1. Accessing the GEF and the GEF Project Cycle GEF Expanded Constituency Workshop Managua, Nicaragua March 3-4, 2015

2. Acronyms Used in this Presentation FSP = Full-Sized Project MSP = Medium-Sized Project EA = Enabling Activities PA = Programmatic Approach MIA=Minamata Convention Initial Assessment ASGM NAP = “Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining” National Action Plan PIFs = Project Identification Form/concept of a project PFD = Program Framework Document PPG = Project Preparation Grant

3. GEF Financing Financing Objective: to provide resources to recipient countries to meet the agreed incremental cost of activities that generate global environmental benefits (GEBs). GEF Trust Fund, Least Developing Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) & Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF). Who can apply? A GEF country member government, any eligible individual or group may propose a project through the OFP. GEF Operational Focal Point (OFP) plays a key role in assuring that GEF projects are aligned to meet the needs and priorities of the respective country.

4. Eligibility of Project Proposal A project proposal has to fulfill the following criteria for consideration for GEF financing, : It is undertaken in an eligible country and is consistent with country’s national priorities and programs. It addresses one or more of the GEF Focal Area objectives in improving the global environment or advancing the prospect of reducing risks to it. It is consistent with the GEF operational strategy. It seeks GEF financing only for the agreed incremental costs on measures to achieve global environmental benefits It involves the stakeholders in project design and implementation. It is endorsed by the government(s) of the country/ies in which it will be implemented.

5. Accessing the GEF Trust Fund TRADITIONAL MODE Project proponents work closely with national GEF Operational Focal Points (who formally endorse project concepts) and the GEF Partner Agency, to develop concepts and move through the project cycle and are approved either by the GEF Council or the GEF CEO, depending on the type of project. DIRECT ACCESS MODE In response to country request to improve country ownership, country drivenness and capacity building Project proponents work directly with the GEF Secretariat without going through a GEF Agency; projects follow the same project eligibility criteria and focal area strategic objectives.

6. Types of GEF Projects GEF project types by Grant Size: Full-Sized Projects (FSPs): GEF grant > $2 million Medium-Sized Projects (MSPs): GEF grant < $2 million Enabling Activities (EAs): GEF grant is capped by respective focal area threshold: Biodiversity and Climate Change = up to $500,000; Land Degradation = up to $150,000 Chemical and Waste (MIA = $200,000; Persistent Organic Pollutants and ASGM NAP=$500,000) Programmatic Approach (PA) Small Grants Program (max $50,000) MIA=Minamata Convention Initial Assessment ASGM NAP = “Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining” National Action Plan

7. Project Cycle Steps Two major approval steps for Full-Sized Projects: Council and the GEF Secretariat: 1.Council approval of work program 2.CEO endorsement of the project document GEF Agency: 1.Approval of the project by the GEF Agency and implementation start; 2.Completion of implementation, terminal evaluation and financial closure.

8. Full-Sized Project Cycle Council approval of Work Program* CEO endorsement of project GEF Agency approval of project** Project implementation and continues to completion*** * Work Program consists of PIFs cleared by the CEO ** GEF Agency approval of project signifies start of project implementation *** Project completion follows terminal evaluation and financial closure

9. Medium-Sized Project Cycle  One-step approach, preferred: Final MSP request and project document submit to the Secretariat for CEO approval, on a rolling basis. As needed, a PPG of up to $50,000 can be requested with MSP submission.  Two-step approach, only if required: Submission of a PIF with PPG request, if needed Submission of a final MSP document plus a MSP Approval Request for CEO approval

10. Enabling Activities follow two paths: Direct Access (follow direct access policy – applies the World Bank Operations Policies and Procedures):  Country applies directly to the Secretariat for funding Regular procedures :  Country works with a GEF Partner Agency to access funding. Enabling Activities Project Cycle

11. Programmatic Approach Cycle The new programmatic approach: approved by Council approval in the October 2014 Council meeting. Steps include:  Council approval of a Program Framework Document (PFD) included in a work program;  CEO endorsement of fully prepared child projects under the program

12. Features of a Program  Key document: Program Framework Document (PFD).  All child projects under the Program have to be submitted for CEO endorsement by a deadline (or Program Commitment Deadline) agreed by relevant stakeholders during the preparation of the program concept or PFD.  Child projects can apply for project preparation funding through submission of a PPG Request.

13. Project Review Criteria  Country eligibility and ownership  Global Environment Benefits  GEF Focal area strategy  Agency’s Comparative advantage  Resource availability  Project consistency  Project design  Project financing and co-financing  Monitoring and evaluation; and  Agency’s responses to comments and reviews.

14. Country Endorsement Endorsement by a national Operational Focal Point (OFP) is a requirement for the following:  all PIFs to enter the work program, and for application of Project Preparation Grants (PPGs);  PFDs submitted for work program inclusion;  Request for CEO approval of MSP final projects;  All EAs requesting CEO approval. Projects in biodiversity, climate change, and land degradation focal areas also follow STAR rules.

15. Recent Council Papers on Project Cycle Please consult the GEF website: www.thegef.org for all relevant project cycle papers for more detailed policies and procedures. To name a few:www.thegef.org GEF/C.31/7/Corr.1 GEF Project Cycle (Corrigendum) EnglishGEF Project Cycle (Corrigendum English GEF/C.38/05/Rev.1 Streamlining the Project Cycle andStreamlining the Project Cycle and Refining the Programmatic ApproachRefining the Programmatic Approach EnglishEnglish GEF/C.39/Inf.03 GEF Project and Programmatic Approach Cycles EnglishGEF Project and Programmatic Approach CyclesEnglish GEF/C.43/06 Streamlining of Project Cycle EnglishStreamlining of Project CycleEnglish GEF/C.47/07 Improving the GEF Project Cycle EnglishImproving the GEF Project CycleEnglish

16. System for Transparent Allocation of Resources: STAR GEF Expanded Constituency Workshop Managua, Nicaragua March 3-4, 2015

17. Outline  Background  The Workings of the STAR model  An Example Calculation  A Short Quiz!

18. Background  The current mechanism by which GEF resources are allocated to countries in three focal areas – Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Land Degradation  The Resource Allocation Framework (RAF) was the first PBA for the GEF and adopted for GEF-4  The STAR updated the RAF and was implemented for GEF-5  The STAR was recently updated for GEF-6

19. Objectives STAR aims to allocate scarce GEF resources within and among focal areas in order to:  maximise impact on the global environment  promote sound environmental policies and practices  meet convention requirements  match country driven priorities

21. Calculating STAR Allocations 1 Determine Available Focal Area Funds 2 Calculate “Country Scores” 3 Calculate Preliminary Country Allocations 4 Adjust for Floors and Ceilings 5 Obtain Final Allocations 6 Determine post-allocation Flexibilities

22. Available Focal Area Funds

23. Calculating STAR Allocations 1 Determine Available Focal Area Funds 2 Calculate “Country Scores” 3 Calculate Preliminary Country Allocations 4 Adjust for Floors and Ceilings 5 Obtain Final Allocations 6 Determine post-allocation Flexibilities

24. The Main Indices Global Benefits Index: measures a country’s relative share of GEF potential benefits that can be generated by a fixed amount of resource input into a focal area Country Performance Index: measures a country’s performance and capacity to deliver potential global environmental benefits GDP Index: designed to increase allocation of countries with a low GDP per capita

25. COUNTRY SCORE Global Benefits Index BiodiversityClimate Change Land Degradation Country Performance Index GDP Index The Country Score Country Score = GBI 0.8 CPI 1.0 GDP -0.08

26. Calculating STAR Allocations 1 Determine Available Focal Area Funds 2 Calculate “Country Scores” 3 Calculate Preliminary Country Allocations 4 Adjust for Floors and Ceilings 5 Obtain Final Allocations 6 Determine post-allocation Flexibilities

27. Preliminary Country Allocations  Country Share = Country Score / Sum of Country Scores for all eligible countries  Preliminary Allocation = Country Share * Available Focal Area Funds

28. Calculating STAR Allocations 1 Determine Available Focal Area Funds 2 Calculate “Country Scores” 3 Calculate Preliminary Country Allocations 4 Adjust for Floors and Ceilings 5 Obtain Final Allocations 6 Determine post-allocation Flexibilities

29. Floors and Ceilings Focal Area Floor for LDCs Floor for Non LDCs Ceiling % Ceilings (US Mn) Climate Change3210%126 Biodiversity21.510%129.6 Land Degradation 10.510%43.1

30. Calculating STAR Allocations 1 Determine Available Focal Area Funds 2 Calculate “Country Scores” 3 Calculate Preliminary Country Allocations 4 Adjust for Floors and Ceilings 5 Obtain Final Allocations 6 Determine post-allocation Flexibilities

31. Final Allocations  Adjustments for floors and ceilings mean there is a surplus or deficit relative to the preliminary allocation  This is then allocated among countries using the country scores  Process iterates until the full amount has been allocated among countries

32. Calculating STAR Allocations 1 Determine Available Focal Area Funds 2 Calculate “Country Scores” 3 Calculate Preliminary Country Allocations 4 Adjust for Floors and Ceilings 5 Obtain Final Allocations 6 Determine post-allocation Flexibilities

33. Flexibilities and Marginal Adjustments  Flexibilities relate to the utilization(not allocation) of GEF resources  Countries are allowed to adjust their focal area allocations (but not their total envelope) Total Allocation XAllowed Marginal Adjustment X ≤ 7 millionunlimited X > 7 million2 million

34. Approximate Calculation: Trinidad and Tobago BIODIVERSITYCLIMATE CHANGELAND DEGRADATION GBI 0.210.120.30 CPI 3.65 GDPI 17934.06 COUNTRY SCORE (GBI 0.8 CPI 1.0 GDP -0.08 ) 0.480.3060.63 SUM OF COUNTRY SCORES 174.45147.30189.39 COUNTRY SHARE 0.0027530.002080.00333 FOCAL AREA ALLOCATION 1051941346 PRELIMINARY COUNTRY ALLOCATION 2.891.961.15 FINAL COUNTRY ALLOCATION 2.782.291.14 TOTAL ALLOCATION = 6.22 MILLION (FULLY FLEXIBLE COUNTRY)

36. Question Country A has the following STAR allocations: Biodiversity = 3 million Climate Change = 4 million Land Degradation = 1 million (a)Does this country have full flexibility in the use of its resources? Why, or why not? (b) Is this country allowed any marginal adjustment across focal areas? If so, how much?

37. Question Country B is an LDC. During the STAR model simulations, Country B has preliminary allocations as follows: Comment on these values. (hint – floors!) BIODIVERSITY CLIMATE CHANGE LAND DEGRADATION PRELIMINARY ALLOCATIONS 1.72.40.8

38. Floors and Ceilings Focal Area Floor for LDCs Floor for Non LDCs Ceiling % Ceilings (US Mn) Climate Change3210%126 Biodiversity21.510%129.6 Land Degradation 10.510%43.1

39. Question During the STAR model simulations, Country C has preliminary allocations as follows: Comment on these values. (hint – ceilings!) BIODIVERSITY CLIMATE CHANGE LAND DEGRADATION PRELIMINARY ALLOCATIONS 13514040

40. Question Given the following values, calculate the Country Scores for Country D for each of the three focal areas. BIODIVERSITY CLIMATE CHANGE LAND DEGRADATION GBI0.040.050.08 CPI3.25 GDPI13000 COUNTRY SCORE???

41. . Thank you for your attention! Questions?