Sub-regional Workshop for GEF Focal Points Nairobi, Kenya May 2007

NATIONAL PRIORITY SETTING PROCESS IN MAURITIUS

Background Mauritius has benefited from GEF funding of US$ 8.5 M: 13 projects since 1991 Average of US$ 570,000 per year over the last 15 years Current national projects with GEF support (US$ 2.4 M): Marine Protected Area Network Project Capacity Building for Sustainable Land Management National Bio-safety Framework Project Second National Communication

Background Projects to the tune of US$ 5.8 million in the pipeline: Strengthening management effectiveness of a Protected Area Network Energy efficiency and energy conservation in buildings National Capacity for Coastal Area Management

Main Documents Identifying National Priorities  National Environment Action Plan 2 and National Environment Strategies (NES) formulated, NES review to take on new obligations and emerging challenges under Kyoto Protocol and other MEAs  National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (NBSAP),  National Capacity Needs Self Assessment Strategy Report (NCSA), 2005  National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP), 1998  Energy Policy, 2007

Priorities Under NEAP 2 Priorities Under NBSAP Project Formulation Project Formulation process Capacity Building Priorities Under NCSA Priorities Under NCCAP + GEF PRIORITIES Priorities Under Energy Policy

Key Actors UNDP

Coordination Mechanism Inception stage: small team of major stakeholders set up Relevant line ministries lead project team, creating project ownership Project team (incl. GEF Focal Point) scrutinises project concepts/ proposals, ensuring national and GEF priorities are met After PDF approval, official National Steering Committee (NSC) of key stakeholders set up, meets regularly until prodoc finalised

Coordination Mechanism Co-financing discussions with line Ministries, NGOs, private sector During project implementation, NSC meets regularly to monitor and provide guidance In specific cases, technical advisory committee, comprising partly of NSC members and technicians, advises on technical matters Selection panel of NSC members aids in project recruitment and procurement processes

Results and achievements Views of key stakeholders incorporated in project formulation process Duplication of work avoided National documents and research findings incorporated in framing project proposals Targets and priority work across all focal areas coordinated Cross sectoral issues treated in meetings and consultations Work load holistically shared among executing agencies e.g., Ministry of Environment and NGOs agreed to implement activities of recently submitted Protected Area Network Project Consultations with grassroots and community representatives, especially for SGP projects

Constraints and Challenges Synergies among GEF and other projects not fully exploited NSC process of seeking co-financing difficult Budgets allocated to Ministries for financial year based on national priority projects No specific time frame for GEF project approval makes securing government co-financing for particular project in specific year difficult

Lessons Learned  Reduce dependence on government co- financing Attract co-financing from private sector, NGOs, AfDB, IFAD, BADEA, EU  NSC meetings can maximise potential in- kind and parallel financing from different ministries

Way Forward Adoption of Medium-term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) or programme-based budgeting by the Ministry of Finance & Economic Development Major step to mainstream environment in national strategies MTEF includes Ministry strategy, programs, activities to achieve desired outcomes, performance indicators GOM endorsement of Ministry MTEF means commitment to support programs MTEFs of Ministries of Environment and Agro-Industry & Fisheries highlight Mauritius’ priorities in Climate Change, Biodiversity (Inland, Marine and Coastal), Land Degradation MTEF shared among donors to attract co-financing for future investment opportunities

Way Forward  Shorten project formulation process Especially when preliminary studies and background documents exist Enable savings under RAF, funds better used in project implementation  Use GEF CSP resources Build capacity and create awareness about GEF project formulation Increase synergies between GEF and other environmental projects through stakeholder coordination