage- and landfills. ment of protected areas. There is currently a network of 27 protected areas in Egypt (figure Other biodiversity threats include land reclama- 3.1; table 3.2), covering 150,000 square kilo- tion, climate change, uncontrolled economic meters, or almost 15 percent of the country's activities within protectorates, limited human and territory. These areas have been established to financial resources, and habitat degradation due protect Egypt's unique and diverse habitats, rare to agricultural and industrial pollution (USAID and endangered species, geological formations, 1999). Figure 3.1 Map of Protected Areas in Egypt Source: eeAA n.d. 18 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Table 3.2 Protected Areas in Egypt by Date of Establishment, Size, Location, and Decree Name Declaration Area (km²) Governorate Establishing decree ras mohamed National Park 1983 850 South Sinai 1068/1983 and 2035/1996 Zaranik Protectorate 1985 230 North Sinai 1429/1985 and 3379/1996 Ahrash Protectorate 1985 8 North Sinai 1429/1985 and 3379/1996 el omayed Protectorate 1986 700 matrouh 671/1986 and 3276/1996 elba National Park 1986 35,600 red Sea 450/1986 and 642/1995 Saluga and Ghazal Protectorate 1986 0.5 Aswan 928/1986 Santa Katrine National Park 1988 5,750 South Sinai 613/1988 and 940/1996 Ashtum el Gamil Protectorate 1988 180 Port Said 459/1988 and 2780/1998 Lake Qarun Protectorate 1989 250 el Fayoum 943/1989 and 2954/1997 Wadi el rayan Protectorate 1989 1,225 el Fayoum 943/1989 and 2954/1997 Wadi Alaqi Protectorate 1989 30,000 Aswan 945/1989 and 2378/1996 Wadi el Assuti Protectorate 1989 35 Assuit 942/11989 and 710/1997 el Hassana Dome Protectorate 1989 1 Giza 946/1989 Petrified Forest Protectorate 1989 7 Cairo 944/1989 Sannur Cave Protectorate 1992 12 beni Suef 1204/1992 and 709/1997 Nabaq Protectorate 1992 600 South Sinai 1511/1992 and 33/1996 Abu Galum Protectorate 1992 500 South Sinai 1511/1992 and 33/1996 Taba Protectorate 1998 3,595 South Sinai 316/1998 Lake burullus Protectorate 1998 460 Kafr el Sheikh 1444/1998 Nile Islands Protectorates 1998 160 All governorates on the Nile 1969/1998 Wadi Digla Protectorate 1999 60 Cairo 47/1999 and 3057/1999 Siwa 2002 7,800 matrouh Decree 1219/2002 White Desert 2002 3,010 el Wady eL Gedid 1220/2002 Wadi el Gemal­Hamata 2003 7,450 red Sea 143/2003 Source: eeAA n.d. biodiversity hotspots, and landscapes of out- Egypt's coastal and marine environment contains standing natural beauty (CBD n.d.). Their unique ecosystems, with the Mediterranean and habitats and species nonetheless face specific Red Seas being well known for their abundance threats, and greater resources are needed to of marine fauna and flora. Both seas contain hun- mitigate the impacts of these threats effectively. dreds of species of phytoplankton and protozoa, Also, the national protected area network is seri- and the Red Sea contains some 179 species of ously underresourced, and the revenues gener- coral. Endemic species are largely limited to Red ated from the protected areas are not reinvested Sea habitats, and Egypt has the most northerly in conservation, management, and develop- coral and mangrove habitats in the world (CBD ment. Without increased investment and effec- n.d.). In addition, along the Mediterranean coast tive management, the threats will be detrimental there are two important bird areas (figure 3.2) that to their sustainability (EEAA 2006a). are designated Ramsar sites: Lake Barawil and 3. Context of the Evaluation 19 Figure 3.2 several natural habitats and resources. In response, Important Bird Areas in Egypt the government is actively promoting the develop- ment of ecotourism as a means for sustainable use 7 6 5 of vulnerable habitats. Egypt's coastal resorts are 8 3 1 2 26 27 among the fastest growing tourism developments 11 4 34 30 28 in the world, with ecotourism options beginning 9 10 10 to underpin the industry. Egypt's growing empha- 25 32 22 31 33 16 sis on ecotourism as a basis for long-term devel- 15 opment has helped focus attention on biodiversity conservation. Additional priority action areas for Egypt's future conservation agenda include hunt- 12 17 18 ing management, invasive alien species, and regu- 13 19 lation of resource use outside protected areas. 24 20 14 21 23 Climate Change Status of Carbon Dioxide Emissions 1. Lake bardawil 2. Zaranik 3. el malaha 4. bitter Lakes In 2004, Egypt's total CO2 emissions were about 5. Lake manzala 6. Lake burullus 158 million metric tons,1 making the country's 7. Lake Idku 8. Lake maryut 9. Lake Qarun 10. Wadi el rayan share of the world's total CO2 emissions less 11. Wadi el Naturn 12. Upper Nile than 1 percent, with per capita emissions equal- 13. Aswan reservoir 14. Lake Nasser ing about 2.2 tons. Emissions in Egypt increased 15. Hurghada Archipelago 16. Tiran Island 17. Wadi Gemal Island 18. Qulan Island nearly 40 percent between 1996 and 2004, and are 19. Zabargad Island 20. Siyal Islands continuing to increase (EIA 2008, IAEA 2005). 21. rawabel Islands 22. Nabaq The main energy sources in Egypt are oil, natural 23. Gabel elba 24. The Abraq Area 25. St. Katherine 26. Gabel maghara gas, and--to a lesser extent--hydropower; coal, 27. Quseima 28. Wadi Gerafi noncommercial fuels such as biomass, and wind 29. el Qasr Desert 30. Suez and solar energy make only minor contributions. 31. Gabel el Zeit 32. el Qa Plain 33. ras mohammed 34. Ain Sukhna Faced with the need to secure reliable and afford- Source: eeAA, www.eeaa.gov.eg/english/main/protect_bird.asp able energy sources for the coming decades while (accessed march 2009). maintaining growth, there is a national incentive to move toward a less greenhouse gas­ (GHG-) Lake Burullus (RSIS n.d.). Additionally, two of the intensive development path, by becoming more country's protected areas, St. Katherine and Wadi energy efficient and making greater use of the El Rayan, encompass United Nations Educational, country's large renewable energy potential. The Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) government has, in recent years, adopted sev- World Heritage Sites; two others, El Omayed and eral measures to promote efficient energy use, Allaqi, are biosphere reserves (EEAA 2008). Ecotourism 1 Data calculated in 2007 by the Carbon Diox- The expanding tourism industry in Egypt is put- ide Information Analysis Center; see http://mdgs. un.org/unsd/mdg/SeriesDetail.aspx?srid=749&crid= ting increasing pressure on the carrying capacity of (accessed May 2010). 20 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) including reforming the electricity sector, intro- development of GHG emissions in Egypt indi- ducing plans to reduce the energy subsidy, and cates that they may reach more than three times approving a resolution to have 20 percent of the 1990 levels by 2017, with energy-related emis- installed electricity capacity come from renew- sions remaining the major source. able energy by 2020. In addition, Egypt's National Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Strategy Egypt's abundance of energy resources and his- states that the country intends to reduce 8 million torically low energy prices have led to greater per tons of CO2 emissions annually by implementing capita energy use than in other countries at a simi- CDM projects (EEAA 2003). lar stage of economic development. Government forecasts indicate that total energy consumption Main GHG Emitters will rise from 50.8 million tons of oil equivalent in As shown in figure 3.3., the main contributors 2001 to 82.7 million tons in 2010 (MEDNET n.d.). to GHG emissions in Egypt are fuel combustion Moreover, the heavy energy price subsidy is con- in the energy sector (22 percent), in industry straining investment in the energy sector, while (19 percent), and in the transport sector (18 per- the potential for GHG reduction is not being cent). Other important contributors are agricul- properly exploited. Significant opportunities exist ture (15 percent), small combustion (9 percent), to reduce energy consumption and achieve reduc- noncombustion emissions in industry (9 percent), tions in GHG emissions by improving efficiency, and waste (5 percent). In total, energy-related reducing energy losses, developing renewable sources are responsible for 71 percent of Egypt's resources, and applying modern techniques of GHG emissions (EEAA 2003). Analysis of future cogeneration. Figure 3.3 Sector Percentage Share of Net GHG Emissions in Egypt, 1990/91 CO2 equivalent (%) 25 20 15 22% 19% 18% 10 15% 9% 9% 5 5% 3% 0 Energy Industry Transport Agriculture Small Industrial Waste Fugitive (ISIC) combustion processes emissions Source: eeAA 2003. 3. Context of the Evaluation 21 Climate Change Mitigation the loss of 30 percent of the total land area, some Egypt's Initial National Communication (INC) to 195,000 jobs, and the relocation of more than the United Nations Framework Convention on 2 million people--all of which makes climate Climate Change (UNFCCC), prepared in 1999, change a serious development concern for Egypt outlines possible options for decreasing GHG (OECD 2004). emissions in the main contributing sectors. Miti- gation measures include the following: Climate Change Adaptation Because Egypt's scarce natural resources are highly z Industry sector: energy conservation, waste vulnerable to climate change, anticipatory adapta- heat recovery, fuel substitution, and efficient tion measures are necessary. General adaptation production and transmission of energy measures have already been incorporated in the z Transport sector: energy efficiency through development plans of some governorates, such vehicle maintenance, reintroducing electrified as Alexandria, including land use changes, crop railways, extending the use of river transport, redistribution, drip irrigation, wastewater treat- and further developing metro lines ment and reuse, and law enforcement. Currently under discussion in Egypt is the introduction z Energy and power production sector: of strategic environmental assessments, which improving energy efficiency, cleaner technolo- include a component on climate change adapta- gies, switching to natural gas combined cycle, tion, as a requirement for large-scale national proj- and renewable energy use ects. The need for capacity building on regional z Agricultural sector: decreasing methane emis- circulation models for predicting rainfall patterns sions from rice cultivation, decreasing methane and water availability and adaptation techniques and CO2 emissions from livestock, and making has also been highlighted (El Raey n.d.). use of high biomass-producing crops as sinks International Waters Climate Change Vulnerability According to the INC and the UNDP Human Freshwater Availability Development Report 2006, Egypt is highly vulner- Egypt is constrained by scarce freshwater able to climate change impacts, which may jeop- resources; the Nile has a strict annual quota which ardize the country's development gains. Egypt's results in a per capita share of 809 cubic meters most vulnerable sectors in this regard are coastal per year. Water availability can be improved zones, water resources, and agriculture; one of the through reuse and by increasing efficiency- most serious threats the country faces is a sea level demand management. Total water withdrawals rise that would submerge areas of the Nile Delta are 66 cubic kilometers: approximately 86 percent and the coastal zone, and inflict serious damage of the withdrawals from the Nile are for irriga- on human settlements, agricultural lands, and tion, 8 percent for domestic use, and 6 percent for industrial areas. It is estimated that a 0.5-meter industry (EoE 2008). Thus, water availability has a sea level rise would lead to the permanent sub- direct influence on national food security. Egypt mersion of 1,800 square kilometers of cropland in is categorized as a high water stress area, in that the Nile Delta lowlands and increased soil salin- it withdraws more than 40 percent of its available ity in the remaining lands. The economic losses freshwater, and the Nile is its only surface source are estimated at over $35 billion, which includes of renewable freshwater (Van Duinen 2007). 22 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Surface Water Resources aquifer system, extending from the Western Des- Egypt has various inland water resources, all of ert in Egypt to Libya, Chad, and Sudan, covering which are part of the Nile River; these include six about 2 million square kilometers. It has been northern coastal lagoons opening to the Mediter- estimated that the total quantity of water in the ranean Sea (Mariout, Edku, Burullus, Manzala, Nubian Aquifer amounts to 375,000 cubic kilo- Port Fouad, and Bardawil) and two opening to the meters, most of which is considered nonrenew- Suez Canal (Timsah and Bitter Lakes), two closed able (IAEA n.d.). The annual natural discharge lakes (Qarun and Wadi Al Raiyan), and the large from the entire system is approximately 500 mil- reservoir behind the Aswan High Dam (Lake lion cubic meters (Government of Egypt 2003). Nasser). In addition, the Egyptian territory com- The volume of groundwater entering Egypt from prises several river basins including Libya is estimated at 1 cubic kilometer per year, and internal renewable groundwater resources are z the Northern Interior Basin, covering estimated at 1.3 cubic kilometers per year, bring- 520,881 square kilometers or 52 percent of the ing total renewable groundwater resources in country's total area, in the east and southeast; Egypt to 2.3 cubic kilometers annually. The total z the Nile Basin, covering 326,751 square kilome- actual renewable water resources of the country ters (33 percent), in a broad north-south strip; amounts to 57.3 cubic kilometers per year (WRI z the Mediterranean Coast Basin, covering 2003). 65,568 square kilometers (6 percent); Marine Resources z the Northeast Coast Basin, a narrow strip of Egypt is surrounded by two transboundary water 88,250 square kilometers along the Red Sea bodies--the Mediterranean Sea and the Red coast (8 percent) (FAO 2009). Sea--with a total coastline of 2,400 kilometers; The Nile Basin, which is shared by 10 countries, the coastal shelf area is 87,120 square kilometers. covers an area of about 3.3 million square kilo- The coastal areas are composed of different devel- meters and is 6,000 kilometers long (NBI 2009). opment sites for tourism, fisheries, industry, and Egypt lies at the downstream end of the basin. international trade. These are affected by degra- Because it receives hardly any rainfall, the country dation from maritime transport, oil and natural depends on the Nile for almost all its direct water gas exploration and production in offshore areas, requirements, including agriculture, domestic and discharge of wastes from different land-based industrial supplies, navigation, and tourism. The sources, dredging and dumping from near-shore total annual discharge of the river at Aswan is about construction activities, and leakage and discharge 84 billion cubic meters. Egypt's share of the Nile from boats and marine facilities. In 2005, the waters is 55.5 billion cubic meters per year, accord- Egyptian marine-registered fishing fleet operat- ing to the 1959 Nile Waters Agreement between ing in the Mediterranean and Red Seas fishing Egypt and Sudan (WL Delft Hydraulics n.d.). grounds consisted of 4,383 powered vessels and 30,987 sailing and rowing boats used mainly in the Groundwater Resources River Nile and the lakes. The main fishing ground The second shared water resource in Egypt is used by Egyptian vessels is the continental shelf the underground water in the Nubian Sand- off the Nile Delta, which may extend to the east- stone Aquifer. This is the world's largest fossil ern side of Port Said and, rarely, to the western 3. Context of the Evaluation 23 side of Alexandria (El Alaily 2007). In 2000, Egypt's z North coastal. These areas display the high- freshwater catch was 224,940 metric tons (WRI est rainfall rates in Egypt (100­250 millimeters 2006), while aquaculture production amounted to annually). Rangelands are the prevailing land-use 340,093 metric tons (WRI 2003). pattern. Winter cereals and drought-resistant fruit and vegetables are cultivated, supported by Land Degradation rainwater harvesting. Two canals of mixed water Land degradation and desertification are seri- (Nile and drainage) were recently introduced. ous and far-reaching problems in Egypt. There z Nile Valley and Delta. These areas demon- are four distinct agro-ecological zones in Egypt strate flat to low terracing topography. They (figure 3.4) with varied environmental attributes, are irrigated with Nile water, including 5.5 mil- including climate, geomorphology, soil and water lion feddan2 of highly fertile alluvial soils, and properties, land use, management systems of 2.5 million feddan of recently reclaimed desert available resources, and background of inhabit- ants and stakeholders. The four zones are as fol- lows (Desert Research Center 2005): 2 1 feddan = 4,200 square meters, or 0.42 hectares. Figure 3.4 Agro-Ecological Zones in Egypt Source: Desert research Center 2005. 24 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) sandy, calcareous soils. This zone is the largest causes overgrazing and the loss of plant cover contributor of food and agro-industrial com- and biodiversity. modities in Egypt. z Overexploitation of newly reclaimed desert z Inland Sinai and Eastern Desert. This zone soils through cultivation of crops of high water displays elevated lands dissected by dry valleys. and nutrient requirements leads to quick and Large water catchment areas with low and mar- serious degradation of reclaimed desert soils. ginal rainfall combined with the topography Urban encroachment is one of the major and cause floods of varying severity. Agricultural serious land degradation factors in the Old Nile activities are limited to areas using ground- Valley, which results in sizable losses of highly water. This is the major zone for oilfields and fertile areas. Agricultural land that was once used mineral ores. for biomass production is transformed to accom- z Western Desert. This zone comprises vast modate residential settlements and infrastructure. hyper-arid lands with a scattered number In 2005, following the passage of new legislation of oases depending on huge groundwater regulating such expansion, urban encroachment resources (for instance, the Nubian Aquifer). on agricultural land dropped from 30,000 feddan The zone hosts agricultural activities in the a year to 5,000 feddan (EEAA 2006b). oases and new macro-reclamation projects of desert soils such as Tushka (Nile water) and Soil and water pollution originates from varied East Owynate (groundwater). sources including overuse of agricultural chemi- cals, pesticides, sewage effluents, and industrial Land degradation and desertification processes wastes, all of which reduce the productivity and in Egypt are attributed to various factors, most of quality of agricultural products. One of the main which are human induced, including overexploita- threats is sewage and agricultural drainage water tion and mismanagement of available resources, containing fertilizers and pesticides being fed to urban encroachment, soil and water pollution, soil the Nile, deteriorating the country's major source erosion by wind and water, and sand encroachment. of irrigation water and adversely affecting irri- Overexploitation and mismanagement of avail- gated lands. able resources are among the major human- Soil erosion by wind and water and sand induced factors in land degradation: encroachment are widespread processes in many z Overuse of irrigation water leads to saliniza- areas of Egypt. The country's arid nature means tion and sodicity of highly productive soils of that it is constantly threatened by wind erosion, the Old Nile Valley and newly reclaimed desert which amplifies the desertification process-- soils. especially in the Eastern, Western, and Sinai Des- erts, which are categorized as fragile habitats hav- z Overuse of groundwater resources in the ing very little vegetation and experiencing severe oases leads to water-logging of the limited soil droughts. Some studies have concluded that the resources with heavy losses of irrigation water. wind erosion rates in Egypt amount to 5.5 tons per z Overexploitation of rangelands in the coastal hectare a year in the Western Desert oasis, and to zone leads to a surpassing of the carrying 71­100 tons per hectare a year on the northwest capacity of the available range, which in turn coast (Wassif 2002). In addition, areas along the 3. Context of the Evaluation 25 north coast, Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, south Sinai, pesticides applied to crops in the field may remain and some Eastern Desert valleys experience water on food surfaces or be incorporated into the plant. erosion, which induces desertification. Sand By ratifying the Stockholm Convention, Egypt has dunes are also vulnerable to wind erosion and agreed to reduce or eliminate the production, use, sedimentation. and release of 12 key POPs. The current status of The current use of agricultural land in Egypt is POP pesticides, industrial chemicals, and unin- characterized as among the most intensive in tended by-products is shown in table 3.3. There the world, and the land is subjected to additional is, however, no integrated information on POPs vegetation production inputs, such as irrigation, currently available in Egypt. While a National fertilization, and pesticides. These practices have Chemical Profile was prepared by the EEAA in resulted in an imbalance between production and 1999, it does not specifically address POPs beyond land maintenance. providing some information on pesticides' import and export. Alexandria has done preliminary Persistent Organic Pollutants work on establishing a pollutant release and trans- fer register for its governorate. Egypt makes substantial use of pesticides, insec- ticides, and herbicides for agricultural purposes. Egypt's laboratories are able to carry out residue Because POPs circulate globally and can cause analysis for crops, food, contaminated land, and damage wherever they travel, the POPs used and so on. However, the country has major shortcom- emitted in Egypt are of global significance as well. ings with regard to managing unintentional POPs; POPs have toxic properties; resist degradation and promoting public awareness on chemical safety; bioaccumulation; and can be transported through providing up-to-date information on POPs; data air, water, and migratory species. collection and management and dissemination of data; monitoring of toxic chemicals and assessing As in any developing country, chemicals are widely their economic, social, and health impacts; intro- used in Egyptian industry, agriculture, trade, and ducing best available technologies and best envi- health, and their use is growing as Egypt devel- ronmental practices; and, especially, land reme- ops further as an industry-based economy. While diation and right technology adoption for disposal agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals are regulated of toxic and hazardous wastes. by quality control laws and periodic monitoring and registration schemes, the industrial chemicals 3.3 Environmental Legal, used in various outlets have no strict control mea- Institutional, and Policy Framework sures, which implies a lack of information on their toxicity and environmental impact. The main challenge facing Egyptian environ- mental policy is to manage the scarce common The POPs used in Egypt are primarily organochlo- resources of water and cultivable land more effec- rine and cyclodiene pesticides used extensively to tively to meet the needs of a growing population protect cash crops. The main hazard from these that is placing enormous pressure on agricultural pesticides is that they are very persistent in the production and on nonrenewable and natural environment. Chlorinated hydrocarbons (such resources. In recent years, Egypt's environmen- as DDT) are still in use in some rural agricultural tal management capacity and performance have areas, posing the threat of food contamination, as improved, but much remains to be addressed, 26 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Table 3.3 Current Status of POPs in Egypt Chemical Status DDT banned in 1996 Aldrin banned in 1996 Dieldrin banned in 1996 Chlordane banned in 1996 endrin banned in 1996 Heptachlor banned in 1996 Hexachlorobenzene (HCb) In use by industry; evaluation under way mirex banned in 1996 Toxaphene banned in 1996 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCbs) banned in 1980; still found in numerous transformers and condensers manufac- tured between 1955 and 1977 Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and measures are under way to control unintentional emissions dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF) Source: eeAA 2005. including the loss of agricultural land to urbaniza- established a National Committee for Sustainable tion; increasing soil salinization; desertification; Development, headed by the minister of the Min- oil pollution threatening coral reefs and marine istry of State for Environmental Affairs (MSEA); habitats; water pollution from agricultural pesti- its mandate was to coordinate national efforts for cides, sewage, and industrial effluents; and rapid sustainable development and ensure the inclusion population growth overstraining the River Nile. of the environmental dimension in national devel- opment plans. The committee is currently devel- Over the past two decades, Egypt's environmental oping a National Strategy for Sustainable Develop- legal, institutional, and policy framework--as well ment (NSSD). In 2007, it launched Egypt's vision as its national capacity to tackle environmental and framework for this strategy, which identifies challenges--has evolved considerably (table 3.4). priority issues and challenges to be addressed, This section summarizes key legislation and poli- as well as 20 long-term policy goals and guiding cies in each of the GEF focal areas; for more infor- principles for their implementation. The docu- mation, see GEF EO (2009a). ment also lists policy tools for implementation and criteria for monitoring consistency of NSSD Framework for National Strategy on outputs, and outlines an approach to developing Sustainable Development sustainable development indicators. The main Aside from Egypt's five-year plans for socio- areas identified for the policy goals include eco- economic development, which were launched in nomic development and wealth creation; natural 1982 and do not explicitly address environmental resources; environmental protection and nature protection, no comprehensive strategy has guided conservation; and fairness in the distribution of the country's efforts in the sustainable develop- wealth, access to services, and social inclusion. ment field, which has resulted in a lack of coor- Each of the 20 policy goals has been assigned dination and coherence. In 2006, the government to one of five interministerial working groups 3. Context of the Evaluation 27 Table 3.4 Overview of Policy and Institutional Framework by Focal Area Focal area Policy /plan Responsible institution/entity Biodiversity NbSAP (1998) The Nature Conservation Sector was established in 1994 within the eeAA as the govern- ment body responsible for nature conservation, with one of its principal tasks being the management of egypt's national protected area network. The sector plays an executive role in the implementation of Law 102/1983; it is also the national focal point for the CbD. Climate change y Climate Change The eeAA is the national focal point for climate change agreements through its Climate Action Plan (1999) Change Unit, which was established in 1999; it coordinates and follows up on climate y INC (1999) change national strategies, policies, action plans, and activities in egypt. A National Committee on Climate Change was formed by ministerial decree in 1997 to provide the y National energy effi- institutional framework to facilitate UNFCCC implementation. Following egypt's ratification ciency Strategy (2000) of the Kyoto Protocol in 2005 and the increase in the Climate Change Unit's mandate, the y egypt's Strategy on unit is now being transformed into the Central Department for Industrial Improvement CDm (2003) and Climate Change within the eeAA. The Supreme Council for energy, headed by the prime minister, is mandated to revise national energy policies, including energy efficiency measures and incentives for renewable energy. International waters Freshwater (Nile The NbI's Strategic The ministry of Water resources and Irrigation (mWrI) is egypt's primary representative in river, Nile basin) Action Program, subpro- the NbI; the eeAA is responsible for the initiative's environmental component. grams: the basinwide Shared vision Program and Subsidiary Action Program Groundwater In 1992, a joint authority was established between egypt and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, (Nubian Aquifer) subsequently joined by Chad and Sudan, to manage the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer. The responsibilities of this authority include: collecting and updating data, formulating plans for water resource development and utilization, implementing common groundwater management policies, training technical personnel, and rationing the aquifer waters. Specifications and permits for groundwater well drilling are the responsibility of the mWrI. marine (mediterra- y mediterranean Action UNeP has served as the secretariat to the action plan since its adoption. The General nean Sea, red Sea) Plan Authority for Fish resources Development, a subsidiary of the ministry of Agriculture and y Action Plan for the Land reclamation, is the agency responsible for all planning and control activities related Conservation of the to fish production. marine environment and Coastal Areas in the red Sea and Gulf of Aden (adopted in 1982, revised in 1999) Inland water y egypt master Plan Policies for efficient allocation of water are drawn up and carried out by the mWrI, which resources for Water resources also conducts periodic monitoring of water quality in Upper and Lower egypt canals and Development (1980) waterways. The ministry of Health and Population monitors water quality in major canals, y egyptian National while the mSeA plays a role in water quality protection by enforcing waste treatment for Water resources Plan industrial enterprises and preventing their drainage into the waterways. (1990) Land degradation egyptian National A National Coordination Committee on Combating Desertification was formed in 2001, Action Program to headed by the Ceo of the eeAA, with the mandate of formulating and implementing the Combat Desertification National Action Program for Combating Desertification. Later that year, the committee (2005) came under the chairmanship of the ministry of Agriculture and Land reclamation, which at this time also became the focal point for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, while the Desert research Center became the convention's implementing body. The executive Authority for Land Improvement Projects is charged with initiating programs to improve the productivity of cultivated land. POPs NIP (2005) ministries responsible for enforcing PoPs-related laws include the ministries of Agriculture and Land reclamation, Health and Population, Industry, and manpower and Immigration. 28 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) established in 2006 and comprised of researchers activities, and addressed several significant gaps and decision makers. When the preparatory steps in the legal framework for environmental protec- of the NSSD process are completed, data collec- tion neglected by the earlier water pollution and tion and analysis toward assessing the existing waste management laws. The law authorizes the baseline sustainability conditions will begin, along EEAA to regulate air pollution, control hazardous with a review of the existing policy framework. substances and waste management, and control discharges to marine waters; it also provides the Legislation and Key Cross-Cutting Policy EEAA with tools for implementing and enforcing Legal Framework these provisions, including traditional regulatory controls, economic instruments, environmental Over the past four decades, Egypt has adopted impact assessments and compliance monitoring, a substantial number of laws and regulations and inspection authorities. Amendments to Law addressing various aspects of environmental 4/1994 were approved by the Egyptian Parliament protection and management. While the legal in early 2009; these aimed to further strengthen framework still needs to be refined and comple- environmental management in Egypt. mented, the existing laws and regulations provide the government with an adequate legal authority Additional relevant legislation pertaining to the for environmental planning, pollution preven- GEF focal areas includes the following: tion and control, and natural resource manage- ment. Implementation and enforcement of the z Law 102/1983 provides the legal framework regulatory framework have not been sufficiently for the establishment and management of pro- effective, however, largely because of fragmented tected areas in Egypt. institutional responsibilities, poor coordination, z Law 48/1982 is the main instrument for water and weak institutional structures and capacities quality management, covering the protection (EcoConServ 2003). of the River Nile and waterways from pollution from various sources. The first comprehensive environment law in Egypt, Environmental Protection Law No. 4, was enacted z Law 12/1984 regulates irrigation, water distri- in 1994, combining four separate existing laws per- bution, and groundwater management in the taining to environmental management and land, Nile Valley and Delta, and the establishment air, and marine pollution. Law 4/1994 establishes a and maintenance of drainage canals. legal and policy framework that created the EEAA z Law 124/1983 regulates fisheries resources in as an independent body endowed with a budget Egypt, and describes technical measures for line and granted it the authority and responsi- different fishing methods and minimum sizes bility to promote and protect the environment.3 for target species. The law also created the Environmental Protec- tion Fund, to finance environmental management z Law 5/1966, amended in 1983, regulates the transfer of materials of agricultural soils to be 3 The EEAA was established in 1982 and restruc- used for nonagricultural purposes. tured in 1992 to address environmental issues in Egypt. z Law 21/1958 sets rules for regulating indus- In 1997, the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs was created, and the EEAA became the ministry's tech- try in the production, handling, and import of nical arm. industrial chemicals. 3. Context of the Evaluation 29 z Law 874/1996 prohibits the use, import, han- z Strengthening partnership at the national level dling, and preparation of potential carcino- z Supporting bilateral, regional, and multilateral genic pesticides. environmental agreements Environmental Policy and Institutional z Enforcing Law 4/1994 for environmental pro- Overview tection and Law 102/1983 for nature protection The NEAP, developed in consultation with central z Supporting institutional strengthening and and local public bodies and NGOs, was launched capacity building at central and local levels in 2002 and represents Egypt's agenda for envi- ronmental actions for the period 2002­17. It is z Supporting integrated environmental manage- designed to be one of the three entry points to ment systems a strategic coordinating framework for future z Integrating the use of market-based instru- environmental activities in support of sustain- ments in the protection of the environment able development, and it complements and inte- grates sectoral plans for economic growth and z The transfer and adoption of environmentally social development. The NEAP provides the basis friendly technologies for developing local environmental initiatives, actions, and activities. It includes programs and Relevant International Treaties and Protocols projects that address water resources, air pollu- Table 3.5 lists the conventions relevant to the GEF tion, land, marine environment, solid waste man- focal areas to which Egypt is a party. agement, biological diversity including biosafety, cultural heritage, desertification, and natural envi- Official Development Assistance ronmental hazards.4 The Technical Cooperation Office for the Envi- ronment was established in 1992, with the sup- Each NEAP program consists of three major com- port of a number of donor agencies. The office's ponents: information and monitoring, preven- mandate was, among other things, to collaborate tive and/or corrective measures, and supportive with donor agencies in designing and preparing measures. The EEAA is responsible for most of projects identified in the NEAP. Since the launch the information and monitoring activities, as well of the NEAP, Egypt has received assistance for as some supportive measures such as awareness environment-related activities from 19 interna- and capacity building. Most of the corrective and preventive measures are intended to be included tional donor organizations. During the 1991­2001 in the environmental plans of central and local period, the total amount of donor funds allocated agencies. to the environment reached nearly LE 2.4 billion (about $420 million). This amount is distributed The most recent policy directives targeting the among 51 environmental programs and projects, environmental sector were issued by the MSEA with multilateral assistance of LE 0.6 billion (about minister in 2004 (EEAA 2004), and can be sum- $150 million) and bilateral assistance of LE 1.8 bil- marized as follows: lion (about $313 million) (World Bank 2005). The seven largest donors during this period Climate change is not included among the envi- 4 ronmental challenges NEAP programs address, but is include the U.S. Agency for International Devel- mentioned in a section on international cooperation. opment (USAID), the Danish International 30 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Table 3.5 Relevant Conventions for GEF Focal Areas Conventions by focal area Year ratified Effective date Biodiversity UN Convention on biological Diversity 1994 December 1992 Convention on International Trade in endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna 1978 July 1975 Cartagena biosafety Protocol 2004 September 2003 Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat 1988 may 2000 (ramsar Convention) Convention on the Conservation of migratory Species of Wild Animals 1983 April 1986 Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1974 September 1982 Agreement on the Conservation on African-eurasian migratory Water birds 1995 November 1999 Protocol Concerning mediterranean Specially Protected Areas 1982 December 1999 African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural resources 1972 october 1969 Climate change UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 1994 June 1994 Kyoto Protocol 2005 February 2005 International waters Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes Accession February 2007 and other matter UN Law of the Sea Convention 1983 August 1983 Convention for the Protection of the marine environment and the Coastal region of the 1978 February 1978, mediterranean (barcelona Convention) revised July 1995 regional Convention for the Conservation of the red Sea and Gulf of Aden (Jeddah 1982 1982 Convention) Ozone depletion montreal Protocol: Protection of the ozone Layer 1988 march 1993 Land degradation International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries experiencing Drought 1995 June 1996 and/or Desertification Particularly in Africa Persistent organic pollutants basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary movements of Hazardous Wastes and 1993 october 1997 Their Disposal Stockholm Convention on Persistent organic Pollutants 2003 may 2004 Development Agency, the World Bank, the Ozone programs sponsored by USAID and the Danish Multilateral Fund in Montreal, Germany (through International Development Agency. Industrial the German Agency for Technical Cooperation pollution abatement and air pollution accounted [GTZ] and KfW Entwicklungsbank), the GEF, and for 26 percent of the total; this was mainly pro- the Canadian International Development Agency, vided through KfW and the World Bank.5 Some with the GEF being the sixth largest donor. Over 40 percent of this assistance was channeled through This funding was in addition to GEF grants imple- 5 policy support and environmental management mented through the World Bank. 3. Context of the Evaluation 31 90 percent of total environmental assistance was Development, the Food and Agriculture Orga- in the form of grants. nization of the United Nations (FAO), the Inter- American Development Bank, the International Support for environmental legal and regulatory Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and capacity strengthening has been carried out in the United Nations Industrial Development Orga- Egypt since the mid-1990s by the Danish Interna- nization (UNIDO). The GEF Agencies have direct tional Development Agency, USAID, Italy, and the access to GEF funding through a memorandum of Japan International Cooperation Agency. Interna- understanding with the GEF. tional donors (USAID, European Union member states, the European Investment Bank, Japan, and GEF support modalities include the following: the World Bank) have also allocated $2.3 billion z Full-size projects--those with funding of for the water supply and sanitation, irrigation and more than $1 million drainage, and solid and hazardous waste man- agement sectors. Donors have thus contributed z Medium-size projects--those with funding of to putting the environment on the government's less than $1 million agenda, in addition to building the environmen- z Small grants--those with funding of less than tal infrastructure and developing national and $50,000, directed at NGOs; small GEF grants local capacity in major line ministries and within are administered by the GEF SGP selected governorates (World Bank 2005). z Enabling activities, which are intended to help GEF support to Egypt over the 1991­2008 period countries meet their obligations under the vari- totals $87.87 million; SGP projects in Egypt have ous conventions the GEF services received $4.32 million over the same period. Chap- z Project preparation grants, which were for- ter 6 further discusses GEF funding in the context merly known as project development facility of overall ODA to Egypt for the environment. (PDF) grants; these provide funding for the preparation and development of projects 3.4 The GEF in Egypt The GEF provides new and additional funding The GEF officially began with a pilot phase tak- to cover the "incremental" costs associated with ing place in 1991­94. This was followed by three transforming a project with national benefits into regular four-year replenishment periods: GEF-1 one that achieves global environmental benefits (1995­98), GEF-2 (1999­2002), and GEF-3 in the focal areas of biodiversity, climate change, (2003­06). GEF-4 was initiated in July 2006 and international waters, land degradation, and POPs, will continue until 2010. Through GEF-3, eligible in accordance with their respective international GEF member countries submitted their requests conventions, protocols, and agreements. through the various GEF Agencies on a demand basis. This practice was changed in GEF-4 with UNDP, UNEP, and the World Bank were the three the introduction of the Resource Allocation original Agencies implementing GEF projects; Framework for two of the six focal areas (biodi- seven additional organizations have joined the versity and climate change).6 GEF partnership over the years, namely the Afri- can Development Bank, the Asian Development More information about the RAF can be found at 6 Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and www.thegef.org. 32 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) The New GEF Project Cycle findings of the Midterm Review of the RAF (con- Following an evaluation of the GEF project cycle ducted by the GEF Evaluation Office in 2008) and conducted in 2006, which, among other findings, donor negotiations for the fifth GEF replenish- concluded that the GEF Activity Cycle was not ment (to be concluded in 2010), the RAF is likely sufficiently effective or efficient, the GEF Council to undergo changes. and GEF CEO took steps to simplify the project The global significance of Egypt's biodiversity and approval process by consolidating the steps in the its CO2 emissions have been recognized through cycle and reducing the documentation require- the application of the GEF Benefits Index under ments. PIFs can now be submitted on a rolling basis, the RAF. Accordingly, Egypt has received an indi- accompanied by an endorsement from the national vidual allocation for both biodiversity ($4.3 mil- operational focal point. FSPs have to be endorsed lion) and climate change ($11.5 million) under by the CEO within 22 months from the date of GEF-4. Egypt's GEF Benefit Index rating for bio- Council approval of the work program; MSPs have diversity is 21.5, which represents 0.3 percent of to be granted CEO approval within 12 months of the total index share; its rating for climate change PIF approval. In addition to expediting the approval is 53139, which is 0.8 percent of the total share. process, the new project cycle paves the way for more strategic programming of GEF resources and The GEF Focal Point Mechanism provides a more transparent decision-making pro- Egypt has one GEF operational focal point and cess by posting all documents and decisions related one political focal point. The operational focal to each PIF on the GEF Web site. point, the CEO of the EEAA, endorses project proposals proposed by the GEF National Steering GEF-4 (2006­10) and the RAF Committee (see below), affirming that they are In September 2005, the GEF Council adopted consistent with national plans and priorities. The the RAF, a system for allocating GEF resources operational focal point also ensures the effective to recipient countries for the biodiversity and engagement and coordination of stakeholders at climate change focal areas, to be implemented the country level. in GEF-4. Allocations are made individually, as a country allocation, or to a group of countries, as a The political focal point, housed within the Min- group allocation, and are derived from the index istry of Foreign Affairs, focuses primarily on gov- assigned to each country based on its potential ernance issues and policies, and represents Egypt biodiversity and climate change global benefits in the Conferences of Parties to the UNFCCC, and country performance. The objective of the the CBD, and the United Nations Convention to RAF system is to allocate resources to countries Combat Desertification (UNCCD); it does not, in a transparent and consistent manner based on however, serve as the national focal point to the global environmental priorities and the relevance conventions. of country capacity, policies, and priorities. Fund- ing allocations for the international waters, land The History of GEF Coordination in Egypt degradation, POPs, and ozone focal areas are not In the 1990s, the Technical Cooperation Office subject to the RAF, but still function on a demand for the Environment, as noted above, managed basis; it has not yet been decided whether these and coordinated donor-funded projects, includ- areas will become part of the RAF. Following the ing GEF projects. The office reviewed proposals 3. Context of the Evaluation 33 for donors, and it was--according to people inter- The GEF Unit is currently funded in part by the viewed for this evaluation--staffed by personnel GEF-supported project "Mainstreaming Global possessing sufficient technical qualifications for Environment in National Plans and Policies by this review and for ensuring compliance with Strengthening the Monitoring and Reporting Sys- GEF principles and operational programs. It was tem for Multilateral Environmental Agreements" dissolved in 1998, and responsibility for the GEF (GEF ID 3190). The unit was directly placed under portfolio moved to the Department for Multilat- the EEAA CEO, to ensure sustainability and eral Cooperation, later renamed the International facilitate communication with and coordination Affairs Department. among stakeholders. The decision to place the unit directly under the CEO, and not under the However, roles and responsibilities regarding the International Affairs Department, stems not only preparation, design, and implementation of GEF from the prominence accorded the GEF, but also projects were at that point not quite clear. Among from the GEF's complexity in terms of both pro- other things, this meant that various technical cesses and substance. departments approached the EEAA CEO directly with project proposals to be endorsed, without The mandate of the GEF Unit is to maintain necessarily passing them through the Interna- records of the GEF portfolio, support the initia- tional Affairs Department, resulting in confusion tion of project ideas, assist in project preparation and inefficiency. in cooperation with the respective convention focal points and GEF Agencies, and consult and Thus, coordination of GEF support has changed coordinate with stakeholders. Once a project is hands over time, and institutionalizing GEF coor- approved, it goes to the technical entity respon- dination has been rather challenging. Neverthe- sible for execution, ending the GEF Unit's involve- less, GEF projects in Egypt have been prepared ment at the operational level. The unit subse- and approved in all replenishment periods. quently participates in projects' midterm reviews. Establishment of the GEF National Steering Since the adoption of the RAF, the unit is also Committee and the GEF Unit responsible for, in collaboration with the National Steering Committee, prioritizing the use of allo- In 2004, a decree calling for the establishment of cated resources based on the NEAP and sectoral a GEF National Steering Committee was drafted; plans and policies. Furthermore, the GEF opera- this decree was approved by the current MSEA tional focal point in Egypt is a constituency repre- minister in 2006. Subsequent to its establish- sentative at the GEF Council, which entails addi- ment, the committee requested the assistance of tional work for the GEF Unit and the focal point. a technical secretariat to coordinate and support GEF involvement is also considered within the its activities. This task was assigned to the proj- five-year plans prepared by the MSEA, and the ect management of the GEF National Capacity ministry reports annually on this program, with Self-Assessment for Environmental Management relevant cofinancing for GEF projects being part (NCSA) project, which performed this function of its budget. until project completion at the end of 2007. The NCSA project management unit was subsequently The GEF National Steering Committee is made transformed into the GEF Unit, established in Jan- up of 18 representatives from the MSEA, the uary 2008 as a project output of the NCSA. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Water 34 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Resources and Irrigation (MWRI), the Ministry proposals submitted to the committee. Govern- of Electricity, and the Ministry of Agriculture, in ment agencies submit their proposals according to addition to national experts in GEF focal areas these criteria; the committee reviews the project (including the convention focal points) and rep- proposals and selects the appropriate Implement- resentatives from UNDP, UNEP, the World Bank, ing Agency according to its comparative advan- and NGOs. The majority of members hold direc- tage. The project proposals are endorsed by the tor-level positions, and the rest are experts in committee, with an endorsement letter signed by their respective fields. The committee is chaired the operational focal point for GEF pipeline entry. by a former executive secretary of UNEP. Its Project documents are signed by the executing mandate includes assessing previous and current agency, Implementing Agency, and Ministry of GEF projects at the national level and developing Foreign Affairs subsequent to GEF approval and a GEF country action plan, in consultation with before project start-up. relevant ministries that set country priorities and needs, including concept ideas and proposals. As The SGP has its own steering committee, which a general rule, the committee meets every three includes representatives from the Ministry of months, as well as on a demand basis, and docu- Social Solidarity, NGOs, academia, the private ments its deliberations in meeting minutes. Selec- sector, GEF Agencies, and the GEF Unit, as well as tion criteria for submitting proposals have been experts in the GEF focal areas. The SGP National devised by the steering committee (box 3.1) and Steering Committee has a supervisory and moni- disseminated to relevant government entities, toring function, adopting all strategic decisions which has increased the rate of relevant project and playing an important role in monitoring and Box 3.1 National Criteria for Selection of GEF Projects Project proposals submitted for approval by egypt's operational focal point should address the following: z Identify the magnitude of the problem to address, as well as the number of people and areas affected or benefiting z ensure consistency with the NeAP and sectoral plans such as the Climate Change Action Plan, the NbSAP, the desertifica- tion action plan, and the NIP z Generate global environmental benefits z Provide concrete local benefits z Show a potential for replication z ensure full participation of stakeholders in the design and implementation phases z Develop an exit strategy as an integral part of the project to ensure its sustainability z Provide an estimate of total project costs identifying the egyptian contribution, including that of the private sector, the amount needed from the GeF as incremental cost, and the likelihood of the GeF contribution leveraging resources from other financing institutions z ensure that the project has positive impacts on one or more of the GeF thematic areas (mainstreaming concept) z Develop environmental and social impact assessments for the proposed project z Develop a clear monitoring and evaluation system with indicators to measure progress toward achieving project outputs z ensure a high likelihood for the success of the project 3. Context of the Evaluation 35 evaluation. It has three technical subcommittees support to grantees. Given the large number of on climate change, biodiversity, and international SGP projects in Egypt (approximately 220), the waters. These subcommittees meet to decide committee has developed a scheme to document on new projects and occasionally give technical approved and rejected projects. 36 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) 4. The GEF Portfolio in Egypt This chapter presents an overview of GEF support also inconsistent when compared with the other to Egypt. It summarizes the financial resources sources. However, it was possible to assemble a involved and examines projects by modality, focal comprehensive picture of the GEF portfolio by area, Implementing Agency, national executing integrating all the available databases. agency, and GEF replenishment period. Egypt's portfolio is a young one in that it has only As in most GEF-eligible countries, there is no a small number of completed projects, with the overarching plan or strategy guiding GEF support majority having been recently approved or just in Egypt. Consequently, the GEF country port- commencing implementation. The portfolio con- folio consists of a number of projects that were sists of the full range of GEF grant modalities: approved and implemented in relative isolation enabling activities, MSPs, FSPs, the SGP, the Spe- from each other. cial Climate Change Fund (SCCF),1 and funding for project preparation. This last type of funding has changed over time and includes the previously 4.1 Limitations of Portfolio Data at used mechanism of PDF grants (classified as either the Country Level A, B, or C for grants up to $25,000, $350,000, or It is difficult to ascertain the actual allocation of $1 million, respectively); and the currently used GEF funding to any recipient country, as portfo- project preparation grants. lios continue to develop and change through the The implementation costs for regional and global months over which an evaluation is conducted. projects are not readily available and are difficult Moreover, it is particularly difficult to identify the to segregate. Because GEF grants are allocated for regional and global allocations to a given country; the entire regional or global project and not nec- this is further detailed below. essarily by country, some countries would have Egypt has a considerable portfolio of projects, budgets allocated for the national components of which makes determining the actual allocations the projects, whereas other countries would be of GEF funding neither a minor nor a straight- included in regional or global activities funded forward exercise. Database information is not consistent across the GEF Secretariat Web site, 1 The SCCF is a separate fund established under the the Project Management Information System, or UNFCCC in 2001; the GEF, as the entity that operates the GEF Agencies. GEF project listings from the the financial mechanism, has been entrusted to operate recently established GEF Unit at the EEAA are it, which it does through the GEF Secretariat. 37 from the regional budget. In GEF-4, the grants 4.2 Projects in the GEF Egyptian for regional and global projects under the RAF Portfolio are made up of specific country contributions.2 However, a group of global programs, including Table 4.1 presents the GEF Egyptian portfolio-- the SGP and the SCCF, have clear national allo- including national, regional, and global projects-- cations. Funding from these programs is allocated in terms of number of projects by focal area, Imple- according to phases that do not coincide with the menting Agency, and modality. Table 4.2 shows GEF operational phases and are multifocal rather GEF funding to national projects by modality. A than by GEF focal area. listing of GEF support to 19 national, 17 regional, and 6 global completed, ongoing, or in pipeline Given these limitations, the evaluation estimates projects, and to the SGP in Egypt as a whole, is that, as of the end of December 2008, Egypt had shown in annex C; the annex also lists prepipeline, received about $87.87 million for national proj- canceled, and dropped projects. ects. In addition, the national component of the SGP had distributed $4.32 million, thus making Figure 4.1 presents an overview of the support the total amount Egypt had received at that point given by focal area throughout the GEF's involve- $92.19 million. These projects vary from relatively ment in Egypt from 1991 through 2008, covering small investments for enabling activities to larger all replenishment periods to date. The data shown FSPs. in the figure do not include funding for the SGP or projects in the pipeline. Table 4.3 summarizes the main objectives of GEF- supported activities in Egypt by focal area and With the introduction of the RAF, allocations for 2 modality; the remainder of this section details biodiversity and climate change projects are clearer, this summary of the portfolio by focal area. It even with regard to regional and global projects, is within this context that the evaluation has because the country must agree on an amount from its been conducted; impacts have been aggregated RAF allocations. Table 4.1 Projects in the GEF Egypt Portfolio International Land Biodiversity Climate change waters degradation POPs Multifocal Agency EA MSP FSP EA MSP FSP EA MSP FSP EA MSP FSP EA MSP FSP EA MSP FSP Total UNDP 2N 2N 1N 3N 1N 1N 1N 1N 20 2r 1r 2r 2r 1G UNeP 3N 1N 1r 1r 1r 11 3G 1G UNIDo 1N 1r 2 World bank 1N 1N 2r 1r 2r 8 1r IFAD 1r 1 Total 6 2 5 2 1 6 0 3 7 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 2 3 42 Note: eA = enabling activity; G = global; N = national; r = regional. 38 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Table 4.2 catalyzing the sustainability of protected area sys- GEF Funding by Project Modality tems, mainstreaming biodiversity in production Project modality Total (million $) landscapes/seascapes and sectors, safeguarding enabling activities 1.60 biodiversity, and building capacity with regard mSPs 2.99 to access and benefit sharing. This scope implies FSPs 83.28 that the range of the portfolio is extensive, with Total 87.87 resources and projects aimed at addressing each of these GEF strategic objectives. Figure 4.1 Among the three completed MSPs and FSPs, Distribution of GEF Funding to Focal Areas across "Red Sea Coastal and Marine Resource Manage- GEF Phases ment" (GEF ID 66, implemented by the World Bank) aimed at protecting biodiversity, particularly Million $ coral reefs, endemic island wildlife, and diverse 60 marine environments; and preventing pollution 0.20 0.50 1.06 in the Red Sea. "Conservation of Wetland and 50.85 Coastal Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Region" 20 Multifocal (MedWetCoast, GEF ID 410, implemented by POPs International waters UNDP) sought to conserve globally endangered Biodiversity Climate change species and their habitats, as well as improve the 10 0.50 5.26 capacity of relevant agencies to address biodiver- 0.83 3.62 sity conservation issues. The objective of "Pro- 4.75 4.29 4.00 0 0.40 0.30 0.80 moting Best Practices for Conservation and Sus- Pilot GEF-1 GEF-2 GEF-3 GEF-4 tainable Use of Biodiversity of Global Significance phase in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones" (GEF ID 23, imple- mented by UNEP) was to identify and disseminate best practices for biodiversity conservation in arid and outcomes identified (these are outlined in and semi-arid ecosystems. This last was a global chapter 5). project without a national component, but with some activities in Egypt. Portfolio by Focal Area and Project Status The three enabling activities focused on build- Biodiversity ing capacity to support the objectives of the Con- The majority of projects in Egypt's GEF portfolio vention on Biological Diversity by preparing the are in the biodiversity focal area: nine completed first National Communication to the CBD and the projects, three ongoing, one in pipeline, and 1one NBSAP, updating the National Biodiversity Clear- dropped. Biodiversity is one of the GEF's earli- ing-House Mechanism, and assessing capacity- est focal areas, which explains its prominence in building needs in biodiversity management and Egypt, which has participated with the GEF since conservation in Egypt. its inception. More enabling activities have taken place in biodiversity (six) than in any other focal Regarding the three projects under implementa- area. The biodiversity portfolio has targeted all of tion, "Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medic- the GEF's long-term strategic objectives, including inal Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems" 4. The GEF Portfolio in Egypt 39 Table 4.3 Main Objectives of GEF-Supported Activities in Egypt by Focal Area and Modality Focal area FSP MSP Enabling activity SGP biodiversity y Protection and management y National biosafety law y NbSAP y Field research of wetland sites y Identifying and disseminating y First National and species y Protection of coastal and best practices for conserving report to the conservation marine resources and sustainably using biodi- CbD y Awareness rais- y Conservation and sustainable versity of global significance in y biodiversity ing, training use of medicinal plants arid and semi-arid ecosystems Clearing-House y mainstreaming conservation mechanism of migratory birds y Assessment of y Strengthening protected area capacity-building financing needs y research, training Climate y removing barriers to energy y Promoting environmentally y Supporting y Sustainable change conservation and efficiency sustainable transport national commu- transport y reducing long-term costs nications to the y bioenergy of low-GHG-emitting UNFCCC y Capacity build- technologies y Capacity building ing and aware- y Promoting adoption of renew- in priority areas ness raising able energy y Adaptation to climate change International y Improving coastal and marine y Integrating renewable ground- waters environments of the red Sea water resources into national and Gulf of Aden through water budget in arid regions activities under the SAP y Developing framework for sus- y Fostering multistate coopera- tainable management and use tion on priority water concerns of the Nubian Aquifer system y Determining priority actions in y Integrating groundwater con- implementing the SAP for the siderations in the Nile basin mediterranean Sea y Demonstrating the effective- ness of engineered wetlands y ICZm Plan PoPs Demonstrating sustain- NIP able alternatives to DDT and strengthening national vector control capabilities multifocal mainstreaming the global NCSA for envi- environment in national plans ronmental by strengthening monitoring management and reporting for multilateral environmental agreements (GEF ID 776, implemented by UNDP) aims to (GEF ID 2824, implemented by UNEP) involves ensure conservation and sustainable use of glob- implementing the objectives of the Cartagena Pro- ally significant medicinal plant biodiversity in tocol on Biosafety by, among other things, prepar- St. Katherine's Protectorate. "Support the Imple- ing a functional regulatory regime. "Mainstream- mentation of the National Biosafety Framework" ing Conservation of Migratory Soaring Birds into 40 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Key Productive Sectors along the Rift Valley/ impacts, and project proposal development. The Red Sea Flyway" (GEF ID 1028, implemented by latter--which is considered the former's second UNDP) seeks to ensure that globally threatened phase and involved implementation of some of the and significant soaring birds that migrate along results of the INC--aimed at establishing, broad- the Rift Valley and across the Red Sea are effec- ening, and strengthening climate change institu- tively maintained. tions to assess technology needs and design, eval- uate, and host projects. In the pipeline, "Strengthening Protected Area Financing and Management Systems" (GEF ID One national MSP was completed: "Introduction 3209, implemented by UNDP), with its prepara- of Viable Electric and Hybrid-Electric Bus Tech- tory phase under way, aims to establish a com- nology" (GEF ID 31). It sought to reduce GHG prehensive, ecologically representative, and effec- emissions by introducing a viable program for tively managed national protected area system in replacing diesel buses with electric, hybrid-elec- Egypt. tric, and, as applicable, fuel cell buses in historic sites, protectorates, and newly designed cities in Climate Change Egypt. Egypt has participated in 12 climate change Due to its limited regional coverage (just Egypt projects, most of which address mitigation and and the Palestinian Authority), the completed FSP one--funded by the SCCF--addressing adapta- "Energy Efficiency Improvement and Greenhouse tion. Of these 12, 4 have been completed, 5 are Gas Reductions" (GEF ID 267) was regarded by either ongoing or in the pipeline, 1 is prepipeline,3 Egypt as essentially a national project. It aimed and 1 each has been canceled or dropped; 10 are to remove technical, institutional, financial, and national projects, 1 is regional, and 1 is global. cultural barriers to energy conservation and effi- Of the four completed projects, all of which were ciency; its global environmental objective was implemented by UNDP, two are enabling activi- to reduce GHG emissions through increased ties supporting national communications to the efficiency in electricity transmission and the UNFCCC: "Building Capacity for GHG Inven- expanded use of cogeneration to supply power to tory and Action Plans in Response to UNFCCC the national electricity grid. Communications Obligations" (GEF ID 282) One global and four national projects have begun and "Climate Change Enabling Activity (Addi- or are about to start. Most notably, the World tional Financing for Capacity Building in Priority Bank­implemented "Solar Thermal Hybrid Areas)" (GEF ID 827). The former project pro- Project" (GEF ID 1040), which at $50.85 million moted technical assistance and capacity building accounts for the largest GEF grant in the Egyptian in Egypt through the enhancement of institu- portfolio, started implementation almost one year tional networks, development of GHG inventory ago. The other three national projects are UNDP assessments, training of personnel, establishment FSPs: "Bioenergy for Sustainable Rural Develop- of policy dialogues, evaluation of climate change ment" (GEF ID 1335), "Sustainable Transport" mitigation initiatives, review of climate change (GEF ID 2776), and "Adaptation to Climate Change in the Nile Delta through Integrated Coastal Zone 3 "Industrial Energy Efficiency" (GEF ID 3742, to be Management" (GEF ID 3242); the latter is the first implemented by UNIDO). project in Egypt to be financed from the SCCF. The 4. The GEF Portfolio in Egypt 41 global project, "Fuel Cells Financing Initiative for these, the demonstration projects mentioned Distributed Generation Applications (Phase 1)" above, are national projects: the Lake Manzala (GEF ID 1685, implemented by the World Bank effort is a completed FSP; the groundwater project and executed by the International Finance Corpo- is an ongoing MSP. Both projects aim to balance ration), seeks to promote fuel cell technology in overuse and conflicting uses of water resources GEF-eligible countries through three demonstra- in surface and groundwater basins that are trans- tion projects; it is not clear at this point if the proj- boundary in nature, with Lake Manzala also ect will make a contribution to Egypt. aligned to the nutrient reduction strategic priority. There is a noticeable spread of projects in the cli- The other two key projects are ongoing regional mate change focal area among several operational FSPs with national components: namely the two programs and GEF strategic priorities, which indi- phases of the "Nile Transboundary Environmental cates that results among all operational programs Action Project" (NTEAP), the first of which (GEF and GEF strategic priorities can be expected. ID 1094) is implemented jointly by the World Bank and UNDP, and the second of which (GEF ID International Waters 2584) is a recently CEO-endorsed UNDP project.4 The international waters portfolio in Egypt is In its entirety, the NTEAP is a $43.6 million mul- substantive, comprising 11 projects; when rel- tidonor regional effort, covering nine Nile Basin evant initiatives in the multifocal and biodiversity countries and executed by the Nile Basin Initiative areas are added to these, the portfolio encom- Secretariat. It aims at achieving socioeconomic passes 15 projects in all. This breadth makes for development through equitable utilization of Nile a useful opportunity to look at the achievements Basin resources. Its development objectives are to and shortcomings of a large number of national, regional, and global projects in the international z enhance analytic capacity for a basinwide per- waters focal area from a country perspective. spective to support the sustainable develop- ment, management, and protection of the Nile Aside from two one-off pilot demonstration proj- Basin water; ects implemented by UNDP--"Lake Manzala Engineered Wetlands" (GEF ID 395) and "Devel- z engage the full spectrum of stakeholders, from oping Renewable Groundwater Resources in local communities to top national policy mak- Arid Lands: A Pilot Case--The Eastern Desert ers, from elementary schools to universities, of Egypt" (GEF ID 985)--the GEF's international and from NGOs to line ministries. waters projects are divided into four strategic and There is another national project, the MSP "Main- geographical clusters: the Red Sea, the Nile Basin, streaming Groundwater Considerations in the the Nubian Aquifer, and the Mediterranean Sea. Integrated Management of the Nile River Basin" Most projects that have been implemented to date (GEF ID 3321, implemented by UNDP), that is involve the Nile Basin and the Mediterranean Sea; most establish the groundwork and lay the foun- 4 The NTEAP was initially one project, but was dation for future project investments. divided into two phases because of a shortage of funds on the part of the GEF Trustee at the time of submis- Four projects particularly contributed to an in- sion. While all the World Bank components were fully depth review of impacts and outcomes of the funded from the initial GEF allocation, the UNDP Egyptian international waters portfolio. Two of components required a second submission to the GEF. 42 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) also currently under implementation. It focuses central to the concerns of all the projects, it plays on the Nile's water and groundwater, reinforcing an important role in the development strategy for the fact that this is the most important water body the Nile Basin. in Egypt. Other ongoing projects in the international waters Several completed regional projects that were exe- area include the regional initiative "Formulation cuted over the years with no or limited national of an Action Programme for the Integrated Man- components in Egypt are here reviewed and dis- agement of the Shared Nubian Aquifer" (GEF cussed insofar as they are relevant to results on ID 2020, implemented by UNDP) and the global the outcome and impact level in Egypt. These project "Building Partnerships to Assist Develop- include "Implementation of the Strategic Action ing Countries to Reduce the Transfer of Harm- Programme (SAP) for the Red Sea and Gulf of ful Aquatic Organisms in Ships' Ballast Water" Aden" (GEF ID 340, implemented by UNDP), (GloBallast Partnerships; GEF ID 2261, imple- which was executed by the PERSGA and has-- mented by UNDP). Prepipeline is the "Alexandria among other activities--established the Marine Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project"; Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (MEMAC), which Alexandria was identified as one of the hotspots now employs five staff members and operates eligible for funding from the World Bank­GEF on member fees; and "Determination of Priority Investment Fund for the Large Marine Ecosystem Actions for the Further Elaboration and Imple- Partnership. mentation of the Strategic Action Programme A quick glance at Egypt's regional and global port- for the Mediterranean Sea" (GEF ID 461, imple- folio reveals a significant number of international mented by UNEP), which builds on the Mediter- waters projects; but with few national activities ranean SAP adopted by the parties to the Barce- and no specific budget allocation, the country lona Convention. has not achieved tangible environmental benefits Ongoing projects with a national component in from these projects. These projects have revolved Egypt pertain to the NTEAP, and the NTEAP around developing SAPs, fostering regional col- itself is one of eight regional capacity-building laboration, determining priority actions, and for- projects executed through the Shared Vision Pro- mulating action plans. Thus, Egypt's involvement gram financed under the NBI umbrella. This pro- to date has been in the form of collaboration and gram aims to achieve sustainable socioeconomic dialogue: participating in workshops, stakeholder development through the equitable utilization consultations, and working groups. The establish- of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin ment of these regional frameworks and action water resources (NBI 2001, figure 1). Four of plans has benefited Egypt indirectly; once these the NBI projects, including the NTEAP, are the- plans and programs are in place, with visible activ- matic and address environmental management, ities linked to in-country components, there is a power trade, water use in agriculture, and water good chance that Egypt will benefit still further resource management. The other four projects from GEF support in this focal area. Moreover, build stakeholder confidence, train stakeholders, these regional international waters projects have and promote socioeconomic development. Since facilitated strategic meetings of neighboring coun- the NTEAP is the first of both families of projects tries. The Nubian Aquifer project, which involves to be implemented and since the environment is Chad, Egypt, Libya, and Sudan, is an example of 4. The GEF Portfolio in Egypt 43 a project where GEF support has contributed but nothing had yet transpired at the time of this to countries gathering to initiate a dialogue that evaluation. might otherwise not have taken place. Multifocal POPs The portfolio includes six multifocal projects, two Egypt has received GEF support for three POPs of which are national and four regional. Since the project--one national enabling activity and two latter do not have a national component, they are recently approved regional projects. Since the lat- not included in this evaluation.6 The two projects ter two lack a national component, their evalua- that are included address biodiversity, climate tion does not fall within the scope of this CPE.5 change, and land degradation. The first of these The objective of the remaining project, "Enabling has been completed; this is the "NCSA for Envi- Activities to Facilitate Early Action on the Imple- ronmental Management" enabling activity (GEF mentation of the Stockholm Convention on Per- ID 2200, implemented by UNDP), which was sistent Organic Pollutants in Egypt" (GEF ID aimed at developing capacity in priority areas for 1497, implemented by UNIDO) was to develop a more effective, efficient, and sustainable imple- NIP and thereby strengthen national capacity and mentation of the three Rio Conventions (the enhance knowledge and understanding among UNFCCC, the CBD, and the UNCCD) in Egypt. decision makers and the public at large regarding The second, "Mainstreaming Global Environ- POPs. ment in National Plans and Policies by Strength- ening the Monitoring and Reporting System for Land Degradation Multilateral Environmental Agreements" (GEF Only a limited number of GEF projects address ID 3190, implemented by UNDP), is still under land degradation in Egypt, and all but one of these implementation. are multifocal. The GEF's only "pure" land degra- dation project that includes Egypt is the regional Canceled and Dropped Projects MENARID project (GEF ID 2628, implemented A project can be dropped while in the pipeline by IFAD), which addresses cross-cutting moni- before it becomes effective. Once the project has toring and evaluation functions and knowledge become effective and disbursement to it has been management for integrated natural resource management within a program framework for 6 These projects are "Climate, Water, and Agricul- the Middle East and North Africa region. In May ture: Impacts on and Adaptation of Agro-Ecological 2008, a project preparation grant was approved Systems in Africa" (GEF ID 1394, implemented by the for the in-pipeline MENARID project. A national World Bank), "Strategic Partnership for the Mediterra- project for Egypt under MENARID was planned, nean Large Marine Ecosystem­Regional Component: Implementation of Agreed Actions for the Protection of the Environmental Resources of the Mediterranean Sea and Its Coastal Areas" (GEF ID 2600, implemented These two projects are "Demonstration of Sus- 5 by UNEP), "World Bank­GEF Investment Fund for the tainable Alternatives to DDT and Strengthening of Mediterranean Sea Large Marine Ecosystem Partner- National Vector Control Capabilities in Middle East ship, Tranche 1, 1st Allocation" (GEF ID 2601, imple- and North Africa" (GEF ID 2546, implemented by mented by the World Bank), and "SIP-Eastern Nile UNEP) and "Promotion of Strategies to Reduce Unin- Transboundary Watershed Management in Support of tentional Production of POPs in the PERSGA Region" ENSAP Implementation" (GEF ID 3398, implemented (GEF ID 2865, implemented by UNIDO). by the World Bank). 44 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) made, termination is referred to as cancellation. Egypt project was canceled, however, when key Four projects in the Egyptian portfolio have been stakeholders, including international manu- either dropped or canceled over the years, as facturers, lost interest because of the techno- described below: logical and economic constraints associated with the technology; in addition, no cofinanc- z The "Second Matrouh Resource Management ing was forthcoming to complement the GEF Project" (GEF ID 1213, to be implemented by grant. The project was in Egypt's portfolio for the World Bank) was a multifocal initiative cov- more than four years (March 2001­July 2005), ering biodiversity and climate change. Its objec- tying up the allocated funds and preventing tive was to help reduce rural poverty in Egypt's Egypt from applying for other projects. The northwest coastal zone through sustainable, funds were later reallocated to the "Sustainable community-driven development and natural Transport" project, which is now ongoing. resource management. Project financing was to be provided through an International Bank z After five years of preparation and fits and for Reconstruction and Development loan of starts, it was decided that "Conservation of $12.35 million and a GEF grant of $5.17 mil- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management in a lion, as the first fully blended operation in the Sample of Representative Islands of the Nile Middle East and North Africa region. Within Valley of Egypt" (GEF ID 1504, to be imple- the overall framework of integrated resource mented by UNDP) would be a demonstration management, GEF support was to address the site for a regional GEF project. While the Nile global environmental concerns in day-to-day Islands project fit perfectly into national pri- management of resources, as well as main- orities as a fragile ecosystem, it was discovered stream environmental dimensions into the that the islands' plants were common to all Nile overall planning and implementation of devel- countries and not globally significant species. opment activities in the area. After much delib- Extensive research was carried out to justify eration, the government decided in December global significance, but this effort failed. Since 2004 to cancel the loan as its criteria for bor- the GEF was primarily interested in pursu- rowing funds had changed; accordingly, the ing global environmental benefits rather than entire project--including the GEF funding national priorities, the project was dropped in component--was dropped. 2005. z The "Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration Project z "Private Sector Wind Power Development" in Cairo, Phase I" project (GEF ID 926, to be (GEF ID 1076, to be implemented by the World implemented by UNDP) was part of the GEF Bank) sought to diversify energy supply, reduce Strategy to Develop Fuel Cell Buses for the GHGs and local and regional air pollution, and Developing World--an initiative to be imple- develop a sustainable wind industry. The proj- mented in staggered fashion, so as to facilitate ect involved the introduction and execution of lessons learned, in the five most polluted cities a market mechanism that would have required in Brazil, China, Egypt, India, and Mexico. The a regulatory framework to buy wind-generated strategy envisions rapid commercialization electricity at a market-determined price on a and implementation of fuel cell bus technol- competitive basis; the assistance would be tai- ogy following on from increased research and lored to support policy, regulatory, and market development encouraged by the initiative. The development for the dissemination of this key 4. The GEF Portfolio in Egypt 45 renewable energy technology. After the project GEF-3 witnessed the approval of Egypt's largest had been approved by the GEF Council, the GEF-supported project, the $50.85 million "Solar Ministry of Electricity and Energy--whose New Thermal Hybrid Project." GEF-3 funds also went and Renewable Energy Authority was to have to UNEP's first MSP in Egypt, which supports executed the project--dropped it, claiming the implementation of the National Biosafety Frame- World Bank had imposed too much condition- work; two UNDP climate change initiatives ("Bio- ality and that conditions would be more favor- energy for Sustainable Rural Development" and able for private sector wind power projects "Sustainable Transport"); and several enabling funded by Japanese and German banks. activities: to UNIDO in the POPs area, to UNDP for the NCSA, and to UNEP for "Assessment of Portfolio by GEF Phase Capacity-Building Needs in Country-Specific Pri- The first GEF projects in Egypt were two FSPs orities in Biodiversity Management and Conser- funded for a total of $10.01 million during the vation in Egypt." GEF pilot phase: a World Bank project in biodi- GEF-4 is characterized by the introduction of versity ("Red Sea Coastal and Marine Resource the RAF allocations for biodiversity and climate Management," $4.75 million) and a UNDP proj- change, under which Egypt has received individ- ect in international waters ("Lake Manzala Engi- ual allocations of $4.3 million and $11.8 million, neered Wetlands," $5.26 million). respectively; these represent considerable alloca- GEF-1 consisted entirely of enabling activities, tions. Table 4.4 presents a breakdown of Egypt's with UNEP taking on two such activities in the use of its allocations for biodiversity and climate biodiversity area to initiate the NBSAP and the change under the RAF. Note that at the country First (of four to date) National Report to the CBD; level, all RAF funds have been allocated, but all it also performed a Clearing-House Mechanism projects are not yet officially approved, as the last enabling activity. UNDP implemented a climate row of table 4.4 shows. change enabling activity that resulted in the prep- aration of the initial National Communication related to that convention. Table 4.4 In GEF-2, UNDP implemented three MSPs and RAF Allocation and Use as of December 30, 2008 Million $ FSPs totaling $5.91 million in the three most prominent focal areas in Egypt: biodiversity Bio- Climate Allocation/use diversity change ("Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medici- GeF-4 indicative allocation 4.30 11.80 nal Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems"), Allocation used climate change ("Introduction of Viable Electric Grants 3.77 0.19 and Hybrid-Electric Bus Technology"), and inter- Agency fee 0.37 0.01 national waters ("Developing Renewable Ground- PIFs cleared by Ceo awaiting water Resources in Arid Lands"). It also conducted approval a climate change enabling activity involving addi- Proposed grants 0.00 3.95 tional financing for capacity building in priority Proposed Agency fee 0.00 0.40 areas for the intersessional period between the Allocations remaining to be 0.16 7.26 Initial and Second National Communications. programmed 46 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) As in GEF-2, the projects approved under GEF-4 4.4 Project Status are all implemented by UNDP. Two FSPs are about About 42 percent of the funding allocated to Egypt to start up: "Strengthening Protected Area Financ- from 1991 through GEF-4 has been allocated to ing and Management Systems" in the biodiversity projects that are now completed (table 4.6); half focal area and "Adaptation to Climate Change in of these completed projects are in the biodiver- the Nile Delta through Integrated Coastal Zone sity focal area. At least one project each in bio- Management." No projects in non-RAF focal diversity, climate change, international waters, areas have been introduced in this phase, with the and POPs has been completed. Two FSPs have exception of the mainstreaming the global envi- been completed in biodiversity and international ronment project, which stems from the NCSA waters; the remainder of the completed projects finalized in GEF-3. are enabling activities. Most of the remaining funding is for projects that are either ongoing or 4.3 Allocation by Focal Area will be beginning implementation soon. There are By number of projects, climate change and bio- two prepipeline projects: the World Bank's Alex- diversity account for 74 percent of all projects in andria ICZM initiative in the international waters the national portfolio, making them the largest area, and UNIDO's "Industrial Energy Efficiency" focal areas with seven projects each. GEF sup- project in the climate change area. port for climate change is, however, on the order of 4.75 times more than that for biodiversity. In Table 4.6 fact, climate change accounts for 76 percent of GEF Support to National Projects in Egypt by total funding of the national portfolio, followed Status and Focal Area, 1991 through GEF-4 by biodiversity with 16 percent and international Million $ waters with 7 percent. The POPs and multifocal Under In areas together account for 16 percent of the proj- Com- implemen- pipe- Focal area pleted tation line Total ects in the portfolio, and a little over 1 percent of biodiversity 5.20 5.20 3.62 14.01 the funding. There are no land degradation proj- Climate change 1.20 50.85 14.52 66.57 ects in the national portfolio, and no national Int'l waters 5.26 0.83 n.a. 6.09 activities have yet been undertaken in the regional PoPs 0.50 n.a. n.a. 0.50 MENARID project. Table 4.5 presents GEF fund- multifocal 0.20 n.a. 0.50 0.70 ing by focal area. Total 12.36 56.88 18.64 87.87 Note: n.a. = not applicable. Table 4.5 GEF Support to National Projects in Egypt by Focal Area, 1991 through GEF-4 4.5 Allocation by GEF Agency Focal area Million $ % of total UNDP and the World Bank are the primary GEF biodiversity 14.01 16 Implementing Agencies in Egypt, with UNDP's Climate change 66.57 76 funding allocation amounting to almost 35 per- International waters 6.09 7 cent; the World Bank, even though its portfo- PoPs 0.50 1 lio includes only two projects, has an allocation multifocal 0.70 1 almost double UNDP's and accounting for about Total 87.87 100 63 percent of total GEF support (table 4.7). The 4. The GEF Portfolio in Egypt 47 Table 4.7 GEF Support to National Projects in Egypt by Focal Area and Agency, 1991 through GEF-4 Million $ Focal area UNDP UNEP UNIDO World Bank Total % of total biodiversity 7.90 1.36 n.a. 4.75 14.01 15.9 Climate change 15.72 n.a. n.a. 50.85 66.57 75.8 International waters 6.09 n.a. n.a. n.a. 6.09 6.9 PoPs n.a. n.a. 0.50 n.a. 0.50 0.6 multifocal 0.70 n.a. n.a. n.a. 0.70 0.8 Total 30.41 1.36 0.50 55.60 87.87 100.0 % of total 34.6 1.5 0.5 63.3 100.00 100.0 Note: n.a. = not applicable. "Solar Thermal Hybrid Project" accounts for Agency most consistently involved with the GEF 91 percent of the World Bank's portion of GEF in Egypt, responsible for funding in all replenish- funds in Egypt, or $50.85 million. UNEP has been ment periods including the pilot phase, and the involved with biodiversity projects only, and has only Implementing Agency in GEF-2 and (so been primarily responsible for enabling activi- far) in GEF-4. UNIDO and UNEP played only ties. In GEF-3, UNEP started supporting imple- a marginal role in GEF-3, though UNEP's role mentation of an MSP pertaining to the National more than tripled since GEF-1. The World Bank's Biosafety Framework. Also in GEF-3, UNIDO involvement, which was relatively small during contributed to the POPs focal area through an the GEF pilot phase, increased tenfold in GEF-3 enabling activity. with implementation of the "Solar Thermal Hybrid Project." Figure 4.2 shows GEF support by Agency and replenishment period. UNDP has been the 4.6 Allocation by National Figure 4.2 Executing Agency GEF Support to Egypt by Agency and Given the size and diversity of the GEF portfo- Replenishment Period lio of projects in Egypt, there is a surprising lack of variety among the projects' national execut- Million $ ers, almost all of which are government entities 55 Pilot phase GEF-1 GEF-2 GEF-3 GEF-4 (table 4.8).7 50 The EEAA and the New and Renewable Energy 15 Authority are together responsible for projects worth about $78.29 million, or 89 percent of total 10 GEF support in Egypt. Almost two-thirds of this 5 0 Many organizations are involved in project imple- 7 UNDP UNEP UNIDO World Bank mentation; the table and this discussion focus only on those entities that are responsible for project execution. 48 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Table 4.8 4.7 The SGP and the SCCF GEF Support to National Projects in Egypt by National Executing Agency, 1991 through GEF-4 Small Grants Programme Million $ The SGP was launched globally in 1992 to comple- Agency Funding ment other GEF grants by supporting the activi- ministry of electricity and energy (New and 50.85 ties of NGOs and community-based organiza- renewable energy Authority) tions in developing countries that are aligned with mSeA (eeAA) 27.44 the objectives of the global conventions in each ministry of Tourism (Tourism Development 4.75 Authority) and the red Sea Governorate (with of the GEF focal areas, while generating sustain- eeAA) able livelihoods. The GEF SGP is implemented by mWrI (Coastal research Institute), Shore 4.00a UNDP on behalf of the three main GEF Agencies Protection Authority and is executed by the United Nations Office for Cairo University 0.83 Project Services. The maximum grant amount per Total 87.87 project is $50,000, which is channeled directly to a. This figure refers to the SCCF adaptation project, for which fund- ing has already been allocated even though it has not yet begun the recipient organizations. implementation. Since its inception, the SGP has occupied a stra- tegic niche with regard to national environmental management capacity, by supporting community- amount, $50.85 million, was for a single project, the based initiatives that respond to the GEF criteria "Solar Thermal Hybrid Project," which accounts and fulfill local community needs. Often, the pro- for just over half of all GEF support in Egypt and gram has initiated activities to raise awareness and the majority of funding for climate change. Even motivate NGOs to address priority national and/ so, the EEAA alone executes 15 of the 19 national or regional environmental problems that have a projects in the country portfolio. Other govern- global impact. As needed, the SGP also builds the ment national executing agencies are the MWRI's capacity of NGOs to prepare and implement proj- Coastal Research Institute and the Shore Protec- ects dealing with such problems. tion Authority, which together are executing the UNDP project "Adaptation to Climate Change in To date in Egypt, the SGP has supported more than the Nile Delta through Integrated Coastal Zone 150 NGOs implementing some 220 projects total- Management"; and the Tourism Development ing about $4.32 million (table 4.9). These projects Authority and Red Sea Governorate (in collabo- complied with GEF criteria while addressing local ration with the EEAA), which are executing the environmental issues, reaching marginal popula- World Bank's biodiversity project "Red Sea Coastal tions, and creating job opportunities. The follow- and Marine Resource Management." ing paragraphs summarize SGP activities in Egypt by operational phase since 1992.8 Less than 1 percent of GEF funding has been channeled through an academic institution: Cairo University, which is executing an international 8 This information is largely taken from the GEF- waters project. No NGOs have received GEF sup- UNDP joint evaluation of the SGP (GEF EO 2008), port other than through the SGP, which is largely which included a case study on program activity in Egypt (Risby and Genena 2007); information since that implemented through NGOs and community- evaluation was obtained from Egypt's SGP coordinator based organizations. and the SGP Web site. 4. The GEF Portfolio in Egypt 49 Table 4.9 biodiversity, and 2 multifocal. No NGOs sub- SGP Allocations in Egypt by Operational Phase as mitted proposals for international waters proj- of December 2008 ects during this period. Projects that addressed SGP phase Total allocation ($) issues related to climate change, energy con- Pilot phase (1992­96) 337,790.00 servation, and global warming received a large Phase 1 (1997­98) 396,597.76 percentage of the phase's funding. Planting Phase 2 (1999­2004) 1,745,959.93 trees and establishing green areas represented Phase 3 (2005­07) 1,028,013.77 the dominant feature of this phase, and consti- Phase 4 (2008­ ) 811,828.35 tuted almost 50 percent of the climate change Total 4,320,189.81 projects. The remaining 50 percent comprised Source: UNDP SGP Web site, http://sgp.undp.org (accessed march new project ideas that introduced renewable 2009). energy and environmentally friendly technolo- gies to local communities; these included the z Pilot phase. The SGP started in Egypt in 1992. use of biogas and solar energy for water heating During the four-year pilot phase, the program and cooking. used $337,790 in support of 15 projects imple- z Phase 2. During its second operational phase mented by 21 NGOs from different geographic (1999­2004), the SGP focused on achieving locations in Egypt. During this phase, capacity several objectives cited in an independent eval- building for the NGO community was a strate- uation of the program; these included improv- gic target for the SGP. It also focused on climate ing its fit with the GEF strategic framework and change and, to a much lesser extent, on biodi- defined operational programs; selecting and versity and international waters. The majority implementing community projects; establish- of projects funded fell under the climate change ing links with GEF FSPs and MSPs and with focal area. This distribution was attributed to other UNDP programs, government agencies, (1) a lack of awareness on the issues of biodi- and national environmental funds; establishing versity and international waters, and (2) limited a capacity-building program for key stakehold- capacities of the NGOs to write proposals in ers; developing means of sharing SGP experi- areas that were not yet clearly understood. ences and demonstrating global benefits; work- z Phase 1. In 1997, the SGP began its first two- ing to ensure program/project sustainability year operational phase, during which it allo- through resource mobilization strategies at the cated a total of $396,598. A new country pro- global, country, and project levels; and estab- gram strategy was developed based on the lishing a monitoring and evaluation system to experience gained and lessons learned during track and assess global benefits. These efforts the pilot phase. The strategy was prepared in met with varying degrees of success. a participatory manner with key stakeholders, Between 1999 and 2004, the program financed including the UNDP country office, national 96 projects, most of which were in the climate and international NGOs, community-based change area, eight in biodiversity, and one organizations, government representatives multifocal; funding levels followed this order as from relevant ministries, academia, and the well. No proposals in the international waters media. During this phase, 15 projects were focal area were received. To date, the second funded: 8 related to climate change, 5 addressing operational phase has been the largest by far 50 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) in terms of number of projects undertaken and Special Climate Change Fund magnitude of funds disbursed ($1,745,960). The SCCF was established under the UNFCCC New project ideas emerged in mitigating in 2001 to finance projects in adaptation, technol- against climate change, including use of energy- ogy transfer and capacity building, energy, trans- conserving lighting, wind turbines, solar cook- port, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste ers, and solar heaters. management, and economic diversification. This fund complements other funding mechanisms z Phase 3. The third operational phase started for UNFCCC implementation, and the GEF has in March 2005 and concluded in June 2007 for been entrusted to operate it.9 In Egypt, the project a total allocation of $1,028,014, through which "Adaptation to Climate Change in the Nile Delta 62 projects have been implemented. The dis- through Integrated Coastal Zone Management" tribution of these projects is as follows: 47 cli- has made use of the SCCF with a grant of $4 mil- mate change, 1 biodiversity, 12 international lion that has been used to leverage $12 million waters, and 2 POPs. During this phase, the pro- in cofinancing. The project objectives are in line gram increased the number of projects deal- with those of the SCCF: the project aims to imple- ing with international waters, but the majority ment adaptation measures to increase the resil- of projects are still in the climate change area. ience of national development sectors to climate The program was able to establish a partner- change impacts by focusing on long-term planned ship with CARE International and continued to response strategies and policies rather than on collaborate with the GEF's EEIGGR project, a short-term activities. The project incorporates regional FSP implemented by UNDP. management of sea-level-rise risks into the devel- z Phase 4. One year of the fourth operational opment of Egypt's low-elevation coastal zone in phase has been completed, and the phase is the Nile Delta. well into its second year, with allocations of $811,828 thus far. To date, 28 projects have 4.8 Regional and Global Projects received funding: 19 in the first year (2 in bio- Egypt has also received support from the GEF diversity and 17 in climate change); and 9 (all in through 17 regional and 6 global projects; these climate change) in the second. The total RAF are listed in annex C and summarized in table 4.10. allocation in this operational phase has been It is something of a distortion to carry out an assess- $335,448 for climate change and $50,000 in bio- ment of the regional and global projects in which diversity. Thus far, there have been no projects Egypt is included, since Egypt has national com- suggested in any other focal area, which may be ponents in only five such projects. However, there a consequence of the RAF allocations, in that are projects in all focal areas, including Egypt's community-based organizations and NGOs only land degradation project, the MENARID would want to make use of these. The SGP global Web site as of December 2007 9 To date, 13 donors (Canada, Denmark, Finland, provided information on 219 projects in Egypt Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, (this information is uploaded by the national pro- Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom) have made pledges totaling $90 million to gram and revised by the global SGP). Annex H the SCCF. Donor countries are continuing to contrib- lists these SGP projects. ute to the SCCF on a voluntary basis. 4. The GEF Portfolio in Egypt 51 Table 4.10 and "Mainstreaming Conservation of Migratory Number of GEF Regional and Global Projects in Soaring Birds into Key Productive Sectors along Which Egypt Participates by Focal Area and Agency the Rift Valley/Red Sea Flyway (Tranches 1 and 2)," Focal area UNDP UNEP WB UNIDO IFAD Total although the latter has only just started. In climate biodiversity 2 (4) 6 change, the project reviewed is the UNDP-imple- Climate change 1 (1) 2 mented EEIGGR project. In international waters, Int'l waters 4 (1) 1 2 8 the projects reviewed are the two NTEAP initia- Land degrad. 1 1 tives, the first undertaken jointly by the World PoPs 1 1 2 Bank and UNDP, and the second by UNDP alone. multifocal 1 3 4 Two additional regional projects have been par- Total 8 7 6 1 1 23 Note: Wb = World bank. Figures in parentheses indicate number of tially reviewed; these have a national demon- global projects. stration or office, even though they do not have a national component. These are the interna- project (a national project under MENARID was tional waters project on implementing the SAP initially planned; however, such a project has not for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, for which the yet materialized). One-third of the regional and MEMAC is one of the project outputs, housed at global projects are in the international waters area, the EEAA regional branch office in Hurghada; and and one-quarter are in biodiversity. There are two the UNEP-funded POPs project "Demonstration projects in climate change and POPs, and four in of Sustainable Alternatives to DDT and Strength- multifocal areas. Table 4.11 presents the focus of ening of National Vector Control Capabilities in the regional and global projects. Middle East and North Africa," which is imple- mented through the World Health Organization Five regional projects have been reviewed in depth office in Cairo. for this evaluation because they have a national component. These are FSPs in the biodiversity, Other regional and global projects involving some climate change, and international waters focal national activities but without national compo- areas. In biodiversity, the two projects reviewed nents per se are discussed, albeit briefly, with are both implemented by UNDP: MedWetCoast respect to impacts at the country level. 52 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Table 4.11 Scope of Regional and Global Projects in Which Egypt Participates Focal area Regional projects Global projects biodi- y Promote conservation and sustainable use of biological resources y build local, national, versity y Assist governments in the region in implementing their obligations under the CbD regional, and global y Improve the availability of biodiversity information and its application in conserva- capacities tion planning and management y Develop and implement y Promote collaboration among countries in the management of shared natural tools, methodologies, and resources strategies y Develop national and regional institutional capacity y Determine and dissemi- nate best practices y Contribute to community development Climate y remove barriers to enhance energy efficiency in the regional context Accelerate the market for change y Create appropriate institutional setting and capacity fuel cell technology in dis- tributed stationary power applications Interna- y Develop and implement regional guidelines and plans Assist vulnerable devel- tional y Develop sustainable and integrated transboundary ecosystem management oping states implement waters y expand and consolidate the technical and scientific knowledge base sustainable, risk-based mechanisms for the man- y Improve identification of hotspots and sensitive areas agement and control of y Assess groundwater-surface water interactions ships' ballast water y Provide capacity building and training y Provide necessary institutional and policy support Land y Promote an integrated approach to natural resource management degra- y Catalyze sustainable land management investments dation PoPs y Contribute to the goals of the Stockholm Convention y Demonstrate the viability, availability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of the alter- natives to the use of DDT y reduce and/or eliminate PoPs in key industry sectors multi- y Increase the adoption of sustainable land and water management practices focal y Facilitate the implementation of transboundary priority pollution reduction and habitat protection measures y Facilitate harmonized policy, legal, and institutional reforms aimed at reversing degradation trends with a focus on land-based pollution y Promote the regional dissemination and replication of new approaches y Contribute to the implementation of the NIP y Develop analytical methods and procedures for assessing the impact of climate change on agriculture 4. The GEF Portfolio in Egypt 53 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt This chapter examines the following questions 5.1 Biodiversity regarding global environmental impacts of GEF Biodiversity faces major threats in Egypt, mainly projects in Egypt: due to demographic pressures which adversely z What are the aggregated results by focal area? affect most ecosystems. The GEF has played a sig- nificant role in the biodiversity area in Egypt during z What are the aggregated results at the country the past 15 years, contributing to the preparation level? of the country's NBSAP and First National Report z What are the cross-cutting results in terms to the CBD, establishing a Natural Biodiversity of catalytic and replication effects, capacity Unit within the EEAA's Nature Conservation Sec- building, awareness, and improvements in the tor, establishing protected areas, and developing enabling environment? a Biodiversity Clearing-House. Through these z What is the likelihood that objectives will be activities, the GEF has made a considerable con- achieved for those projects still under imple- tribution to the progress made by Egypt in imple- mentation? menting its commitments under the CBD. The results outlined in this chapter were measured Because most of the completed GEF projects in by focal area using the following parameters: biodiversity were enabling activities, with only two FSPs completed to date--the national Red Sea z Impacts: changes in environmental status, project and the regional MedWetCoast project-- especially those of global significance, and it is too early to measure the global environmen- reductions in threats to globally significant tal impacts of the country's biodiversity portfolio. resources, for completed and ongoing projects Such benefits in this focal area take a long time z Outcomes: to materialize and need a long-term strategy and ­ Catalytic and replication effects follow-up. Moreover, enabling activities are not ­ Institutional sustainability and capacity expected to produce direct impacts at the envi- development outcomes ronmental level, although they can have an impact when follow-up activities are implemented. Thus, ­ Awareness raising attributing any significant impact from biodiver- Information on results was compiled from inter- sity conservation and sustainable use of natural views, reviews of existing project documentation, resources to GEF support is not a straightforward and field visits to selected projects. task. 54 There is no clear evidence in the context of the awareness and building capacity at the local level projects that have closed thus far that GEF fund- and successfully engaging with local communities. ing has substantially improved biodiversity deg- Such local community participation and aware- radation in Egypt. However, this support has ness are critical in sustaining impacts achieved prevented further deterioration and provided in biodiversity conservation, as these communi- alternatives to business as usual. Also, because the ties share the habitat and resources of potentially GEF is one of the country's largest contributors endangered or threatened species. Finding a bal- to biodiversity and activities focusing on habitat ance between maintaining their livelihoods while conservation, it may be concluded that GEF sup- sustainably using resources is imperative. This port has contributed to the consolidated network balance appears to have been achieved, for exam- of protected areas in Egypt. ple, by communities participating in the MedWet- Coast project that put a self-imposed moratorium Biodiversity efforts in Egypt have focused primar- on fishing to conserve important fish stocks dur- ily on habitat conservation through the establish- ing spawning. ment of protected areas and, less explicitly, on the conservation of endangered species. Between Catalytic effects to date have largely involved 1991 and 2008, Egypt's network of protected elevating the environmental agenda in the areas areas expanded by more than 2.3 million hect- targeted by the projects, improving communica- ares. While it is difficult to gauge the extent of this tion and coordination among various agencies, expansion attributable to GEF support, the GEF's and potentially effecting behavior changes among Red Sea project catalyzed the establishment of the stakeholders. Some projects have managed to gen- Wadi Gemal protected area, covering 0.75 million erate additional financing from the government, hectares. NGOs, and the private sector. Replication out- Project documents rarely cite the species a given comes have been somewhat ad hoc, rather than project aims to target and protect. However, spe- based on a project strategy that strives to achieve cies conservation has clearly benefited from man- replication. Replicability clearly needs to be given agement and monitoring activities conducted more focus when designing projects in order to by GEF-funded projects; this is evidenced by reap the benefits of lessons learned and knowl- the increased species diversity displayed in the edge generated. A major achievement of GEF MedWetCoast project sites. SGP projects have support has been the awareness-raising activities also contributed to protecting and reintroduc- taking place in most biodiversity projects. ing endangered species of flora. And the ongoing By and large, the GEF has succeeded in laying the medicinal plants project is reestablishing globally foundation to manage biodiversity conservation significant medicinal plants in rehabilitation sites, and sustainable use more effectively by enhanc- while the migratory birds project aims to safe- ing institutional capacity within national and local guard globally threatened soaring birds during authorities, and by introducing relevant struc- their migration along the Red Sea flyway. tures and action plans. For example, the Red Sea Recently completed and ongoing projects have project managed successfully to bring together focused to a large extent on promoting alternative three executing agencies in a functioning partner- livelihoods and increasing the ecological sustain- ship, thereby strengthening capacity; this, to some ability of current livelihoods, as well as to raising extent, continues post project. 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 55 The continued implementation of the frameworks the Red Sea Governorate. The project thus enabled and action plans established depends entirely on the first important steps to be taken toward intro- the institutional, financial, and coordination capa- ducing a more sustainable development model in bilities and resources channeled and supported by the area, especially by pioneering the concept of the government. The lack of sustainability plan- ICZM in Egypt, but fell short in providing appro- ning and shortcomings in institutional and capac- priate and sustainable arrangements to secure ity development has, in some cases, resulted in global environmental impacts on the ground. inadequate provision for enforcement and in the securing of global environmental benefits. Sus- Activities performed in Egypt under the regional taining the gains and benefits realized thus con- MedWetCoast project displayed certain impacts tinues to be a challenge. in terms of conservation of species and habitat. Compared to the baseline of the site diagnostics Impacts studies, species diversity increased in the three project sites: 10 marine zooplankton species and Impacts of Completed Projects the marine mullet Liza aurata reappeared in Lake The Red Sea project resulted in changes in sec- Burullus; an increase in cover of the medicinal toral regulations to improve biodiversity con- plant Colchicum ritchii was recorded in Omayed, servation and sustainable use. Specifically, it which indicates that its use was decreased as Bed- introduced the requirement of preparing full ouins were given the opportunity to engage in environmental impact assessments for tourism alternative livelihoods; and the recorded number developments in the Red Sea Governorate. With of greater flamingo birds increased from 19 in a markedly enhanced capacity, the governorate's 2000 to 926 in 2004 in Zaranik.1 Environmental Management Unit continues to inspect and monitor tourism developments to Improved practices of sustainable use of biodiver- ensure compliance with environmental impact sity resources--including a significant decrease assessment regulations. in the number of violations in bird hunting and grazing and banning of the use of insecticides-- The conservation status of biodiversity in the were also inculcated. A reed cropping activity car- project area has not been properly monitored ried out in collaboration with the SGP resulted against baseline data, however; it is therefore diffi- in an improved ecological balance, as well as an cult to know what impacts the project has had on increase in areas available for fishing and the cre- the overall biodiversity situation. The fact that this ation of job opportunities. area has seen a rapid expansion in tourism in the decade since the project ended--a circumstance To properly target the root causes of biodiversity that was not accounted for in the project design loss, many socioeconomic, ecological, and politi- by including regulations on the tourism industry's cal issues need to be addressed. While the proj- use of the natural resources--also contributes to ect managed to incorporate livelihood schemes the difficulty in assessing impact and attribution. and activities into the wetlands strategy and put in place a revolving fund to maintain the The project did strengthen environmental impact assessment capabilities and provided ICZM 1 The final evaluation of the MedWetCoast project knowledge to the three executing agencies--the had to reconstruct the baseline, as the project docu- EEAA, the Tourism Development Authority, and ment did not include these data. 56 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) sustainability of these activities, critical ecologi- Outcomes cal challenges--such as coastal tourism develop- Catalytic and Replication Effects ment and associated water issues--were not part The Red Sea project contributed to elevat- of the project's scope. Moreover, even if some root ing the environmental agenda in Egypt and to causes of biodiversity loss were addressed and the emphasizing the importance of protecting marine protection of the sites improved, it has not been resources. The project helped establish policies easy to assess lasting impacts on habitat and spe- and plans--including the ICZM Plan, the Reef cies conservation. Lake Burullus, for example, still Recreation Management Action Plan, and the faces considerable conservation challenges caused Red Sea Coastal and Marine Protected Area Strat- by fishing pressures, large amounts of sewage, and egy--that sought to ensure that development was agricultural and industrial runoff. consistent with the protection of marine resources SGP projects in biodiversity have contributed to in the Red Sea coastal zone. protecting and reintroducing some endangered Time constraints limited the evaluation's abil- species of flora, such as medicinal plants in North ity to verify the extent to which these plans have Sinai. However, the terminal SGP evaluation high- been implemented or enforced; however, many lights that additional opportunities to positively interviewees stressed that these have been used as affect biodiversity conservation could be accom- a basis for other policies and activities and have plished if models developed by SGP projects were thus provided a valuable foundation. For instance, disseminated and replicated. the plans produced by the project formed the basis for its recommendation to establish a pro- Impacts of Ongoing Projects tected area in Wadi Gemal, which was declared Based on midterm review recommendations, a protected area by the government in 2003. The the medicinal plants project was reorganized, its plans also catalyzed the preservation guidelines community-based natural resource management prepared by the Tourism Development Author- component was initiated, and more efforts were ity's Red Sea Sustainable Tourism Initiative. And dedicated to in situ conservation. Of the five reha- the land-use planning that has taken place south bilitation sites selected, four have been rehabili- of Marsa Alam can partly be attributed to outputs tated to date, with 12 globally significant medici- developed by the project. nal and aromatic plants reestablished. As an ex Construction of the EEAA's regional branch office situ conservation method, more than 800 acces- in Hurghada accelerated the establishment of the sions for globally significant medicinal and aro- MEMAC, which in turn is an output of the GEF- matic plants have been collected, with 73 medici- funded regional project "Implementation of the nal and aromatic plants and 14 globally significant SAP for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden." In addi- such plants being stored in the national gene bank tion to hosting the MEMAC, the regional branch and a living collection available in greenhouses. office building has enabled the establishment of a The project is making extensive efforts to control marine laboratory, and it accommodates the Red and manage invasive alien species through imple- Sea Governorate Environmental Management mentation of the Feral Donkey Control Program, Unit as well--thus effectively gathering the main which aims to have positive impacts on medicinal environmental stakeholders under one roof. The and aromatic plant conservation. project was the first of its scale in the region, and 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 57 the ICZM plan developed approaches with large potential for replication (box 5.1). For instance, replication potential for countries facing similar scenario planning workshops have been con- coastal and marine pressures. ducted with representatives from the govern- ment, protected areas' management, academia, The MedWetCoast project managed to secure and the local community; the project intends this additional financing amounting to LE 28 mil- scenario planning, as a tool in the component, be lion (about $4 million) from, among others, the turned into a pilot approach that could be repli- MWRI, the Ministry of Agriculture, and a pri- cated in the management of other protected areas vate company to fund various activities related to in Egypt. The success of this approach has yet to habitat conservation. The project demonstrated materialize. the importance of socioeconomic incentives for biodiversity conservation by creating a model for While the biodiversity portfolio has witnessed local community participation and provision of some catalytic effects, the replication outcomes alternative livelihoods, as well as actively involv- resulting from these projects have been rather ad ing local administration units in protected area hoc and seemingly random, rather than based on management. Several field actions were imple- a project strategy that strives to achieve replica- mented that have contributed to improving local tion. Replicability clearly needs to be given more governance and social organization, community attention when designing projects in order to reap empowerment, job creation, and the reinforce- the full benefits of the knowledge and experiences ment of traditional management systems in addi- generated by each project and to avoid "reinvent- tion to establishing several community-based ing the wheel." organizations and NGOs representing the major segments of local society. However, the terminal Institutional Sustainability and Capacity evaluation highlights that the opportunity to inte- Development Outcomes grate wetlands conservation and sustainable use GEF-funded biodiversity projects have enabled into other sectors, such as fisheries, water man- the development of comprehensive frameworks, agement, tourism, and the private sector, was not policies, and strategic action plans, including the sufficiently realized. NBSAP, the Wetland Strategy, the ICZM Plan for The research and ecological monitoring data gen- the Red Sea, national reports to the CBD, and erated in the wetland sites have been integrated management plans for protected area sites, as into and used by the Italian-funded Biodiversity well as the access and benefit-sharing law and the Monitoring and Assessment Project, and have national medicinal plants strategy and action plan been reported to the Ramsar Convention. An now under preparation; all of these aim to lay the additional catalytic outcome can be found in an foundation for protecting biodiversity resources ongoing initiative, which involves the EEAA and in Egypt. However, sustaining some of these UNDP, to develop an ornithological tourist trail in achievements is not secured because of shortcom- one of the wetland sites. ings in institutional and capacity development. The community-based natural resource man- An achievement of the Red Sea project was agement component established by the medici- bringing together three executing agencies in a nal plants project represents an unprecedented functioning partnership, which clearly resulted approach in Egypt which may hold considerable in institutional strengthening through training 58 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Box 5.1 Innovative Practice: Community-Based Natural Resource Management The Community-based Natural resource management (CbNrm) component introduced by the medicinal plants project is a quite innovative model in egypt and the region. The driving force behind the model is addressing the issues of tenure of and access to medicinal and aromatic plant resources, and striving to capitalize on the knowledge and capacities of the local community, while ensuring that the benefits are returned to those closest to the resources, as they bear the costs of conservation management. To date, the component has achieved 9 of 13 targets--among others, identifying all the user groups of wild medicinal and aromatic plants, including collectors, processors, and traders; establishing lines of communi- cation with these groups, as well as other groups in the community; introducing community-based cultivation to reduce the pressure on wild medicinal plants; and pioneering good practices for sustainable wild medicinal plant collection. The development of the CbNrm component is carried out through a participatory approach which includes regular meet- ings with bedouin community members from the Gebalya tribe in St. Katherine's Protectorate. Adaptive management is given considerable attention by the CbNrm team, with the understanding that it is not possible to identify every variable when dealing with the environment, society, and the economic drivers that affect biodiversity. As a part of the adaptive management approach, the hypothesis developed at the beginning of the project is continuously reappraised to see if it still holds true in light of lessons learned. The capacity and awareness of the local community has been significantly enhanced through the CbNrm approach, and the active participation of the local community has become an integral part of project activities. This is evident through the creation of the Association for Collectors and Traders, which is being set up in collaboration with the bedouin community. Its constitution, rules, and regulations are in the process of being approved by the Nature Conservation Sector. once this is accomplished, the transfer of responsibility and authority to protect the medicinal plants from the sector to the bedouin community will be possible. The success of the approach to a large extent lies in this transfer of responsibility and authority. Sources: Annual review of CbNrm in St. Katherine's Protectorate 2009; interview with medicinal plant project manager, omar Abdel Dayem. on the geographic information system database, the availability of USAID support. It has become environmental impact assessment requirements, clear that the project was not adequately anchored and so on. An environmental unit in the Tourism either institutionally or financially to provide long- Development Authority was established. Short- term sustainability. The project also fell short of term sustainability was reinforced by the fact that engaging the local community, which could have project staff could transfer their individual exper- enhanced sustainable impacts. tise to the Implementing Agencies and various The biosafety project has laid the groundwork universities. Due to high staff turnover, some of for mobilizing capacity by providing training for the experiences have been lost over time; concur- a large number of ministry officials, and has con- rently, there has been a quite substantial increase crete plans for educating journalists on biosafety in staff members at the regional branch office and and genetically modified organisms to promote a Environmental Management Unit in Hurghada more balanced view of these. There is a genuine since project completion. interest in the issue of biosafety in Egypt, due to The three agencies continue to cooperate and its important implications for human health and recently prepared a report on the problem of land- trade, which will most likely keep the issue high on fills created by tourism resorts in the area. With the political agenda after project completion. The no recurrent funding mechanism established, biosafety law about to be adopted includes safe- sustained CZM monitoring has depended on guards for sustainability by making it financially 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 59 self-sustaining. Challenges related to financial and the Egyptian Parliament for approval. Enactment technical resources to enforce the law remain, as of this law will represent a major achievement in many issues pertaining to biosafety are still uncer- obtaining legal rights and increasing the motiva- tain and evolving, and the need for resources will tion of the local community to manage resources be constant. sustainably. Another dimension of sustainability relates to the possible financial revenue resulting To enhance its potential for institutional sustain- from the organic certification that has been issued ability, the medicinal plants project conducted for both wild and cultivated medicinal plants. training on the community-based natural resource management approach for Nature Conservation The MedWetCoast project made extensive Sector and protected area staff. The likelihood efforts to develop capacity by mobilizing and of sustained monitoring of medicinal and aro- including all relevant stakeholders in the decision matic plants has been strengthened by building making and by promoting intersectoral coordi- the capacity of St. Katherine's Protectorate staff nation. The attempt by the project to integrate and by the EEAA's plan to reinject revenues from local development and livelihood issues into wet- the protectorate into conservation activities. The lands conservation was unique and innovative. project has contributed to identifying and docu- Moreover, the model taken for reeds manage- menting a propagation and cultivation methodol- ment in Lake Burullus provides a good example ogy for wild medicinal and aromatic plants for the of mobilizing local civil society to become active first time, as well as recording traditional knowl- conservation partners. Strong local community edge on medicinal uses of many plant species. The commitment to assume the responsibility to con- community-based natural resource management tinue conservation while improving their own approach has helped establish communication livelihoods has also taken place--for instance, the lines with various local groups and has helped in self-imposed two-month moratorium on fishing gaining the trust of wild medicinal and aromatic in Lake Burullus enforced by local communities plant collectors; thus, the project has encour- with a view to conserving important fish stocks aged participation and capacity development. during spawning. Nonetheless, the project's final By establishing cultivation farms for community evaluation highlighted that several opportunities members and providing technical knowledge and for developing capacity were missed, including training on cultivation techniques, the project has involving and building the capacity of government contributed to increasing capacity for small-scale officials and a broader group of conservationists, community-based cultivation. Another important and exploring payments for ecological services tool to warrant sustainability is the current draft- (such as taxes) to enhance financial sustainability ing of legislation for the protection of intellectual by internalizing costs (Fenton and others 2007). property rights and access and benefit sharing, The project did contribute to enhancing the pro- which aims to protect the traditional knowledge tection of wetlands resources and the conservation of the local community and its marketable medic- of migratory and other birds; this is evidenced by inal and aromatic plant products. The Intellec- protected area support having been sustained and tual Property Rights Committee established by institutional capacities in terms of staffing having the project has prepared an access and benefit- been maintained after project completion. The sharing law, which is currently under review by EEAA has assumed financial responsibility for various stakeholders before being presented to management and operation of the wetland sites, 60 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) and conservation and monitoring activities are involvement in the MedWetCoast project. SGP continuing. biodiversity projects have been particularly suc- cessful in raising awareness in local communities The GEF has played an important role in the bio- and changing behaviors toward a more sustain- diversity area with regard to enabling activities, able use of natural resources. contributing to necessary foundational work and capacity development through the preparation A common denominator for many projects is of the NBSAP and the First National Report to that their impacts have not been fully realized the CBD, the creation of the Natural Biodiver- for various reasons, including the lack of built- sity Unit within the Nature Conservation Sector, in mechanisms for follow-up or sustainability. In and the development of a Biodiversity Clearing- many cases, project objectives were met to a large House. These plans and entities are all in use or extent, but after GEF funding ended, institutional have formed the basis for further progress in this and financial support has dwindled. This may area, such as more recent prioritization of capac- indicate that GEF-supported projects in the bio- ity-building efforts and the project to strengthen diversity area have been too financially or institu- protected areas financing, as well as the Fourth tionally burdensome for the Egyptian government National Communication which is currently to sustain or that they have not been properly being formulated. Evidence that the biodiversity anchored institutionally. portfolio has been influenced by the experiences of earlier projects is particularly clear in the con- Awareness Raising text of these enabling activities, which have also Promotion of environmental awareness among played a very important role in developing capac- stakeholders by enhancing their understanding ity through collection, verification, and analysis of and involvement is key to protecting fragile natu- baseline data, as well as by helping meet commit- ral resources and achieving sustainable impacts. ments under the CBD. However, assessing capac- In general, the awareness-raising activities in ity is an essentially subjective exercise, as there most biodiversity projects have been quite exten- is no common format against which to measure sive and a major achievement of GEF support. capacity using indicators. In addition, the fact that These activities have engaged national and local enabling activities are not required to prepare government institutions and local communities; evaluation reports makes replication of poten- this is evidenced by broad stakeholder participa- tially good practices more difficult. tion in local advisory committees involved in pro- tected area management, training of protected The SGP has contributed extensively to the area rangers, the assumption by local communi- capacity-building efforts of NGOs in biodiversity, ties of responsibility for alternative livelihoods, where capacity and knowledge used to be limited, the establishment of numerous community-based as well as to enhancing their capacity to mobilize organizations and NGOs, and the introduction of communities and resources. SGP activities have NGOs to the SGP. helped address a weakness in national environ- mental management policies that has an impact Many projects appear to have played a consider- on the global environment--namely the involve- able role in enhancing familiarity with, and pos- ment of local communities in nature conserva- sibly fostering a deeper understanding of, bio- tion efforts. This is particularly true for the SGP diversity conservation and sustainable use of 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 61 natural resources by focusing efforts on raising reduction upon project completion, it met and public awareness and encouraging environmen- exceeded this target during the project extension tal education at all levels, including to investors period (EEIGGR 2008). The project made good and developers, local communities, tourists, and progress in several areas; this is expected to result schoolchildren. in significant CO2 reductions in the future. 5.2 Climate Change In the area of sustainable transport, 127.75 tons per year of CO2 reduction were reported by the Egypt has been successful in accessing GEF funding electric bus project for replacing diesel buses with for climate change activities, and there are projects two demonstration electric buses. The emission in each of the GEF climate change strategic priori- reduction of using an electric bus as compared ties with a focus on energy efficiency, transport, to a diesel bus is about 1.75 kilograms of CO2 per and renewable energy. Following the development kilometer traveled (NGM 2003). of the GEF Climate Change Strategy, an adaptation project was introduced in Egypt. The GEF seems Outcomes to have been driving the climate change agenda in Egypt while the country develops a National Market Transformation Strategy for Climate Change. The GEF has been The completed projects in the climate change the lead institution in introducing climate change area have made achievements in energy efficiency issues to Egypt and in building national capacities through market penetration and technologies; in this area through various enabling activities. and in the promotion, creation, and adoption of innovative sustainable public transport systems. Impacts A positive indicator of the market transformation The completed MSP and FSP in climate change that has been achieved is the influence the elec- remove barriers to energy conservation and effi- tric bus project had on Egypt's Supreme Council ciency (the EEIGGR project) and promote envi- of Antiquities in requesting that access to relevant ronmentally sustainable transport (the electric historic sites be limited to electric buses; this has bus project); their impacts are measured (albeit in prompted a local bus manufacturer to investigate different units) in terms of the reduction or avoid- electric bus assembly in the country. The project ance of GHGs. has not, however, yet resulted in any significant In the area of energy efficiency, a cumulative CO2 follow-up activity by the government to expand reduction of 16.8 million tons resulted from energy the electric bus fleet in Egypt. One reason may be efficiency market support provided since the start the fundamental change in GEF funding priorities of the EEIGGR project in 1999 until 2007. This for sustainable transport, shifting from a technol- represents 11.87 million tons of CO2 reduction ogy-oriented focus (for example, electric, hybrid, from the reduced transmission network losses or fuel cell vehicles for public transportation as (the project has reduced transmission losses from well as advanced technologies for converting bio- 7.0 percent to 3.5 percent, which is more than the mass feedstock into liquid fuels) to a more plan- target reduction of 5 percent by the year 2010) and ning-oriented focus (for example, modal shifts to 4.9 million tons of CO2 reduction from the com- more efficient and less polluting forms of public pact fluorescent lamp program. While the project transport and nonmotorized transport through did not reach its target of 11.7 million tons of CO2 measures such as improved traffic management, 62 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) better urban and transport planning and associ- products with energy consumption information. ated training, capacity building, and dissemina- Box 5.2 highlights some of the EEIGGR project's tion of results). While the withdrawal of GEF results and activities. funding is regrettable, interviewees noted that this Energy efficiency market support was achieved should not be used as an excuse for the Egyptian by conducting 193 audits and implementing the entities involved (the EEAA, the Social Fund for recommendations of 20 audits, replicating a com- Development, and the Supreme Council of Antiq- pact fluorescent lamp leasing program at Cairo uities, as well as interested private sector parties) and Canal Distribution Companies, and promot- to not undertake serious replication efforts. ing and diffusing compact fluorescent lamps with The electric bus initiative has been a successful the active participation of the private sector. The pilot project, and electric buses are fully opera- market has increased more than 20 times over tional at Luxor Temple. National car manufactur- since the project's inception, which has encour- ers are working on initiating local production of aged local manufacturers to produce and assem- electric buses to satisfy the demand of the Supreme ble compact fluorescent lamps; this, in turn, has Council of Antiquities. The project has developed further reduced prices. EEIGGR has also contrib- the basis for launching the next phase, which uted to the establishment of a reference energy will include configuring buses and routes for the efficiency testing lab for refrigerators and wash- next demonstration phase; elaborating additional ing machines, housed in the New and Renewable needs for institutional strengthening and capacity Energy Authority. Lighting system and air con- building; and evaluating and addressing the eco- ditioner testing labs are under construction. The nomic, environmental, and social aspects of the project succeeded in leveraging $300,000 from project. This phase has yet to materialize. UNDP internal funds to further establish energy efficiency testing laboratories. Energy efficiency standards and labels have been put in place for major appliances such as refrig- Energy efficiency building construction codes erators, freezers, washing machines, air condi- for new residential, commercial, and administra- tioners, electric water heaters, electronic ballasts, tive buildings have been completed, although the and compact fluorescent lamps, and the EEIGGR issuance of a ministerial decree for their enforce- project has encouraged local manufacturers to ment is still pending. The Arabic version of the produce energy efficiency products. A ministe- commercial building energy efficiency code has rial decree was issued in 2002­03 for the enforce- been prepared, and the participation of more than ment of the standards and labeling program for 10 NGOs in promoting energy efficiency through the refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, the GEF SGP partnership has been catalyzed. and air conditioners, and in 2008 for the compact Nine ESCOs, with differing expertise in utilities, fluorescent lamps and electronic ballasts. These equipment supply, and electro-mechanical con- standards are upgraded every two years; this has tracting and consulting, have been established to already taken place for refrigerators and washing provide advice in energy efficiency and financing. machines. A significant achievement of the proj- ect is that the ministerial decrees now make it Catalytic and Replication Effects compulsory for local manufacturers and import- The actual catalytic and replication results ers to abide by the specifications and label their achieved are of central importance to the 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 63 Box 5.2 Good Practice: Energy Efficiency Improvement and GHG Reductions The eeIGGr project was designed to remove technical, institutional, and capacity barriers and to raise awareness of energy efficiency and the global environment. The project worked from both demand and supply sides, building consumer aware- ness of energy and conservation issues, encouraging the use of energy efficient appliances, and proving alternatives to increasing generating capacity to meet the demand for power. Following are highlights of project activities and results. z The project's efforts to reduce network transmission losses, load management, and load shifting have resulted in a reduction of transmission losses from 6.7 percent in 1999 to 3.68 percent at the end of 2005. This is a saving of 0.186 mil- lion tons of Co2 and well above the project goal which sought to reduce losses to 5 percent by 2010. z An energy efficiency Information Centre has been established. NGos have become involved in energy efficiency activi- ties and awareness campaigns. eeIGGr's awareness program is targeted toward providing households with information on lighting, home appliances, and building materials; industrial premises with information on energy efficient technolo- gies and control systems; and the commercial sector with information on energy saving and the use of appliances and equipment. z Field surveys were conducted at five industrial companies to investigate the potential for load shifting and a new time of use tariff option was developed. A cogeneration guidebook was prepared and a cogeneration tariff developed. z Several demonstration projects on efficient lighting systems have been conducted. A techno-economic study on the feasibility of replacing incandescent streetlights with efficient compact fluorescent lamps was prepared. z Two hundred energy audits were made of government buildings and commercial and industrial establishments between 1999 and 2003. A code for energy efficient residential and commercial buildings has been drafted. z An energy efficiency Testing Laboratory was established by the ministry of electricity and energy to verify claims. z Training sessions on energy efficiency have been held for manufacturers of home appliances. z engineers have been trained in calibration, measurement, cogeneration, digital meters, and demand side management. z eeIGGr has established nine eSCos to provide advice in energy efficiency and financing. Capacity building has been provided to the eSCos through training on energy auditing, energy efficient technologies, economic and feasibility project evaluation, risk evaluation, and financing. eeIGGr has also developed a project sales process for the eSCos, which covers both private and public sectors. z After the audit program in 2004, eeIGGr reformed its support to eSCos by substituting a supplier-based credit model, instead of a performance-based model; developing simplified contracts which include measures for performance guar- antee and savings verification; and concentrates on those energy efficiency technologies with low technical risks and attractive payback periods, such as power factor improvement, high efficiency lighting, energy management systems, and combustion improvement which includes switching to natural gas as well as combustion tune-ups. z eeIGGr has signed cooperation protocols with strategic customers including water and drainage companies and hold- ing companies for natural gas, and has supported exhibitions for energy efficient lighting. Three lighting programs have been carried out in a shopping mall, a chemical plant, and street lighting; four power factor improvement projects in water treatment plants and the conversion of an industrial plant to natural gas are under way. z more than 10,000 compact fluorescent lamps have been sold to companies. eeIGGr's target is to sell 50,000 units by mid-2006 and 150,000 by the end of the year. z eeIGGr prepared feasibility studies for a cogeneration pilot project in various institutions, including a paper company and a hospital, before deciding on a tourist resort and diesel power plant. z eeIGGr provided technical advice to a project funded by the the Canadian International Development Agency to manu- facture compact fluorescent lamps in egypt. z High-efficiency lighting and energy management systems have been installed at the mWrI and the Arab Academy for Science and Technology. Ten more energy efficiency projects are under way in administrative buildings belonging to electricity companies. 64 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) z eeIGGr jointly organized a workshop on consumer education and social marketing of appliance standards with the Col- laborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Programme in 2003. z The building codes of countries with climates similar to egypt's were reviewed. An energy efficiency code for residential buildings has been finalized and a code for commercial buildings has been drafted. z energy-efficiency standard specifications have been set for three groups of electric appliances--refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners. A ministerial degree now obligates manufacturers and importers to abide by the speci- fications and label their products with energy consumption information. z eeIGGr has issued an egyptian measurements and verification Protocol to verify energy savings in performance contracting. z The project prepared a draft energy efficiency law for egypt. evaluation of climate change projects in Egypt. As impacts on coastal zones, water resources, and mentioned above, Egypt is preparing its Second agriculture; and the identification and assess- National Communication to the UNFCCC, which ment of abatement measures for climate change was expected to be finalized in June 2009. The impacts on Egypt's coral reefs. Action Plan on Climate Change will be updated The EEIGGR project succeeded in encourag- based on the outputs of this communication. The ing local manufacturers to produce energy effi- National Committee on Climate Change, which cient products. The project also catalyzed policy was established in 1997 and restructured in 2007, change in terms of issuing the residential energy is an interministerial expert committee. Based on efficiency code. The government is preparing a experience and skills gained from this committee, National Strategy for Improving Energy Efficiency the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclama- in Egypt. Based on groundwork done by EEIGGR, tion, the MWRI, and other ministries are work- the "Industrial Energy Efficiency" project will ing to establish climate change committees, which focus on two thematic areas that have already are seen as playing an increasingly important role. shown signs of success--energy efficient lighting Furthermore, a decision has been made to start a and appliance standards and labels. strategic action plan for climate change adapta- tion, and with the first adaptation project being Institutional Sustainability and Capacity implemented in Alexandria, it is likely that there Development will be a spin-off effect in terms of an increased Cost-effective policy options for mitigation number of investment projects. or adaptation strategies were developed, and For the intersessional period between the Initial national capability was created in the areas of and Second National Communications, the cli- climate change assessment, mitigation, and mate change focal point and institutions, together project development through GEF projects that with government organizations and NGOs, have strengthened existing institutions. Development used the momentum developed through the INC of sectoral policies and regulations involved the enabling activity to cooperate on projects focus- establishment of energy efficiency standards and ing on the implementation of some INC findings. labels for electrical appliances and energy effi- These projects have included an assessment of ciency codes for new residential, commercial, proposed technologies to mitigate climate change and industrial buildings. 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 65 The INC's institutional sustainability is evidenced upon these achievements has been important in by Phase II being coordinated by the same man- the establishment and strengthening of climate agement structure as Phase I; the team includes change institutions that assess technology needs both national and international experts. During and design, evaluate, and host projects. Capacity the execution of Phase I, the National Commit- has also been built by developing an inventory of tee on Climate Change replaced the project steer- GHG emissions and their removal by sinks. The ing committee and took the lead for managing inventory continues to be updated, following Phase II of the enabling activity. The permanent accepted international methodologies, such as staff of the EEAA Climate Change Unit is aware of those of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate recent activities, projects, and studies, and works Change. to ensure that duplication of efforts is avoided and The EEIGGR project issued an Egyptian measure- that previous achievements are built on. ments and verification protocol to verify energy There are no signs of a supportive policy environ- savings in performance contracting. Based on a ment in the electricity sector to demonstrate gov- review of building codes for countries with cli- ernment commitment, which makes for a weak mates similar to Egypt's, the project developed an implementation environment for projects in this energy efficiency code for residential buildings; a sector. The government has fallen short of meet- code for commercial buildings is being drafted. ing its commitments for several policy reforms Institutional sustainability for cogeneration was that were considered prerequisites for the EEIGGR achieved through the establishment of a cogen- project. Two of these--which pertain to the imple- eration small power group within the Egyptian mentation of time-of-use tariffs and development Electricity Holding Company, development of of regulations for cogeneration, renewable energy technical specifications for safety interconnection tariffs, and power purchase agreements for small to the grid, development of the cogeneration tariff generators--have had an adverse impact on structure, and development of a model for power EEIGGR. These much-needed reforms will help purchase agreement suitable for small producers. ensure the viability of the large GEF investment in A cogeneration guidebook was prepared, and a the "Solar Thermal Hybrid Project." cogeneration tariff developed. The GEF enabling activities relating to climate EEIGGR also enhanced capacity development in change have resulted in a two-tiered institutional the areas of climate change assessment, mitiga- mechanism consisting of a policy-making inter- tion, and project development through projects ministerial committee (mentioned above) and that integrated the capacity building of relevant a permanent technical secretariat in the EEAA institutions. Capacity building has been provided responsible for coordinating activities to develop to the ESCOs through training on energy audit- policy options related to climate change and to ing, energy efficient technologies, economic and comply with UNFCCC provisions. A climate feasibility project evaluation, risk evaluation, and change policy dialogue has been initiated among financing. The EEIGGR project has developed a the government, nongovernmental, academic, project sales process for the ESCOs, which covers and grassroots sectors that has fostered an under- both the private and public sectors. The number standing of climate change issues and their linkage of ESCOs operating in Egypt has grown from 3 at with a sustainable development strategy. Building the project's start to more than 10. 66 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Egypt submitted its INC to the UNFCCC in 1999; activities--particularly once it recognized that this covered the 1990 GHG inventory, a prelimi- the proposed measures are cost-effective, and nary vulnerability and adaptation assessment for that donor countries are willing to support proj- different sectors, steps taken in the field of climate ects that have global benefits in terms of reduced change in various sectors in Egypt, and future GHG emissions. The enabling activities aim to needs. Within the first phase of this project, a ensure sustainability through the development of complete set of activities--including background a pipeline of sound projects and of an institutional studies, public awareness raising, and training-- structure that links national and international were undertaken, leading to broad coverage of stakeholders. These activities have also built the most of the important sectors, with an emphasis capacities of individuals and institutionalized on the vulnerability of such non-energy sectors national communication, and have provided tech- as water resources, agriculture, and coastal zones nical assistance and training in Egypt to assist in to climate change. A cadre of experts has been climate change mitigation and adaptation through created and institutions established, such as the the advancement of national priorities in energy Climate Change Unit of the EEAA. Local capacity efficiency, fuel substitution, and renewable energy to respond to the UNFCCC has been supported development, among others. They have also con- through promotion of GHG inventory assess- tributed to capacity development for the conven- ments, establishment of policy dialogues, evalua- tion focal points and their related agencies. tion of technological options, investigation of cli- The majority of SGP projects in Egypt have been mate change impacts, and analysis of adaptation in the climate change focal area, a trend that con- opportunities. tinues through the current operational phase, The electric bus project has achieved enhanced when projects have been in this area exclusively. capacities of transportation authority manag- During the SGP's pilot phase in Egypt, most of the ers and of maintenance and operation person- climate change projects addressed greening and nel involved in the operation of two test vehicles. tree-planting activities. In the second phase, new Testing of the buses at various sites in Giza and project ideas emerged to mitigate climate change, Luxor encountered several delays, but enabled such as energy-conserving lighting and the use of the adjustment of required specifications to suit wind turbines, solar cookers, and solar heaters. the Egyptian environment. The project has been One successful project in this phase was "Tech- a learning process in which Egyptian technicians nological Units Appropriate for the Environment have gained first-hand experience by addressing Implemented in El-Taiaba Village--Governorate problems on site. of Minya," which aimed to use available natural Sustainability is often a sensitive issue in capac- resources to rationalize electricity consumption, ity-building projects such as enabling activities, thus reducing the air pollution caused by thermal as these projects aim to encourage actions that power stations (GEF EO 2008). Raising inhabit- are not being carried out due to a lack of knowl- ants' awareness of the importance of improving edge, prioritization, or institutional capabil- indoor air quality was another target of the proj- ity. The climate change enabling activities have ect. It sought to introduce improved ovens to provided an opportunity for the government of reduce indoor air pollution and improve women's Egypt to embrace and continue support of these and children's health. The implementing NGO 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 67 targeted the installation of 56 solar water heaters showrooms for energy efficient lighting in NGO and 20 ovens in a village, and trained individuals headquarters. The SGP played an important role in their maintenance to ensure the project's sus- in involving and mobilizing local communities tainability and generate job opportunities. This and civil society, as well as in demonstrating the initiative of installing solar heaters in the villages link between global and local benefits. of Upper Egypt using revolving funds became a model and was replicated in many other areas. Awareness Raising Successful awareness raising in climate change The SGP has funded projects that aimed at has been conducted through educational efforts increasing the capacity of NGOs to implement and information dissemination both for large sustainable projects that fit within GEF objectives. projects and SGP projects. Public awareness cam- These projects organized workshops to build the paigns have been carried out by NGOs under the capacity and raise the awareness of NGOs with EEIGGR project on issues of energy efficiency and respect to activities, projects, and systems in the the dissemination of compact fluorescent lamps GEF focal areas. A series of workshops were held through project technical support and SGP finan- for NGO capacity building in climate change and cial support. As a result, more than 10,000 com- in the other GEF focal areas. For example, the pact fluorescent lamps have been sold to distribu- SGP played a significant role in building capac- tion companies. ity and raising awareness of the air pollution epi- sodes over Greater Cairo, notoriously known as A key lesson learned during implementation of the "black cloud phenomenon." This problem has the EEIGGR project was the importance of coop- significant global environmental impact, since erating with NGOs to interact efficiently with end it entails the open burning of millions of tons of users. This cooperation was the reason behind the agricultural waste every year. successful implementation of energy efficiency pilot projects with NGOs and civil society. The To initiate cooperation between the EEIGGR proj- SGP raised awareness of different target groups, ect and NGOs, a workshop was organized to dis- including NGOs, concerning the SGP's mission, cuss project ideas about energy conservation and operational programs, and procedures; this was environmental protection that could be imple- achieved through various informational materials, mented by NGOs, funded by the SGP, and receive including a multimedia package. technical support from EEIGGR. The chairs of more than 30 NGOs actively participated in this EEIGGR helped explain to decision makers the workshop. Initially, nine received grants to imple- linkages between energy efficiency and reduc- ment energy efficiency projects, and the success- tion in the consumption of highly subsidized fossil ful outcome encouraged other NGOs to submit fuels. Accordingly, energy efficiency is now receiv- proposals. NGO activities covered a large number ing attention at the highest political levels, includ- of cities across Egypt and included training and ing by the Supreme Council for Energy. Under the capacity building for technicians in efficient light- EEIGGR project, an Energy Efficiency Informa- ing, holding public awareness seminars and work- tion Centre was established, which includes a data- shops on the local and global benefits of energy base for large consumers and provides an audit efficiency, implementation of energy efficiency function for customers. The project's awareness projects through revolving funds, and establishing program is targeted toward providing households 68 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) with information on lighting, home appliances, efficiency have been held for manufacturers of and building materials; industrial premises with home appliances, and the EEIGGR project has information on energy efficient technologies and signed cooperation protocols with strategic cus- control systems; and the commercial sector--in tomers, including water and drainage companies particular, office buildings, hotels, hospitals, and and holding companies for natural gas, and has schools--with information on energy saving and supported exhibitions of energy efficient light- the use of appliances and equipment. ing. Three lighting programs have been carried out thus far, in a shopping mall, a chemical plant, Web sites have been created for the EEIGGR and as street lighting; four power factor improve- project and the EEAA Climate Change Unit to ment projects were conducted in water treatment facilitate information dissemination and pro- plants; and the conversion of an industrial plant to mote training, education, and public awareness. natural gas is under way. EEIGGR also introduced awareness campaigns on television; this was accomplished through a UNDP The "Sustainable Transport" and bioenergy proj- coordinated partnership among the project, the ects recognize the importance of implementing a EEAA, and a group of private sector companies well-defined communication and public relations led by Proctor & Gamble. The private companies strategy to address the risks associated with the covered the cost of production and broadcasting acceptance of the measures they will promote. of TV spots on several regional satellite channels, These projects are likely to contribute at many while the project provided technical assistance levels to extending awareness and a deeper under- in designing the campaign messages and select- standing of the links between energy and climate ing the topics. The awareness campaign has been change. singled out as a model for social marketing, based on the partners' vast private sector experience 5.3 International Waters and the EEIGGR team's technical knowledge. The The international waters portfolio in Egypt is a project also organized a highly visible workshop substantial one, with two national projects either on consumer education and social marketing of completed or ongoing and one in the pipeline, appliance standards in December 2003. seven regional projects, and one global project. When three multifocal projects and one biodi- Several demonstration projects have been con- versity project with a strong international waters ducted under the EEIGGR aegis on efficient light- emphasis are taken into account, the portfolio ing systems, and a techno-economic study on comprises 15 projects in total. the feasibility of replacing incandescent street- lights with efficient compact fluorescent lamps Egypt's frequent inclusion in regional interna- was prepared for the Ministry of Electricity. The tional waters projects is partly due to its strategic demonstration projects contributed to the high- geographic location, meaning that any initiatives efficiency lighting and energy management sys- in the Mediterranean Sea (such as the Mediter- tems that have been installed at the MWRI and ranean SAP or Mediterranean Action Plan), Red the Arab Academy for Science and Technology. Sea and Gulf of Aden (for example, the Red Sea Ten additional energy efficiency projects are SAP), the Nile Basin (for example, the NBI and its under way in the administrative buildings of five environmental pillar, the NTEAP), or the Nubian electricity companies. Training sessions on energy Aquifer must include Egypt. Egypt has been one 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 69 of the driving forces behind both the Nubian transboundary resources. However, evaluations Aquifer project and the NBI. The current regional of experience in Egypt and other countries in the projects in international waters have revolved region with these projects have surfaced the fol- around developing SAPs, determining priority lowing problems: actions, and formulating action plans, which indi- z Inefficient coordination among national cate that Egypt's involvement to date has been at institutions in the participating countries. the foundational stage, creating an enabling envi- A common feature of regional international ronment for future action. While these plans and waters projects is that more than one national programs have yet to translate into tangible and institution from each of the countries generally visible activities at the national level, Egypt has is involved, and the institutions do not always benefited--and is likely to benefit in the future-- coordinate efficiently, which tends to compli- from the establishment of these regional frame- cate project implementation. Activities and works, which will facilitate implementation at inputs required from participating countries the national level. Moreover, agreeing on priority are usually the responsibility of individuals water and environmental issues, required gover- representing national institutions in different nance reforms and investments, and taking steps regional forums. The backing and support of toward aligning governance structures with these national institutions in securing these inputs regional frameworks have provided national ben- and activities are not always adequate, which efits for all countries participating in the regional causes delays in providing inputs needed from international waters projects. In this respect, the national level to achieve regional benefits. experiences to date show that waterbody man- agement processes "often take 15­20 years before z Less than satisfactory dissemination and meaningful commitments to joint action can be utilization of information and regional out- secured" (GEF 2002). puts. A good example is the case of the NTEAP, in which both the EEAA and the MWRI are One of the strengths of regional international involved. waters projects is that GEF support is often cou- z Ineffective institutions and policy tools. The pled with that of several other donors; conse- relative weakness of the environmental institu- quently, regional institutions such as those estab- tions in some of the involved countries, as well lished with GEF support for the NBI and Red as the inadequacy of some important policy Sea SAP have a high likelihood of sustainability. tools such as legislation and/or information in Evidence of this are the Mediterranean Action these countries, complicates collaboration in Plan and the PERSGA for the Red Sea, which activities related to the environment. have been operational and functional for the past decades. These regional mechanisms have con- z Varying levels of competency. The capaci- tinued to function after project completion, albeit ties and competencies of the relevant national with some reduced effectiveness. stakeholders in the various countries involved differ considerably. Consequently, capacity- GEF international waters regional programs building activities are neither relevant nor suf- offer a forum in which the participating coun- ficiently useful for institutions in Egypt, where tries can come together to initiate discussion on capacity is greater than in some other countries these highly strategic and often sensitive natural in this sector. 70 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) z Insufficient visibility. The activities of regional Two regional projects have been completed so projects with no national component are not far: "Implementation of the SAP for the Red Sea sufficiently visible, especially when compared and Gulf of Aden" and "Determination of Prior- with relatively large bilateral projects. Accord- ity Actions for the Further Elaboration and Imple- ingly, these projects do not always receive the mentation of the SAP for the Mediterranean Sea." political attention they greatly need. Neither of these projects had a national compo- nent in Egypt, and no specific global environ- Impacts mental impacts directly stemming from them Impacts of Completed Projects have been achieved in Egypt per se. However, the The Lake Manzala initiative was the first national Red Sea SAP project has produced useful outputs project in the international waters focal area to including studies, protocols, plans, surveys, and be implemented and completed in Egypt, with capacity-building activities that may have some implementation occurring over some 15 years impacts if sufficiently utilized at the national level. (1992­2007). At the regional level, the project established the MEMAC in Hurghada under the PERSGA.2 The The project created a pilot engineered wetlands MEMAC conducts highly specified training for its facility to treat the agricultural drainage waters of members several times a year and has a training one of Lake Manzala's five drains. The impacts of facility, library, and an oil spill trajectory model the Lake Manzala project is evidenced by its con- to predict the movements of a given oil spill. The tributions to reduced water pollution. The ratio of actual to planned treatment efficiency was 61 per- MEMAC operates on a regional budget from the cent for biological oxygen demand, 80 percent for PERSGA, supported by member countries. The total suspended solids, 51 percent for total nitro- achievements of the Red Sea SAP project are gen, 15 percent for total phosphorous, and 97 per- described in more detail in box 5.3. cent for total coliform. Thus, the actual treatment efficiency of the facility was even higher than the Likely Impacts of Ongoing Projects original design. Both the main and pilot wetlands All ongoing projects address integrated ecosystem are now operational. and resource management (with the exception of the global ballast water project, which addresses The project has been influential, involving as it did contaminant-based programs). Regionally, ongo- eight national agencies, including five ministries ing projects are foundational projects. By their (involved with agriculture, housing, environment, very nature, there are no impacts as such that and water and the Port Said Governorate), and can be reported in terms of increased fish stocks, three academic and private organizations (Cairo reduction in land pollution, and complementary University, the Agriculture Research Center, and water uses. Rather, the outcomes of these projects the Arab Fisheries Company). Nevertheless, the aim to foster multistate cooperation on priority positive achievements made during implemen- tation are to some extent jeopardized now that the project has been handed over to the MWRI's 2 It took from 1991 to 2003 for the MEMAC to reach an agreement with the EEAA regarding the cen- Drainage Research Institute, which has a very lim- ter's diplomatic status and implementation arrange- ited budget to operate the wetlands. This point is ments. The center is now fully operational with five further elaborated below. full-time staff members. 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 71 events. One reported weakness was its lack of an Box 5.3 environmental impact assessment to map out the Good Practice: Implementation of the SAP for adverse ecological effects of project interventions. the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Through the red Sea and Gulf of Aden SAP, the insti- GEF support has addressed the main water bodies tutions and networks created by the project have in Egypt, where the GEF has built on the results of achieved considerable success. based in Jeddah, Saudi the plans and strategies developed in foundational Arabia, the PerSGA has brought together ministries, scientists, and civil society leaders from Djibouti, egypt, projects and turned plans into actions reflected Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Yemen. Among the by investment projects. For example, the prepipe- project's accomplishments are the following: lined Alexandria ICZM stems from the the Medi- z A network of marine protected areas has been terranean SAP and falls under the umbrella of the established through the enhancement of exist- Investment Fund for the Mediterranean Sea Large ing protected areas and the creation of new ones, including Dongonab bay and mukawwar Island in Marine Ecosystem Partnership. This national Sudan, belhaf-bir Ali in Yemen, and Îles des Sept project is also linked to the World Bank's Egyp- Frères in Djibouti. tian Pollution Abatement Project, whose goal is z A new regional protocol on biodiversity and pro- to improve environmental conditions in a lim- tected areas has been drafted and is awaiting final ited number of pollution hotspots including Lake approval. Mariout in Alexandria. z New hydrographic surveys to reduce the environ- mental risks from shipping in the southern red Sea have been undertaken. Outcomes z A strong partnership with the International mari- time organization has resulted in a series of train- Outcomes of Transboundary Programs/Actions ing workshops on oil spill contingency planning The regional international waters projects in and accidents and emergency procedures. which Egypt participates aim to fulfill one of three z New data collection centers have been established broad objectives: to lead efforts at reducing pressure on overex- ploited shark stocks. A preliminary analysis of the z Lay the foundation for collaboration among ornamental fish trade has been conducted and management guidelines prepared. countries over transboundary water resources Source: UNDP-GeF 2004. z Develop diagnosis analyses, action plans, strat- egies, and frameworks stemming from the col- laboration among countries water concerns, and are therefore analyzed at the z Develop a program of investments based on outcome level (see below). such plans and frameworks for cooperation, Although a national project, the Eastern Des- involving both regional and national compo- ert groundwater project allows utilization of nents an untapped water resource that would, if used Important achievements have been made through sustainably, reduce competing demands on the these regional foundational projects, including already overcommitted Nile waters. The project paving the way for collaboration among coun- has developed several models and is, according tries on transboundary water resources; initiat- to experts in the field, technically very sound. It ing a dialogue; and laying the groundwork for has been showcased at international and regional strengthened institutional, legal, and coordination 72 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) frameworks and networks among national insti- Mediterranean Sea. Twenty countries and the tutions in participating countries. However, these European Union are contracting parties to the collaborations and networks are fragile in nature Convention for the Protection of the Mediterra- and have yet to achieve solid, agreed-upon institu- nean Sea against Pollution (the Barcelona Con- tional, legal, and coordination frameworks. This is vention), the Protocol for the Protection of the particularly true for those initiatives related to the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution from Land- Nile Basin and Red Sea, which have not produced Based Sources, and the Mediterranean Action signed cooperation agreements/frameworks. Plan. UNEP has served as the secretariat to the Mediterranean Action Plan and to the Barcelona The following sections, presented by water body, Convention since their adoption. The regional ini- describe the different projects supported by the tiatives covering the Mediterranean Sea, includ- GEF and their respective strengths and weaknesses. ing GEF-funded projects, are closely linked and Red Sea. The project implementing the SAP for are designed to build on and support previous the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden was initiated in experiences and outcomes. 1997. Its strategy involves strengthening the tech- The parties to the Barcelona Convention adopted nical and managerial capacities of the regional the SAP for the Mediterranean Sea in 1997, and organization (PERSGA) based in Jeddah, Saudi the first GEF project in Egypt, "Determination of Arabia, and its national focal points; facilitating Priority Actions for the Further Elaboration and the sharing of information and experiences across Implementation of the SAP for the Mediterra- the region; and supporting the development and nean Sea," was designed to support implementa- implementation of legal, institutional, and finan- tion of the SAP nationally. With GEF support, a cial instruments to sustain good environmental transboundary diagnostic analysis was carried management practices. The project had limited out in 1997, followed by the preparation of two success on certain fronts, and the commitment of SAPs--one for land-based pollution and one for regional states to project implementation was low biodiversity protection. The Mediterranean basin by the project's end due to limited coordination countries recognized the need for a coordinated among the national institutions of participating and innovative approach to SAP implementation countries and the relative weakness of the envi- that would accelerate on-the-ground implementa- ronmental institutions engaged, as well as to the tion of priority actions and aim to remove institu- limited dissemination and utilization of informa- tional, financial, and technical barriers to invest- tion and regional outputs. ments. The GEF, the World Bank, UNEP, and the The SAP for the Red Sea and the biodiversity proj- Mediterranean Action Plan have jointly proposed ect "Red Sea Coastal and Marine Resource Man- the establishment of a Strategic Partnership for agement" were implemented at about the same the Mediterranean Sea Large Marine Ecosystem time (late 1990s to early 2000). Though the two to leverage reforms and catalyze investments that projects did not interact, the building that now address transboundary pollution reduction and houses the EEAA's regional branch office in the marine and coastal biodiversity conservation pri- Red Sea Governorate was an output of the bio- orities identified in the two SAPs. The proposed diversity project; it also houses the MEMAC, an partnership would achieve its objective through output of the international waters project. two components: 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 73 z Regional component--implementation of lution hotspots, coastal habitat degradation and regional activities to protect the environmental loss, and fisheries depletion. resources of the Mediterranean and its coastal While the regional MedWetCoast is categorized areas ($15 million GEF grant, under prepara- as a biodiversity project, it has some bearing on tion, to be implemented by UNEP and part- the international waters portfolio in that it contrib- ners3) uted to improved conservation of some wetland- z Investment Fund for the Mediterranean Sea related species. This project had a strong national Large Marine Ecosystem Partnership ($85 mil- character. Moreover, with no defined regional lion GEF grant, implemented by the World coordination or management, it developed Bank) according to national interpretation. In Egypt, there was a strong emphasis on research, individ- The objective of the regional component is to pro- ual capacity development, and site management. mote and induce harmonized policy, legal, and institutional reforms, and fill the knowledge gap Nile Basin. The NTEAP funded by the GEF is aimed at reversing marine and coastal degrada- one of seven projects under the NBI Shared Vision tion trends and living resource depletion, in accor- Program. Other NBI donors include the World dance with priorities agreed on by the countries in Bank, UNDP, and the Canadian International the SAPs for land-based pollution and biodiver- Development Agency. The objective was to sup- sity protection. The regional component will also port the development of a basinwide framework for actions to address high-priority transbound- implement a regional replication strategy for the ary environmental issues within the context of demonstration investments implemented under the NBI's Strategic Action Program. The NTEAP the Investment Fund. The Alexandria ICZM proj- has been designed as an integrated five-year proj- ect is one of two project concepts that have been ect, with UNDP and the World Bank as GEF co- reviewed and approved by the GEF Secretariat for Implementing Agencies. Its first tranche under- pipeline entry; the other is in Bosnia/Croatia. went a midterm review in November 2006 that The objective of the Investment Fund is to accel- issued 38 detailed recommendations, including erate the implementation of transboundary pol- enhancing ownership of the national institutions, lution reduction and biodiversity conservation utilizing capabilities from national institutions in measures in priority hotspots and sensitive areas capacity-building efforts, and widening the circle of selected countries of the Mediterranean basin of influence of the project activities and making that would help achieve the targets outlined in the them more visible; it recommended a one-year extension until the end of 2009. Overall, the mid- SAPs for land-based pollution and biodiversity term review found the project to be "reasonably protection. The four main transboundary con- advanced in its goals and objectives" with 12 proj- cerns identified in the Mediterranean Sea Large ect targets fully attained out of 40. The review Marine Ecosystem include biodiversity loss, pol- also notes that if the NTEAP can overcome the general weaknesses of regional projects and effec- The concept for the regional component entered 3 tively implement the recommendations put forth, the GEF pipeline in November 2004. The project is currently under preparation and will be presented for the remaining project targets are more likely to be Council approval by end of 2006. attained within the extension period. 74 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) The project seeks to encourage more effective key issues highlighted in the Transboundary Envi- basinwide stakeholder cooperation on trans- ronmental Analysis. In Egypt, the microgrant boundary environmental issues by supporting fund was well managed and coordinated by and the implementation of the actions prioritized by with the SGP Steering Committee, which resulted the Transboundary Environmental Analysis. The in a number of community-based projects; these major implementation problem appeared to be did not cause any overlap or redundancy with related to insufficient coordination of the vari- the SGP, but instead created synergies and useful ous project components--not surprising in an collaboration. institutional set-up as complex as the NBI's. The The second phase of the NTEAP is a continua- NTEAP has maintained the original development tion and consolidation of activities of the first objective designed and agreed to by the riparian phase. The project will begin to phase out proj- countries, namely "to create more effective basin- ect activities and phase them into the permanent wide stakeholder cooperation on transboundary institution for cooperation in the Nile Basin. The environmental issues by supporting the imple- project outcomes achieved so far face several mentation of a subset of the actions prioritized risks, including political risks associated with the by the Transboundary Environmental Analysis." commitment of the Nile Basin countries and gen- The second phase focus is "to protect critical Nile eral insecurity, operational risks related to insti- Basin ecosystems from transboundary threats tutional leadership and regional coordination through the provision of a strategic environmen- capacity, strategic risks linked to the sustainability tal framework and the engagement of stakehold- of project products, and climatic risks related to ers according to the principles of Integrated Water changes of flows and recurrence of floods. During Resources Management."4 the second phase of NTEAP, the project is putting Under NTEAP I, a Nile Transboundary Micro- more resources into demonstrating the practical grants Program was established to support local- effects of its achievements, helping the created level land and water conservation initiatives at stakeholder networks define and achieve their transboundary sites and of transboundary sig- goals, reinforcing collaboration with other envi- nificance for the regional international waters ronmental projects in the basin, using knowledge project. A microgrant coordinator was hired to dissemination for economic development in the oversee and manage the fund, which was posi- region, and orienting activities toward environ- tioned at a transboundary governorate (Aswan). mental transboundary issues. In participating riparian countries with an SGP Other projects in the Nile Basin are "Mainstream- presence, such as Egypt, the SGP steering com- ing Groundwater Considerations into the Inte- mittee was used as an advisory body for the grated Management of the Nile River Basin" and overall functioning of the microgrants program. "SIP-Eastern Nile Transboundary Watershed The microgrants coordinator, together with the Management in Support of ENSAP Implementa- SGP steering committee, succeeded in establish- tion." The former has recently begun, and the lat- ing benchmarks in the National Transboundary ter has received PIF approval; thus little informa- Microgrants Program Action Plan that address tion regarding their achievements can be noted. 4 Information about NTEAP from its Web site, Nubian Aquifer. This aquifer is addressed through http://nteap.nilebasin.org/ (accessed March 2009). a recent regional project, "Action Programme for 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 75 the Integrated Management of the Shared Nubian started "Mainstreaming Groundwater Consider- Aquifer." The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System ations into the Integrated Management of the Nile is one of the largest aquifers in the world, cover- River Basin." A new U.S.-funded project has been ing Chad, Egypt, Libya, and Sudan. The proj- awarded to Cairo University and the University ect's overall expected results would contribute to of Western Michigan, which have been involved strengthening the institutional, legal, and analyti- in the Eastern Desert project, to investigate the cal frameworks for sustainable management and potential for groundwater resources in Sinai as a use of the shared aquifer system. The project seeks direct continuation of the current Eastern Desert to achieve a clear understanding of transboundary initiative. The main justification for funding this issues, problems, and potential solutions; prepare project has been the innovative and successful a shared aquifer diagnostics analysis that identi- approaches of the GEF project. fies gaps in capacity and data; and jointly develop and agree on a strategic action program to address The Lake Manzala project has a large potential for real and potential problems. The project also aims replication, both in Egypt and other countries in to establish a framework for developing an appro- the region with similar environmental problems. priate legal mechanism, such as a convention, to Nevertheless, there is no vision for replication of underpin transboundary cooperation represented constructed wetlands in Egypt. The project docu- by a strengthened Joint Nubian Sandstone Aqui- ment does not set out a replication approach, but fer System Authority. The project uses the trans- rather infers opportunities for replication of capac- boundary diagnostic analysis methodology as well ity building and dissemination. The project treats as isotope analysis for groundwater modeling, 2.5 percent of the agricultural drainage waters of which holds potential lessons for groundwater one of five drains of Lake Manzala. Two or three modeling at large. more drains replicating the same technology were considered during the project design phase; how- GEF support of the shared Nubian Aquifer proj- ever, the project could only fund treatment of one ect has initiated a dialogue among the four partici- drain, and therefore turned into a small pilot proj- pating countries that might not have taken place ect conducted only in Lake Manzala. While the without GEF funding. The GEF contribution in project developers did not articulate how repli- putting such dialogues in place vis-à-vis the NBI cation should be fostered, it has been recognized and the Nubian Aquifer has been of particular that there is a real potential for Egypt to expand strategic importance. its use of constructed wetland systems. To date, the government has not supported the replication Catalytic and Replication Effects efforts as much as anticipated. The catalytic effects of the international waters projects are demonstrated by the extent to which At the end of GEF support, the Lake Manzala follow-up projects have resulted from the initial project was handed over to the Drainage Research GEF investments. For example, projects in ground- Institute, which has been given the responsibility water have become more prominent in the port- to operate the engineered wetlands facility and to folio, beginning with the national groundwater extend treatment of the Bahr El Baqar Drain. The project in the Eastern Desert; the International National Water Research Centre, under which Atomic Energy Agency, the implementing agency the institute operates, intends to extend the tech- in the regional shared Nubian Aquifer project, just nology for treatment of domestic sewage for 76 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) villages on the fringe of the Delta; to date, some Box 5.4 small-scale wastewater treatment systems using engineered wetlands have been installed in sur- Good Practice: Innovative Approach and Technology in the Lake Manzala Engineered rounding villages. In addition, the World Bank Wetlands Project is planning to integrate constructed wetlands as The Lake manzala project has helped egypt in an part of a project in the Alexandria region. How- ambitious and pioneering effort to clean and reuse ever, there has been no specific plan for scaling up agricultural drainage waters for productive purposes by developing an innovative approach and technol- the Lake Manzala project or for reforming poli- ogy. Using a series of engineered wetlands, 25,000 cies and removing barriers for replication. Initi- cubic meters of water are pumped daily from the bahr ating a pilot for a technology means that adap- el baqr canal, which leads into Lake manzala, into a tation to the technology and variations to the series of large ponds, where most of the toxic sedi- ments settle in the water. After the sediments settle, implementation may be required for replication the water flows into the specially designed wetlands, to take place in other parts of Egypt. The technol- where plants and bacteria filter it gradually, removing ogy adopted by the wetlands for the treatment of additional pollutants. The entire process is chemical- free and can be undertaken for just one-tenth the cost wastewater is a low-cost technology when com- of traditional competing technologies. pared to the costs associated with traditional Treatment of wastewater via engineered wetlands is wastewater treatment plants. Box 5.4 presents a new low-cost technology to the middle east, and the success of the technology adopted at Lake the Lake manzala engineered wetlands are the first of Manzala. It should be noted that Lake Manzala their type in egypt. The success of the technology in reducing water pollution has led national authorities is one of the poorest areas in Egypt; it lacks elec- to explore the reuse of treated water via engineered tricity, piped water, and basic infrastructure. It is wetlands in irrigation, fish farming, and decentralized the lack of supporting infrastructure at the proj- wastewater treatment technology in remote areas. ect site that has in part caused the high operation The project is negotiating with a fish research insti- and maintenance costs associated with running tute to explore the suitability of using treated water in the engineered wetlands. breeding some fish species that have vanished from the lake due to pollution stress. The project seeks to involve the local community in the facility's opera- During the last year of implementation, the Lake tion and maintenance to increase awareness of the Manzala project initiated a national dialogue on technology and reduce risks of pollution. The egyptian the expansion of engineered wetlands for treat- government plans to convert the facility into a center ing drainage water in suitable locations in Egypt, of excellence for low-cost techniques for wastewater treatment. which will link national priorities in reuse of drainage water with global benefits of reducing Source: Atallah and Hamid 2007. pollution load discharged into the Mediterranean. The project prepared an international waters experience note on the methodology to identify Institutional Sustainability and Capacity Development the factors influencing engineered wetlands to facilitate replication in other countries. These Institutional anchoring of projects has been initiatives have yet to materialize, and the govern- achieved, even though the sustainability of the ment has thus far not provided any budget to con- institutional and financial set-ups in some cases tinue operation of the Lake Manzala engineered are not sufficiently secured. Regarding the Lake wetlands. Manzala engineered wetlands, the EEAA initially 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 77 bore responsibility for the project, and while its carry out replication of the technology, the hand- involvement through parts of the project was not over also raises some questions regarding sustain- sufficiently proactive, it was active in several key ability and replication. The handover may be sus- situations. Early on, the EEAA requested the Port tainable from a research perspective, but financial Said Governorate to allocate the land for the facil- sustainability is to some extent put to risk, as the ity and provided a strong defense of the project Drainage Research Institute, by virtue of being a during public hearings in the parliament. Nev- public research institute, will not have the budget ertheless, no single line ministry of the Egyptian or the mandate to operate, scale up, disseminate government has the required expertise to address or push for replication of the engineered wetlands. and manage this type of project. The Ministry The Drainage Research Institute has put forward of Agriculture promotes land reclamation for proposals for a Code of Practice for Wetlands in increased agricultural production at the expense Egypt, Common Definition for Wetlands, Func- of Lake Manzala, and the MWRI has focused on tions of Wetlands, and an Atlas of Wetlands, and reuse of appropriate water for irrigation and agri- is trying to find donors. Even though the technol- cultural development, also at the expense of Lake ogy of the engineered wetlands has worked well, Manzala. The MWRI played a significant role these proposals have not been addressed to date, through the provision and participation in water and there is only a limited budget to continue quality measurements, in addition to its role at the operation of the wetlands in Lake Manzala. project handover. The National Water Research An additional impediment is the fact there is no Center was actively involved in carrying out the strategic decision in Egypt stating that engineered monitoring and sampling analysis program at wetlands are important. the wetlands. An initial agreement on transfer of authority from the EEAA to the MWRI took place A business plan was developed for Lake Manzala in 2003, with the official handover conducted in to help achieve and secure its financial sustain- 2007; the MWRI operated the facility during that ability. While the EEAA reaped the benefits four-year period. In other words, while institu- of implementing the engineered wetlands as a tional anchoring was achieved by the ownership donor-funded project, once operating costs begun of the MWRI, the nonphased and nongradual to accumulate, the operational responsibility has ending of the project has led to challenges in the fallen on the MWRI. The engineered wetlands financial sustainability of fully operationalizing, at Manzala adopt a low-cost technology, which disseminating, and scaling up the wetlands. could be managed under a cost-recovery mecha- nism. However, the project did not design a built- The success and sustainability of the project in cost-recovery mechanism. While the business depend not only on technical aspects and secur- plan projected that fish farming revenues would ing the project within the MWRI, but also on cover and exceed expenses of the facility start- positioning it within a suitable institutional frame- ing in year 4, the first fish farming trials were not work. While the changeover from the EEAA to the successful and are facing technical, logistic, and MWRI's Drainage Research Institute makes sense, bureaucratic challenges. as the center is the agency best able to manage the facility and benefit from the use of the engineered In general, the regional bodies executing the wetlands, and the Drainage Research Institute's regional projects are found to be well positioned specialists have the experience and expertise to to manage these, with the NBI being a particularly 78 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) experienced and competent forum well aware of Awareness-raising and education initiatives vary many of the strategic issues entailed; the relatively in magnitude and achievement, and have been new Joint Nubian Aquifer Authority is, in con- highly visible and successful where implemented. trast, still unfamiliar with many of the relevant However, they reach only a small fraction of the transboundary water resource issues. audience for such information (project-based learning was implemented in only 10 of the thou- Awareness Raising sands of government schools across the coun- The international waters projects in the national try). Workshops held in Egypt have addressed portfolio have been pilot demonstration projects, national water quality monitoring and enforce- which activated research in the area of engineered ment, microgrant capacity building, and national wetlands and groundwater resources. While the transboundary issues. Additionally, the PERSGA projects were intended to change societal behav- regional project's MEMAC conducts a number ior, the Lake Manzala project was not able to reach of training workshops every year in its offices in and collaborate with the communities, partly due Hurghada, and disseminates print material about to tensions regarding land tenure. However, the project initiatives. projects have built the capacities of staff in rel- evant institutions, and several doctoral students 5.4 Land Degradation have dedicated their studies to these research areas. The only GEF-supported project dealing entirely and exclusively with land degradation in which Under the first NTEAP, the institutions mandated Egypt participates is the regional MENARID ini- to facilitate regional cooperation were strength- tiative. This project is in its early stages and, so far, ened, and a microgrants program was managed has no activities in Egypt. The national MENARID and coordinated by a national microgrants coor- project initially planned under the regional pro- dinator working with the SGP Steering Commit- gram has not materialized. Two multifocal proj- tee to approve community-level projects in water ects, the NCSA enabling activity and the main- and conservation. One of the project's compo- streaming the global environment project, address nents was environmental education and aware- land degradation to some extent, although with a ness, which included the annual Nile Week, with limited focus. The SGP has not provided funding a different theme each year (land degradation in to land degradation projects in Egypt. 2007, wetlands management in 2008); boat rides for schoolchildren in the governorates of Qena, 5.5 Persistent Organic Pollutants Luxor, and Aswan; a Nile Awards program in pre- paratory and secondary schools in Egypt for draw- The completed NIP enabling activity has allowed ing, poetry, and articles; radio contests; quarterly Egypt to meet its reporting obligations under newsletters distributed among youth centers and the Stockholm Convention on POPs, as well as schools; project-based learning in 10 government laid the groundwork for implementation of the schools; an environmental education module for convention. universities; a Nile River Awareness Kit, which included an interactive CD to provide education Impacts on the hydrology, sociology, and biodiversity of The evaluation found no impacts in the POPs the Nile; and a documentary, Endangered Lifeline. focal area in terms of reduced or eliminated 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 79 production, use, and release of POPs. This find- among its ministries, relevant authorities, and ing is in line with the fact that, so far, only the NIP NGOs, as well as among private sector and envi- enabling activity has been completed in this area. ronmental experts. Outcomes 5.6 Multifocal Projects Catalytic and Replication Effects GEF support to multifocal projects is relatively recent, beginning in GEF-4. At the national level, One of the objectives of the NIP enabling activity only one multifocal project, the NCSA enabling was to facilitate ratification of the Stockholm Con- activity, has been completed. A second project, on vention. While it has been difficult to assess the mainstreaming the global environment, recently extent to which the NIP contributed to or influ- started and is now under implementation. The GEF enced the ratification process, it can be noted that database indicates that there are three additional Egypt ratified the Stockholm Convention in 2003, projects in Egypt classified as multifocal. However, one year after the enabling activity was initiated. after a close look, it was evident that these projects The NIP enabling activity has catalytic potential were essentially international waters projects; they in providing a basis for further project develop- are thus discussed briefly in section 5.3. ment and action in the POPs area. For instance, a project proposal on integrated and sustainable Impacts management of PCBs, dioxins, and furans is being The NCSA enabling activity contributed to the prepared in collaboration with the World Bank establishment of the GEF Unit in 2008. The unit, and is due to be submitted for GEF review. in turn, has played an important role in improv- Institutional Sustainability and Capacity ing GEF project preparation and strengthening Development coordination among stakeholders. The ongoing mainstreaming the global environment project The NIP enabling activity addressed capacity currently funds the GEF Unit. development at various levels of government by conducting training and workshops for a range Outcomes of stakeholders. This project element has, to some extent, strengthened national capacity and Catalytic and Replication Effects enhanced knowledge on POPs among decision The NCSA enabling activity has shown catalytic makers, industry, and the public at large. How- potential by providing the basis for further proj- ever, the absence of a common system for report- ect development in the climate change, biodiver- ing and documenting capacity-building activities sity, and land degradation focal areas. Issued in does not allow for a full assessment of the NIP's December 2007, the NCSA report emphasized contribution toward building national and insti- that the existing weakness of the monitoring, tutional capacity. Inclusion of the development of evaluation, and reporting system in these three a capacity-screening tool would be useful in pro- areas was a major constraint to proper implemen- posals addressing institutional capacity building. tation of national and international environmen- tal commitments, particularly of the three Rio Awareness Raising conventions. This finding catalyzed initiation of The NIP has helped raise awareness about the the mainstreaming the global environment proj- status of POPs within the Egyptian government, ect, with a view to tackling capacity constraints 80 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) such as public participation, technology transfer and land degradation, and formulated the and cooperation, financial mechanisms, and legal National Strategy and Action Plan for Capacity enforcement in the three areas. Development to address these needs. By includ- ing a component for monitoring and evaluation of Institutional Sustainability and Capacity this plan, the NCSA has contributed to improved Development planning and implementation of capacity devel- NCSA achievements are largely demonstrated by opment programs, thereby ensuring their sustain- Egypt's improved institutional set-up and coor- ability and success. Monitoring and evaluation dination, as well as the development of capacity systems have been put in place that build on those within the NCSA team and among project stake- in the agencies that serve as focal points to the Rio holders. Numerous academic and research insti- conventions. Among other things, these systems tutions have been engaged in the project, which assess compliance with a set of capacity develop- has contributed to an exchange of knowledge and ment indicators, including output, effect, impact, the preparation of stocktaking reports; also, the sustainability, and equitability indicators. EEAA's Multilateral Environmental Agreement The project played a role in furthering the aims of team built its capacity through the NCSA process. Millennium Development Goal 7 (MDG7), Ensure The NSCA project team benefited from various environmental sustainability (box 5.5). With opportunities offered by the NCSA Global Sup- respect to institutional sustainability, the NCSA port Programme, such as attending meetings and project management team was assigned to serve receiving advice. as the technical secretariat of the GEF National The NCSA identified priority capacity needs Steering Committee when it was established in related to global environmental management in 2006. Upon completion of the NCSA project, this Egypt in the areas of climate change, biodiversity, group became the GEF Unit; essentially, then, the Box 5.5 Good Practice: Nationalization of the MDG7 through the NCSA The GeF-funded NCSA for environmental management project in egypt has laid the groundwork for reports on almost all global environmental indicators under mDG7. In its first mDG report, issued in 2002, egypt indicated its intent to combine global mDG targets and indicators with country-specific ones. Its second mDG report (2004) aimed to facilitate debate on how to localize mDG country reporting. Specific challenges flagged in egypt's mDG reports included rapid population growth and limited resources, climate change impacts, and data deficiencies. Within the NCSA framework, egypt reviewed and developed a set of targets and indicators to better meet national environmental priorities and mDG7. Nationalization of mDG7 primarily rests on a consensus of the relevant egyptian line ministries and authorities on targets and performance indicators addressing environmental priorities as expressed by the NeAP 2002­17 and the three rio con- ventions. To date, egypt has set one country-specific target: to increase the proportion of areas covered by national protec- torates to 25 percent from the current 15 percent by 2015. Nationalization of mDG7 targets and indicators allows for improved reporting and the inclusion of environmental sustain- ability within national development schemes. To ensure the sustainability of the nationalization of mDG7 targets and indica- tors, the NSCA team collaborated with the National Committee for Sustainable Development to optimize synchronization between the committee's policy development and the NCSA team's monitoring of performance and environmental impact. Source: UNDP 2006b. 5. Results of GEF Support to Egypt 81 GEF Unit is an output of the NCSA. While the degradation to foster a more informed dialogue mainstreaming the global environment project with stakeholders, including convention focal is currently providing partial funding of the GEF points, implementing bodies, national experts, Unit, the EEAA is also providing it with funds, regional and local authorities, and academia. For another sign of institutional sustainability. example, the NCSA team conducted an aware- ness program in cooperation with the Ministry Awareness Raising of Education called the Bezra Schools Awareness As part of the NCSA process, awareness was Campaign. GEF support has contributed consid- raised on global issues and commitments in the erably to enhancing awareness of the significance areas of climate change, biodiversity, and land of addressing all GEF thematic areas. 82 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) 6. Relevance of GEF Support to Egypt This chapter addresses the following questions: Strategy for Sustainable Development, as well as its environmental priorities. z Is GEF support relevant to Egypt's sustainable development agenda and environmental pri- Egypt's Emerging Sustainable orities? Development Agenda z Is GEF support relevant to national develop- Egypt's vision and framework for its NSSD were ment needs and challenges? launched in 2007, with the aim of identifying priority issues and translating them into specific z Is GEF support relevant to national environ- policy goals for sustainable development. The mental policies and frameworks? preparatory steps in formulating the framework z Is the country supporting the GEF mandate are still ongoing, which indicates that the NSSD and focal area programs with its own resources is as yet insufficient for use in assessing the rel- or support from other donors? evance of the GEF portfolio. However, the current z Is GEF support relevant to the achievement of GEF-funded capacity-building project on main- the GEF mandate of maximizing global ben- streaming global environmental issues is linked efits, GEF principles (projects are cost-effec- to the NSSD to ensure integration of such issues tive, catalytic, sustainable, and replicable), and in the upcoming plan. The framework strategy objectives of each GEF focal area's operational is described in more detail in chapter 3 and GEF programs and strategies? EO (2009). The fact that no comprehensive sus- tainable development strategy has ever existed z Is GEF support relevant to the GEF Agencies' in Egypt compounds the lack of coordination in strategies and frameworks? this area. Even though the NEAP 2002­17 (EEAA z How relevant is the RAF index to country pri- 2001) takes into consideration, to some extent, the orities? synergies between the environment and sustain- able development, it does not provide an inclusive 6.1 The GEF Portfolio and Egypt's framework for sustainable development. Sustainable Development Agenda While the rate of economic growth has accelerated and Environmental Priorities in recent times, the pressures on the environment This section explores the relevance of the focus and natural resources have also increased, and and distribution of the overall GEF portfolio a fair distribution of wealth within the Egyptian in relation to Egypt's framework for a National society continues to be a challenge. Given the close 83 link between environmental sustainability and national expertise, the creation of the EEAA, and social and economic development in Egypt, and the formulation of better structures and action with the poor population being disproportionately plans. This produced a "matchmaking situation," affected by environmental degradation, GEF sup- wherein funding decisions were based on a merg- port has increasingly complemented the emerging ing of donors' objectives and national priorities. sustainable development priorities in Egypt. Lately, the Egyptian government has found itself in a situation where it can, to a large extent, dictate Notably, the GEF portfolio in Egypt has shifted its its needs and shape the environmental agenda. focus over time from mainly promoting environ- mental interventions to attaching greater impor- In the initial phase of GEF funding in Egypt dur- tance to involving local stakeholders, integrat- ing the 1990s, the focus was primarily on global ing their livelihoods into project activities, and environmental benefits, at the expense of national establishing appropriate local and national gover- environmental priorities. For instance, project nance frameworks, thereby making GEF support preparation for "Conservation of Biodiversity and more relevant to Egypt's sustainable development Ecosystem Management in a Sample of Represen- agenda. Where early biodiversity projects such as tative Islands of the Nile Valley of Egypt" lasted "Red Sea Coastal and Marine Resource Manage- five years, and while the project fit perfectly into ment" had a limited focus on local community national priorities representing a fragile ecosys- participation, the more recent MedWetCoast and tem, it was discovered that the flora and fauna in medicinal plants projects have incorporated a the Nile Islands were unique only to the Nile Valley more pronounced socioeconomic dimension. In and Delta, and were not globally significant species. addition, to address the issue of poverty reduction, Extensive research was carried out to try to find any the medicinal plants project has helped establish species of global significance, but to no avail. Con- a market for medicinal plant products developed sequently, the project was dropped in 2005. Pres- by the Bedouins, with the most vulnerable group ently, the GEF is demonstrating more of a balance in Bedouin society--women--expected to benefit between securing global environmental benefits most. GEF projects also feature revolving funds to and achieving national environmental objectives. support alternative resource use, both to protect endangered species and reduce poverty. The national development and environmental agenda that has evolved in Egypt over the past Evolving Environmental Agenda two decades has benefited substantially from the In the early 1990s, Egypt had no overall national baseline information and technical and contextual environmental policy framework or sufficient analyses GEF support has enabled. In addition, national capacity to deal with the country's envi- the opportunity to identify priorities and establish ronmental challenges; it therefore relied to a con- strategies and action plans in the fields of biodi- siderable extent on international experts and con- versity, climate change, and international waters sultants. The interest from the international donor has contributed to moving the environmental community in supporting environmental projects agenda forward. in Egypt was extensive, and funding was readily available. As a consequence, Egypt's environmental Gaps in the GEF Portfolio agenda was largely donor driven during this period. When assessing the relevance of the GEF's Egyp- Gradually this situation shifted, with enhanced tian portfolio, gaps are apparent in the spread of 84 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) projects across the focal areas. For example, there or projects with explicit time lines or budgets, it are no national projects dedicated to land deg- is, in its current form, essentially not fundable, radation (a national project under the regional which creates an obvious constraint to transform- MENARID initiative was initially planned, but ing it into GEF proposals. Nonetheless, the EEAA had not materialized at the time of this evalua- and the Desert Research Center have engaged in tion), and there is only one national project related a dialogue to work out some project concepts. To to POPs. date, these have been rejected because the GEF was interested in program-level land degradation Land Degradation projects that address wide-reaching desertifica- Land degradation was added as a focal area to tion challenges such as the Sub-Saharan initia- the GEF portfolio in 2002, and the GEF was des- tive, TerrAfrica, for which Egypt was not eligible. ignated a UNCCD financial mechanism in 2003; Another project proposal that was submitted to thus, pure land degradation projects have only and rejected by the GEF involved rangelands and been funded since GEF-3, which has certainly presented an integrated biodiversity and land deg- contributed to the relatively small number of radation approach. There is widespread interest in projects in this area. In addition, the GEF has not Egypt in receiving GEF funding in this focal area, funded the preparation of national action plans in and the possibilities for national activities stem- the field of land degradation. Land degradation ming from the MENARID project will be further and desertification are major challenges in Egypt, explored (as mentioned, the national project ini- and the lack of GEF-funded projects therefore tially planned under the regional MENARID has does not correlate with national priorities. Gov- so far not materialized). ernment officials, researchers, and specialists in POPs Egypt are not sufficiently aware of the fact that the GEF funds projects that target combating deserti- While the issue of tackling POPs, especially in fication and land degradation. There is also insuf- terms of pesticide stockpiles, is of paramount ficient awareness of the ways, means, and require- importance to Egypt, only one national project ments of requesting financial support for projects has been supported by the GEF in this focal area. of various sizes as well as of the organizations to A project proposal is being prepared in collabora- approach for national and multinational projects. tion with the World Bank focusing on integrated and sustainable management of PCBs, dioxins, Moreover, even among those people who are and furans; this proposal has not yet entered the aware of GEF funding in the area of degradation, GEF pipeline. Like land degradation, POPs is a the lengthy stages and steps required to reach relatively new focal area for the GEF, and fund- approval and initiate activities on the ground has ing initially went to regional projects and is now had a discouraging effect. beginning to focus more on national projects. For its part, even though Egypt ratified the There is clearly a need for capacity building in the UNCCD in 1995, its National Action Program to POPs area in Egypt to address limitations related Combat Desertification (which was not financed to land remediation, linking environmental con- by the GEF) was not prepared until 2005, which tamination with socioeconomic impacts within may indicate a lack of national resources dedi- the country, and waste handling and manage- cated to this focal area. Because the action pro- ment. Egypt must also address various issues and gram does not contain any specific plans of action problems related to unintentional POPs. In the 6. Relevance of GEF Support to Egypt 85 recently prepared NIP, action plans and related may reflect improved institutional capacity and activities were put forward in connection with knowledge. This enhanced awareness of country capacity building in various critical areas. ownership may also reflect the unique role of the Nature Conservation Sector within the EEAA in Country Ownership, Cofinancing, and ODA wielding executive power in the implementation of Law 102/1983 on the establishment and man- Country Ownership and Commitment agement of protected areas in Egypt. The sector A number of people interviewed pointed to the has thus been responsible for initiating most of fact that GEF support has changed quite mark- the country's recent biodiversity projects and is edly since the 1990s when funding was easier the executing agency for many of these as well. to access and there were fewer requirements or expectations. However, there was also limited When government commitment is present, the country ownership of GEF projects and results in likelihood of sustainability increases considerably. those days. The enhanced involvement of national For instance, the Nature Conservation Sector stakeholders in the preparatory process makes for takes an active role in the medicinal plants project a greater sense of ownership and responsibility for and its recently initiated community-based natu- outcomes. Also, coordination and collaboration ral resource management approach; this in turn among sectors and stakeholders have increased has facilitated the formulation of the access and over the years. benefit-sharing law and several capacity-building exercises, in addition to contributing to plans for In general, country ownership of and commit- the EEAA to provide funding after GEF support to ment to donor-funded projects are, to a large the project ends. extent, affected by how relevant the project objec- tives are to national priorities. Because Egypt faces Cofinancing several environmental and other challenges that Cofinancing for the GEF portfolio in Egypt is are beyond the scope of GEF support, country mostly provided by Egyptian government agen- ownership and commitment regarding existing cies and is on average about twice the amount of GEF projects may be somewhat lacking. However, the original GEF grant (figure 6.1). For the total Egypt's shift from a mostly donor-driven develop- $87.87 million in GEF support for national proj- ment and environmental agenda, and its improved ects, excluding the SGP, cofinancing amounts to national capacity and institutional frameworks, $181.49 million. This ratio of almost $2 for every mean that national priorities are increasingly $1 provided by the GEF is rather small compared dictating donor-funded environmental activities, with other countries receiving GEF support. The which certainly has had a positive impact on the low levels of cofinancing received from national sense of ownership and responsibility. institutions may indicate that Egypt finds it diffi- cult to finance environmental activities. The establishment of the GEF Unit and National Steering Committee is a clear sign of enhanced Cofinancing levels vary somewhat by GEF Agency country ownership and has contributed to a more (table 6.1). Cofinancing for projects implemented systematic project approval process. Also, a better by UNDP, calculated at 2.47, exceeds the cofinanc- understanding of the concept of country owner- ing average; while both UNEP (1.05) and the ship seems to have developed over the past few World Bank (1.77) have cofinancing ratios that fall years, especially in the field of biodiversity; this below the cofinancing average. UNIDO funded a 86 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Figure 6.1 Ratios across focal areas range from 1.21 for Cofinancing of GEF Projects in Egypt by Focal Area multifocal projects to 2.18 for climate change and Source, 1991­2008 projects. This disparity is largely explained by the $97.2 million in cofinancing provided for the Percent 100 "Solar Thermal Hybrid Project," which received a 90 GEF grant of $50.85 million. This project accounts Other 80 for about two-thirds of all cofinancing provided to 70 the climate change area ($145.24 million), some- 60 what skewing the results. In fact, because cofinanc- 50 Gov't ing in climate change exceeds the average across 40 the focal areas, the cofinancing for all other focal 30 areas falls below the country portfolio average. The 20 GEF POPs focal area only included one enabling activity 10 in GEF-3, which received no cofinancing. 0 Bio- Climate Internat'l POPs Multi- Total diversity change waters focal There is a large difference in cofinancing ratios by modality. The enabling activities have the lowest cofinancing (a ratio of 0.05), while the FSPs have POPs enabling activity in GEF-3; this received no the highest cofinancing ratio--2.05, which exceeds cofinancing. the cofinancing average across project types. Table 6.1 When examining cofinancing patterns by replen- Cofinancing Ratios by Agency, Modality, Focal ishment period, it is apparent that cofinanc- Area, and GEF Replenishment Period ing ratios are improving. The complete lack of Parameter Ratio cofinancing in GEF-1 is attributable to the fact that World bank 1.77 this period's projects were all enabling activities, which did not at that time require a cofinancing Agency UNDP 2.47 UNeP 1.05 contribution. Since GEF-2, cofinancing has been UNIDo n.a. required for enabling activities. The cofinancing enabling activity 0.05 ratio in GEF-4 is 3.28, which greatly exceeds the modality mSP 1.40 cofinancing average over the replenishment peri- FSP 2.05 ods since the pilot phase. biodiversity 1.50 Climate change 2.18 The GEF and Other ODA Focal area International waters 1.25 GEF support to Egypt over the 1991­2008 time PoPs n.a. frame totals about $87.87 million and accounts multifocal 1.21 for approximately one-fifth of the funding con- Pilot phase 0.76 tributed by other bilateral and international donor replenishment GeF-1 n.a. agencies to Egypt (table 6.2).1 period GeF-2 1.14 GeF-3 2.23 GeF-4 3.28 Many of those interviewed for the evaluation 1 Note: n.a. = not applicable. noted that, compared to the funds received from other 6. Relevance of GEF Support to Egypt 87 Italy has contributed substantial amounts of fund- Table 6.2 ing to Egypt in the biodiversity area, both within ODA Disbursements and GEF Commitments the framework of the Egyptian-Italian Environ- Million $ mental Cooperation Program and the Biodiversity Year ODA disbursement GEF commitment Monitoring and Assessment Project; this work 1992 3,820.91 4.75 mainly focuses on protected area management, 1993 2,290.51 5.26 national biodiversity inventory and monitoring 1994 2,950.22 -- systems, dolphin habitat conservation and sus- 1995 1,908.81 0.40 tainable use, and capacity building in the EEAA 1996 2,220.33 -- on natural resource protection. In 2002, it was 1997 1,820.22 0.29 agreed that Italy would contribute 9 million for 1998 1,813.74 0.01 the implementation of the second phase of the 1999 1,580.60 -- Egyptian-Italian Environmental Cooperation Pro- 2000 1,448.35 5.08 gram to contribute to the protection of Egypt's 2001 1,392.87 0.83 natural and cultural resources, and, among other 2002 1,338.23 -- things, properly establish and manage a represen- 2003 871.38 0.64 tative national network of protected areas. 2004 1,236.58 51.05 2005 686.80 -- In climate change, the Canadian International 2006 536.75 0.91 Development Agency has contributed $4.2 mil- 2007 739.46 10.52 lion for the Climate Change Initiative, which is 2008 -- 8.12 working with 50 brick-manufacturing factories in Total 24,692.75 87.87 the Giza Governorate to convert their combus- Note: oDA is given in constant 2006 dollars. GeF commitments are for approved projects. -- = not available. tion systems from heavy oil (mazot) to natural gas. Private sector companies also provide sub- recent constraint in mobilizing donor support is stantial funding in this focal area because of the Egypt's reclassification as a lower middle-income large potential for profit with regard to renew- country by the World Bank in 2002. Subsequently, able energy, energy efficiency, and so on. Since the Danish International Development Agency the 2005 establishment of a designated national announced a decision to phase out its assistance authority for the Clean Development Mechanism, by the end of 2009; and USAID, whose financial funding has increased considerably for the initia- assistance to Egypt has totaled almost $26 billion tion and implementation of CDM projects. since 1975, ceased its funding for the environ- ment and natural resource management in Egypt There is no apparent rivalry or overlap among the in 2004. GEF and other donors active in Egypt, as they all have their own agendas and priorities. However, a With funds from bilateral donors decreasing, the visibility and importance of GEF assistance donors for work in the environment, GEF support is in the environmental field will clearly increase. minimal and not sufficient to accomplish the objec- Moreover, as shown in table 6.2, whereas ODA tives of the Rio conventions. In this regard, however, disbursements to Egypt have gradually declined the GEF is only supposed to finance the incremental cost of projects, not bear the full cost of reaching con- since 2002, GEF commitments have been rela- vention objectives. tively consistent. 88 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) 6.2 Relevance of GEF Allocations consolidating the National Protected Areas Net- by Focal Area to Environmental work. The NEAP for 2002­17 focuses more atten- Priorities and Frameworks tion on biodiversity conservation and biosafety than did the original NEAP, and highlights the GEF support has contributed to the aims and need for strengthening the institutional frame- objectives of many of Egypt's key national envi- work and building capacity in biodiversity conser- ronmental priorities and policy and legal frame- vation. Projects have since broadened their focus works, including the NEAP, NBSAP, Law 4/1994, to include, among other subjects, wetlands, soar- and Law 102/1983, to the extent that these priori- ing birds, and biosafety. Even though the relevant ties have been relevant to the GEF focal areas. The legislation and policies have not been a prerequi- most pressing environmental challenges in Egypt site for project approval, they have helped justify include problems with wastewater treatment, air project aims and priorities. pollution, and sanitation--areas in which the GEF has no direct mandate. This circumstance neces- Projects have addressed many of the priorities sitates direct funding by the government to pro- listed in the NBSAP, such as sensitive ecosystems duce tangible results for the population at large, (coastal and marine habitats, wetlands), threats to leaving less national resources available to fund biodiversity (invasive species, hunting manage- projects in the GEF focal areas. There are, none- ment), species conservation (globally significant theless, numerous examples where GEF projects medicinal and aromatic plants, migratory birds), have had positive spin-off effects on national envi- biosafety, and enhancing capacity building at the ronmental priorities. For example, the "Sustain- individual level and (to some extent) the systemic able Transport" project is likely to contribute to level. less air pollution in the project area. Many GEF project outputs have been relevant Biodiversity in promoting and mainstreaming biodiversity By and large, GEF support in the area of biodi- conservation in Egypt, particularly in establish- versity is highly relevant to the national agenda in ing a useful framework.2 Notably, the ICZM plan Egypt. Law 102, which provides a legal framework developed by the "Red Sea Coastal and Marine for the establishment of protected areas, entered Resource Management" project was the first of its into force in 1983 and the first protected area in kind in Egypt, and the Wetland Strategy--along Ras Mohammed was established the same year, with the national action plan for the conservation with 13 additional protected areas established of medicinal plants, the access and benefit-sharing during the period 1983­2000. The early GEF law, and the biosafety law that are under prepara- portfolio's particular focus on protected areas tion--helps establish a policy and legal framework is likely due to a law on protected areas already for addressing biodiversity challenges. being in place upon the GEF's initial engagement in Egypt. In the mid-1990s, GEF funding helped 2 Older project documents were found to be much build capacity and establish structures to guide less likely to establish specific links to the NEAP, the work in the biodiversity field. GEF support NBSAP, or relevant legislation and to explain how the respective activity supports these action plans; more has been instrumental in Egypt's compliance recent project documents, to a greater extent, outline with its commitments under the CBD; to a large the rationale for the project by describing its relevance extent, it has also contributed to sustaining and to national priorities. 6. Relevance of GEF Support to Egypt 89 Climate Change coastal lake and Mediterranean Sea, also looks to Egypt's Climate Change Action Plan from 1999 is reduce the impact of land-based sources of pol- in the process of being updated, pending finaliza- lution on the sea while addressing the national tion of the Second National Communication to development challenge of poor water quality. the UNFCCC. The older version of the plan does A key national concern and priority regarding not clearly spell out concrete priorities, projects, freshwater resources is improving the water qual- or activities, which makes it rather difficult to ity of the River Nile; this largely depends on the assess the relevance of the climate change portfo- water quality and ecosystem characteristics of lio against it. Lake Nasser and the upper reaches of the Nile. The The NEAP does not include climate change as one regional NTEAP and the Nubian Aquifer project of its focus areas, instead discussing it in the con- are of direct relevance to this national priority. text of international cooperation--thus indicating that climate change is seen more as a global issue POPs than an environmental challenge or threat Egypt GEF support to projects in the POPs focal area is needs to address directly. relatively recent and limited, with only one com- pleted enabling activity and one project in the The National Energy Efficiency Strategy pre- pipeline. Egypt's strategy for improving air qual- pared in 2000 creates an enabling environment for ity includes addressing POPs as a main air pollut- projects involving renewable energy and energy ant. Further demonstrating the relevance of POPs efficiency, which points up the relevance of the projects to national environmental priorities is the EEIGGR and hybrid bus projects. The strategy also fact that POPs are targeted in the National Cleaner encourages biomass energy--not surprising, given Production Strategy, which addresses the preven- that Egypt is an agriculture-intensive country. tion of hazardous waste production and reduction of toxic chemical use. International Waters GEF support in international waters correlates 6.3 Relevance to the GEF Mandate with Egyptian priorities by focusing on the key Relevance to Maximizing Global challenges facing its main transboundary water Environmental Benefits bodies. In the Red Sea, the SAP project has addressed coastal and marine resource protection Biodiversity and conservation. The GEF-supported Alexan- There is a good balance among the types of eco- dria ICZM project looks to implement the SAP in systems covered in the biodiversity portfolio two hotspots identified in Egypt, El Mex Bay and in Egypt. Project interventions have addressed Alexandria. a number of critical ecosystems and habitats, including the Red Sea coast and marine resources, The NEAP identified Lake Manzala as an example the north coast lakes and wetlands, arid and semi- of severe water pollution in Egypt, with the gov- arid zones, as well as the migratory birds' route ernment calling its environment a "black spot." and the mountainous region of St. Katherine's The GEF's "Lake Manzala Engineered Wetlands," Protectorate. While the conservation and sustain- project, which was originally designed to reduce able use of biodiversity has largely centered on the main source of pollution to the Manzala habitat conservation through the establishment 90 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) of protected areas, less attention has been given wetlands in decreasing the impact of land-based to species conservation. Environmental sustain- sources of pollution on the Mediterranean Sea ability and sustainable use have been targeted in and its coastal lagoons, and have developed rep- the MedWetCoast and medicinal plants projects, licable models for integrating watersheds' renew- seeking to provide local communities with alter- able groundwater resources into national water native livelihoods and providing training on sus- budgets in arid regions. The NTEAP has helped tainable use of existing resources. Nevertheless, support local-level land, forest, and water conser- some threats to biodiversity in Egypt, such as hab- vation initiatives, and has resulted in sustainable itat destruction due to agricultural and industrial socioeconomic development through equitable pollution, climate change including sea level rise, utilization of common Nile Basin water resources. and land degradation in terms of overexploita- The SAP project has generated global benefits tion of resources and soil erosion, are not properly by introducing hydrographic surveys to reduce addressed in the portfolio. the environmental risks from shipping in the Red Sea; it has also established data collection centers Climate Change seeking to reduce pressure on overexploited shark To promote environmentally sustainable develop- stocks. ment in Egypt by combining economic growth-- and concomitant growing energy demand--with Relevance to GEF Objectives and a reduction in GHGs, the Egyptian government Strategies needs to explore a less GHG-intensive approach Biodiversity to growth by becoming a more energy efficient economy. Energy conservation, change in types Egypt's biodiversity projects align well with GEF of fuels used, use of renewables, and increasing strategic objectives. Collectively, they aim to con- GHG sinks all offer the potential of generating serve and sustainably use biodiversity resources global environmental benefits. GEF projects have and to share genetic resources. They have helped reduced GHG emissions through increased effi- build systemic capacity for long-term sustainabil- ciency in electricity transmission, and expanded ity by drafting the biosafety law and the access use of cogeneration to supply power to the and benefit-sharing law, and by formulating poli- national electricity grid, by increasing market cies including the NBSAP, ICZM Plan, and Wet- share for low GHG-emitting technologies, and-- land Strategy. Institutional capacity is bolstered more recently--by using renewable biomass as an through the "Strengthening Protected Area alternative energy resource to promote sustain- Financing and Management Systems" project, able rural development. which seeks to improve management effective- ness and thus ensure protected area system sus- International Waters tainability. Capacity building of a more technical Global environmental benefits in the interna- nature is provided by the medicinal plants project tional waters area have been achieved by improv- which aims to control and manage invasive alien ing national to global environmental linkages-- species. The ongoing biosafety project seeks to for instance, by reducing international water enhance existing technical capacity with regard pollution. Under local conditions in the south- to implementing the Cartagena Protocol, focusing ern Mediterranean region, GEF projects have on risk assessment and management as well as on demonstrated the effectiveness of engineered monitoring and enforcement. 6. Relevance of GEF Support to Egypt 91 Mainstreaming of biodiversity considerations is overuse and conflicting uses of water resources in also being addressed by GEF projects. Manage- transboundary surface and groundwater basins. In ment plans formulated and implemented by the particular, the Nubian Aquifer project has helped MedWetCoast project seek to ensure that bio- foster multistate cooperation on priority water diversity considerations are effectively internal- concerns. Also, several strategic action plans have ized in site management. Institutional or sectoral been developed by GEF-supported projects in this mainstreaming has been more limited to date: the focal area to facilitate learning and promote shar- MedWetCoast terminal evaluation states that the ing of experiences among participating countries. opportunity to integrate wetlands conservation and sustainable use into other sectors (fisheries, POPs water management, tourism, and the private sec- The preparation of the NIP for the Stockholm tor) was not sufficiently realized (Fenton and oth- Convention correlates with the GEF strategic ers 2007). objective of reducing and eliminating the produc- tion, use, and release of POPs by strengthening Climate Change capacity for sound POPs management. Climate change projects have been aligned with GEF operational programs and strategic priori- Relevance to GEF Principles ties. They have addressed--and recently approved The examples of projects that have been rep- projects will continue to address--the promo- licated in Egypt's portfolio have not been very tion of environmentally sustainable transport prominent to date, and catalytic outcomes have through modal shifts in urban transport and clean most often been rather ad hoc and seemingly by vehicle/fuel technologies, the removal of barriers chance rather than based on a recognized strategy. to energy conservation and efficiency, the reduc- While it is too early to assess the catalytic dimen- tion of costs for low GHG-emitting technologies sion, in some cases, it can be concluded that most through global market aggregation and national project designs have not sufficiently accounted innovation for emerging technologies, and the for catalytic or replicability effects. The fact that adoption of renewable energy by removing bar- enabling activities do not have any reporting riers and reducing costs through productive use. requirements, and thus no obligations to set tar- Though aligned with GEF objectives, this diver- gets for capacity development and catalytic and sity of aims may indicate a lack of consensus on replication outcomes, may imply that opportuni- national priorities with regard to climate change. ties in this regard are lost. In recently started proj- ects, more thought seems to have been put into International Waters promoting an exchange of knowledge and learn- Egypt's international waters projects have been ing from other projects as well as investigating the relevant to GEF strategic objectives, primar- potential for replicable outcomes. Replicability ily by looking to catalyze transboundary action in many projects has not been achieved, largely in terms of reduced land-based pollution as well due to differences in project environments. New as by undertaking innovative demonstrations technologies demonstrated in GEF-supported for reducing water pollution. The projects have pilot projects could be replicated by adaptation, largely focused on regional ecosystems and water modification, or fine-tuning of the technology or resource management by seeking to balance implementation approach, which could increase 92 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) the possibility of successful replication. While these ecoregions are the medicinal plants proj- sustainability plans are described in almost all ect, MedWetCoast, the soaring birds project, and project documents, projects' actual sustainability the biodiversity in arid zones project. The GEF's is not sufficiently built into the design, and is thus Red Sea project was implemented in the Red Sea formulated--at best--at project closure. coastal desert, which is listed as vulnerable in the WWF index. Thus, GEF-supported projects have 6.4 Relevance of the RAF Index to to date targeted four of Egypt's nine ecoregions. Country Priorities In addition, three GEF biodiversity projects car- ried out enabling activities to facilitate compliance The GEF does not have standardized indicators with Egypt's obligations under the CBD, while one to measure global environmental benefits. Con- FSP seeks to achieve strengthened legal and insti- sequently, the evaluation has used the implicit tutional frameworks for the country's protected RAF criteria for biodiversity and climate change areas, by--among other things--assessing Egypt's as environmental indicators. protected area system, including its globally sig- The GEF Benefits Index for Biodiversity for GEF-4 nificant biodiversity as well as threats to and root seeks to measure the potential global benefits that causes of biodiversity loss. The biodiversity port- can be realized from biodiversity-related activi- folio has targeted all the GEF-4 long-term objec- ties in a country. The index is developed from tives: catalyze sustainability of protected area several data sets and takes into account countries' systems, mainstream biodiversity in production terrestrial ecoregion components and complex- landscapes/seascapes and sectors, safeguard bio- ity (including represented and threatened species diversity, and build capacity on access and ben- and represented and threatened ecoregions) as efit sharing. The Benefits Index for Biodiversity well as their marine biodiversity (which is equal to thus appears to reflect Egypt's major biodiversity the sum of credits from all marine species in the resources and the country's potential to generate territorial waters); the index is a weighted average significant global environmental benefits. of each country's scores for terrestrial biodiversity The GEF Benefits Index for Climate Change, and marine biodiversity. which presents a relative ranking of countries in Egypt scored 21.5 on the GEF Benefits Index achieving the GEF's RAF climate change objec- for Biodiversity, which represents a 0.3 percent tives, is derived from the following indicators: share of the world's biodiversity. According to z GHG emissions in 2000, including emissions the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF's) terrestrial from fossil fuels, cement production, and other ecoregions index, Egypt occupies nine terrestrial sources, but not from changes in land use ecoregions, three of which are considered criti- cal or endangered in terms of their conservation z Carbon intensity adjustment factor, where status; five are vulnerable, and one is relatively carbon intensity is the amount of carbon equiv- stable. The critical or endangered ecoregions are alent emitted per unit of economic activity or the Red Sea Nubo-Sindian tropical desert and kilograms of carbon per $1 of GDP, and the semi-desert, the Arabian Desert and East Sahero- adjustment factor is the ratio of carbon inten- Arabian xeric shrublands, and the flooded grass- sity in 1990 to carbon intensity in 2000; the lands and savannas (National Geographic Society adjustment factor is multiplied by the level of 2001). Completed or ongoing GEF projects in the above emissions, which rewards countries 6. Relevance of GEF Support to Egypt 93 that have reduced carbon intensity levels that it has once again attained a high degree of through energy efficiency or increased use of partnership with the country's energy sector. The renewable energy sources project will contribute to the goals articulated in the World Bank's Country Assistance Strategy for The GEF Benefits Index for Climate Change rat- Egypt, which include enhancing the provision of ing for Egypt is 53139, which represents a global public goods through modernized infrastructure share of 0.8 percent. Most of the national and services to achieve higher growth. Egypt and the regional climate change projects in Egypt have World Bank are engaged in an intensive policy focused on energy efficiency, growth in renew- dialogue, and a comprehensive program of finan- able energy markets, sustainable energy produc- cial and technical support has been developed. tion from biomass, and promotion of innovative sustainable public transport systems; these cover GEF biodiversity, climate change, and interna- most of the GEF's strategic objectives for cli- tional waters projects are all in accordance with mate change. In addition, enabling activities have priorities identified in the second UNDP Country sought to promote Egypt's compliance with its Co-operation Framework (2002­06) for Egypt: commitments under the UNFCCC by preparing "UNDP will continue to demonstrate and trans- the required national reports. Accordingly, GEF fer environmentally sound technologies for sus- climate change projects in Egypt are considered tainable development in the focal areas of climate to be largely relevant to the Benefits Index for Cli- change, biodiversity and international waters." mate Change. In the biodiversity area, UNDP seeks to support projects contributing to the conservation and 6.5 Relevance to GEF Agency sustainable use of biodiversity by involving local communities and making sure they maintain and Strategies and Frameworks benefit from these biodiversity and ecosystem ser- While the GEF portfolio in Egypt is in line with vices. The clear linkages between biodiversity and the strategies and frameworks of its Implement- both sustainable development and achievement of ing Agencies, GEF projects are shaped by the the MDGs make projects in this field highly rel- overall aim of meeting obligations under the vari- evant to UNDP. Biodiversity and protected area ous global conventions, and not by its Agencies' management is also identified as a priority area priorities. for the latest United Nations Development Assis- tance Framework. UNDP also focuses on sustain- Several projects in the Egyptian portfolio con- able land management to combat desertification, tribute to achieving the World Bank Country since land degradation is a major cause of rural Assistance Strategy; these include the NTEAP, poverty in Egypt, and it supports the promotion which focuses on socioeconomic development of clean energy technologies to mitigate climate through equitable use of common Nile Basin change and energy activities to reduce poverty. water resources. Protecting the high coastal and marine biodiversity values of the Red Sea is also While UNEP and UNIDO do not have any coun- consistent with World Bank environmental pri- try-specific frameworks or strategies for Egypt, orities. The "Solar Thermal Hybrid Project" is the GEF projects are within the global mandates of strategic significance for the World Bank now of both Agencies. 94 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) 7. Efficiency of GEF-Supported Activities in Egypt This chapter addresses the following issues: complete information and conflicting data. Even though the GEF maintains information on pay- z How much time, effort, and financial resources ments made to the GEF Agencies, it does not have does it take to develop and implement projects? information on the investments that project pro- z Who initiates, designs, and implements GEF ponents or project implementing and executing projects? agencies make during project preparation. z How clear are roles and responsibilities? Preparation Costs z How successful is dissemination of GEF project An approximation of preparation costs is calcu- lessons and results? lated by taking into account the cost of a PDF, z What are the synergies achieved in GEF project which is not necessarily independently deter- programming and implementation, national mined, since there are maximum amounts allowed institutions, GEF projects, and other projects? in the windows for PDF-A, B, and C project prep- aration grants. z How does the national focal point mechanism function? Table 7.1 lists the projects that have requested z How has the RAF affected GEF operations? PDFs for project preparation, expressed as a percentage of the GEF grant. On average, PDFs 7.1 Resources Required for Project account for a little over 2 percent of the GEF grant. Processing Agency Fees and Proportion of Budget for This section reviews the efficiency of GEF-sup- Management Costs ported activities in Egypt, measured by the time A similar problem to accurate calculation of proj- and financial resources needed to move a proj- ect preparation costs is calculation of project ect through the GEF project cycle--that is, the management costs. The GEF only has informa- project preparation and implementation period.1 tion on the amount of funding it provides to the Estimating these time and cost figures poses sev- GEF Agencies to manage the projects (referred to eral problems, primarily stemming from a lack of as Agency fees). Each project has a management cost that is covered by the actual grant, but this This analysis does not reference the newly 1 cost is not easily obtained, since it is embedded approved GEF project cycle initiated in June 2007. in the budget of each project. One approximation 95 Table 7.1 Project Preparation Costs as a Percentage of GEF Grant Total GEF PDF GEF Preparation Focal Project amount amount amount cost (% Project title Modality area status Agency Million $ total cost) Introduction of viable elec- mSP CC Completed UNDP 0.75 0.00 0.75 0.0 tric and Hybrid-electric bus Technology red Sea Coastal and marine FSP bD Completed World 4.75 0.00 4.75 0.0 resource management bank National biodiversity Strat- enabling bD Completed UNeP 0.29 0.00 0.29 0.0 egy, Action Plan, and First activity National report to the CbD building Capacity for GHG enabling CC Completed UNDP 0.40 0.00 0.40 0.0 Inventory and Action activity Plans in response to UNFCCC Communications obligations Lake manzala engineered FSP IW Completed UNDP 5.26 0.00 5.26 0.0 Wetlands Clearing House mechanism enabling bD Completed UNeP 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.0 enabling Activity activity Conservation and Sus- FSP bD ongoing UNDP 4.29 0.17 4.46 4.0 tainable Use of medicinal Plants in Arid and Semi-arid ecosystems Climate Change enabling enabling CC Completed UNDP 0.05 0.00 0.05 0.0 Activity (Additional Financ- activity ing for Capacity building in Priority Areas) Developing renewable mSP IW ongoing UNDP 0.83 0.00 0.83 0.0 Groundwater resources in Arid Lands: a Pilot Case - the eastern Desert of egypt Solar Thermal Hybrid FSP CC ongoing World 50.85 1.05 51.90 2.1 Project bank bioenergy for Sustainable FSP CC Council UNDP 3.34 0.34 3.68 10.3 rural Development approved enabling Activities to enabling PoP Completed UNIDo 0.50 0.00 0.50 0.0 Facilitate early Action on activity the Implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent organic Pollut- ants (PoPs) in egypt Assessment of Capacity- enabling bD Completed UNeP 0.15 0.00 0.15 0.0 building Needs in Country activity Specific Priorities in biodi- versity management and Conservation in egypt 96 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Total GEF PDF GEF Preparation Focal Project amount amount amount cost (% Project title Modality area status Agency Million $ total cost) National Capacity Self- enabling mF Completed UNDP 0.20 0.00 0.20 0.0 Assessment for environ- activity mental management Sustainable Transport FSP CC Ceo UNDP 7.18 0.28 7.45 3.8 endorsed Support the Implemen- mSP bD ongoing UNeP 0.91 0.00 0.91 0.0 tation of the National biosafety Framework mainstreaming Global envi- mSP mF Ceo UNDP 0.50 0.03 0.53 5.0 ronment in National Plans approved and Policies by Strength- ening the monitoring and reporting System for multilateral environmental Agreements Strengthening Protected FSP bD Council UNDP 3.62 0.00 3.62 0.0 Area Financing and man- approved agement Systems Adaptation to Climate FSP CC Council UNDP 4.00 0.00 4.00 0.0 Change in the Nile Delta Approved through Integrated Coastal Zone management Total 87.87 1.86 89.73 2.1 Note: bD = biodiversity; CC = climate change; IW = international waters; mF = multifocal. is the agency fee. The GEF Agency fees have var- Average Time Taken to Achieve Project ied over time from an initial flat fee per project Cycle Milestones modality to a percentage of the GEF grant. Figure 7.1 presents the GEF Activity Cycle before its reformulation in 2007, as all of the projects Table 7.2 presents information on the fees the GEF discussed here, except two, were approved under provides to the Agencies to manage projects. The the earlier cycle (the exceptions are "Bioenergy table presents Agency fees as a percentage of the for Sustainable Rural Development" and "Sustain- GEF grant only (no information is available on the able Transport"). Tables 7.3 and 7.4 show that the cost of managing the cofinancing part of the proj- length of time a project takes to move from one ect) for all approved national projects in Egypt. phase to another varies considerably, even when Both UNDP and UNEP have an average Agency FSPs and MSPs are analyzed separately.2 Many fee of around 12 percent. The only UNIDO projects may have taken longer to go through the project indicates a fee of 10.87 percent of total cost; the only World Bank project shows a fee of Even though regional and global projects fol- 2 8.17 percent. The average Agency fee for all FSPs low the same steps in the Activity Cycle, they are not included in this analysis as they involve differ- was 9.11 percent, compared with 13.77 percent ent requirements, including extensive international for MSPs and 13.86 percent for enabling activities. consultations. 7. Efficiency of GEF-Supported Activities in Egypt 97 Table 7.2 Agency Fee for National Projects GEF grant Agency fee Fee (as % of Agency and project (and modality) (million $) (million $) GEF grant) World Bank, average fee 8.17 red Sea Coastal and marine resource management (FSP) 4.75 n.a. n.a. Solar Thermal Hybrid Project (FSP) 50.85 4.16 8.17 UNDP, average fee 12.22 Introduction of viable electric and Hybrid-electric bus Technology (mSP) 0.75 0.15 19.49 building Capacity for GHG Inventory and Action Plans in response to UNFCCC 0.40 n.a. n.a. Communications obligations (eA) Lake manzala engineered Wetlands (FSP) 5.26 n.a. n.a. Conservation and Sustainable Use of medicinal Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid 4.29 0.37 8.51 ecosystems (FSP) Climate Change enabling Activity (Additional Financing for Capacity building 0.05 0.01 14.58 in Priority Areas) (eA) Developing renewable Groundwater resources in Arid Lands: A Pilot Case­ 0.83 0.15 17.59 The eastern Desert of egypt (mSP) bioenergy for Sustainable rural Development (FSP) 3.34 0.30 9.00 National Capacity Self-Assessment for environmental management (eA) 0.20 0.03 15.00 Sustainable Transport (FSP) 7.18 0.65 9.00 mainstreaming Global environment in National Plans and Policies by 0.50 0.05 9.00 Strengthening the monitoring and reporting System for multilateral environ- mental Agreements (mSP) Strengthening Protected Area Financing and management Systems (FSP) 3.62 0.36 10.00 Adaptation to Climate Change in the Nile Delta through Integrated Coastal 4.00 0.40 10.00 Zone management (FSP) UNEP, average fee 12.00 National biodiversity Strategy, Action Plan, and First National report to the 0.29 n.a. n.a. CbD (eA) Clearing-House mechanism enabling Activity (eA) 0.01 n.a. n.a. Assessment of Capacity-building Needs in Country-Specific Priorities in biodi- 0.15 0.02 15.00 versity management and Conservation in egypt (eA) Support the Implementation of the National biosafety Framework (mSP) 0.91 0.08 9.00 UNIDO, average fee 10.87 enabling Activities to Facilitate early Action on the Implementation of the 0.50 0.05 10.87 Stockholm Convention on Persistent organic Pollutants in egypt (eA) Note: eA = enabling activity; n.a. = not applicable (pertains to projects prior to 2000). cycle than is indicated here, as only official dates was 77 months, or 6.4 years. This is one of the are used in this analysis. highest average lag times calculated for the CPEs conducted to date (in Benin, Cameroon, Costa On average, it took FSPs 40 months, or 3.3 years, Rica, Madagascar, the Philippines, Samoa, and from Council approval to project start-up. The South Africa). The longest step in the GEF average total time from pipeline entry to start-up cycle for FSPs is from pipeline entry to Council 98 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Figure 7.1 GEF Activity Cycle B D 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Predesign/ Approval by Design/ Council/work Approval by IAs/ concept executing Implementation Completion development preparation program inclusion agencies A C E Entry into GEF GEF CEO Project start-up pipeline endorsement Table 7.3 Duration of Activity Cycle in GEF-Supported FSPs in Egypt Days Project AB BC CD DE BE AE red Sea Coastal and marine resource management 0 -- -- 767 1,003 1,003 Lake manzala engineered Wetlands -- 1,612 7 42 1661 -- Conservation and Sustainable Use of medicinal Plants in Arid -- 470 38 133 641 -- and Semi-Arid ecosystems Solar Thermal Hybrid Project 2,212 1,266 33 148 1,447 3,659 bioenergy for Sustainable rural Development 1,853 686 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Sustainable Transport 461 687 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Average 1,131.5 944.2 26 272.5 1,188 2,331 Average (in years) 3.1 2.6 0.1 0.7 3.3 6.4 Note: -- = not available; n.a. = not applicable. Data are based on the received date in the GeF database. See figure 7.1 for steps in the GeF Activ- ity Cycle (A­e). Table 7.4 approval, which averaged 3.1 years, or almost half Duration of Activity Cycle for GEF-Supported MSPs of the total processing time. The shortest step in in Egypt the cycle for FSPs is from CEO endorsement to Days Agency approval, which averaged 26 days. The full Project title CD DE AE project cycle for FSPs takes a little over 6 years; for Introduction of viable electric and 98 15 141 MSPs, it takes less than a year. MSPs took almost Hybrid-electric bus Technology 10 months from CEO endorsement to Agency Developing renewable Ground- 502 0 -- approval, and 15 days on average from Agency water resources in Arid Lands approval to project start-up. Support the Implementation of the 264 0 515 National biosafety Framework This analysis should be regarded with some cau- Average (days) 288 15 328 tion, as the lack of available data prevented reli- Average (in years) 0.8 0.01 0.9 able calculations, which of course influences the Note: -- = not available. Data are based on the received date in the GeF database. See figure 7.1 for steps in the GeF Activity Cycle (A­e). averages. 7. Efficiency of GEF-Supported Activities in Egypt 99 The problems noted in previous evaluations with 7.2 Roles and Relationships reference to the length of the Activity Cycle are even more pronounced in Egypt. Stakeholders Who Initiates, Designs, and Implements indicated that the projects' preparatory phase is GEF Projects in Egypt? too long, which creates the risk of changed coun- In the early phases of the GEF in Egypt, projects try priorities and circumstances or of moving into were often initiated and designed by the Imple- a new GEF phase with different strategic priorities menting Agencies--UNDP in particular--using and objectives. Much momentum is mobilized international and national consultants; the rel- during project preparation in terms of energy and evant government entities were subsequently interest, and overly long cycles mean this momen- approached for endorsement and implementa- tum is easily lost. The cycle has now been set at tion. Dedicated national experts familiar with the 22 months by the GEF Secretariat in order to GEF process also introduced project ideas based address these problems. on their specific field of expertise rather than on coherent national strategies or priorities. Univer- Many underlying factors influence a project's pro- sities and research institutes were regularly con- gression through the cycle, whether fast or slow. sulted with in the preparation of a project concept. For example, the recently begun "Strengthening Protected Areas Financing and Management Sys- Over time, local capacities were built, and there tems" project has had a very smooth cycle, and was a shift in emphasis from the GEF to country funds were made available less than six months drivenness and ownership. In essence, the GEF after the project was approved. In contrast, "Bio- brought global problems with national repercus- energy for Sustainable Rural Development" took sions to the attention of the Egyptian government, almost seven years of preparation due to numer- which has prioritized these issues on the policy ous requests for project resubmissions, caus- agenda. The enhanced national capacities to ini- ing the project to be postponed in GEF-3. In the tiate and design projects have led to individuals interim, circumstances changed, including an and government entities that have come up with increase in fossil fuel prices as well as changes to a "GEF-able" project and approached the Imple- menting Agencies for GEF support. the dollar value against the Egyptian pound. For- tunately, this price increase served to make the National stakeholders have, in a few cases, initi- project more attractive, and it was approved dur- ated the national component of a regional GEF ing GEF-4. project, laying most of the groundwork for the project, and ensuring an appropriate budget Expected and Actual Completion Dates allocation. In other cases, an NGO or a regional Table 7.5 compares the start-up and actual clos- organization such as the Third World Network of Scientific Organizations or the PERSGA has pre- ing dates as reported in project completion pared a project proposal, upon receiving approval reports. Ten projects have been completed to from its member states. These organizations have date. also been in charge of project design and imple- The average planned length of implementation is mentation in collaboration with the relevant GEF 55.5 months for FSPs, 31.5 months for MSPs, and Agency. For international waters initiatives in par- 16.3 months for enabling activities. ticular, regional organizations have worked with 100 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Table 7.5 Planned and Actual Durations of FSPs, MSPs, and Enabling Activities in Egypt Target Actual Planned completion completion Extension duration Project title date date (months) (months) FSPs red Sea Coastal and marine resource management 09/30/98 06/30/02 45 48 Lake manzala engineered Wetlands 06/30/01 06/01/07 72.07 60 Conservation and Sustainable Use of medicinal Plants in Arid and 10/01/06 n.a. n.a. 60 Semi-Arid ecosystems Solar Thermal Hybrid Project 10/31/11 n.a. n.a. 96 bioenergy for Sustainable rural Development n.a. n.a. n.a. 60 Sustainable Transport 09/01/13 n.a. n.a. 9 Average difference 58.54 55.5 MSPs Introduction of viable electric and Hybrid-electric bus Technology 01/01/00 01/01/06 73.07 6 Developing renewable Groundwater resources in Arid Lands: A 08/01/05 n.a. n.a. 36 Pilot Case--The eastern Desert of egypt Support the Implementation of the National biosafety Framework 09/30/10 n.a. n.a. 48 mainstreaming Global environment in National Plans and Policies by 06/30/11 n.a. n.a. 36 Strengthening the monitoring and reporting System for multilateral environmental Agreements Average difference 73.07 31.5 Enabling activities National biodiversity Strategy, Action Plan, and First National report 12/07/98 12/31/05 86.03 12 to the CbD building Capacity for GHG Inventory and Action Plans in response 07/01/98 12/31/06 103.50 24 to UNFCCC Communications obligations Clearing-House mechanism enabling Activity 12/26/98 12/31/05 85.40 12 Climate Change enabling Activity (Additional Financing for Capacity -- 12/31/06 -- 12 building in Priority Areas) enabling Activities to Facilitate early Action on the Implementation -- 12/31/06 -- 24 of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent organic Pollutants in egypt Assessment of Capacity-building Needs in Country-Specific Priori- 04/30/07 09/24/07 4.90 12 ties in biodiversity management and Conservation in egypt National Capacity Self-Assessment for environmental management -- 12/31/07 -- 18 Average difference 69.96 16.3 Note: -- = unavailable or unreliable data; n.a. = not applicable (project still under implementation). the Implementing Agency to initiate and design with the argument that the regionality would projects, resulting in limited presence and visibil- imply added value, provide greater cost-effec- ity at the national level for participating countries. tiveness, and create synergies in terms of lessons For the MedWetCoast project, several national learned and experiences transferred among the projects were merged into a regional initiative, participating countries. With respect to many of 7. Efficiency of GEF-Supported Activities in Egypt 101 the more recent biodiversity projects, the Nature stakeholders in the interests of project success. Conservation Sector within the EEAA is respon- While such an approach is essentially positive sible for initiation, design, and implementation. and useful, it does not compensate for a lack of institutionalized procedures, which are vital to the The three major GEF Agencies in Egypt are UNDP, success of all GEF projects and should be in place UNEP, and the World Bank, and each has their before accessing GEF funds so as to ensure that distinct comparative advantage when it comes to processes are not halted or delayed should these initiating and implementing projects. UNDP is individuals be replaced. very active in Egypt and assists in project imple- mentation through a national execution modality. The MedWetCoast project provides many exam- It has a country office in Egypt, and has developed ples of how poorly delineated roles and respon- or helped develop numerous GEF projects. UNEP, sibilities led to weak regional coordination and which has primarily implemented enabling activi- management. According to the GEF terminal ties in Egypt, has no in-country representation. evaluation verification report, this flaw largely The World Bank implements its projects in Egypt stemmed from the fact that the project design from its headquarters in Washington. essentially forced national projects together under a regional umbrella, with each country compo- The quality of the project documents submitted to nent displaying a strong national character. the GEF has improved over time, with the newer projects displaying more focused objectives, clear A global project that has shown some success in indicators which will help ensure project sustain- its institutional arrangement is "Promoting Best ability, and greater connection to national policy Practices for Conservation and Sustainable Use frameworks. of Biodiversity of Global Significance in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones." This project was executed by How Clear Are Roles and Responsibilities? the Third World Network of Scientific Organiza- Clarity of roles and responsibilities with regard to tions, which played a coordinating and facilitative GEF projects appears to be insufficient. As noted, role, with the ownership of the participating coun- interviewees maintained that the criteria for proj- tries given priority. UNEP, the GEF Implementing ect approval/rejection are not sufficiently clear. Agency, was responsible for enforcing the proj- Problems occur at the national level because of ect's monitoring and evaluation procedures. This unclear roles and responsibilities, and coordina- arrangement turned out to be a successful one. tion among various stakeholders and beneficiaries is lacking. GEF Agencies differ in their approach Coordination and Synergy to the hiring of project managers, and assessment Several GEF Agencies operate in Egypt, includ- of project manager performance--ostensibly a ing UNDP, UNEP, the World Bank, UNIDO, FAO, joint responsibility of the Agency and the govern- IFAD, and the African Development Bank. While ment--makes unclear to whom project managers most are represented in Cairo, neither UNEP nor are accountable. the World Bank has in-country representation. In some cases, key individuals in a relevant orga- Thus, coordination among the GEF Agencies is nization take it on themselves to elucidate project somewhat limited. On the other hand, it is widely roles and responsibilities among GEF Implement- recognized that each Implementing Agency tar- ing Agencies, national executing agencies, and gets a specific field, with UNDP focusing on 102 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) demonstration projects, UNEP on research and of the Ministry of Agriculture for reed manage- identification of hotspots, and the World Bank ment of one of the project sites. The EEIGGR mainly providing large-scale loans. Also, the project worked with government agencies and operational focal point, assisted by the GEF Unit, industries to provide energy efficiency to govern- works to coordinate the GEF portfolio. ment buildings and industrial facilities, respec- tively. The combination of highly experienced Projects and natural resources that have, as international consultants and a dedicated local one interviewee expressed it, "more than one team has, for many projects, had a synergistic father"--that is, they are the responsibility of learning effect. more than one organization--face a particular coordination-related risk. The organizations may Complementarity of GEF Support not coordinate sufficiently, leaving a gap where As the discussion of relevance and country own- synergies and lessons learned could otherwise ership in chapter 6 indicates, the ad hoc nature be achieved and sustained. Land degradation, for of the process of selecting GEF projects in the example, falls under the responsibility of the Min- biodiversity, climate change, and international istry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and waters focal areas has meant that opportunities the Desert Research Center, among others. Wet- for improved effectiveness through greater coher- lands in Egypt belong to the MWRI, Ministry of ence have been lost and that complementarity has Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and individ- been jeopardized by not building sufficiently on ual governorates. Bioenergy sources belong to the previous accomplishments. Ministry of Electricity and Energy, the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Local Development, and To date, there has been complementarity between individual governorates. the SGP and three regional projects in climate change, biodiversity, and international waters, and Synergies among projects in the same focal for one national project in biodiversity. Large proj- area or among the various focal areas tend to be ects must continue to be linked with the SGP to quite limited. Some exceptions have been found ensure that the hundreds of SGP projects focus on where projects are managed by the same execut- national priorities and not in isolation. To ensure ing agency. For example, the national component complementarity, the government must set its of the regional MedWetCoast project and the priorities because GEF funds are limited and the medicinal plants project share a common execut- country cannot work on all fronts. ing agency, the EEAA's Nature Conservation Sec- tor, which has facilitated a series of workshops enabling the exchange of project experiences. 7.3 Learning Also, the NCSA, which promoted synergies Have Projects Been Designed to Promote among the focal areas, has engendered a discus- Learning? sion among the national focal points to the three The GEF accords an essential role to informa- Rio Conventions. tion dissemination and the promotion of effec- Synergies among government agencies have tive learning, largely because of their importance been established in many projects. The MedWet- in addressing the link between the global envi- Coast project helped create a working protocol ronment and national sustainable development between the MWRI and the Fisheries Department programs. 7. Efficiency of GEF-Supported Activities in Egypt 103 In many of Egypt's biodiversity projects, the prep- covering the socioeconomic work carried out was aration and appraisal of a given action plan or never disseminated. strategy involved only limited participation by rel- The Red Sea project demonstrated collaboration evant government agencies, which did not foster among three major government entities as exe- a learning experience or institutional anchoring, cuting agencies--which was at the time unprec- and thus resulted in limited follow-up. edented--and, by ensuring that all their interests Results are mixed regarding regional and global were addressed, project implementation was facil- projects, where the advancement of learning itated. However, the experiences stemming from through the exchange of experiences and knowl- this collaboration have not been properly propa- edge is a raison d'être for the projects. Whereas gated, nor has the example been replicated. MedWetCoast project management participated Learning opportunities have been more promi- in a number of regional conferences and technical nent in demonstration and research-based proj- seminars, there was little documented exchange ects, such as the training and graduate-level of expertise and knowledge among the national degrees that evolved from the Lake Manzala proj- components, and no exchange of experts among ect and the Eastern Desert pilot case. Also, the the participating countries. On the other hand, enabling activities for reporting to the CBD and the tourism development and business planning UNFCCC have disseminated learning to junior taking place at an Egyptian site after this project staff that continue to be involved in communica- ended drew on experiences generated in Med- tions to the conventions. The regional EEIGGR WetCoast's Lebanese component. The regional project has had a positive learning effect on vari- exchange of experiences was extensive in the ous beneficiaries including experts at the electric- project promoting best practices on biodiversity ity distribution companies, ESCOs, NGOs, and in arid zones, but it failed to properly describe the public at large--especially those employed at why biodiversity in the drylands is important and government buildings--through dissemination what would happen if these were mismanaged or of information, workshops, and demonstration degraded. events. Many projects included extensive public aware- The GEF had a demonstrated impact on commu- ness-raising and environmental education com- nities through the learning achieved from SGP ponents aimed at various levels--including among projects. Capacity building and education for SGP investors and developers, international tourists, partners and key stakeholders were addressed local communities, and schoolchildren--but suf- through workshops held to promote the SGP ficient dissemination of project outputs within within the NGO community and to explain GEF relevant government agencies has not been as criteria, operational programs, and procedures. widespread. Moreover, in quite a few cases, impor- The SGP has funded projects that aim to increase tant opportunities for sharing information and the capacity of NGOs to implement sustainable experiences appear to have been missed. Lessons projects that fit within GEF objectives; these learned in the MedWetCoast project regarding included "The Project of Preparing the Environ- socioeconomic and stakeholder involvement were mental NGO Community for Operational Phase II internalized by personnel within the UNDP coun- of GEF Small Grants" and "The Project of Hands- try office and the EEAA, but the documentation on Capacity Building for NGOs Participating in 104 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) the GEF Small Grants Programme." These proj- Has the Experience of Other Projects ects organized workshops to build capacity and Been Used to Enrich Project Design and raise awareness of NGOs with respect to activi- Implementation? ties, projects, and systems in the GEF focal areas. A number of ongoing and recently begun proj- A further series of workshops were held for NGO ects used the experience of other projects from capacity building in each of the GEF focal areas. within and outside Egypt in their project design The SGP raised the awareness of the different tar- and implementation--thus proving that project get groups concerning the SGP's mission, opera- preparation now looks to previous projects in the tional programs, and procedures; this included, portfolio as a capacity-building means to enrich but was not limited to, documents prepared in project design and implementation. Arabic to help NGOs better understand the SGP and its operational programs; a brochure for the In biodiversity, the biosafety project builds on SGP in Egypt; and a multimedia package present- UNEP's portfolio of enabling activities in more ing the SGP and the projects it has funded, com- than 100 countries and 8 demonstration projects, plemented with photos. and on capacity building for implementation of the Cartagena Protocol, carried out through the A constraint to sharing information can be found development and implementation of National in the national Red Sea project and the global Biosafety Frameworks. The migratory soaring "Promoting Best Practices for Conservation and birds project has studied evaluation results from a Sustainable Use of Biodiversity of Global Sig- number of GEF-funded projects, including "Afri- nificance in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones" project, can NGO-Government Partnerships for Sustain- which only produced their outputs in English. able Biodiversity Action," "Implementation of the This decision has limited the possibility for wide SAP for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden," "Red Sea dissemination and use, especially in terms of Coastal and Marine Resource Management," and including local communities. In the latter project, "Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Biodi- however, the large number of participating cen- versity of Socotra Archipelago." "Strengthening ters of excellence facilitated dissemination in the Protected Area Financing and Management Sys- academic and research arena. tems" has benefited extensively from the informa- tion and analysis concerning Egypt's protected By finding common denominators among best area system made available by a recent Italian- practices, such as lessons learned, this informa- supported development cooperation project, tion can be applied across a wider range of con- including the Nature Conservation Sector capac- ditions than can site-specific practices. While ity-building effort. the promotion of learning has occurred to some extent in the biodiversity projects, examples of In climate change, the "Sustainable Transport" missed opportunities seem more common. The project has looked into the joint initiative of the Red Sea project fell short of properly appreciat- ongoing cooperation of the MSEA with USAID ing institutional weaknesses and the time required and the Cairo Transport Authority to transform to undertake project activities, and thus did not diesel-fueled buses to natural gas as well as the put enough emphasis on training and promotion follow-up activities initiated by the former UNDP of learning, which might have resulted in a better GEF project to support the introduction of elec- phased approach to implementation. tric or electric hybrid buses into the Egyptian 7. Efficiency of GEF-Supported Activities in Egypt 105 market in partnership with the local private sector. by a key environmental figure--the former execu- The newly pipelined UNIDO-funded "Industrial tive director of UNEP. Energy Efficiency" project explored the findings Since the GEF Unit was launched in 2008, coor- and documents related to the EEIGGR project. dination among national executing agencies has In international waters, the lessons learned from been enhanced, and a more structured and trans- the implementation of the Lake Manzala project parent approach to project initiation and imple- were taken into consideration in the preparation mentation established. The GEF Unit is well posi- and design of the Alexandria ICZM project in tioned; its connection to the convention focal Lake Maryut. points has helped created synergies between the GEF and the conventions in Egypt. The unit's staff With the exception of the various projects outlined understands the concept of global environmen- above, there are limited resources at the national tal benefits, and is building further capacity in a level for sharing experiences and disseminating focused and efficient manner. It is also developing lessons learned across projects and among the a Web site for the GEF in Egypt. relevant national and regional stakeholders. The Concerns have been expressed regarding the National Steering Committee regularly reviews fact that the GEF Unit is comprised of only two ongoing GEF projects and requests presentations full-time employees, which may be insufficient from project directors on the implementation of given the extended responsibilities of the opera- ongoing projects; this is a means of capturing suc- tional focal point under the RAF; and that is not cess stories and constraints, and thereby ensuring fully able to follow up on all projects, particularly that lessons are learned while sparking construc- regional and global projects. tive discussion among relevant ministries. The unit, which was initially staffed by the Project 7.4 GEF Focal Point Mechanism Management Unit of the NCSA project, is now managed and funded by the recently implemented Prior to the establishment of the GEF National mainstreaming the global environment project. In Steering Committee in 2006,3 project proposals the period between the completion of the former were driven primarily by the GEF Implementing project and the start-up of the latter, Egypt was Agency or by individual engagement and enthu- appointed head of the GEF North African Con- siasm. The process is today more systematic and stituency (from mid-2007 to end of 2008), which follows clear priorities, and GEF project proposals provided another source of funding for supporting have consequently become more country driven. the operational focal point, since it was obliged to The diversity of representation on the steering hold meetings among the North African coun- committee has proved successful and has rooted tries and to collaborate and coordinate countries' the committee in the relevant ministries; the com- involvement, along with its financial support of mittee's involvement in project endorsement has the GEF Unit. enhanced transparency. The committee is headed The GEF Country Support Program provides support for constituency meetings preceding Chapter 3 provides background on the operational 3 and political focal points, and the establishment of the GEF Council meetings and for National Dialogue GEF National Steering Committee and GEF Unit. workshops and subregional consultations; it also 106 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) supports the operational focal point;4 the GEF Unit of and shed light on the requirements of the new may look into using funds from the Country Sup- GEF-4 phase and how these would affect proj- port Program in the future. Even though the GEF ect proposals submitted by Egypt in the future. Unit is independent of the EEAA Department for Egypt's participation in these consultations on the International Affairs, collaboration between them RAF allocations has resulted in more strategic use can be improved. In Egypt, the operational focal of GEF funds in biodiversity and climate change point is based in the EEAA, and the political focal at the national level, although it did not have the point in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. same effect on the use of GEF funds for regional and global projects. Egypt currently has no national GEF strategy, but intends to prepare some form of a strategy docu- Changes in the Role of the Operational ment in the coming years. Egypt may use fund- Focal Point ing from the GEF Country Support Program, or The RAF's launch led to an enhanced role on the through the mainstreaming the global environ- part of the operational focal point in facilitating ment project, to accomplish this. identification of national priorities for GEF proj- The focal point mechanism has offered guidance ect funding. Working with the GEF Agencies, to GEF operations in Egypt, and has provided a operational focal points are now responsible for vision to the use of GEF support in the country. confirming that project concepts can be financed The focal point mechanism is encouraged to play within the country's focal area­specific RAF a role and to provide more attention to follow-up allocation. and to the dissemination and replication of proj- During regional consultations sponsored by the ect outputs at the strategic and policy levels. GEF Country Support Program in 2006, several operational focal points expressed frustration 7.5 Emerging Issues Concerning about a lack of capacity and resources to fulfill the RAF their new roles in driving the RAF process. In the Egyptian context, one of the challenges linked to Clarity of Process, Procedure, and Roles the RAF is to reach consensus on what national While the process and procedures of the RAF priorities should be addressed first. Egypt's opera- clearly are complicated, Egypt has been fortunate tional focal point is also head of the GEF North in the sense that it was aware of the RAF early on African constituency, representing the constitu- and has been able to be proactive in deciding how ency at the GEF Council. to spend its allocations for the climate change and biodiversity focal areas. Among other things, Likely Impacts on the SGP Egypt benefited from the consultations regarding Since the onset of the RAF, funding for the SGP, the RAF,5 which provided a better understanding which had had an annual country program con- tribution cap of $600,000, has been reduced by Due to restrictions and complexities in the dis- 4 half. Countries have been urged to negotiate bursement of a relatively small amount of funds, some $8,000 has not been utilized. with their governments so they can receive funds GEF Country Support Program, SGP: Follow-up 5 to Evaluation, Subregional Programme for GEF Focal Points, Dubrovnik, Croatia, February 11­13, 2009. 7. Efficiency of GEF-Supported Activities in Egypt 107 allocated for the SGP from the core funding allo- degradation. To maintain a reasonable balance in cations, provided they were able to obtain an the SGP portfolio, the SGP national coordinator equal amount of government cofinancing (that is, will be initiating workshops to regenerate interest a 1:1 ratio of core funding allocation to govern- and highlight opportunities in these other focal ment cofinancing). The Egyptian government rec- areas among civil society. ognized that the more it committed to contribute The advantages of the SGP in light of the RAF is in cofinancing to the SGP, the more core funding that the percentage that will be allocated to the it was likely to receive and guarantee (since SGP SGP is granted, and the GEF would not withdraw funding is received up front). The SGP currently the funds allocated to the SGP because they are receives $300,000 in core funding and $270,000 received up front. This would also encourage (that is, $300,000 less the 10 percent Agency fee NGO contributions to MSPs and FSPs. The NGO of $30,000) from the RAF allocations annually; of contribution to GEF funds represents 50 percent this, $220,000 is assigned to climate change and (25 percent in kind and 25 percent in cash), more- $50,000 to biodiversity. over the cofinancing for the SGP does not come Projects by Focal Area from the governments, but rather from the private sectors and other stakeholders. The requirement In the SGP's fourth operational phase, only proj- that SGP funding be allocated from country RAF ects in the climate change and biodiversity areas allocations undermines the basic purpose of the have been funded; the second year of the fourth SGP, which is to keep a window open to nongov- phase has involved only climate change projects. ernmental stakeholders, activists, and communi- This focus is not a result of the RAF per se, but ties to access funding for projects. It is strongly rather because Egypt's NGOs are more experi- recommended that this be revisited and that the enced in climate change­related projects. Biodi- SGP be strengthened and diversified, rather than versity projects in Egypt, especially those relating limited to the focal areas under the RAF, for it to to protected areas, are largely run by government play its role effectively. entities rather than NGOs. Furthermore, the impacts and effects of climate change projects, SGP Graduation particularly those related to sustainable transpor- Automatic graduation from the SGP as a country tation and renewable energy, are highly tangible program older than eight years would have a very and directly visible to the local communities with negative effect on Egypt, in addition to putting the which NGOs work. cost-effectiveness of the overall GEF portfolio in There has been a noticeable decline since the first peril. The SGP automatic graduation policy will operational phase in SGP-funded projects in the result in more than 40 countries leaving the SGP POPs and multifocal areas. In the POPs area, this by July 2010 (GEF EO 2008). This policy is cur- decline is explained somewhat by the fact that rently being discussed, and no decisions have yet three projects were recently completed and suf- been made. While it may allow for a focusing on ficient time has not elapsed to enable the NGOs newer country programs and the establishment working in this area to develop new project ideas. of programs in countries not yet covered by the SGP-funded projects in international waters were SGP, it may risk losing programs that are more only performed in the third operational phase. cost-effective than the GEF FSP and MSP portfo- There have been no SGP-funded projects in land lio. Moreover, without a country SGP, there is no 108 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) guarantee that the community focus provided by in its upgraded status. The proposed SGP coun- the SGP will continue to be addressed by a given try program graduation policy will be revised country. MSPs and FSPs work with government for GEF-5 (2010­14) to address the risks to GEF entities as executing agencies for their imple- achievements and cost-effectiveness in less devel- mentation, whereas SGP projects work with the oped countries, including Egypt. communities; this benefits civil society long after projects have been completed, and thus lends a Likely Impacts on Regional Projects noticeable sustainability to the initiatives under- There are no more financial resources for regional taken by the NGOs. and global projects under the RAF in GEF-4, as all funds have been committed. Five percent of In January 2009, the GEF Secretariat invited a the RAF total global allocation goes to regional sample of SGP national coordinators from the and global projects, and does not come from the 40 countries that would be affected by the auto- individual country allocations. The RAF may matic graduation policy. Among other things, it negatively affect future development of regional was agreed that the concept of graduation should projects, as these may be funded from the coun- be based on a principle of equity in accessing try RAF allocation. The international waters focal core resources, and that it should not indicate the area may be most adversely affected, with stake- end of a country program nor a delinking from holders in these projects underlining the impor- the global SGP, but rather that the country is tance of regional efforts regarding key environ- advanced in managing and sustaining its SGP and mental concerns and transboundary issues that fully prepared to take on broader responsibilities cannot be addressed at the national level. 7. Efficiency of GEF-Supported Activities in Egypt 109 Annex A. Terms of Reference A.1 Background and Introduction (RAF) that allocates funds to countries, the GEF will need to further research and assess how the The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Coun- GEF is implemented at the country level. Finally, cil has requested that the GEF Evaluation Office these evaluations provide additional opportunities conduct evaluations of the GEF portfolio at the for the GEF Evaluation Office to collect evaluative country level: GEF country portfolio evaluations evidence to be incorporated into other evaluations (CPEs). The Office conducted its first CPE in 2006 conducted by the Office or reviews conducted by in Costa Rica on a pilot basis with the objective of the GEF Secretariat and for the Office to collabo- assessing the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of rate with the evaluation offices of the GEF part- this type of evaluation and to develop, based on ners in conducting their own country evaluations the experience, methodologies to fully implement of their programs and/or strategies. this type of evaluation in subsequent years. This document is based on the approved stan- The objective of these evaluations, as requested dard terms of reference for CPEs approved by the by the GEF Council, is twofold: (1) to provide the GEF Evaluation Office Director in October 2006 Council with additional information on the results and revised in July 2008 based on the continuous of GEF-supported activities and how these activi- experience with this type of evaluation. It pres- ties are implemented, and (2) to evaluate how ents the objectives, main questions, scope, and GEF-supported activities fit into national strat- methodology of the CPEs. The way in which they egies and priorities as well as within the global are conducted remains consistent, particularly environmental mandate of the GEF. This indicates throughout GEF-4, so that at the end of the period that the Council is interested in using this type of there will be an opportunity for comparison evaluation primarily to assess and report on expe- across countries. Nevertheless, additional ques- riences across different types of countries. tions may be included to reflect particular issues There are several other reasons to conduct CPEs. in a country and other evaluations under imple- First, although the GEF has been in existence for mentation during this fiscal year. The evaluations more than a decade, no other assessments have are conducted fully and independently by the GEF ever been conducted of a GEF portfolio using a Evaluation Office (with assistance from consul- country as a basis for analysis, regardless of the tants) and, when possible, in partnership with the GEF focal area or Implementing Agency. Second, evaluation offices of GEF Agencies, governments, given the new Resource Allocation Framework or nongovernmental organizations. 111 There are about 160 GEF-eligible countries. The As a result of significant population increase and GEF Evaluation Office cannot evaluate all their expansion in industrial, agricultural, and tourism portfolios. Straightforward and transparent crite- activities, Egypt faces a number of public health ria have been developed by the Evaluation Office and environmental problems caused by the pollu- to conduct the selection of countries for each year. tion of air and water, and by wastes. The current The criteria ensure that all of the 160 countries population growth places considerable pressure have a fair chance to be chosen. In 2009, the GEF on natural resources and has been coupled with Evaluation Office selected two countries in the increased rural-urban internal migration, which Middle East and Northern Africa region: Egypt has tripled the urban population in Egypt over and Syria. The first step in making this choice the last few decades. Egypt's high rate of popula- included a random selection of all countries in the tion growth and density along the Nile Valley and region and then application of a set of strategic Delta, coupled with industrial activities concen- criteria in which opportunities of synergies with trated primarily along the river Nile and in the ongoing evaluations in the Office played a role. large cities of Cairo and the Delta, has resulted The random selection ensures that all countries in an increased burden on the country's limited participating with the GEF could be selected for natural resources and has adversely affected pub- this type of evaluation, while the other criteria lic health. allow for more strategic selection. Since 1992, Egypt has taken important steps to Egypt was considered a good choice given its establish a framework for environmental man- historically large and diverse portfolio, including agement and build the capacities of the relevant projects in all GEF focal areas, implemented by all institutions. The Egyptian Environmental Affairs relevant GEF Agencies, and with a large number Agency (EEAA) was established in 1982 and of completed projects with potentially important restructured in 1992 to address environmental results. In addition, Egypt has received individual issues in Egypt. Law 4/1994 for the Protection of allocations under the RAF for both climate change the Environment was issued to define the man- and biodiversity, and has benefited from a Small date of the EEAA, specifying its role and respon- Grants Programme (SGP) since 1992. Syria was sibilities in environmental management. In 1997, also selected randomly and through the use of the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs strategic criteria, but also because it has a smaller (MSEA) was created, and the EEAA became the GEF portfolio and a RAF group allocation in ministry's technical arm. biodiversity. The adoption of the National Environmental Documents for the completed evaluations are Action Plan (NEAP) in 1992 served as a basis for available on the GEF Evaluation Office Web site. an upgraded and extended national environmen- The evaluations, findings, and recommendations tal policy and regulatory framework. Based on from the Cameroon Egypt, and Syria CPEs will the recommendations of the NEAP, Law 4/1994 be synthesized in a single report and presented in was enacted, with executive regulations issued in June 2009 to the GEF Council to assess and report 1995. The second NEAP was launched in 2002 on experiences and common issues across differ- and represents Egypt's agenda for environmental ent types of countries. actions for the period 2002­17. 112 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Regarding Egypt's response to the GEF mandate, about 150,000 square kilometers which repre- in 2001, the World Bank prepared a country sents 15 percent of Egypt's total area. environmental analysis in 2005, and the MSEA z Climate change. Egypt ratified the United issued the most recent Egypt State of the Environ- Nations Framework Convention on Climate ment Report in 2007, which provides a very good Change in 1994 and the Kyoto Protocol in overview of how Egypt has prioritized GEF sup- 2004. The EEAA is the national focal point for port. In addition, these documents provide a very climate change agreements through its Climate good presentation of the main issues in each focal Change Unit, which was established in 1999. It area. The following paragraphs are based on these coordinates and follows up on climate change documents. national strategies, policies, action plans, and z Biodiversity. In 1992 at the Rio Conference, activities in Egypt. The National Committee Egypt signed the Convention on Biological on Climate Change was formed by ministe- Diversity which was subsequently ratified by rial decree in 1997 to provide the institutional the Egyptian Parliament in 1994. The Nature framework to facilitate implementation of Conservation Sector is a department in the the convention. In this framework, the desig- EEAA and the government body entrusted nated national authority for the Clean Devel- with overseeing management of the national opment Mechanism (CDM) was established. protected area network, coordination of hunt- This authority consists of the Egyptian Coun- ing management, and following up on inter- cil for the CDM, which is responsible for set- national conventions related to biodiversity. ting CDM policies in Egypt; and the Egyptian A National Biodiversity Unit has been estab- Bureau for the CDM , which is considered the lished in the Nature Conservation Sector to CDM executive secretariat. Greenhouse gases undertake the necessary studies and programs produced in Egypt in the year 2005/06 account related to the convention. The unit produced for 0.57 pecent of the world's total emissions. the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action The sectors that are most vulnerable to climate Plan in 1998, which identified priorities and change are agricultural, tourism, and the Egyp- programs to fulfill Egypt's obligations under tian Delta. Egypt became engaged in CDM the convention. While there has been nature activities in 2002, when the country partici- conservation legislation on the books in Egypt pated in the National Strategy Studies Program since the 1920s, there are only a handful of launched by the World Bank and the govern- laws aimed at conserving biodiversity, the most ment of Switzerland, with the aim of enabling important of which are Law 102/1983 for the developing countries to participate and benefit Natural Protectorates and Law 4/1994 for the from the CDM. There is no regulatory frame- Protection of the Environment. Egypt occupies work covering the climate change issue nor any law regulating activities causing it, such as a significant geographic location, with distin- emitting greenhouse gases. guished ecosystems and habitats sheltering about 20,000 flora and fauna species, includ- z International waters. The Egyptian territory ing some endemic to Egypt and other rare or comprises the following four basins: Northern endangered species. With the promulgation Interior Basin, Nile Basin in the form of a broad of Law 102/1983, Egypt has declared a total north-south strip, Mediterranean Coast Basin, of 27 natural protectorates covering an area of and Northeast Coast Basin along the coast of Annex A. Terms of Reference 113 the Red Sea. In the 1980s, the first attempt and reducing their risks and implications; and was made to create a plan for all water use in extending the land degradation strategy to des- Egypt. The resulting Egypt Master Plan for ert areas in order to increase Egypt's populated Water Resources Development and Use was, area to 50­60 million feddans, or 25 percent of however, not a plan as such, but a first step in a the country's total area, where new urban com- process that aimed to improve planning capa- munities can be established. bilities within the sector. The main instrument z Persistent organic pollutants (POPs). for water quality management is Law 48/1982 The issue of POPs is of importance to Egypt which protects the River Nile and its water because of its substantial use of pesticides, channels; Law 4/1994 also has provisions that insecticides, and herbicides for agricultural deal with the management of water resources purposes. In 2005, Egypt prepared its National in Egypt. In addition, Law 12/1984 regulates Implementation Plan in accordance with pro- irrigation, water distribution, and groundwater visions in the Stockholm Convention on Per- management in the Nile Valley and Delta, and sistent Organic Pollutants. Egypt is also taking the establishment and maintenance of drainage measures to implement the Basel Convention; canals. with an industrial hazardous waste manage- z Land degradation. Egypt signed the United ment plan and implementation program being Nations Convention to Combat Desertifica- prepared. Several laws pertain to POPs, such as tion (UNCCD) in 1994 and ratified it in 1995. Law 4/1994 which covers the management of Egypt submitted its first national report to the all kinds of chemicals--industrial, agricultural, UNCCD in 1999. The EEAA was the UNCCD pharmaceutical, petroleum products, explo- focal point. A National Coordination Commit- sives, radioactive materials, domestically used tee was formed, headed by the chief executive chemicals, and hazardous waste; Law 21/1958, officer of the EEAA, to formulate and imple- which sets out rules regulating industry and ment the National Action Programme for the production, handling, and importation of Combating Desertification . In July 2001, the industrial chemicals; and Law 874/1996, which committee was reformed and came under the prohibits the use, import, handling, and prep- chairmanship of the minister of agriculture. aration of potential carcinogenic pesticides. Based on the committee's recommendations, In addition, a number of national ministerial a ministerial decree was issued in July 2001 decrees concern the elimination and control of making the Ministry of Agriculture the focal POPs. point for the UNCCD and the Desert Research The GEF has invested about $88.216 million (with Center the implementing body. In 2005, the about $244.694 million in cofinancing) through 20 Egyptian National Action Programme to Com- national projects (7 biodiversity, 7 climate change, bat Desertification was prepared. It is geared 3 international waters, 1 POPs, and 2 multifocal). toward addressing the specific attributes of the Table A.1 breaks down GEF support according four agro-ecological zones in Egypt and pri- to focal areas and GEF Agencies. These figures orities for action. The general policy adopted include enabling activities. by Egypt of combating land degradation and desertification is based on two components: Egypt has also received GEF support through the aiming to control land degradation factors SGP. The total grant amount through the SGP 114 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Table A.1 Table A.3 GEF Support to National Projects by Focal Area and Number of GEF Global Projects in Which Egypt Agency Participates by Focal Area and Agency Million $ World World Focal area UNDP UNEP Bank Total Focal area UNDP UNEP Bank UNIDO Total biodiversity 0 4 0 4 biodiversity 7.90 1.36 4.75 0 14.01 Climate change 0 0 1 1 Climate change 15.72 0 50.85 0 66.57 International waters 1 0 0 1 Int'l waters 6.09 0 0 0 6.09 Total 1 4 1 6 PoPs 0 0 0 0.50 0.50 Note: UNDP = United Nations Development Programme; UNeP = multifocal 0.70 0 0 0 0.70 United Nations environment Programme. Total 30.41 1.36 55.60 0.50 87.87 Note: UNDP = United Nations Development Programme; UNeP = United Nations environment Programme; UNIDo = United Nations Industrial Development organization. A.2 Objectives of the Evaluation The purpose of GEF Country Portfolio Evalua- tions is to provide GEF Council with an assess- is $4.32 million for 219 projects. A joint evalua- ment of how GEF is implemented at the country tion of the SGP was carried out by the GEF and level, a report on results from projects and assess the United Nations Development Programme for how these projects are linked to national environ- Egypt; this was completed in 2007, and will be mental and sustainable development agendas as included in this evaluation. well as to the GEF mandate of generating global environmental benefits within its focal areas. In In addition, Egypt has participated in 17 regional particularly, the country evaluations will have the and 6 global projects, very few of which have a following objectives: national component or activities within the coun- try. Tables A.2 and A.3 provide data on these z Independently evaluate the relevance and effi- projects. ciency of GEF support in a country from several Table A.2 Number of GEF Regional Projects in Which Egypt Participates by Focal Area and Agency Focal area UNDP UNEP World Bank UNIDO IFAD Total biodiversity 2 0 0 0 0 2 Climate change 1 0 0 0 0 1 International waters 4 1 2 0 0 7 Land degradation 0 0 0 0 1 1 PoPs 0 1 0 1 0 2 multifocal 0 1 3 0 0 4 Total 7 3 5 1 1 17 Note: UNDP = United Nations Development Programme; UNeP = United Nations environment Programme; UNIDo = United Nations Industrial Development organization; IFAD = International Fund for Agricultural Development. Annex A. Terms of Reference 115 points of view:1 national environmental frame- A.3 Key Evaluation Questions works and decision-making processes, the GEF GEF CPEs are guided by a set of key questions that mandate and achievement of global environ- should be answered based on the analysis of the mental benefits, and GEF policies and proce- evaluative information and perceptions collected dures. during the evaluation exercise. These questions z Assess the effectiveness and results of completed are as follows: projects in each relevant focal area.2 z Relevance of GEF support z Provide additional evaluative evidence to other ­ Is GEF support relevant to the national evaluations conducted or sponsored by the sustainable development agenda and envi- GEF Evaluation Office. ronmental priorities, national development z Provide feedback and knowledge sharing to needs and challenges, and action plans in the (1) the GEF Council in its decision-making GEF focal areas? process to allocate resources and to develop ­ Are the GEF and its Agencies supporting the policies and strategies, (2) the country on its environmental and sustainable development participation in the GEF, and (3) the differ- prioritization and decision-making process ent agencies and organizations involved in of the country? the preparation and implementation of GEF- ­ Is GEF support in the country relevant to the funded projects and activities. objectives of global environmental benefits CPEs do not have the objective of evaluating the in the GEF focal areas (biodiversity, green- performance of Implementing Agencies, execut- house gases, international waters, POPs, ing agencies, or national governments or indi- land degradation, ozone)? vidual projects. It is not expected that these two ­ Is the country supporting the GEF mandate countries are fully representative of the region's and focal area programs and strategies with experience with the GEF. its own resources and/or support from other donors? z Efficiency of GEF support ­ How much time, effort, and money are needed to develop and implement projects, by GEF support modality? Relevance: the extent to which the objectives of the 1 GEF activity are consistent with beneficiaries' require- ­ What are the roles, types of engagement, ments, country needs, global priorities, and partner and and coordination mechanisms among differ- donor policies, including changes with time; efficiency: ent stakeholders in project implementation? the extent to which results have been delivered with the least costly resources possible (funds, expertise, time, ­ How successful is dissemination of GEF and so on). Efficiency is also called cost-effectiveness project lessons and results? or efficacy. ­ What are the synergies between GEF project Effectiveness: the output, outcome, or impact 2 programming and implementation among (intended or unintended, positive and/or negative) of a GEF Agencies, national institutions, GEF GEF activity; effectiveness: the extent to which the GEF activity's objectives were achieved or are expected to be projects, and other donor­supported proj- achieved, taking into account their relative importance. ects and activities? 116 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) z Results and effectiveness of GEF support What are the results of the regional projects ­ What are the results (impacts and outcomes) at the national level? The GEF focal point has of completed projects? no control over or information about regional ­ What are the aggregated results at the focal projects; what is the set-up for managing area and country levels? regional projects? How sustainable are regional and global projects at the national level? ­ What is the likelihood that objectives will be achieved for those projects that are still z What is the focal point mechanism in Egypt under implementation? in general? What is the role of the operational ­ What is the sustainability of GEF-supported versus the political focal point? What is the role activities? and function of the GEF steering committee in relation to the two focal points? Each of these questions is complemented by a z With regard to project preparation, what steps short list of indicative aspects to be explored and are currently very time consuming regard- potential sources of information. A table of evalu- ing the GEF, especially in comparison to other ation guidelines with these indicative aspects and donors? sources of information is attached as annex B. z What is the role of the GEF vis-à-vis other Specific issues identified during the inception funding? mission to Egypt (November 16­21, 2008) will be looked into in the course of the CPE and include z What is the confusion and overlap between the the following GEF and the CDM in Egypt? z What is the GEF's history and development in A.4 Scope and Limitations Egypt since 1992? How have decisions been The CPEs focus on all types of GEF-supported taken, and how has the GEF in Egypt changed activities in the country at all stages of the proj- over the years? Are there any trends to be iden- ect cycle (in pipeline, ongoing, and completed) tified? What has been the strategic direction and implemented by all GEF Agencies in all focal taken by the GEF and the government in Egypt? areas, including applicable GEF corporate activi- z How is the GEF viewed in the context of ties such as the SGP. The aggregate of all these national priorities in light of the GEF's interest activities constitutes the GEF portfolio. The stage in global environmental benefits? of the project will determine the expected focus (table A.4). z How are the GEF funds used strategically? What is the current programming of GEF funds? Table A.4 z Are there catalytic and replication effects of Focus of Evaluation by Project Status GEF support? Is there dissemination and a "les- Project Rele- Effective- sons learned" process for projects to evaluate status vance Efficiency ness Results how they have worked? Completed Full Full Full Full ongoing Full Partially Likelihood Likelihood z What is the sustainability of GEF projects? Pipeline expected Processes n.a. n.a. z What is the process for regional projects? How Note: n.a. = not applicable. The main focus of the evaluation will be relevance and efficiency; it will explore possible methodologies on are regional projects set up and supervised? how to evaluate project effectiveness and results. Annex A. Terms of Reference 117 In addition, the context in which these projects provide an additional context in which to assess were developed and approved and in which they the GEF portfolio. are being implemented constitutes another focus The inclusion of regional and global projects of the evaluation. This includes a historical assess- potentially increases the complexity of this type of ment of national sustainable development and evaluation since these projects are developed and environmental policies, strategies, and priorities; approved in a different context ( regional or global the legal environment in which these policies are policies and strategies). Given the limited time implemented and enforced; GEF Agency country and financial resources to conduct CPEs, such strategies and programs; and GEF policies, prin- projects will in principle not be included unless ciples, programs, and strategies. the project implementation unit is located in the The way in which the GEF operates poses sev- country under evaluation. In each specific case, eral difficulties in conducting this type of evalua- the feasibility of including regional and global tion. For example, the GEF does not have country projects and their relevance for the national port- programs, so there is no GEF framework against folio will be looked at when preparing the terms of which to assess results or effectiveness. Further- reference for the evaluation. more, GEF support rarely works in isolation but instead through partnerships with many institu- A.5 Methodology tions; this makes attribution difficult to deter- The GEF CPEs will be conducted by staff of the mine. On the positive side, an assessment with the GEF Evaluation Office and international and local objectives as described above may provide impor- consultants; this will be the evaluation team. tant insights that may allow the GEF to become The methodology includes a series of components more effective at the country level and within the using a combination of qualitative and quantita- context of the RAF's operationalization. tive methods and tools. The qualitative aspects As of mid-2006, the GEF had not yet used coun- of the evaluation include a desk review of existing try strategies or programs, making it significantly documentation such as GEF project documents; different from other agencies such as the World policy and strategy documents from national, Bank, the United Nations Development Pro- GEF, and convention levels and relevant scientific gramme, and the regional banks, in that there is literature; GEF Agency national strategic frame- no GEF program to be used as a reference. Simi- works (particularly those related to the GEF focal larly, the GEF focal areas do not have a clear set of areas); extensive interviews with GEF stakehold- indicators that can be used at the country level to ers; consultation workshops; and field visits to a assess country portfolio performance. few project sites. The quantitative analysis will use indicators to assess the relevance and effi- By mid-2006, the beginning of the RAF process ciency of GEF support using projects as the unit is expected to lead the way toward more country of analysis (that is, linkages with national priori- programming or at least prioritization of projects ties, time and cost of preparing and implementing or areas in which the government determines it projects, and so on) and to measure GEF results would like to focus GEF support. The GEF Evalu- (progress toward achieving global environmental ation Office may encounter countries in which impacts) and project performance (implementa- these exercises have been completed, which will tion and completion ratings). 118 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) The evaluation will develop different tools and 1. Initial GEF Evaluation Office visit to protocols. For example, a project review protocol z Secure government support, in particular will be prepared to conduct the desk and field from GEF focal points. The focal point will reviews of GEF projects, and questionnaires will be requested to provide support to the eval- be developed to conduct interviews with differ- uation such as identification of key people to ent stakeholders. Examples of both protocols have be interviewed; support to organize inter- been prepared but will need to be adapted to the views, field visits, and meetings; and identi- particular CPE to bring into the evaluation par- fication of main documents. ticular issues related to the country or to the GEF Evaluation Office work program. z Identify a local consultant. The consultant should qualify under the GEF Evaluation The CPEs will primarily be based on the review of Office ethics guidelines. existing information and on additional informa- z Identify local evaluators/evaluation associa- tion gathered for the purpose of the evaluation. tions as possible partners in the evaluation. The expected sources of information to be used include the following: z Conduct a first workshop to present the evaluation and receive comments to develop z At the project level, project documents, project country-specific terms of reference. implementation reports, terminal evaluations, reports from field visits, and scientific literature 2. Prepare country-specific terms of reference. z At the country level, national sustainable devel- 3. Collect information and conduct literature opment agendas, environmental priorities and review to extract existing reliable evaluative strategies, GEF focal area strategies and action evidence. plans, GEF-supported national capacity self- 4. Prepare specific inputs to the CPE:3 assessments, global and national environmen- z GEF portfolio database which describes tal indicators, and literature review all GEF support activities within the coun- z At the Agency level, country assistance strate- try, basic information (Agency, focal area), gies and frameworks and their evaluations and implementation status, project cycle infor- reviews mation, GEF and cofinancing financial infor- z Evaluative evidence at the country level from mation, major objectives and expected (or GEF Evaluation Office evaluations, the overall actual) results, key partners per project, and performance studies, or from national evalua- so on. tion organizations z Country environmental framework which z Interviews with GEF stakeholders and benefi- provides the context in which the GEF proj- ciaries ects have been developed and implemented (in some cases, this framework may be z Information from national consultation work- already available, prepared by GEF Agencies shops or national governments). This document A.6 Process and Outputs These inputs are working documents and are not 3 The methodology will include the following steps: expected to be published as separate documents. Annex A. Terms of Reference 119 will be based on information on environ- ­ Relevance mental legislation, environmental policies ­ Efficiency of each government administration (plans, ­ Results and effectiveness strategies and similar), and the international z Recommendations agreements signed by the country presented and analyzed through time so as to be able Chapter 2: Evaluation Framework to connect with particular GEF support. z Background The experience in Costa Rica showed that z Objectives of the evaluation this analysis should be done preferably by an z Key questions for the evaluation environmental lawyer. z Methodology z Global environmental benefits assessment, which provides an assessment of the coun- Chapter 3: Context of the Evaluation try's contribution to the GEF mandate and z Egypt: General description its focal areas based on appropriate indica- z Brief description of environmental resources in tors, such as those used in the RAF (biodi- key GEF support areas versity and climate change) and others used in project documents. z The environmental legal framework in Egypt z The environmental policy framework in Egypt 5. The evaluation team conducts the evaluation, including at least one visit by GEF Evaluation z The GEF: General description Office representatives. Chapter 4: Activities Funded by the GEF in 6. Prepare draft report. Egypt 7. GEF Evaluation Office visit to present draft z Introduction report at a second consultation workshop z Activities considered in the evaluation with major stakeholders. z Activities over time 8. Prepare final report, which incorporates com- z Evolution of the GEF funding to the country ments and is then presented to the Council Chapter 5: Relevance of GEF Support in Egypt and the recipient government. z Relevance of GEF support to the country's sus- A.7 CPE Report Outline tainable development agenda and environmen- tal priorities The report should be a concise, stand-alone docu- z Relevance of GEF support to country's deci- ment organized according to the following table sions and processes of contents: z Relevance of GEF support to national action Chapter 1: Main Conclusions and plans within GEF focal areas Recommendations z Relevance of GEF support to the achievement z Background of global environmental benefits z Scope and Methodology z Relevance of the GEF portfolio to other global z Conclusions on the portfolio and national organizations 120 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Chapter 6: Efficiency of GEF-Supported Chapter 7: Results of GEF Support to Egypt Activities in Egypt z Global environmental impacts z Time, effort, and money to develop and imple- z Catalytic and replication effects ment projects, by type of GEF support modality z Institutional sustainability and capacity building z Roles and responsibilities among different z Details of project results stakeholders in project implementation z The GEF focal point mechanism in the country Each TOR for a CPE may adopt variations of this outline, if and when certain aspects merit more z Lessons learned across GEF projects or less attention in the specific case of that coun- z Synergies between GEF stakeholders and proj- try. However, the possibility to aggregate findings ects across CPEs will be an important factor to take into consideration when deciding on the contents of each report. Table A.5 Evaluation's Key Milestones Milestone Deadline 1. request for interest from consultants August 14­31, 2008 2. Contract consultants based in egypt october 27, 2008 3. Inception mission to launch evaluation and discuss draft terms of reference with November 16­21, 2008 key GeF stakeholders 4. Country-specific terms of reference for the egypt evaluation November 30, 2008 5. review of the projects in egypt's portfolio including interviews with stakeholders December 1, 2008­February 1, 2009 6. Literature review December 15, 2008 7. Country environmental framework for egypt December 31, 2008 8. Global environmental assessment for egypt December 31, 2008 9. Protocols for project reviews and interviews January 18, 2009 10. Data collection mission January 26­February 3, 2009 11. First draft of report February 26, 2009 12. National consultation workshop to present preliminary conclusions and results march 10, 2009 13. Final draft documents for distribution to stakeholders for comments April 5, 2009 14. Final CPe report (incorporating comments from stakeholders) for government April 24, 2009 15. Government response to final CPe report may 5, 2009 16. Presentation to GeF Council June 22, 2009 Annex A. Terms of Reference 121 Annex B. Evaluation Matrix Item/key question Information/ indicator/basic data Sources Methodology 1. Context of the evaluation 1.1 General description y Human development profile y NeAP 2002­17 y Social and political context of environ- y State of the environment mental issues report 2005, 2006 y Status of each focal area in egypt y World Development Indi- y Capacity cators database y World bank egypt Country Profile (2006) y CIA 2008 1.2 brief description of Potential global benefits: y State of the environment environmental resources in y biodiversity potential and actual status report 2005, 2006 key GeF support areas y Frameworks and action y Climate potential and actual status (what is potential global plans: NeAP 2002­17, benefit?) y Land degradation and desertification NbSAP, National Strategy y PoPs potential and actual status and Action Plan for Capac- y International waters: potential and ity Development, Climate actual status and regional significance; Change Action Plan, CDm which transboundary features (fresh Strategy, National energy and marine) are relevant in the regional efficiency Strategy, NIP, context (rivers and large marine National Action Program ecosystems)? to Combat Desertification y overall alignment y Specialists and key informants 1.3 The environmental legal y outline legal and policy framework and y NeAP 2002­17 and policy framework in ratification of protocols y State of the environment egypt y Adequacy, ownership and embedded- report 2005, 2006 ness, and alignment y NbSAP y Development and environment strategy, y Climate Change Action plans including targets and budgets, and Plan future trajectory: sustainability, commit- y CDm Strategy ment, and coherence y National energy efficiency Strategy y NIP y National Action Program to Combat Desertification y World bank egypt Country environmental Analysis, 2005 1.4 The GeF: general y brief overview of GeF-1 to GeF-4 and y other CPe documents description Implementing Agency involvement y GeF focal area strategy y GeF-4 and rAF and egypt allocations y Interviews with UNDP, World bank, and SGP 122 Item/key question Information/ indicator/basic data Sources Methodology 2. Activities funded by the GEF 2.1 Activities considered in Agreed national and regional projects the evaluation y evaluation office database 2.2 Activities over time Activities over time and by Agency and and completed project modality; activities by focal area, break- protocols down by number, budget, and modality; y Implementing Agency activities by GeF executing Agencies; records activities by GeF phase; SGP 2.3 evolution of GeF fund- y For different GeF phases by Agency, focal y evaluation office database ing to the country area, and modality and completed project y other oDA and cofinancing and egypt's protocols contribution to replenishment fund for y Implementing Agency each GeF phase records y History of focal point y Implementing Agency interviews 3. Results of GEF support 3.1 What are the aggre- y Aggregated indicators (see 4, below) gated results by focal area? y overall catalytic and replication effect y Contribution by the GeF 3.2 What are the aggre- y Aggregated indicators (see 4, below) gated results at the country y overall outcomes and impacts of GeF level? support y overall catalytic and replication effect 3.3 What are the cross- Potential catalytic and replication effects cutting results in terms of of projects identified in project design and y Project data in protocols catalytic and replication realized and project documents effects? y Analysis of project data and y State of the environment 3.4 What are the cross- Capacity needs assessment conducted report 2005, 2006 portfolio in terms of project cutting results in terms of with institution(s) with the mandate and protocol y GeF executing Agencies, individual and organiza- addressed in project design and results government officials, y Document review tional capacity building? project staff, and other y Interviews 3.5 What are the cross- Set of required enabling factors, including key stakeholders where y Global environmental benefits cutting results in terms strong partnerships, policy, strategy, and necessary Assessment of improvements in the monitoring and evaluation frameworks, y Key informants: mohamed y Field visits enabling environment? assessed and addressed in project design bayoumi, UNDP; Yasmine and in results Fouad, GeF Unit 3.6 What are the cross- y evidence of improved awareness as a cutting results in terms of result of project activities increased awareness? y evidence of changed behavior attribut- able to project activities 3.7 What is the likeli- ratings of relevant ongoing projects in hood that objectives will terms of likely, moderately likely, moder- be achieved for proj- ately unlikely, and unlikely ects that are still under implementation? Annex B. Evaluation Matrix 123 Item/key question Information/ indicator/basic data Sources Methodology 4. Relevance of GEF support 4.1 Is GeF support relevant y GeF support is within the country's y Framework NSSD (2007) y review and analysis of relevant to egypt's sustainable sustainable development agenda and y NeAP 2002­17 country-level information and development agenda and environmental priorities (national envi- documents and legal framework y Law 4/1994 environmental priorities? ronmental act and subsequent acts) y Analysis of projects and y ministerial policy direc- y evidence of deliberate pro-poor or tives (2004) portfolio developmental orientation in proj- y Interviews ect planning, implementation, and y Analysis of project design information and results y National consultation workshop evaluation using project protocols y beneficiaries and benefits identified y Interviews with govern- y GeF support has egyptian ownership, ment officials, local com- evident in project origin, design, and munities, and authorities implementation and beneficiaries y relative weight of different focal areas and alignment with egypt's environmen- tal policy and plans y Level of GeF funding relative to oDA in the environmental sector 4.2 Is GeF support relevant y Priority development needs are sup- y NeAP 2002­17 y Document review and analysis to national development ported (capacity building and income y State of the environment of relevant country-level needs and challenges? generation) and challenges reduced report 2005 information y Different types of GeF modalities and y NbSAP y review of regional documents components (enabling activities, mSPs, y review of Implementing y Climate Change Action Plan FSPs, SGP, PDF, GeF Agencies, technical Agency documents support) align with the country's needs y CDm Strategy y National energy efficiency y Interviews and challenges Strategy y Portfolio analysis y The GeF provided support for the coun- try's reconstruction y National Strategy and y National consultation workshop y GeF support plays a role in egypt's strat- Action Plan for Capacity egy for the region and NePAD Development y GeF approaches are adapted to country y GeF Agency strategies political realities y Interviews with govern- ment officials, local com- munities, and authorities and beneficiaries y Analysis of project objec- tives and results based on protocols y Information and data on efficiency (project cycle, modalities, and so on) 4.3 Is GeF support relevant y Alignment with NeAP 2002­17 and y record of initial meetings y Document review and analysis to national environmental other relevant policies y Framework NSSD of country-level information priorities? y Alignment with specific action plans: y Desk review of country strate- y NeAP 2002­17 NbSAP, NIP , National Action Program gies and plans y Law 4/1994 to Combat Desertification, INC, NCSA, y review of GeF Agency country Climate Change and CDm Strategies, y State of the environment strategies National energy efficiency Strategy report 2005, 2006 y National action plans y Portfolio analysis in each focal area and y Interviews GeF-supported enabling activities y SGP country strategy y Analysis of project objec- tives and results based on project protocol y Government officials, NGos, and Agencies y Project reviews 124 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Item/key question Information/ indicator/basic data Sources Methodology 4.4 Is the country support- Amount and percentage of cofinancing by y Project protocol and analy- y Document review of relevant ing the GeF mandate and source and focal area sis of cofinancing country-level information focal area programs and y Database of projects y Analysis of project information strategies with its own and database on cofinancing y eeAA interviews resources and/or support y Interviews from other donors? 4.5 Is GeF support relevant y evidence that GeF support is maximizing y Project documents, analysis y GeF portfolio and pipeline to achieving the GeF potential global benefits based on analy- of project objectives and analysis using protocol mandate, principles, and sis of alignment between aggregated results in each focal area y Document review of country- objectives of each GeF focal project outcomes and impacts in each y GeF focal area strategies, level information and legal area's operational programs focal area by modality, and the outcome GeF-1 to GeF-4 docu- framework: Global environmen- and strategies? and impact indicators identified for each ments on programs and tal benefits Assessment focal area monitoring and evaluation y Document review of con- y relation of GeF support and aggregated frameworks; egyptian ventions and GeF results project outcomes and impacts to the commitments based on frameworks relevant national commitments to con- international conventions; y Interviews ventions, focal area strategy outcomes, egyptian environmental and impacts and related targets documents y evidence of alignment between the GeF y Interviews with GeF portfolio in egypt and GeF principles Agency technical staff, SGP of incrementality, cost-effectiveness, y evaluations sustainability, and catalytic orientation y Data from rAF Global benefits Index (for biodiversity and climate change) and from other global indicators for PoPs, land degradation, and international waters 4.6 Is GeF support relevant y relevance to strategies and frameworks y Analysis of project objec- y Analysis of portfolio to GeF Agency strategies of GeF Agencies (UNDP, World bank, tives and results y Desk review of GeF Agency­ and frameworks? UNeP, UNIDo) y GeF Agency strategies level information y reasons given by others (African Devel- y Key Agency staff: UNDP, y Interviews opment bank, FAo) for noninvolvement World bank, and UNeP or limited involvement 4.7 How relevant is the rAF y Alignment of rAF indexes with egyptian y Interviews: national y Interviews index to country priorities? environmental priorities and plans experts on rAF indexes y Desk review of available data y Alignment with locally based data and and assessment y Analysis of pipeline indexes y Analysis of objectives of pipeline projects 5. Efficiency of GEF support 5.1 How much time, effort, y Preparation costs (any PDF or project y Analysis of information y Collation and analysis of data in and financial resources preparation grants?) in project protocols, project protocols does it take to develop and y GeF Agency project fee including project budgets y review of project evalua- implement projects, by GeF and staff, monitoring and tions and GeF project cycle y How much of project budget is for man- support modality? evaluation budgets, and documents agement and implementation cost? activities and rAF pipeline y Is economy and efficiency evident from y Interviews comparing inputs to outputs and rate? y external evaluation docu- y Project field visits ments of projects y To what extent has the project identified and operationalized "win-win" outcomes? y Interviews with GeF Agen- cies and government y To what extent has the project assessed and incorporated trade-offs between y Joint evaluation of the environmental and development issues? GeF Activity Cycle and modalities y What is the average time taken to achieve each milestone in the project y Field visits cycle by modality and focus area and by GeF phase and Agency? y Projects not progressing past PDF, cancellations Annex B. Evaluation Matrix 125 Item/key question Information/ indicator/basic data Sources Methodology 5.2 What are the roles, y Level of participation of actors and y Analysis of information in y Collation and analysis of data in types of engagement, and stakeholders in key phases of the project project protocols project protocols coordination among differ- cycle y external evaluation docu- y review of project evaluations ent stakeholders in project y beneficiaries identified and analyzed, ments of closed projects y Field visits and interviews implementation? and appropriate engagement strategy y Interviews with project y Interviews and workshops implemented staff, beneficiaries, and y Actors' roles and responsibilities and other actors their clarity y Interviews with GeF y Coordination among projects planned Agencies and implemented y minutes of National Steer- y Complementarity of GeF support (to ing Committee meetings national roles and responsibilities) 5.3 How good is dissemina- y Deliberate and effective anticipation y Analysis of information in y Collation and analysis of data in tion of GeF project lessons at project design to ensure reliable project protocols project protocols and results? learning and a sound basis for assessing y external evaluations of y Document review replicability, as well as provision for dis- projects y Interviews and workshops semination of learning y Interviews with project y Field visits y Lessons from previous projects within staff and GeF Agencies and outside the GeF incorporated y minutes of National Steer- in project design, preparation, and ing Committee meetings implementation 5.4 What are the synergies y Awareness and acknowledgement y Global environmental y Document review in GeF project program- among GeF Agencies of each other's benefits Assessment and y Interviews and workshops ming and implementation projects Country environmental y Field visits with GeF Agencies? What y Communication among Implementing Framework Analysis are the synergies between y Analysis of GeF portfolio Agencies y Interviews with GeF Agen- GeF stakeholders and cies, government officials, y Technical support among Implementing projects? academics, and project Agencies staff y Project protocols 5.5 What are the synergies y Awareness and acknowledgement y Global environmental in GeF project program- among institutions of each other's benefits Assessment and ming and implementation projects Country environmental with national institutions? y Communication among institutions Framework Analysis y Technical support among institutions y Interviews with govern- ment officials and GeF executing Agencies y Interviews with Imple- menting Agency staff, academics, and project staff y National environmental policy and plans y Document review y Project protocols y Interviews and workshops y minutes of National Steer- y Field visits ing Committee meetings y GeF portfolio analysis 5.6 What are the synergies y explicit statements or evidence of y Global environmental in GeF project program- deliberate efforts to maximize synergy in benefits Assessment and ming and implementation project documents Country environmental with GeF projects and other y Coordination among projects Framework Analysis donor-supported projects y Interviews with GeF y Alignment and levels of integration and activities? Agency staff required for coherence in focal area or landscape achieved y Interviews with govern- y Complementarity of GeF support ment officials, academics, project staff, NGos, and y relevant government plans integrate bilateral donors funding y Donor evaluations y Project protocols 126 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Item/key question Information/ indicator/basic data Sources Methodology 5.7 What is the national y Development of country strategy, y Interviews with the y Document review mechanism for GeF imple- approach, or priorities operational and political y Interviews mentation (such as the GeF y Quality and adequacy of information on focal points, the National y Analysis of GeF portfolio and focal point mechanism in projects available and used Steering Committee, and project documents the country)? the GeF Unit y role in ensuring alignment and coordination y Project protocols and evaluations y Contribution to dissemination of learning y minutes of National Steer- ing Committee meetings y Changes in the focal point mechanism's capacity to support project design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation y Changes in time taken to process documents y Achievement of commitments and responsibilities related to focal point role y Clear communication with national stakeholders on GeF policies and procedures y Clear communication to GeF and its Agencies 5.8 To what extent have y Difference in average time taken in key y Project protocols y Analysis of GeF portfolio over GeF operations changed phases of the project cycle pre- and y Analysis of relevance of time after the introduction of post-rAF project portfolio over time y Analysis of relevance the rAF? y Improved level of alignment between y GeF evaluation office y review of GeF documents on portfolio of projects approved based evaluations, such as the rAF and project cycle on the rAF and egypt's potential global Joint evaluation of the y Interviews benefits, the GeF mandate, and egypt's GeF Activity Cycle and country priorities modalities y Impact on allocations to the SGP y Interviews with eeAA and GeF Agencies 5.9 What is the sustainabil- y Project documents adequately antici- y State of the environment y Document review ity of GeF support? pate institutional, environmental, socio- report 2005, 2006 y Analysis of protocol data and political, economic, and financial risks y Project protocols and proj- project documents and include adequate plans to manage, ect evaluation reports y Field visits and interviews mitigate, or influence risks related to y officials and staff related y Interviews and workshops sustainability in the short, medium, and to completed projects y Country environmental Frame- long term of gains made y Interviews with officials work Analysis y Level to which gains of projects and GeF executing completed more than a year before the Agencies evaluation sustained and evidence of future capacity to sustain available y Interviews with NGos and bilateral donors, and y Likelihood of financial and other local communities and resources required to sustain gains being authorities available y Institutional commitment to maintain- ing the required capacity and resources to sustain gains y Level of stakeholder commitment, awareness, and ownership evident in relation to that required y Legal frameworks, policies, governance structures, and capacity to enforce com- pliance in place y Systems of accountability and technical capacity in place Annex B. Evaluation Matrix 127 Annex C. GEF Portfolio in Egypt, 1991­2008 PDF/ GEF Co- PPG grant financing Focal Modal- Executing GEF ID Scope Project name area ity IA agency Million $ Completed 23 Global Promoting best Practices bD mSP UNeP Third World 0.75 0.15 for Conservation and Sus- Network of tainable Use of biodiversity Scientific of Global Significance in organizations Arid and Semi-Arid Zones 31 National Introduction of viable CC mSP UNDP eeAA 0.749 0.965 electric and Hybrid-electric bus Technology 66 National red Sea Coastal and bD FSP Wb eeAA, Tourism 4.75 0.98 marine resource Development management Authority, red Sea Governorate 145 Global biodiversity Data manage- bD eA UNeP National 4 1.39 ment Capacitation in biodiversity Developing Countries and institutions/ Networking biodiversity units, national Information scientific organizations 154 National National biodiversity Strat- bD eA UNeP eeAA 0.288 0 egy, Action Plan, and First National report to the CbD 172 Global biodiversity Country bD eA UNeP National 5 0.801 Studies--Phase I biodiversity institutions, national scientific organizations 267 regional (egypt, energy efficiency Improve- CC FSP UNDP ministry of 6.36 1.784 Palestinian ments and Greenhouse electricity and Authority) Gas reductions energy, egyp- tian electricity Holding Company 282 National building Capacity for GHG CC eA UNDP eeAA 0.402 0 Inventory and Action Plans in response to UNFCCC Communications obligations 128 PDF/ GEF Co- PPG grant financing Focal Modal- Executing GEF ID Scope Project name area ity IA agency Million $ 340 regional Implementation of the IW FSP UNDP PerSGA 19.34 25.65 (Djibouti, egypt, Strategic Action Pro- Jordan, Saudi gramme for the red Sea Arabia, Somalia, and Gulf of Aden Sudan, Yemen) 395 National Lake manzala engineered IW FSP UNDP eeAA, mWrI, 5.26 6.63 Wetlands National Water research Centre 402 Global Pilot biosafety enabling bD eA UNeP National 2.744 0 Activity governments, and others 410 regional Conservation of Wetland bD FSP UNDP eeAA 13.435 26.32 (Albania, egypt, and Coastal ecosystems in Lebanon, the mediterranean region morocco, Pales- (medWetCoast) tinian Authority, Tunisia) 428 National Clearing-House mecha- bD eA UNeP eeAA 0.014 0 nism enabling Activity 461 regional Determination of Priority IW FSP UNeP Secretariat 6.29 4.185 (Albania, Algeria, Actions for the Further for barcelona bosnia-Herze- elaboration and Imple- Convention govina, Croatia, mentation of the Strategic Coordinating egypt, Lebanon, Action Programme for the Unit for medi- Libya, morocco, mediterranean Sea terranean Slovenia, Syria, Action Plan Tunisia, Turkey) 827 National Climate Change enabling CC eA UNDP eeAA 0.048 0 Activity (Additional Financ- ing for Capacity building in Priority Areas) 1497 National enabling Activities to PoPs eA UNIDo eeAA 0.497 0 Facilitate early Action on the Implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent organic Pollut- ants in egypt 2157 National Assessment of Capacity- bD eA UNeP eeAA 0.148 0.042 building Needs in Country- Specific Priorities in biodiversity management and Conservation in egypt 2200 National National Capacity Self- mF eA UNDP eeAA 0.2 0.035 Assessment for environ- mental management Under implementation Small Grants Programme UNDP- SGP 4.320 UNoPS 776 National Conservation and Sustain- bD FSP UNDP eeAA 4.287 4.766 able Use of medicinal Plants in Arid and Semi- Arid ecosystems Annex C. GEF Portfolio in Egypt, 1991­2008 129 PDF/ GEF Co- PPG grant financing Focal Modal- Executing GEF ID Scope Project name area ity IA agency Million $ 985 National Developing renewable IW mSP UNDP Cairo 0.83 1.005 Groundwater resources in University Arid Lands: A Pilot Case-- The eastern Desert of egypt 1028 regional (Yemen, mainstreaming Conserva- bD FSP UNDP birdLife 10.243 15.597 Lebanon, Pales- tion of migratory Soaring International tinian Authority, birds into Key Productive Djibouti, egypt, Sectors along the rift eritrea, ethiopia, valley/red Sea Flyway Jordan, Sudan, (Tranches 1 and 2) Syria, Saudi Arabia) 1040 National Solar Thermal Hybrid CC FSP Wb New and 50.85 97.2 Project renew- able energy Authority 1094 regional Nile Transboundary envi- IW FSP Wb NbI Secre- 17.15 90.76 (burundi, Congo ronmental Action Project, tariat with Dr, egypt, Tranche 1 support by eritrea, ethiopia, UNoPS Kenya, rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania) 1335 National bioenergy for Sustainable CC FSP UNDP eeAA 3.344 13.3 rural Development 1394 regional (burkina Climate, Water, and Agri- mF mSP Wb Governments, 0.7 0.54 Faso, Cameroon, culture: Impacts on and research egypt, ethiopia, Adaptation of Agroeco- institutions, Ghana, Kenya, logical Systems in Africa NGos Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe) 2020 regional (Chad, Formulation of an Action IW mSP UNDP International 1 6.951 egypt, Libya, Programme for the Inte- Atomic Sudan) grated management of the energy Shared Nubian Aquifer Agency 2261 Global building Partnerships to IW FSP UNDP International 6.388 17.702 Assist Developing Coun- maritime tries to reduce the Transfer organization of Harmful Aquatic organ- isms in Ships' ballast Water (Globallast Partnerships) 2584 regional Nile Transboundary envi- IW FSP UNDP NbI Secre- 6.7 71.99 (burundi, ronmental Action Project, tariat with Congo Dr, Phase II support by egypt, ethiopia, UNoPS Kenya, rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda) 2824 National Support the Implemen- bD mSP UNeP eeAA 0.908 1.389 tation of the National biosafety Framework 130 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) PDF/ GEF Co- PPG grant financing Focal Modal- Executing GEF ID Scope Project name area ity IA agency Million $ 3190 National mainstreaming Global mF mSP UNDP eeAA 0.5 0.812 environment in National Plans and Policies by Strengthening the moni- toring and reporting Sys- tem for multilateral envi- ronmental Agreements 3321 regional mainstreaming Ground- IW mSP UNDP International 1 2.891 (burundi, Congo, water Considerations into Atomic egypt, ethiopia, the Integrated manage- energy Kenya, rwanda, ment of the Nile river Agency Sudan, Tanzania, basin Uganda) Pipelinea 1685 Global Fuel Cells Financing CC FSP Wb International 6.575 9 Initiative for Distributed Finance Generation Applications Corporation (Phase 1) 2546 regional (Sudan, Demonstration of Sustain- PoPs FSP UNeP WHo 5.563 8.416 morocco, Yemen, able Alternatives to DDT regional Djibouti, egypt, and Strengthening of office for Syria, Jordan, National vector Control eastern medi- Iran) Capabilities in middle east terranean; and North Africa ministries of health of participating countries 2600 regional Strategic Partnership for mF FSP UNeP UNeP/mAP 13.591 29.607 (Albania, bosnia- the mediterranean Large FAo, UNeSCo, Herzegovina, marine ecosystem-- UNIDo, Croatia, egypt, regional Component: ICS-UNIDo, Lebanon, Libya, Implementation of Agreed meTAP/Wb/ morocco, Serbia, Actions for the Protec- WWF Syria, Tunisia, tion of the environmental Turkey, Algeria) resources of the mediter- ranean Sea and Its Coastal Areas 2601 regional World bank­GeF mF FSP Wb UNeP/mAP 10 90 (Albania, Algeria, Investment Fund for bosnia-Herze- the mediterranean Sea govina, bulgaria, Large marine ecosystem Croatia, egypt, Partnership, Tranche 1, 1st Lebanon, Libya, Allocation macedonia, morocco, Serbia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey) 2776 National Sustainable Transport CC FSP UNDP eeAA 7.175 28.57 2865 regional (egypt, Promotion of Strategies PoPs mSP UNIDo PerSGA 1 1.095 Jordan, Yemen) to reduce Unintentional Production of PoPs in the PerSGA region 3209 National Strengthening Protected bD FSP UNDP eeAA 3.616 13.8 Area Financing and man- agement Systems Annex C. GEF Portfolio in Egypt, 1991­2008 131 PDF/ GEF Co- PPG grant financing Focal Modal- Executing GEF ID Scope Project name area ity IA agency Million $ 3229 regional (Albania, World bank­GeF IW FSP Wb UNeP/mAP- 15 45 Algeria, bosnia- Investment Fund for FAo, UNeSCo, Herzegovina, the mediterranean Sea UNIDo, bulgaria, Croatia, Large marine ecosystem ICS-UNIDo, egypt, macedo- Partnership, Tranche 1, 2nd meTAP/Wb, nia, Lebanon, Installment WWF Libya, morocco, Serbia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey) 3242 National Adaptation to Climate CC FSP UNDP mWrI, Coastal 4 12 Change in the Nile Delta research Insti- through Integrated Coastal tute, egyptian Zone management Shore Protec- tion Authority 3398 regional SIP-eastern Nile Trans- mF FSP Wb 8.7 62.3 (ethiopia, Sudan, boundary Watershed egypt) management in Support of eNSAP Implementation 3628 regional (Algeria, meNArID Cross-Cutting LD mSP IFAD 0.727 1.6 egypt, Iran, m&e Functions and Knowl- Jordan, morocco, edge management for Tunisia, Yemen) INrm within the meNArID Programme Framework Prepipelinea 2602 National Alexandria Integrated IW FSP Wb 0.35 0.12 Coastal Zone management Project--under Investment Fund for the mediterranean Sea Large marine ecosys- tem Partnership 3742 National Industrial energy efficiency CC FSP UNIDo 0.1 0.15 Canceled 926 National Fuel Cell bus Demonstra- CC FSP UNDP eeAA, Great 6.51 7.088 tion Project in Cairo, Cairo bus Phase I Company 1213 National Second matrouh resource mF FSP Wb ministry of 5.12 50.55 management Project Agriculture and Land reclamation Dropped 1076 National Private Sector Wind Power CC FSP Wb New and 15.35 65 Development renew- able energy Authority 1504 National Conservation of biodi- bD mSP UNDP eeAA 0.025 0.02 versity and ecosystem management in a Sample of representative Islands of the Nile valley of egypt Note: -- = not available or unknown; bD = biodiversity; CC = climate change; eA = enabling activity; IA = Implementing Agency; IW = interna- tional waters; LD = land degradation: mF = multifocal; PPG = project preparation grant; TbD = to be determined; UNoPS = United Nations office for Project Services; Wb = World bank. a. Pipeline projects refer to projects that have entered the GeF cycle. Prepipeline projects are those that have been assigned a GeF ID number, but are still under preparation and awaiting approval. 132 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Annex D. Interviewees Mawaheb Abu El Azm, Chief Executive Officer, Somaya Saad, Deputy Assistant Minister, Department EEAA, GEF Operational Focal Point of Environment and Sustainability, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Focal Point Yasmine Fouad, GEF Unit Director, EEAA Mohamed Nasr, Office of Deputy Assistant Hoda Omar El Chawadfy, GEF Unit, EEAA Minister for Environmental Affairs and Sustainable Ossama Abd Elsalam, Head of International Affairs Development Department, EEAA Amr Essam, Diplomatic Attaché, Ministry of Foreign Mostafa Fouda, Director of Nature Conservation Affairs Sector, EEAA, Focal Point for the CBD Yasser Ali Ragab, Counselor, Ministry of Foreign Mona El Aguizy, International Cooperation, EEAA Affairs Mostafa Kamal Tolba, Chair of the GEF National Emad Adly, Senior National Coordinator, SGP Steering Committee Doha Abdelhamid, Senior Advisor to the Minister Baha Mansour, Climate Change Unit, EEAA, Manager President of the CAOA for Civil Services Policy of the Second National Communication to UNFCCC Reforms and International Relations, Resident Samir Tantawi, Climate Change Specialist, Egyptian Representative of IDEAS Bureau for CDM, Climate Change Unit, EEAA Naoufel Telahigue, Program Officer, IFAD Ismail M. El-Bagouri, Desert Research Center, Frank Moser, Industrial Development Officer­POPs, Ministry of Agriculture UNIDO Mohamed Bayoumi, Environmental Specialist and Kuena Morebotsane, Associate Professional Officer, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP GEF, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Emad El-Sharkawi, General Manager, PGESCo, Nations Ministry of Electricity and Energy Virginie Hart, Task Manager, International Waters, Asem Elgawhary, CEO, PGESCo, Ministry of GEF, UNEP Electricity and Energy Mirey Atallah-Auge, Regional Technical Officer, Ibrahim Yassin Mahamoud, Technical Project UNDP Director, EEIGGR Dahlia Lotayef, Senior Environmental Specialist, Bothaina Abd El Moneam, General Director of Middle East and North Africa, World Bank Environmental Studies, Egyptian Electrical Holding Ossama El-Tayeb, Scientific Advisor, member Company of the National Biosafety Committee, Chairman Sidi Boubacar, Lead Operations Officer, Deputy Head of Ministerial Drafting Committee, Center for of Office, World Bank Microbiological Technology, Cairo University 133 Mohamed Qassass, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mohamed Abbas Mabrouk, Acting President, Desert Science, University of Cairo Research Center Mohamed Al Bayoumy, Environment Specialist, Ahmed Wagdi, Associate Professor of Hydraulics, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP Irrigation and Hydraulics Department, Cairo University Mohamed Fawzi, Director, Crisis and Disaster Management Sector, Egyptian Cabinet, Information Mohamed A. Fawzi, Director, Crisis and Disaster and Decision Support Center Management Sector, Egyptian Cabinet, Information and Decision Support Center Diaa El Din El Quossy, Project Manager for Lake Sayed Mohamed Madian, General Manager, Regional Manzala Engineered Wetlands Branch Office, EEAA, Hurghada Mohamed El Zarka, Former Head of Environmental Mohamed Abdel Gawad Ali, General Manager Quality Sector, EEAA for Environmental Management Unit, Red Sea Essam El Badry, Nature Conservation Sector, Advisor Governorate, Hurghada on Biodiversity to Minister of Environment, EEAA Kahlan Abu Ghanem, Deputy Director, Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre, Hurghada Mohamed Hassanein, Head of the Tourism Development Authority, Ministry of Tourism Ihab Taher, Branch Manager, Chamber of Diving and Water Sports Mohamed Abbas Mabrouk, Acting President of the Desert Research Center, Focal Point for the UN Omar Abdel Dayem, Project Manager, Medicinal Convention on Combating Desertification Plants Project, St. Katherine Amina El Zalabany, R&D Technical Senior Ayman Hamada, responsible for Community-Based Consultant, New and Renewable Energy Authority Natural Resources Management, Medicinal Plants Project, St. Katherine Khaled Fekry, R&D Sector Director, New and Ahmed Mohamed Zoromba, Research Assistant, Renewable Energy Authority Mechanical and Electrical Research Institute, National Bente Schiller, Development Counselor Water Research Council, MWRI (Environment), Danish International Development Mostafa Sedik Nasr El-Komy, Assistant Researcher, Agency, Royal Danish Embassy Drainage Research Institute, National Water Research Mahmoud Khamis, Professor at Oceanography, Council, MWRI Faculty of Science, Alexandria University Ayman Abdeen, Fisheries Consultant, National Water Mohamed Fawzy Bakry, Drainage Research Institute, Research Center National Water Research Council, MWRI Ithar Khalil, National Project Coordinator, NBI-NTEAP Ashraf El Sayed Ismail, Drainage Research Institute, National Water Research Council, MWRI Ahmed Mansour, Trader Ghada El Refaie, Drainage Research Institute, National Sheikh Moussa, Bedouin Tribe Leader, Medicinal Water Research Council, MWRI Plants Project, St. Katherine 134 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Annex E. Sites Visited Energy Efficiency Improvements and Greenhouse Gas Red Sea Coastal and Marine Resource Management Reductions (GEF ID 267), Ministry of Electricity and (GEF ID 66), Hurghada, Red Sea; February 1, 2009 Energy, Cairo; January 28, 2009 Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants Solar Thermal Hybrid Project (GEF ID 1040), New in Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems (GEF ID 776), and Renewable Energy Authority St. Catherine, Sinai; February 2, 2009 Lake Manzala Engineered Wetlands (GEF ID 395), Developing Renewable Groundwater Resources in Lake Manzala, Port Said; February 3, 2009 Arid Lands: A Pilot Case--the Eastern Desert of Egypt (GEF ID 985), Cairo University; January 29, 2009 135 Annex F. Workshop Participants The following people participated in the consultation Mohamed Ahmed Ghanem, MWRI workshop held March 10, 2009, at the Marriott Hotel, Sami El Ghayaty, Friends of Nature Association Cairo. Nadine Abu El Gheit, UNDP Emad Adly, SGP Magda Ghoneim, North South Consultancy Exchange Ghada Gameel El Adui, MWRI, Drainage Research Institute Fatma El Gohary, National Research Center Ezzat Abdel Hamid, EEAA Mohamed Afifi, Desert Research Center Mohamed Hassanein, Ministry of Tourism Mona El Agizy, EEAA Malak Hayder, FAO Mirey Atallah, Regional Technical Officer, UNDP Ahmed Hossam, University of Alexandria Heba Yaken Atef, MWRI Ahmed Kamal, Federation of Egyptian Industries Mohamed Awadallah, Egyptian Electricity Holding Company Dalia Lotayef, World Bank Mawaheb Abouel Azm, EEAA Bahaa Mahmoud, EEAA Ismail El Bagouri, Desert Research Center Javier Menendez, European Commission Mohamed El Banna, Day Hospital Institute for Amany Nakhla, UNDP Development and Rehabilitation Mohamed Nasr, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Bayoumi, UNDP Elham Refaat, EEAA Adli Bishay, Friends of the Environment & Hussein Rizk, New and Renewable Energy Authority Development Association Somaya Saad, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hoda Omar El Chawadfy, GEF Unit, EEAA Elsayed Sabry, EEAA Omar Abdel Dayem, EEAA Moheeb Abdel Sattar, EEAA Mohamed Elmasry, FAO Ahmed Shehata, Nature Conservation Sector, EEAA Riham Elmikawi, EEAA Samir Tantawi, EEAA Mohamed Fathy, UNDP Heba Wafa, UNDP Mohamed Fawzi, Egyptian Cabinet, Information and Decision Support Center Amina El Zalabany, New and Renewable Energy Authority Shahenaz Fouad, UNIDO Mohamed El Zarka, World Bank Yasmine Fouad, GEF Unit, EEAA Khaled Mahmoud Abu Zeid, Center for Environment Mahdia Farid Gabr, Desert Research Center and Development for the Arab Region and Europe 136 Annex G. Framework for Analysis of Results and Summary of Project Results Table G.1 Framework for Analysis of Results Focal area Expected impacts Expected outcomes biodiver- biodiversity resources are conserved or y on-site and sustainable biodiversity conservation in protected sity sustainably used, or genetic resources are areas (catalyzing sustainability of systems) shared y on-site and sustainable biodiversity conservation in production landscapes (and seascapes): mainstreaming y Implementation of Cartagena Protocol on biosafety and improved invasive alien species management y Knowledge generation, dissemination, and good practices Climate reduction or avoidance of GHGs in renew- y energy efficiency (residential and commercial buildings and indus- change able energy, energy efficiency, and sustain- try sector) through market penetration and technologies able transport y Growth in renewable energy markets y Sustainable energy production of biomass y Innovative sustainable public transport systems promoted, created, and adopted Interna- Fish stock increased, land pollution reduced, y Fostering international, multistate cooperation on priority tional water uses are complementary water concerns (political commitment to improve multicountry waters cooperation) y Catalyzing transboundary action: overexploitation of fish stocks, reduce land-based coastal pollution, balance competing water uses, melting of ice in high altitudes y balancing overuse and conflicting uses of water resources in sur- face and groundwater basins that are transboundary in nature Land Control the increasing severity and extent of y Sustainable land management is integrated into national develop- degra- land degradation in order to derive global ment priorities dation environmental benefits y Strengthen human, technical, and institutional capacities y Global environment and local benefits generated y Synergies among focal areas y Themes: agriculture, rangeland, forest PoPs reduce and eliminate production, use, and y Strengthening capacity for NIP development and implementation release of PoPs y Investments for NIP implementation y Knowledge generation, dissemination, and good practices multi- Framework based on each project's own objectives focal 137 Table G.2 Summary of Project Results by Focal Area Biodiversity Biodiversity resources are conserved or sustainably used, or genetic resources are shared Project: red Sea Coastal and marine resource management (GeF ID 66) Expected impact: Protect biodiversity and develop practical solutions for the management of protected areas and marine recreational resources and conservation of biodiversity. Achievements: The project suggested Wadi Gemal become a protected area, which was approved by the government in 2003. The project has strengthened environmental impact assessment capabilities and provided coastal zone management knowledge within the Tourism Development Authority, the eeAA, and the red Sea Governorate. The coral sites in Soma bay were, at the time of the terminal evaluation, adequately protected. Protected area fees are also collected for snorkelers and divers going to the islands outside Hurghada. However, no conservation efforts have been seen in these areas in the past 10 years. Project: Conservation of Wetland and Coastal ecosystems in the mediterranean region (GeF ID 410) Expected impact: The project document only refers to achieving on-site protection of globally significant biodiversity in the project sites. Achievements: Lake burullus: The recording of the marine mullet Liza aurata, which had disappeared during the last decade due to the fresh- ening of the lake water. omayed: Increase in cover of Colchicum ritchii (a medicinal plant), which indicates that its use has been decreased, as bedouins are busy in alternative livelihoods. Zaranik: only a single corncrake was recorded during the survey in 2000, while 233 were recorded during the same period in 2004; 19 birds of the greater flamingo were recorded in 2000, while 926 were recorded in 2004. A reed cropping activity resulted in improved ecological balance by reintroducing saltwater into the lake, as well as an increase of areas available for fishing. other activities implied reduction in existing threats, measured by a decrease in the number of violations in bird hunting and grazing, and banning the use of insecticides. Project: Conservation and Sustainable Use of medicinal Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid ecosystems (GeF ID 776) Expected impact: enhancement of global biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in the target site; local community capacity will be enhanced in dealing with conservation, sustainable management and production, and marketing of medicinal plant resources; existing insti- tutions will be able to manage medicinal plants and natural resources, conserve biodiversity, and promote sustainable development. Achievements: There are currently four rehabilitation sites, which are reestablishing 14 globally significant medicinal and aromatic plants; 73 medicinal plants have been safeguarded by storing them in the national gene bank and living collection available at the project greenhouses and rehabilitation sites. more than 800 accessions for globally significant medicinal and aromatic plants were collected by the project team. On-site and sustainable biodiversity conservation in protected areas (catalyzing sustainability of systems) Project: red Sea Coastal and marine resource management (GeF ID 66) Expected impact: No expected outcomes were discussed in the implementation completion report. According to the project document, the project would make a significant contribution to global achievements in protecting coral reefs, endemic island wildlife, and diverse marine environments. The project aims to assist interagency coordination and the joint management of a plan by public and private sector parties. This plan would allocate resources and promote polices that support sustainable economic development and income generation from tour- ism, oil, fishing, and nature conservation. Achievements: environmental legislation now requires full environmental impact assessments for tourism development projects. Several pol- icies, plans, and strategies were prepared, most notably the ICZm Plan, the reef recreation management Action Plan, and the red Sea Coastal and marine Protected Area Strategy, which identifies protected areas and provides recommendations on protection of coastal and marine resources. The executing agencies (the eeAA, the Tourism Development Authority, and the red Sea Governorate) have received extensive training and additional resources, with an environmental unit established in the Tourism Development Authority. Investors' environmental group and NGos are active. A geographic information system database was compiled and is operational and accessible to government agen- cies, investors, and donors. Two buildings were constructed, the eeAA regional branch office in Hurghada and a visitor's center in Port Ghalib. Project: Conservation of Wetland and Coastal ecosystems in the mediterranean region (GeF ID 410) Expected impact: National policies and tools to address policy-related root causes of the loss of wetland and coastal biodiversity and capac- ity are being developed; important biodiversity sites are managed for biodiversity conservation and protected, including related capacity building and sustainability; at important biodiversity sites and surrounding areas, biodiversity conservation is adequately integrated into local economic and political decision making; the mediterranean circle is closed: knowledge has been transferred and sustainable knowledge- sharing mechanisms are effective. Achievements: based on the recommendation of the project, one protected area (burullus) was established and delineated by prime ministe- rial decree. A Wetland Strategy, database, and National Wetlands Steering Committee were established. A management planning technical working group was established, which produced management plans for the three sites. Local advisory committees, comprising all relevant stakeholders and chaired by the governors, were designated and obtained legal status. basic socioeconomic data were collected, several field activities were undertaken aiming at socioeconomic development, and investments were made in pro-biodiversity actions by concerned ministries. very little international and regional expertise was used by the project, and egypt contributed to a limited extent to regional knowl- edge sharing. 138 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Project: Conservation and Sustainable Use of medicinal Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid ecosystems (GeF ID 776) Expected impact: Conservation management of St. Katherine's Protectorate resources strengthened; medicinal and aromatic plant products' market value chain strengthened and sustained; pressure on target resources reduced by alternatives; medicinal and aromatic plant conserva- tion and management enabling environment strengthened; learning, evaluation, and adaptive management increased. Achievements: The project established a functional community-based natural resource management area in Gebalya tribe tenure areas, and the community-based natural resource management unit established consists of a task force of national and international expertise in full cooperation with Gebalya tribe leaders. Four rehabilitation sites are currently available in the rehabilitation and restoration program, and medicinal plants have been collected and stored in the national gene bank. Local awareness has been increased through the local community having participated in a number of workshops and trainings related to the medicinal and aromatic plant issues. Linkages and collaboration of essential stakeholders--including producers, collectors, retailers, researchers, and exporters--in the value chain was strengthened. 40% of the harvested plants is being stored according to international standards. marketing plan for medicinal and aromatic plant association was designed and is being implemented. 100% of cultivated area is managed by local community members. Four alternative resources were introduced, including medicinal and aromatic plant farms, solar heaters, firewood outlets, and butane cookers. The final draft of the National medicinal and Aromatic Plant Strategy and Action Plan has been prepared. Final version of the law for managing access to and from and obtaining natural resources and the corresponding intellectual heritage was prepared by the access and benefit-sharing committee. Incorporation of a monitoring system (including indicators) into St. Katherine's Protectorate management practices. Web site and database established in 2006 and currently updated. Knowledge generation, dissemination, and good practices Project: 2428 biosafety Framework Expected impact: egypt has a fully functional and responsive regulatory regime in line with the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety and national needs; egypt has a functional national system for handling requests for permits for living modified organisms harmonized by international standards and obligations under the protocol; egypt has a functional national system for follow-up actions and a functional national system for public awareness, education, participation, and access to information. Achievements: The biosafety law has not yet been approved by the government, but executive directive regulations are being formulated. National competence on risk assessment and handling of requests has been enhanced by convening workshops with international experts. Procedures for monitoring environmental effects and enforcement actions are not in place, but the project is currently attempting to locate a research laboratory. The project has to date focused on raising awareness about the biosafety law and its implementation among decision makers and policy makers, while deciding not to involve the public until the biosafety law has been passed, given the sensitivity of the geneti- cally modified organism issue in egypt. Project: Strengthening Protected Area Financing and management Systems (GeF ID 3209) Expected impact: Strengthened legal, institutional, and regulatory frameworks for the protected areas in egypt; establishment of partner- ships with the private sector and civil society organizations to consolidate efforts around the conservation of protected areas. The project has obtained a project preparation grant and is currently carrying out preparatory activities focusing on the assessment of egypt's protected area system. Project: mainstreaming Conservation of migratory Soaring birds into Key Productive Sectors along the rift valley/red Sea Flyway (GeF ID 1028) Expected impact: raised awareness of the flyway and altered social and cultural behaviors among target groups that threaten the migratory soaring birds; increased national and regional capacity to mainstream migratory soaring bird considerations into the productive sectors along the flyway that pose the greatest risk to their safe migration, primarily hunting, energy, agriculture, and waste management, while promoting activities in sectors that could benefit from these birds, such as ecotourism; content and tools to enhance flyway-friendly practice developed, delivered, and mainstreamed effectively into sector processes and programs; learning, evaluation, and adaptive management increased. This project started implementation in early 2009. Project: First National report to the CbD and Preparation of National biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (GeF ID 154) Achievements: First National report to the CbD prepared and submitted; National biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan prepared. Project: Clearing-House mechanism (GeF ID 428) Achievements: egypt's biodiversity Clearing-House mechanism developed and launched. A report, "Capacity-building Needs in biodiversity Conservation in egypt," prepared and published. Project: Assessment of Capacity-building Needs in Country-Specific Priorities in biodiversity management and Conservation in egypt (GeF ID 2157) Achievements: Information on the outcomes of this enabling activity has not been found. Some indications exist that it contributed to the preparation of the above-mentioned report on capacity-building needs. Annex G. Summary of Project Results 139 Climate change Reduction or avoidance of GHG in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable transport Project: 31 Introduction of viable electric and Hybrid-electric bus Technology Operational Program: 11 relating to promoting environmentally sustainable transport, and within the GeF Strategic Priority CC-6 ­ modal Shifts in Urban Transport and Clean vehicle/Fuel Technologies Expected impact: Annual Co2 reduction of electric buses in comparison with the baseline of having diesel-fueled buses only. Achievements: y 127.75 tons per year of Co2 reduction were reported by the electric bus project for replacing diesel buses by two demonstration electric buses. emission reduction of using an electric bus in comparison with a diesel bus is about 1.75 kg Co2 per kilometer traveled. y A positive indicator of the market transformation that has been achieved is evidenced by the influence that the Hybrid-electric bus project had on the Supreme Council of Antiquities in requesting to limit the access to relevant historic sites to electric buses, which has made a local bus manufacturer currently investigating bus assembly in egypt. However, the project has not yet resulted in any significant follow-up activ- ity by the government to expand the electric buses fleet in egypt. y The project has been a successful pilot project and the electric buses are fully operational at Luxor Temple. National car manufacturers are working on initiating local production of electric buses to satisfy the demand of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. The project has devel- oped the basis for launching the next phase, including: configuration of buses and routes for the next demonstration phase; elaborating the additional needs for institutional strengthening and capacity building; and evaluating and addressing the economic, environmental and social aspects of the project. However, this phase has yet to materialize. y The project has not yet led to any significant follow-up activity to expand the electric buses fleet in egypt. one reason is the fundamental change in GeF funding priorities for sustainable transport, shifting from technology-oriented to a more planning-oriented focus. Project: 267 energy efficiency Improvement and Greenhouse Gas reduction Project Operational Program: 5 relating to removing barriers to energy conservation and efficiency Expected impact: Target of 11.7 million tons Co2 reduction upon project completion. Achievements: y A cumulative Co2 reduction of 16.8 million tons resulted from energy efficiency market support since the eeIGGr project start in 1999 until 2007. This is a combination of 11.87 million tons of Co2 reduction from the reduced transmission network losses (the project has reduced transmission losses from 7% to 3.5%, which is more than the target reduction of 5% by the year 2010) and 4.9 million tons of Co2 reduction from the compact fluorescent lamp program. The project did not reach the target of 11.7 million tons Co2 reduction upon project comple- tion, but met and exceeded this target during the project extension period. y energy efficiency standards and labels have been put in place for major appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, electric water heaters, electronic ballasts and compact fluorescent lamps, where eeIGGr has encouraged local manufactur- ers to produce energy efficiency products. A ministerial decree was issued in 2002-2003 for the enforcement of the standards and labelling program for the refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and air conditioners, and in 2008 for the compact fluorescent lamps and electronic ballasts. The standards are upgraded every two years, and this has already taken place for refrigerators and washing machines. A significant achievement of the project is that the ministerial decrees now make it compulsory for local manufacturers and importers to abide by the specifications and label their products with their energy consumption information. y energy efficiency market support was achieved by conducting 193 audits and recommendations of 20 audits implemented, replication of a compact fluorescent lamps leasing program at Cairo and Canal Distribution Companies; and promotion and diffusion of compact fluorescent lamps, with active participation of the private sector. The market has increased by more than 20 times since the inception of the eeIGGr, which has encouraged local manufacturers to produce and assemble compact fluorescent lamps, which, in turn, has further reduced prices. y The project contributed to the establishment of a reference energy efficiency Testing Lab located at the New and renewable energy Author- ity for refrigerators and washing machines. Lighting systems and air conditioners testing labs are under construction. y The project has succeeded in leveraging US$ 300,000 additional funds from UNDP internal funds to establish energy efficiency testing labo- ratories at the New and renewable energy Authority for the above three appliances. y The energy efficiency building construction codes for new residential, commercial and administrative buildings have been completed, although the issuance of a ministerial decree for its enforcement is still pending. Preparation of the Arabic version for commercial build- ings energy efficiency code has been carried out, and the participation of more than 10 NGos in promotion energy efficiency through the partnership with the GeF SGP has been catalyzed. y The expansion of business and supporting services for energy efficiency has been expanded to nine eSCos to provide advice in energy efficiency and financing. The eSCos have different expertise in utilities, equipment supply, electro-mechanical contracting and consulting. 140 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Energy efficiency (residential & commercial buildings; industry sector) through market penetration and technologies Project: 31 Introduction of viable electric and Hybrid-electric bus Technology Expected impact: enhanced experience on electric buses by building on the monitoring of the operation of the two test vehicles; enhanced capacity of the transportation authority managers and the maintenance and operation personnel to participate in the program; Phase 1a has facilitated a first experience with employing electric buses in egypt and has provided useful insights in the acquisition, operation and mainte- nance issues involved; creation of the basis for the launching of the next phase Achievements: Supreme Council of Antiquities is running the two test buses (In 2003, it was decided to employ the two buses to transport tourist to and fro the periphery of the Hatshepsut Temple in the Deir al-bahri area in Luxor); ownership transferred in 2003 with maintenance contract with AFICo until 2006. Two egyptian engineers are now fully trained and currently performing the regular maintenance of the buses. The two years regular maintenance by the supplier via egyptian engineers at local counterpart which was part of the original contract is now completed. Impact studies finalised and presented in final report, but the other activities have been shelved, as the plan for a joint GeF/egyp- tian phase 1b have been discontinued due to changing GeF priorities. one reason is the fundamental change in GeF funding priorities for sustainable transport, shifting from technology-oriented to a more planning-oriented focus. Project: 267 energy efficiency Improvement and Greenhouse Gas reduction Project Expected impact: To assist egypt in reducing the long-term growth of GHG emissions from electric power generation and from consumption of nonrenewable fuel resources. y To improve capability of UPS operations department for transmission network loss reduction measurements to reduce transmission losses from 7% to 5% by 2010; y To measure dynamic response of thermal stations and set priorities for dynamic response improvement; y To enhance network loss reduction through network analysis and control strategies; y To develop, seek approval for and notify a time of use tariff for eeHC customers to encourage load shifting from peak to off peak periods; y To facilitate a 3.8% reduction in electricity demand (compared to current level) by 2010, through fostering continuous growth of egypt's energy services industry and removing key barriers that impair energy efficiency industry; y To develop energy efficiency standards and labelling for at least two classes of major energy consuming equipment and implemented prior to the end of the project by one or more organizations; y To develop and apply a voluntary code of practice for energy efficient design in newly constructed residential and commercial buildings. Nonrenewable energy use in new residential and commercial buildings covered by the code will be reduced by an estimated 20%; y To establish an energy efficiency center to promote increased awareness of and strategic awareness of and strategic action on energy efficiency issues, with the eeA, and among energy service providers, equipment manufacturers, other energy industry professionals, and energy users; y establish a small power group within eeHC; y establish safety and interconnection requirements for parallel grid connections with small producers; y Create an infrastructure for eeHC to purchase electricity from small producers; y establish and develop materials for a customer (small producers) training program; y Develop industrial cogeneration and biomass agricultural waste projects for small power production Achievements: y The project's efforts to reduce network transmission losses, load management and load shifting have resulted in a reduction of transmis- sion losses from 6.7 per cent in 1999 to 3.68 per cent at the end of 2005. This is a saving of 0.186 million tons of Co2 and far in advance of the project goal which sought to reduce losses to 5 per cent by 2010. y An energy efficiency Information centre has been established. NGos have become involved in energy efficiency activities and awareness campaigns. eeIGGr's awareness programme is targeted toward providing households with information on lighting, home appliances and building materials; industrial premises with information on energy efficient technologies and control systems, and targeting the commer- cial sector ­ particularly office buildings, hotels, hospitals and schools ­ with information on energy saving and the use of appliances and equipment. y Field surveys were conducted at five industrial companies to investigate the potential for load shifting and a new Time of Use tariff option was developed. A cogeneration guidebook was prepared and a cogeneration tariff developed. y Several demonstration projects on efficient lighting systems have been conducted. A techno-economic study on the feasibility of replacing incandescent streetlights with efficient compact fluorescent lamps was prepared for the ministry of electricity. y eeIGGr's energy audit programme included 200 audits made for government buildings, commercial and industrial establishments between 1999 and 2003. A code for energy-efficient residential and commercial buildings has been drafted (is this the same code as above? ­ if differ- ent it should be specified and then put under a legislation heading).\ y An energy efficiency Testing Laboratory has been established by the ministry of electricity and energy to verify their claims. y Training sessions on energy efficiency have been held for manufacturers of home appliances. y The project has trained engineers in calibration and in measurement. engineers have also been trained in cogeneration, digital meters and in demand side management. Annex G. Summary of Project Results 141 Achievements (continued) y eeIGGr has established eight eSCos to provide advice in energy efficiency and financing. The eSCos have different expertise ­ one in utili- ties, two in equipment supply, two in electro-mechanical contracting and three in consulting. Capacity building has been provided to the eSCos through training on energy auditing, energy efficient technologies, economic and feasibility project evaluation, risk evaluation and financing. eeIGGr has also developed a project sales process for the eSCos which cover both private and public sectors. y After the audit programme in 2004 eeIGGr reformed its support to eSCos by substituting a supplier-based credit model, instead of a performance-based model; developing simplified contracts which include measures for performance guarantee and savings verification; and concentrates on those energy efficiency technologies which have low technical risks and attractive payback periods, such as power factor improvement, high efficiency lighting, energy management systems and combustion improvement ­ which includes switching to natural gas as well as combustion tune-ups. y eeIGGr has signed cooperation protocols with strategic customers including water and drainage companies, holding companies for natural gas and has supported exhibitions for energy efficient lighting. Currently three lighting programmes have been carried out ­a shopping mall, a chemical plant and street lighting; four power factor improvement projects in water treatment plants and the conversion of an indus- trial plant to natural gas are under way. (2006) y more than 10,000 compact fluorescent lights have been sold to companies. eeIGGr's target is to sell 50,000 units by mid-2006 and 150,000 by the end of the year. y eeIGGr prepared a feasibility studies for a cogeneration pilot project in various institutions, including a paper company and a hospital, before deciding on a tourist resort and diesel power plant. y The project provided technical advice to a project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency to manufacture compact fluorescent lamps in egypt. y High-efficiency lighting and energy management systems have been installed at the mWrI and at the Arab Academy for Science and tech- nology. Ten more energy efficiency projects are under way in administrative buildings belonging to five different electricity companies. y eeIGGr organized a workshop on `Consumer education and social marketing of appliance standards' in cooperation with the Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Programme (CLASP) in December 2003. y Legislation y The building codes of countries with similar climates to egypt were reviewed. An energy efficiency code for residential buildings has been finalized and a code for commercial building has been drafted. y energy-efficiency standard specifications have been set for three groups of electric appliances ­ fridges, washing machines and air condi- tioners. (Standards specifications for water heaters will follow.) A ministerial degree now makes it compulsory for local manufacturers and importers to abide by the specifications and label their products with their energy consumption information. y eeIGGr has issued an egyptian measurements and verification Protocol to verify energy savings in performance contracting. y The project prepared a draft energy efficiency law for egypt. Project: Industrial energy efficiency (GeF ID 3742) operating under SP#1: Promoting energy efficiency in residential and Commercial buildings Expected impact: Accelerated growth of the energy efficiency lighting market in egypt; a comprehensive standards and labels scheme for electric appliances developed and effectively implemented; additional financing leveraged for energy efficiency investments; sustaining the project results including the required monitoring and evaluation for adaptive management. The PIF approval has been received on December 16 2008 Growth in the renewable energy markets Project: 1040 Solar Thermal Hybrid Project Operational Program: 7 relating to reducing long term costs of low greenhouse gas-emitting technologies, and within the GeF Strategic Prior- ity CC-5 - Global market Aggregation and National Innovation for emerging Technologies Expected impact: The design, construction and initial operation of the proposed Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Plant include two sub- components: The solar portion of the power plant and the combined cycle portion. Capacity building to the New and renewable energy Authority through consulting services for construction management during the construction, testing and operation of the plant. environmen- tal and Social Impact management Achievements: expected: (a) the demonstration of operational viability of hybrid solar thermal power generation in egypt; (b) contribution to accelerated market penetration of large-scale backstop power generation technologies; and (c) reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from power generation. The carbon savings of the project are estimated at 149,975 tC over the 25-year lifetime of the plant. 142 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Innovative sustainable public transport systems are promoted, created & adopted Project: 2776 Sustainable Transport Operational Program: 11 which pertains to promoting environmentally sustainable transports, and within the GeF Strategic Priority CC-6 ­ modal Shifts in Urban Transport and Clean vehicle/Fuel Technologies Expected impact: To reduce the growth of the energy consumption and the related greenhouse gas emissions of the transport sector in egypt, while simultaneously mitigating the local environmental and other problems of increasing traffic such as deteriorated urban air quality and congestion. y The concept for new, high quality integrated public transport services for Cairo and its satellite cities to exert shift from private car use suc- cessfully introduced, and its replication initiated on the basis of public-private partnerships. y The modal share of nonmotorized transport in middle-size provincial cities increased or sustained. y Successful introduction of the Transport Demand management (TDm) concept with an objective to expand it toward more aggressive mea- sures over time to effectively discourage the use of private cars, when good quality public transport services are available. y Improved energy efficiency of freight transport y enhanced awareness and capacity and strengthened institutional basis to promote sustainable transport sector development during and after the project. The project was Ceo endorsed on July 15, 2008. Sustainable energy production of biomass Project: 1335 bioenergy for Sustainable rural Development Operational Program: 6 relating to promoting adoption of renewable energy by removing barriers and reducing costs, and within the GeF Strategic Priority CC-4 ­ Productive Uses of renewable energy) Expected impact: To facilitate and accelerate the market development for new bioenergy technologies (beT) in egypt, thereby promoting sustainable socio-economic development of the rural communities in egypt and reducing the negative global and local environmental impacts associated with the use of fossil fuels and the environmentally not sound management of the agricultural waste. y New business and financing models successfully introduced and tested by using appropriate technical solutions and demonstrating the possibility to construct and operate bioenergy systems on a cost recovery basis under a supportive and enabling policy and financing environment. y An enabling policy framework, effectively promoting rural bioenergy development adopted. y enhanced capacity of the local supply chain to market and deliver sustainable rural bioenergy products and services, including financing. y Institutionalization of the support provided by the project, including monitoring, learning, adaptive feedback and evaluation. Project has been Ceo endorsed on 14/07/2008. Expected achievements: Providing an alternative energy source to rural population producing costs savings compared to competing energy sources; economic costs savings at the national level and reduced dependency and expenditures on imported energy; reduced local pollution produced by conventional energy sources and reduced, uncontrolled burning or agricultural waste in the fields; the higher nutrient value of the effluent of the biogas digesters compared to the original animal manure, when used as a fertilizer and the associated possibilities for an additional revenue stream when selling this effluent;.health benefits associated with the killing of the pathogens and seeds during the diges- tion process; and general socioeconomic development of the rural communities (being a key element of egypt's Development Policy and Plan 2002/2017) and enhanced employment opportunities in manufacturing and providing the required services for bioenergy technologies and development of the country's Sme sector. Adaptation Project: 3242 Adaptation to Climate Change in the Nile Delta through Integrated Coastal Zone management (SCCF) Expected impact: To integrate the management of SLr risks into the development of egypt's Low elevation Coastal Zone (LeCZ) in the Nile Delta: (1) capacity to improve resilience of coastal settlements and development infrastructure is strengthened; (2) innovative and environ- mentally friendly adaptation measures enforced in the framework of Nile Delta ICZm; (3) monitoring and evaluation framework and knowl- edge management system in place. Project began implementation September 23, 2008. Project: 282 building Capacity for GHG Inventory and action Plans in response to UNFCCC Communications obligations (enabling Activity) Expected impact: Improve capacity in the country to comply with UNFCCC communication obligations and inventory requirements. Contrib- ute to the emergence of egyptian national approaches and responses to the UNFCCC. Achievements: A two-tiered institutional mechanism consisting of a policy-making interministerial committee and permanent technical secretariat in eeAA is created and strengthened that is able to coordinate the activities that are necessary to develop policy options related to climate change and comply with the provisions of the UNFCCC. A climate change policy dialogue process, among governmental and nongovernmental, academics, business, and grassroots sectors, has been created which has fostered understanding of climate change issues and linkages with sustainable development strategy. An inventory of GHG emissions and their removal by sinks, created and periodically updated following accepted international methodologies, such as those of the IPCC. Cost-effective policy options for mitigation or adaptation strategies developed. enhanced national capability created in the areas of climate change assessment, mitigation, and project development through programmes that strengthen existing institutions. Annex G. Summary of Project Results 143 Project: 827 Climate Change enabling Activity (Additional Financing for Capacity building in Priority Areas (enabling Activity) Expected impact: Needs identification and capacity building to absorb and address some of these needs that were identified as gaps within the first phase Achievements: Identification and submission of technology needs. Capacity building to assess technology needs, modalities to acquire and absorb them, design, evaluate and host projects . Capacity building for participation in systematic observation networks. Preparation of programs to address climate change (emission factors). International waters Fish stock increased, land pollution reduced, water uses are complementary Project: 395 Lake manzala engineered Wetlands Operational Program: 8 and 10 relating to water-body based programs, and contaminant-based programs Expected impact: To demonstrate cost effective methods for improving water quality entering Lake manzala and the mediterranean Sea and to facilitate the transfer of a low cost biotechnology (engineered wetlands) to egypt. expected impact: a fully operational, engineered wetlands treating 25,000 to 50,000 m3 per day of highly-polluted drain water. There will be a biomass harvesting and aquaculture facility operated by local employees and assisted by NGos. Achievements: reduced loads to Lake manzala and the mediterranean through operation of engineered wetlands by removal of 61% of biological oxygen Demand, 80% of Total Suspended Solids,15% of Total Phosphorous, 51% of Total Nitrogen, 97% of Total coliform. At least 3 bird species nesting/resident at the site, and fish growth rate improved by 50% due to the use of water with reduced boD. Project: 985 Developing renewable Groundwater resources in Arid Lands: A Pilot Case ­ the eastern Desert of egypt (GeF operational Program 9 relating to the International ecosystem and resource management) Expected impact: To develop a replicable model for demonstrating different approaches to integrate renewable groundwater resources of watersheds into national water budget in arid regions. Achievements: The project assisted the government in evaluating the existing groundwater extraction potential in the eastern desert. The project assessed the potential of water resources in areas where the farming communities that have been neglected for decades and could benefit the most from this project for alleviating their poverty. The project developed technical approach for groundwater water assessment in arid areas, where basic data are usually lacking or sporadic. Such procedures can be applied in other similar areas in egypt or outside. Participating states demonstrate the necessary ability to reduce over-exploitation of fish stocks, reduce land-based coastal pollution, & balance competing water uses in basins & report subsequent water-related improvements. Project: 2602 Alexandria Integrated Coastal Zone management Project - under Investment Fund for the mediterranean Sea Large marine ecosystem Partnership Expected impact: reduction of the pollution load reaching the hot spots el-mex bay and Alexandria through Lake mariout. Improved quality of the 6 million cubic meter/day of water pumped from the lake into the el-mex bay (by far the largest point source of pollution in the Alexandria area and a very significant point source at the regional level) will also have a positive impact on marine biodiversity. The GeF project would initially target sewage-related pollutants (boD, CoD, TSS, and nutrients) by enhancing primary treatment and use of beneficial microorganisms and engineered wetlands. This project is still in the pipeline. Fostering international, multi-state cooperation on priority water concerns (political commitment to improve multi-country cooperation) Project: 1094 Nile Transboundary environmental Action Project, Tranche 1 Expected impact: Institutional strengthening to facilitate regional cooperation; regional capacity building for transboundary environmental management; communications and knowledge management; Decision Support System (river basin model); macro and sectoral policies and the environment; community-level land, forest, and water conservation; enhanced basinwide capabilities and cooperation; improved under- standing of transboundary soil erosion; microgrant fund to support local-level land, forest and water conservation initiatives at transboundary sites; environmental education and awareness; enhanced public awareness and understanding of Nile transboundary environmental issues; enhanced networking among secondary schools for project-based learning; piloting enhanced networking among universities and other research institutions; wetlands and biodiversity conservation; enhanced regional cooperation and capacity for conservation and management of wetlands and their biodiversity is improved; understanding and awareness of the role of wetlands in supporting sustainable development is improved; management capacity of selected wetlands strengthened; water quality monitoring basinwide ; enhanced national capacities for water quality monitoring; ransboundary water quality awareness raising and information sharing Achievements: The institutions mandated to facilitate regional cooperation have been strengthened and a microgrants program has been managed and coordinated by the national coordinator of the SGP in community-level land and water conservation projects. environmental education and awareness has been implemented and a basinwide water quality monitoring has been established. y Increased regional cooperation in environmental and water management fields y Increased basinwide community action and cooperation in land and water management y basinwide networks of environmental and water professionals y Greater appreciation of river hydrology and more informed discussion of development paths y expanded information and knowledge base on land and water resources available to professionals and NGos y Greater awareness of the linkages between macro/sectoral policies and the environment y Greater awareness and increased capacity on transboundary water quality threats 144 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Project: 2584 Nile Transboundary environmental Action Project (NTeAP), Phase II Expected impact: regional and national institutions strengthened in addressing transboundary threats to Nile ecosystem resources. Improved capacity of Nile basin countries for integrated natural resources management across relevant GeF focal areas. enhanced environmental educa- tion and public awareness targeting Nile basin transboundary issues. enhanced conservation and management of Nile basin wetlands and their biodiversity through application of integrated water resource management approaches. Achievements: The expected outcomes of this phase include regional and national institutions strengthened in addressing transbound- ary threats to Nile ecosystem resources, improved capacity of Nile basin countries for integrated natural resources management across relevant GeF focal areas, enhanced environmental education and public awareness targeting Nile basin transboundary issues, and enhanced conservation and management of Nile basin wetlands and their biodiversity through application of integrated water resource management approaches. Reducing nutrient over-enrichment & oxygen depletion from land-based pollution of coastal waters in large marine ecosystems consistent with the Global Protocol for Action Project: 395 Lake manzala engineered Wetlands Operational Program: 8 and 10 relating to water-body based programs, and contaminant-based programs Expected impact: Capacity building for sustainable development in managing Lake manzala, including local and national participation. Dem- onstration of engineered wetlands technology as a low-cost and efficient method of treating large bodies of water in egypt and promoting a cleaner mediterranean Sea. Achievements: The project carried out capacity building for sustainable development in managing Lake manzala, including local and national participation. This was evidenced by 10 national researchers and trainees having been involved in the operation and management of the wetland, and 15 members of a multidisciplinary team of the national consulting firm including soil mechanics, hydraulics, water quality and treatment, structure, architecture, landscape, fish and plant experts having contributed to the design. Another team of national experts worked on designing the physical model of the facility on 2 acres of land. The second outcome was achieved by a successful demonstration of engineered wetlands technology as a low-cost, efficient method of treating large bodies of water in egypt and promoting a cleaner mediter- ranean Sea. Project: 3229 World bank-GeF Investment Fund for the mediterranean Sea Large marine ecosystem Partnership, Tranche 1, 2nd Instalment Expected impact: The expected outcomes of the partnership are more effective collaboration between international and domestic donors and financiers (including the non-GeF mediterranean countries and the european Union; SAP objectives mainstreamed into national policies; leveraged financing from different sources for multiple investments and policy measures that reduce pollution and preserve biodiversity in the mediterranean basin; successful investments replicated or scaled up above and beyond what was achieved by the Investment Fund and regional component; stress reduction achieved at the water-body level. The expected outcomes of the regional component are increased capacity of basin countries to implement policies and strategies that address SAP priorities; increased knowledge of countries and donors on most innovative projects/technologies that address regional priority objectives; replication strategy for scaling-up successful investments within and across countries fully developed; stress reduction measures monitored at water-body level; increased coordination of donors and governments programs addressing SAPs. The expected outcomes of the Investment Fund are transboundary pollution reduction and biodiversity conservation in priority hotspots and sensitive areas of the mediterranean Sea identified through the transboundary diagnostic analysis-SAP process are achieved; in-country replication of pollution reduction and biodiversity conservation investments is initiated; investments for pollution reduction and biodiversity conservation in selected countries are catalyzed; SAP implementation is addressed in World bank country dialogues; innovative, cost-effective investments in specific country contexts are promoted; measurable pollution reduction and biodiversity conservation in support of the SAP targets are achieved; knowledge sharing and cross-fertilization of project achievements among partners are facilitated. This project was approved by the Council on June 14, 2007 Annex G. Summary of Project Results 145 Balancing overuse & conflicting uses of water resources in surface & groundwater basins that are transboundary in nature Project: 985 Developing renewable Groundwater resources in Arid Lands: A Pilot Case ­ the eastern Desert of egypt Operational Program: 9 relating to the International ecosystem and resource management Expected impact: Develop a replicable integrated technique for evaluating the extent of renewable groundwater resources in arid lands, with the eastern Desert of egypt as test site. Sources, extent, and histories of groundwater in alluvial aquifers under investigation identified. rainfall patterns over eastern Desert predicted. Surface runoff model developed, and recharge to alluvial aquifers estimated. Groundwater flow model constructed and groundwater flow in the alluvial aquifers flooring one of the main valleys of the eastern Desert investigated. replicable model in neighboring middle eastern and Saharan countries produced, thus contributing to preservation of freshwater ecosystems in the region. Adverse ecological effects that could result from the exploitation of the investigated freshwater resources assessed. In-country and out-of- country scientific, technical, and research-oriented training and outreach activities on the assessment of alternative water resources provided. Achievements: Identified sources, extent, and histories of groundwater in alluvial aquifers under investigation, and rainfall patterns over east- ern Desert have been predicted. A surface runoff model has been developed, recharge to alluvial aquifers has been estimated, and ground- water flow model has been constructed. Groundwater flow in the alluvial aquifers flooring one of the main valleys of the eastern Desert was investigated, and a replicable model in neighboring middle eastern and Saharan countries was produced, which contributes to the preserva- tion of freshwater ecosystems in the region. Adverse ecological effects resulting from exploitation of the investigated freshwater resources have been assessed, and scientific, technical, and research-oriented training centering on the assessment of alternative water resources provided. The benefits of selecting, designing, and approaching research in a way to respond to policy and development concerns has been demonstrated. The project successfully linked research to development focused on a vital natural resource, groundwater. Numerous scientific papers documenting and ascertaining its demonstration role have been produced, and the project team has taken part in several regional and international events, besides actively seeking cooperation with other initiatives in dryland countries for the promotion and replication of the tools developed. The methodology has been applied in the case of the eastern Desert to produce the first-ever map for recommended locations for wells with high groundwater development potential. This map is being updated to incorporate new findings, and the final ver- sion and outputs will be endorsed by the mWrI as the main guide for future water development plans with the eastern Desert. Persistent organic pollutants Reduce and eliminate production, use, and release of POPs Project: 1497 enabling activities to facilitate early action on the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent organic Pollutants Operational Program:14 - Strategic Priorities: SP-1 Achievements: Strengthening national capacity activities to manage PoPs including strengthening existing regulatory controls and measures for the use of PoPs, avoidance of registration, use and accumulation of new chemicals with PoPs whose characteristics will ultimately lead to the reduction of release of PoPs. Strengthening capacity for NIP development and implementation Project: 1497 enabling activities to facilitate early action on the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent organic Pollutants Outcomes: Preliminary inventories of sources and emissions of PoPs listed in Annexes A and b to the convention were undertaken, action plan for the reduction of releases of unintentional by-products was developed; taking into account inventory of current and projected releases of PoPs chemicals, assessment of enforcement capacity and adequacy of laws and policies to meet the obligation of reduction of by-products under the convention. Strategies to meet these obligations were developed. Achievements: NIP developed and submitted to the Stockholm Convention Conference of the Parties. Multifocal Project: 2200 National Capacity Self-Assessment for environmental management Operational Program: eA - Strategic Priorities: Cb-2 Cross-Cutting Capacity building Achievements: The NCSA enabling activity had catalytic potential in terms of providing the basis for further project development. The NCSA emphasized that the weakness of the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting system is a main constraint hindering proper implementation of national and international environmental commitments, particularly the three rio conventions. Accordingly, the mSP for mainstreaming the global environment in national plans and policies was proposed to tackle capacity constraints in public participation, technology transfer and cooperation, financial mechanism, and legal enforcement in the three thematic areas. The NCSA identified priority capacity needs related to global environmental management in egypt in the areas of climate change, biodiversity, and land degradation. It examined barriers to effectively address these needs and explored synergies among and across these thematic areas. The national strategy and action plan for capacity development was formulated to address the identified capacity needs. Project: 3190 mainstreaming Global environment in National Plans and Policies by Strengthening the monitoring and reporting System for multilateral environmental Agreements Operational Program: Cb - Strategic Priorities: Cb-2 Cross-cutting Capacity building Likely achievements: An operational monitoring and information management system for multilateral environmental agreements enhanced at the policy, institutional, and individual levels comprising a database with an information management system to manage all data of global environmental issues, legislative, and regulatory changes developed for streamlining integrated monitoring and evaluation for global envi- ronmental management, strengthening the capacity of mSeA and other institutions for monitoring and evaluation through targeted training. Coordination mechanism developed for complying with reporting obligations. Funding scenarios for achieving monitoring, evaluation, and reporting in a sustainable manner. 146 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) Annex H. Small Grants Programme Projects SGP Grant Focal Project Start phase Project name ($) Grant recipient area status date Pilot building and Dissemination of biogas Technol- 29,698 basaisa Community Develop- CC S 1/94 ogy at bassaysa in Sharkia and bated el Arab in ment Association beni Seuf Pilot Surveying, recording, Planting, and Preserving 26,490 Natural Association for envi- bD S 2/94 medicinal Plants in North Sinai ronment Protection 2 Preparing the environmental NGo Community 46,370 egyptian environmental NGo mF S 5/99 for operational Phase II of GeF Small Grants Federation 1 multifocal Demonstration Projects 45,000 environment Conservation mF S 5/99 and Development Society 1 Hands-on Capacity building for NGos Partici- 40,000 Global environment mF S 1/99 pating in the GeF/SGP 2 Surveying, recording, and Planting of Wild 29,551 egyptian Youth Asso- bD T 11/00 Plants in the Desert of New valley ciation for environment and Development 2 renewable energy Technology Development 30,009 Society for Cultural CC S 11/00 Development 2 Protecting Sea Turtles 12,289 Friends of the environment bD S 11/00 Association in Alexandria 2 Upgrading and manufacturing of a Unit for 48,585 Association for the Protection CC S 11/00 Converting Agricultural Wastes into briquettes of the environment to be Used as Fuel 2 Upgrading Charcoal Kilns 30,539 egyptian Association for Com- CC S 11/00 prehensive Development 2 Technological Units Appropriate for the 29,023 el Gamaia el Khairia el engilia - CC S 11/00 environment Tayeba - minia 2 A model village Friendly with the environment 28,124 Community Care Association CC S 11/00 in Kom el Aghdar - magaga - minia 2 Disseminating Solar Heater Technology in 28,863 Community Development CC S 11/00 Sharkiya Governorate Association in basaisa 2 Technological Interventions for Protecting the 30,366 Friends of the ozone Associa- CC S 11/00 environment tion in minia 2 Sustainable Use of renewable energy 21,448 Family & environment Devel- CC S 11/00 opment Association in Qena 147 SGP Grant Focal Project Start phase Project name ($) Grant recipient area status date 2 Utilization of Clean, New, and renewable 24,633 Community Development CC S 11/00 energy through the Installation of Solar Water Association in Gezeiret el Sheir Heaters 2 Using Solar Heaters in New Urban Communi- 29,723 Community Development CC S 11/00 ties­Katamia City Association in Katamia City 2 Dissemination of Solar energy Technologies in 29,557 Institute for Cultural Affairs CC T 11/00 the villages of beni Suef 2 Global environment in egypt 43,530 International Center for envi- mF S 12/01 ronment and Development 2 record and Documentation of Indigenous 15,568 egyptian botanical Association bD T 12/02 Knowledge of the Use of Components of bio- logical Diversity 2 Improvement of energy efficiency 22,272 omer ebin el Khatab CC S 12/01 Association 2 Conservation of energy and the Improvement 19,530 Friends of ozone Association CC T 12/01 of Its efficiency 2 Improvement of energy efficiency 23,530 Friends of Nature Association CC S 12/01 2 Disseminating Solar Heater Technology in 23,530 General Central Association in CC S 12/01 mokattam mokattam 2 efficient Usage of energy 22,353 Friends of environment & CC S 12/01 Community Association in el Gharbia 2 Improvement of energy efficiency and reduc- 23,530 Civil Association for environ- CC S 12/01 tion of Its Consumption mental Protection in el Ari 2 Improvement of energy efficiency 23,530 environmental Protection CC S 12/01 Association, beni Seuf 2 Governing bird Hunting to Prevent Its random 11,111 environmental Protection bD S 3/02 Action Association in bier el Abd 2 Field research and Species Protection in egypt 22,222 egyptian british Association bD S 3/02 2 Improvement of energy efficiency and Preven- 23,530 renewable energy and the CC S 12/01 tion of the Green House environmental Protection Association 2 Conversion of Liquid Fuel to Gas 23,530 Local Community Develop- CC S 12/01 ment in Shobra el Khema 2 Studying the Urban Policies in Nile Island 17,778 Arab Center for Urban Studies bD S 3/02 Association 2 Coral reef Protection in the South of red Sea 26,665 environmental Promoters bD S 3/02 Association in Alexandria 2 Suitable Technology Access for Local 21,436 better Life Association in CC S 12/01 environment Kolosona 2 Pollution Prevention in Kom Ghorab 24,589 Coptic evangelical organiza- CC S 12/01 tion for Social Services 2 Studying biodiversity in Nile Islands in Upper 17,778 Community Capacity Develop- bD S 3/02 egypt ing and the environmental Protection 2 rural Technology (Improving Traditional oven) 23,530 New vision Association CC S 12/01 148 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) SGP Grant Focal Project Start phase Project name ($) Grant recipient area status date 2 recycling Agriculture Waste 23,530 el Thanaa Association for CC S 12/01 Community Development and environment 2 Improvement of energy efficiency 18,587 Islamic Care Association CC S 4/03 2 Disseminating biogas Technology in minia 22,002 Sharmoukh Community CC T 1/03 Development Association 2 biogas Units in Sahel Seliem villages 19,459 egyptian Association for Com- CC S 1/03 prehensive Development 2 Solar energy­Friendly energy for environment 19,517 Central Association for Devel- CC S 8/03 opment and environmental Tech. Improvement 2 Introducing Wind energy in the bedouin village 10,065 Hemaya Association CC S 1/03 2 Disseminating Solar energy Technology 19,535 Islamic Association in CC S 4/03 Atsa- minia 2 Utilizing Natural resources to Protect the 21,537 Gafar Community Develop- CC S 1/03 environment ment Association 2 Utilizing Clean energy (biogas) 21,645 West elmawhoub Community CC S 1/03 Development 2 environmental Development in the Clean 21,645 Sanaa Development Associa- CC S 1/03 energy Field tion­New valley 2 Installing biogas Units in New valley 21,645 ellwaa Sobaih Community CC S 1/03 Development. 2 establishment of Awareness Center for Clean 26,929 educational Development CC S 1/03 and renewable energy Uses Association 2 Dissemination of Knowledge on biodiversity in 16,450 egyptian energy Service busi- CC S 10/02 egypt and energy efficiency (Phase 1) ness Association 2 Dissemination of Knowledge on biodiversity in 27,056 egyptian energy Service busi- CC S 12/02 egypt and energy efficiency (Phase 2) ness Association 2 Facilitating the Use of Nonmotorized Transport 24,469 environmental Protection CC S 5/04 Association, beni Seuf 2 Preventing Harmful Practices of Fisheries in 14,681 Cooperative Association for bD S 5/04 burullus Lake Fisheries in br-bahry 2 Preventing Harmful Practices of Fisheries in 11,419 Cooperative Association For bD S 4/04 burullus Lake Fisheries in minit el-morshid 2 Preventing Harmful Practices of Fisheries in 11,419 Cooperative Association for bD S 4/04 burullus Lake Fisheries in brembal 2 Preventing Harmful Practices of Fisheries in 11,419 Cooperative Association for bD S 4/04 burullus Lake Fisheries In Shakhloba 2 Preventing Harmful Practices of Fisheries in 11,419 Cooperative Association for bD S 4/04 burullus Lake Fisheries In baltim 2 Preventing Pollutant Flows at the Local Level 21,919 el mahaba Associaton IW S 4/04 for Development and environment 2 removing Ditch reed from Lake burullus 21,207 Al-ethar Association for Com- bD S 4/04 prehensive Development 2 Protecting International Water 26,469 New vision Community IW S 4/04 Annex H. Small Grants Programme Projects 149 SGP Grant Focal Project Start phase Project name ($) Grant recipient area status date 2 Decreasing Air Pollution In Cairo 25,653 New Horizon Association for CC S 1/04 Social Development 2 removing Ditch from Lake burullus 21,241 Cooperative Association for bD S 1/04 Fisheries In borg burullus 2 Solar Heaters Technology 28,434 Future eve Association CC S 1/04 2 raising and Providing Awareness to the Public 18,954 Day Hospital Institute for PoPs S 1/04 and Stakeholders on Persistent organic Pol- Development & rehabilitation lutants and Their Dangers to environment and Human Jealth 2 Suitable Technology for environment and Sav- 19,526 Nile valley Association for the CC S 1/04 ing energy Care of the Quarries Labors 2 Sustainable management of Lake brulus 10,000 egyptian Society for Develop- bD S 1/04 ment of Fisheries 2 Surveying, recording, and Development of the 31,046 Community Development bD S 1/04 Wild Plant In New valley Association in Zakheira-New valley 2 recycling Agriculture Wastes 3,527 Local Community Develop- CC S 2/05 ment Association in Kafr Shebien 2 Suitable Technology Access for Local 17,123 better Life Association in CC S 1/05 environment Kolosona 2 Upgrading Pottery ovens in old Cairo District 17,123 Ahbab Sidi Abdel-Aziz el-Drini CC S 1/05 Association for Community Development and environ- mental Protection 2 Disseminating Solar energy Technology in 16,979 evangelical Association for CC S 1/05 Tayba Development in Tayba - minia 2 reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions 17,038 Local Community Develop- CC T 1/05 ment Association in el-eskan el-Sinay 2 Improving energy efficiency 17,123 Local Community Develop- CC T 1/05 ment Association in mit Ghorab­Dakahlia 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Dakahlia 3,554 Community Development CC S 9/04 Association in buha 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Sharkia 3,473 Ansaar elsonna Association in CC T 9/04 mashtoul 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Sharkia 3,150 Community Development CC S 9/04 Association in Tarek Ibn Ziad 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Sharkia 7,268 environmental Protection CC S 9/04 Association in Sharkia 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Dakahlia 3,150 Alrahma Charity Association CC S 9/04 in rouda 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Dakahlia 3,473 Community Development CC S 9/04 Association in baydaa 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Dakahlia 3,344 elnour Services Association in CC T 9/04 Shoubrahor 150 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) SGP Grant Focal Project Start phase Project name ($) Grant recipient area status date 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Dakahlia 3,473 Community Development CC S 9/04 Association in Shaha 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Dakahlia 3,473 Community Development CC S 9/04 Association in Shaala 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Dakahlia 3,312 Community Development CC S 9/04 Association in Shawa 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Sharkia 3,554 Community Development CC S 9/04 Association in Kafr Alhamam 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Dakahlia 3,150 AlHedaya AlKhairia AlIslamia CC S 9/04 Association 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Sharkia 4,120 Islamic mercy Association in CC S 9/04 Ghanimia 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Sharkia 1,834 Community Development CC S 9/04 Association in Kafr elgaraya 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Dakahlia 3,554 Childhood Care & Family Sup- CC S 9/04 port Association in Senbelawin 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Sharkia 3,635 Community Development & CC S 9/04 environment Protection Asso- ciation in bendaf 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Sharkia 4,645 Kafr Hamoud, Hehia center, CC S 9/04 Sharkia Governorate 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Sharkia 2,989 Social & environmental Ser- CC S 9/04 vices Association in elmalakien elbahria 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Sharkia 2,989 Scientific Association for Pro- CC S 9/04 tection of rural environment in Kafr mekawi 1 building and Dissemination of 8 biogas Units in 22,667 egyptian Academic Society for CC S 12/00 3 villages of Dakahleya Governorate environment & Development 1 Improving the Traditional oven in Seven vil- 28,000 Shamroukh CDA in minia CC S 11/00 lages in Upper egypt, mallawi, minya 1 Design and manufacturing of Wind Turbines for 22,000 egyptian Solar energy Society CC S 12/00 electricity Generation 2 Disseminating of Clean energy 17,301 right of Life Association­beni CC S 2/05 Suef 2 bicycle for every Student to Create an environ- 17,768 Sawa Association for Develop- CC S 2/05 mental behavior ment of Society, Woman, Child, and environment 2 reducing of Gases ration of Green Houses 17,301 egyptian Association for CC S 2/05 environmental Protection from vehicles emissions 2 Contribution to Sustainable management of 10,258 egyptian Academic Society for bD S 2/05 Zaranik Protectorate and Lake bardawil environmental Development 2 Decreasing Air Pollution in Sahel Selim and 10 17,301 Development Association of CC S 2/05 villages Society in Sahel Selim 2 Decreasing of Air Pollution 17,301 refaa el-Tahtawy Association CC S 2/05 for Development Annex H. Small Grants Programme Projects 151 SGP Grant Focal Project Start phase Project name ($) Grant recipient area status date 2 Decreasing of Air Pollution in Armant 17,301 Key of Life Association in CC S 2/05 Armant 2 Utilization of Nature resources for Protecting 17,266 Future Horizons Association CC 2/05 the environment for Development 3 Improving energy efficiency in Damahour 17,301 behera Academy Association CC T 7/05 for Science and Technology 3 Protecting IW by Collecting and recycling Used 19,654 Women Association in Nase- IW S 6/05 Water in Nasseria ria­bani mazar 3 reuse of the Waste Water in el Karawy 19,329 Al Thanaa Association for IW U 7/05 Society Development 3 Protecting Water from Pollution in Assiut 17,820 Childhood and Development IW S 7/05 Association 3 recycling the Agricultural Wastes 3,374 Local Community Develop- CC S 7/05 ment in meet-Khamies 3 recycling the Agricultural Wastes 3,841 Local Community Develop- CC S 7/05 ment Association in marsafa 3 Disseminating Nonmotorized Transport Culture 17,301 Future eve Association CC S 6/05 3 recycling the Agricultural Wastes 3,564 Local Community Develop- CC S 7/05 ment Association in Tahnoub 3 recycling of the Agricultural Wastes in meet 4,325 Family and Childhood Associa- CC S 7/05 Ghamr tion in meet Ghamr 3 recycling of the Agricultural Wastes in 4,325 Local Community Devel- CC S 7/05 el-bughdady opment Association in el-bughdady 3 recycling of the Agricultural Wastes in Galia 4,325 Local Community Develop- CC S 7/05 el-Kobra ment Association in Galia el-Kobra 3 recycling of the Agricultural Wastes in Nabaroh 4,325 Local Community Develop- CC S 6/05 ment Association in Nabaroh 3 Utilization of Natural resources to Protect the 17,301 AL-Khashaba Association for CC S 7/05 environment and reducing the Air Pollution in Development and Graduates el- minia Projects 3 recycling the Agriculture Waste to environ- 4,325 Association of Friends of CC S 9/05 mental Friendly Products Patients and People with Special Needs 3 recycling the Farming Leaves Waste in Qulila 4,325 Local Community Develop- CC S 9/05 ment Association in oulila 3 recycling of the Agricultural Waste in baddala 4,325 Society of Social Care in CC S 9/05 baddala 3 recycling the Waste to Produce organic 4,325 Islamic Charity Association in CC S 9/05 Fertilizers el-baramoon 3 bicycles as Clean Transportation method in 17,301 Local Community Develop- CC S 9/05 el-Harga village ment Association in el-Haraga 3 eliminate Indoor and outdoor emissions in eni- 17,059 egyptian Foundation for CC S 9/05 bas and raise economic Standard of Female- Development and Training Headed Households in 1 Year's Time 152 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) SGP Grant Focal Project Start phase Project name ($) Grant recipient area status date 3 recycling of the Agricultural Wastes in meet 4,325 el-Gamiya el-Shariya Letawon CC S 9/05 Antar elameleen bel Ketab wa Al- Sonna Al-mohamediya 3 recycling of the Agricultural Wastes in Taneekh 4,325 Local Community Develop- CC S 9/05 ment Association in Taneekh 3 recycling the Agricultural Wastes 4,325 Local Community Develop- CC S 8/05 ment Association in Kafr el-Tara'a el-Gaded 3 recycling the Agricultural Wastes 4,325 Local Community Devel- CC S 8/05 opment Association in Abo-Nabhan 3 Agricultural and environmental Sustainability 4,348 evangelical Association for CC S 12/05 by Natural Farming Practices Sustainable Development 3 Water education and Awareness for egypt's 25,000 Wadi environmental Science IW S 12/05 New Generation Centre 3 Protecting the environment and reducing 17,391 Alta'awon wal Saada CC S 12/05 the Consumption of energy by Using Saving Association energy 3 Safety Disposal of Used Water and reused It 21,766 Gafar Community Develop- IW U 12/05 ment Association 3 Towards environmental Friendly energy 17,391 rowwad beit el-thaqafa Asso- CC S 12/05 ciation in Samaloot 3 river Nile Protection 23,652 Local Community Develop- IW S 2/06 ment Association in Somosta 3 mitigation of Climate Change by Using the 17,391 Woman Association for the CC T 2/06 Technology of Solar Heater Developing the Woman 3 environment Protection and Use of Solar 24,774 environmental Protection CC U 2/06 energy and Use of Solar energy Association 3 Producing Compost for Youth villages in minia 17,826 egypt Youth rise Association CC T 2/06 3 Together to Utilize bicycles and Protect the Air 26,438 Future Lights for Development CC U 2/06 in the District of Helwan Foundation 3 Improving the Livestock barns and renewable 28,557 Local Community Develop- CC U 2/06 energy ment Association in barawaa 3 Improving the Livestock barns and renewable 22,609 Future Youth Associa- CC U 2/06 energy tion for Development and environment 3 energy Conservation for mitigating the Climate 22,522 egyptian Association for CC S 2/06 Change Development and Institutional Support 3 Safety Disposal of Used Water and reusing 23,792 Princes Tadrous el-mashraque IW U 2/06 Association for Social Services 3 Improving the Soil Characteristics to Get Con- 4,348 AlKom Alkhdar Association for CC U 2/06 tinuously Good and High-Quality Crops Developing the Society 3 Protecting the environment and reducing Air 25,997 Association for Women's CC S 7/06 Pollution through Dissemination of Information rights and Development about Using environmentally Friendly Trans- portation (bicycles) Annex H. Small Grants Programme Projects 153 SGP Grant Focal Project Start phase Project name ($) Grant recipient area status date 3 Protecting the environment and reducing Air 17,324 el-Amal Association for CC S 7/06 Pollution through Dissemination of Information Women's Development about the Use of the environmentally Friendly modified oven 3 enhancement of Traditional ovens in minia 17,324 bent el-reef Association for CC S 7/06 Comprehensive Development 3 Protecting the environment and reducing the 17,331 el Fardos Charity Association CC U 7/06 Consumption of energy by Using energy-Sav- ing equipment as Well as Teaching the Society How to Save electric energy 3 Protecting the environment and reducing Air 24,523 Abdalla el-Nadeem Founda- CC S 7/06 Pollution through Dissemination of the Use of tion in minia environmentally Friendly modified oven 3 monitoring the residues of Persistent organic 36,049 Local Community Develop- PoPs S 7/06 Pesticides in Soil Water and Food in Some ment Association in Warrak regions of Greater Cairo el- Hadar 3 Contribute to the Protection of the Interna- 42,634 egyptian Water Partnership IW S 7/06 tional Water of the mediterranean Sea from Pollution due to the Disposal of Untreated Sew- age Water and Preventing Pollution of Water resources with Sewage Water and reuse of the Treated Sewage Water in Agriculture That Con- tributes in best Utilization of Water resources and Protecting Public Health 3 Increase the Use of Natural Gas 32,024 old Cairo voice for Social CC S 11/06 Development Association 3 recycling of Agricultural Wastes in Hehia 25,264 environmental Protection CC U 11/06 Center Association in Hehia 2 recycling Agricultural Wastes in Dakahlia 3,312 Community Development CC S 9/04 Association in elsarief wa elgohary 3 enhancement of the Traditional Charcoal Kiln in 17,331 Association for Development CC U 7/06 Qalyoubia of Local Society­eL montazah eL mattaria 3 To Investigate the ecological Impact of This 19,250 egyptian Society for electric bD U 11/06 New exotic Crayfish Species on the river Nile microscopy ecosystem and Its biodiversity and the Possibil- ity of Using It in many Positive Aspects 3 Protecting Children from environmental 13,832 environmental Promoters PoPs U 11/06 Contaminants Association in Alexandria 3 CC and energy Saving 26,069 el rahma Charity Association CC U 11/06 3 Collection and Treatment of Gray Water 29,930 Community Development IW S 3/07 Association in bahsamon 3 Collection and Treatment of Gray Water 30,930 Community Development IW S 3/08 Association in bahsamon 3 Producing Compost from recycling of Agricul- 40,698 environmental Protection CC S 11/06 ture Wastes Association in Sharkia 3 Dissemination of Solar Heater Technology in 19,656 renewable energy Forum CC S 11/06 Sharkia 154 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) SGP Grant Focal Project Start phase Project name ($) Grant recipient area status date 3 electrical energy Saving in Sharkia Cities 20,585 Qualitative Union for environ- CC S 11/06 mental Association 3 Collection and Treatment of Gray Water in 25,290 Community Development IW S 3/07 mamalik Association in mamalik village 3 Collection and Treatment of Gray Water in 24,701 Community Development IW S 3/07 manial Hany Association in manial Hany 3 reuse of Waste Water­raising Public Aware- 20,805 Christian Practical Society IW T 7/05 ness of the Community with the Importance of Collecting Used Water to Treat It 4 Solar energy Development in Giza 31,764 Central Association for Devel- CC U 12/07 opment and Promotion of environmental Technologies 3 Limiting Climatic Change by Promoting the Use 30,218 egyptian Association for CC U 12/07 of environment-Friendly Transportation Development and Institutional Support 4 Conservation of Natural resources by Promot- 29,465 values of Life CC U 12/07 ing the Use of Solar energy 4 Climate Change and energy Conservation 25,581 Community Development CC U 12/07 Association­Tersa 4 Spreading bicycle Culture in rural Areas 26,289 Sadat Association for Develop- CC U 12/07 ment and Social Care 4 renewable energy and Improved barns 29,800 Life makers Association for CC U 12/07 Development and Services 4 Solar energy in our Daily Needs 17,695 el Derini Association for Soci- CC U 12/07 ety Development & environ- ment Protection 4 Design model for Green building 49,909 Association of enterprises for CC U 12/07 environmental Conservation 3 electrical energy Saving and the Control of 23,473 Future Association in CC U 12/07 Greenhouse Gas emissions Salamoun­Hehia 3 energy efficiency for environmental Protection 12,653 Scientific Association for Pro- CC S 11/06 tection of rural environment in Kafr mekawi 3 Utilizing Nature resources to Protect the 4,271 Young men's Christian Associa- CC S 11/05 environment­mobilizing Farmers to Compress tion in Aswan and Grind the Agriculture Waste to Use It as Compost and Fodder 4 The Use of bicycles to Decrease the emission of 34,831 Local Community Develop- CC U 6/08 Greenhouse Gases ment Association in mit Ghorab­Dakahlia 4 reducing Pollution rate by Using Clean 37,116 Islamic mercy Association in CC U 6/08 Transportation Ghanimia 4 roof Agriculture in Aldarb Alahmar 42,978 Aga Khan Foundation CC U 6/08 4 roof Agriculture in Aldarb Alahmar 43,978 Aga Khan Foundation CC U 6/09 4 energy Conservation to reduce Climate 20,300 Abou baker el Seddek CC U 6/08 Change Association 4 The Use of bicycles to Decrease the emission of 22,472 Women Association for CC U 6/08 Greenhouse Gases Human Development Annex H. Small Grants Programme Projects 155 SGP Grant Focal Project Start phase Project name ($) Grant recipient area status date 4 energy Conservation to reduce Climate 26,873 Community Develop- CC U 6/08 Change ment Association in Kfar elmahmoudia 4 biogas Units in minia 27,053 Abdalla el-Nadeem Founda- CC U 6/08 tion in minia 4 Using Natural Gas to reduce Air Pollution 34,644 emad Future egypt Associa- CC U 6/08 tion for development 4 Decontamination of mangrove Natural 30,000 American muslim Foundation bD U 6/08 reserves in red Sea International 4 Preservation of medicinal Herbs in Dry Lands, 20,000 Arab Association for envi- bD U 6/08 Al Hammam, matrouh ronmental protection And Development 4 energy Conservation to reduce Climate 4,700 Abou baker el Seddek CC U 6/08 Change Association 4 Developing the Traditional ovens 24,991 CC N 1/09 4 Protecting the environment and reducing the 25,590 CC N 1/09 Consumption of energy by Saving energy 4 Protecting the environment and reducing the 25,590 CC N 1/09 Consumption of energy by Saving energy 4 Disseminating the Use of Solar energy 29,946 CC N 1/09 Technology 4 environmental Friendly Transportation models 33,485 CC N 1/09 4 Developing the Traditional ovens 24,955 CC N 1/09 4 Disseminating Solar energy Technology 30,853 CC N 1/09 4 Protecting the environment and reducing the 33,575 CC N 1/09 Consumption of energy by Saving energy 4 Protecting the environment and reducing the 26,225 CC N 1/09 Consumption of energy by Saving energy Pilot A Pilot Demonstration for Sustainable Desert 35,328 Friends of environment and mF S 2/94 Development Development Association Pilot reducing the Amount of Air Pollution in the 12,387 CC S 1/94 Northern District of the Governorate of Cairo Pilot Introducing Neem Trees in maadi Area and in 10,448 Tree Lovers Association CC S 1/94 old Cairo Pilot reforestation and environmental Awareness at 16,500 Social organization for envi- bD S 3/94 Wady el rayan Protected Area ronment Protection in Fayoum Pilot Community Tree Planting in el Shorouk City, 15,500 Association for Conservation CC S 2/94 east Cairo of Nature's beauty Pilot Water Quality Training and orientation Pro- 43,824 AoYe, eYDe, Foe, ePS IW S 2/94 gramme in Greater Cairo, Alexandria, and Suez Pilot Palm Tree Planting and Creating Green Areas in 22,790 Association for Urban Devel- bD S 1/95 New and old Nubia opment of Islamic Cairo Pilot raising Community environmental Awareness 2,115 Association for Promotion of CC S 10/95 and Participation through Tree Planting in Services in Zamalek Zamalek and in Almaza Pilot Design and manufacture of Small-Scale Wind 28,000 egyptian energy Solar Society CC S 9/95 Turbines for Water Pumping and electrification 156 GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation: Egypt (1991­2008) SGP Grant Focal Project Start phase Project name ($) Grant recipient area status date 1 Cultivating International Green Fences in Cairo, 4,710 Patients Welfare and environ- CC S 1/97 Heliopolis, and Abbassia ment Protection 1 Transforming Some Deteriorated Lands in 30,000 environmental Development CC S 1/97 Ismalia into Green Areas Association in Ismailia 1 reducing Solid Wastes Generated from the 10,000 egyptian Packaging Develop- CC S 1/97 Packaging Systems for environmental and ment Association Health Purposes Pilot A modular Prototype for Converting Domestic 50,000 egyptian Association for CC T 1/97 Solid Waste into ethanol to replace Lead in Development and Human Gasoline resources 1 Developing and Tree Planting the District of 23,597 Association of Women rights bD S 6/98 masaed in Al Arish 1 Dissemination and Institutionalization of bio- 25,506 basseysa Community Develop- CC S 6/98 gas Technology ment Association 1 Protecting biodiversity in the Area of mariut 26,637 Friends of the environment bD S 6/98 Lake in Alexandria Association 1 Tree Planting of Streets, City entrance, Canal 28,908 environment Protection & bD S 6/98 Sides, and Sewers of etai el baroud City and the Childhood Care Association Near villages 1 Local Technological Units for energy Appropri- 26,527 Coptic evangelical organiza- CC S 6/98 ate for the environment tion for Social Services 1 various Usage of Natural energy in the Daily 11,184 Society for Community Welfare CC S 6/98 Life Uses in Kom el Aghdar- maghagha 1 Conservation of biodiversity in rangelands of 26,549 botanical Society, Department bD S 6/98 Northwest Coastal Zone, egypt of botany 1 Tree Planting in behera 10,084 Future Youth Association bD T 7/98 1 Tree Planting the village of Kowse Kena 6,767 Community Development bD T 7/98 Association in Hagaza 1 Developing a Productive eco-Desert Commu- 29,469 Kenouz Sinai for environmen- CC S 7/98 nity in Sinai based on the Use of renewable tal Development energy and environmental Technologies 1 Gabel elba Protected Area Community Partici- 50,000 Arab Network for environment bD S 1/99 patory Program and Development Note: bD = biodiversity; CC = climate change; IW = international waters; mF = multifocal: N = not active yet; S = satisfactorily completed; T = terminated before completion; U = currently under execution. 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