1. GEF governance reforms to enhance effectiveness and civil society engagement Faizal Parish GEC, Central Focal Point , GEF NGO Network GEF-NGO Consultation Washington DC, 21 June 2009

2. GEF and Civil Society Civil society as key stakeholders in GEF
GEF Public Participation Policy
GEF NGO Network
Expectations for the fifth replenishment
Future issues

3. Civil society as key stakeholders in the work of GEF
Important stewards of natural resources and environment
Direct beneficiaries from sound environmental management
Directly impacted by poor environmental management
Can safeguard global environmental benefits and ensure sustainability of GEF programmes.
Civil Society should be a main partner for effective implementation and long term sustainability of GEFs work

4. Many indigenous cultures and local communities depend on natural resources

5. Environmental Degradation has major local and global impacts

6. Communities can protect and restore the environment and promote sustainable use

7. GEF Public participation Policy
Adopted by GEF in 1996
Effective public involvement is critical to the success of GEF-financed projects.
Public involvement improves the performance and impact of projects
The GEF recipient countries with support from GEF and GEF agencies are responsible for ensuring effective public involvement
Resources and support should be allocated to NGOs and other stakeholders to ensure that they have a strengthened role in GEF implementation.
Stakeholders should be engaged at the earliest phase of project identification and throughout design, implementation, and evaluation.

8. GEF NGO Network Established in 1996
Links together 600 organisations accredited to GEF
Coordinated by a global Coordinating Committee, a Central Focal Point and 15 Regional Focal Points
Partnership with between Network and GEF reiterated through Council decision November 2008
Task Force on replenishment set up May 09

9. Issues related to the replenishment
Over exploitation of natural resources, pollution and climate change affect millions worldwide.
Conservative estimates of finance requirements to adequately address environment issues exceeds $200 billion per annum
Global consensus in conventions and global fora on need to take a more community-based or multi-stakeholder approach
GEF 4 resources ($0.8 billion/year divided by 140 recipients and 6 focal areas) are totally inadequate to meet the current and growing needs
Current procedures and mechanisms ( especially RAF) exclude civil society and have cut resource flows dramatically in GEF 4.
The proportion of CSO implemented MSPs has declined 70% between GEF2/3 to GEF 4

10. Adequacy of GEF
GEF 4 resources ($0.8 billion/year divided by 140 recipients and 6 focal areas) are totally inadequate to meet the current and growing needs
GEF Focal area strategies exclude communities
Current procedures (especially RAF) exclude civil society and have cut resource flows dramatically in GEF 4.
The proportion of CSO implemented MSPs has declined 70% between GEF2/3 to GEF 4

11. Key directions
Objective of the Reform should be to adjust the GEF governance and operational structure to better respond to today’s challenges, including scale, scope and pace of change in the natural environment and its impact on human development.
 Change GEF modus operandi to achieve better and more efficient and effective delivery of impact, that is to say, global environment benefits;
 The GEF governance and strategy setting mechanisms need to include all stakeholders active in sustainable development at the national, regional and global levels in order to ensure balance in defining and delivering its programs.

12. Areas for change Total Allocation Focal Area strategies
Civil society engagement in planning and implementation
Programmatic approach
Resource allocation
Institutional Reform
Civil society access to resources

13. Total allocation Minimum $10 Billion direct donor contribution
Additional contributor options
Flexible approach
Develop innovative financing
Enhance cofinancing

14. Focal Area strategies
Need fundamental change to ensure effective civil society participation
Too technical or technology driven
Need to stimulate and facilitate multi-stakeholder partnership to solve problems
Draw on community based approaches for sustainability
Integrated approaches with link to sustainable livelihoods

15. Civil society engagement in planning and implementation
Full implementation of GEF public participation policy
Needs assessment and priority setting
National dialogues and planning processes
National GEF Steering Committees
National plans for securing GEBs
Project concept identification and design
Implementation and evaluation
Efficiency, transparency and effectiveness

16. Programmatic approach
Ensure the GEF better delivers on global environment benefits in the current context and challenges of development.
Promoting integration and common approach across themes, countries/regions
Driven by common needs or environmental issues rather that administration
Consultative transparent process building as much as possible on existing frameworks

17. Resource allocation Current RAF has failed in its objectives
Too complex, excluded civil society from GEF
Resource allocation only workable with large Replenishment ($10 billion) Plus linkage to a common country strategy
Should exclude international waters and forests

18. Institutional Reform Fully implement public participation policy
Independent legal status
Direct access options
Strengthen efficiency and transparency of GEF agencies
Increase resources for capacity building and knowledge management
Enhanced country-ownership and integration into regional processes.
Enhance implementation of convention targets
Enhance role of Civil society in decision making

19. Civil society access to resources
Enhance access to resources by civil society
Target of at least 20% of resources direct to civil society
GEF 2/3 GEF 4
GEF 2/3
GEF 4
GEF 5
FSP/MSP
25% 8%
15%
SGP 3% 5%
Total
28%
11%
20%

20. strategy for participation and the financing of CSOs
Effectively engage CSOs in the replenishment process
Organise National and regional consultations on replenishment and strategy
multi-stakeholder review to prepare a strategy for full inclusion of the CSOs in the overall reform.
Joint GEF-Civil society proposal on how to fully integrate CSOs in the GEF reform

21. The GEF NGO Network therefore calls for:
A high GEF 5 replenishment of at least $10 billion
Further reforms in the GEF governance to ensure that civil society is adequately engaged in GEF planning and implementation.
Enhance direct funding to CSOs through MSP. FSP and SGP to at least 20%
Effective engagement in Replenishment process with Consultation, Review and development of a focussed strategy for full inclusion of civil society CSOs in the overall reform.

22. Thank you