1. GEF REGIONAL PROJECTS: EXPERIENCES IN MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS Dr Alan Rodgers UNDP GEF (Retired ??) East and Southern Africa

2. BASIC PRINCIPLES You cannot have STRONG Regional capacity without STRONG NATIONAL Capacity You cannot have STRONG Regional capacity without STRONG NATIONAL Capacity In nearly all cases it is NATIONAL institutions that have mandates to administer, conserve, manage, regulate, harvest etc for BIODIVERSITY RESOURCES. In nearly all cases it is NATIONAL institutions that have mandates to administer, conserve, manage, regulate, harvest etc for BIODIVERSITY RESOURCES. Regional institutions can help coordinate, train research, synergise and support. Regional institutions can help coordinate, train research, synergise and support. IW is a bit different where much of the RESOURCE is away from national jurisdictions IW is a bit different where much of the RESOURCE is away from national jurisdictions

3. FOUR BASIC REASONS FOR REGIONALISM The RESOURCE is cross-boundary (eg forest) The RESOURCE is cross-boundary (eg forest) The THREATS are cross-boundary (fire, IAS) The THREATS are cross-boundary (fire, IAS) There are similar resources / threats so that there is synergy and cost-effectiveness in sharing approaches (eg How to eradicate IAS) There are similar resources / threats so that there is synergy and cost-effectiveness in sharing approaches (eg How to eradicate IAS) Where the scale of activity (eg training or advocacy or learning) suggests that sharing is cost effective (eg SABONET, ABS etc) Where the scale of activity (eg training or advocacy or learning) suggests that sharing is cost effective (eg SABONET, ABS etc)

4. REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS NEPAD and AU at continental level NEPAD and AU at continental level SADC, EA Community, IGAD: sub-regional SADC, EA Community, IGAD: sub-regional SCIENCE institutions ILRI, ICRAF etc SCIENCE institutions ILRI, ICRAF etc Civil Society eg ACTS to WWF (any Zs?) Civil Society eg ACTS to WWF (any Zs?) Conventions etc (eg Lake Tanganyika) Conventions etc (eg Lake Tanganyika) MOUs and Letters of Agreement MOUs and Letters of Agreement TRADE agreements TRADE agreements

5. REALITY OF INSTITUTIONS Continental Institutions are NOT “strong” Continental Institutions are NOT “strong” They give political legitimacy to regional process They give political legitimacy to regional process They provide mechanism for conflict resolution They provide mechanism for conflict resolution Institutions can have Frameworks / Strategies that give a basis for GEF Projects (eg NEPAD’s CAADP on Agriculture, SADC’s Sub-regional Environmental Action Plan). Institutions can have Frameworks / Strategies that give a basis for GEF Projects (eg NEPAD’s CAADP on Agriculture, SADC’s Sub-regional Environmental Action Plan). They are still evolving themselves They are still evolving themselves

6. History of Regional Process: 1 BUILD ON PAST PROCESS eg East Africa BUILD ON PAST PROCESS eg East Africa East African Institutional Support (1992-6) Regional Steering Committee with a small Regional Secretariat coordinates the NATIONAL programmes to produce agreed regional products (training programmes, standard names, floras, databases, COP advocacy) Regional Steering Committee with a small Regional Secretariat coordinates the NATIONAL programmes to produce agreed regional products (training programmes, standard names, floras, databases, COP advocacy)

7. REGIONALISM : 2 This built on NEW East African Community This built on NEW East African Community Cross-Borders Project 1998 - 2004 Cross-Border Protocols under the new Regional Treaty. EIA process Cross-Border Protocols under the new Regional Treaty. EIA process Endorse Cooperation (eg Directors Forest) Endorse Cooperation (eg Directors Forest) District level cross-border meetings (add Environment to Security) District level cross-border meetings (add Environment to Security) Again Regional Steering Committee: (But Secretariat within national institutions)

8. Regionalism 3 Strong Partner Structure S Africa SABONET 1998 - 2004 Ten countries around southern Africa “BOTANY- BIODIVERSITY”, the core was via the large and prestigious “South Africa National Botanical Institute” with oversight by a Regional Steering Committee. Ten countries around southern Africa “BOTANY- BIODIVERSITY”, the core was via the large and prestigious “South Africa National Botanical Institute” with oversight by a Regional Steering Committee. Funds from UNDP SA went to the central SANBI and to national botanical institutions. Funds from UNDP SA went to the central SANBI and to national botanical institutions. HS project – built much capacity HS project – built much capacity

9. REGIONALISM 4 SADC Biodiversity Project Objective: Southern Africa regional response to CBD work programme: on ABS and IAS Objective: Southern Africa regional response to CBD work programme: on ABS and IAS The old SADC with dispersed centres – when “Environment” was with Forestry in Malawi. The old SADC with dispersed centres – when “Environment” was with Forestry in Malawi. At first VERY difficult to get “Regional” agreement over “National” wish-lists! At first VERY difficult to get “Regional” agreement over “National” wish-lists! Project really took off after SADC reform and moved to large SADC Secretariat in Botswana Project really took off after SADC reform and moved to large SADC Secretariat in Botswana But a separate PMU outside SADC, SADC lost only Environment Person, who sat on Regional Steering Committee, project supported SADC not other way. But a separate PMU outside SADC, SADC lost only Environment Person, who sat on Regional Steering Committee, project supported SADC not other way.

10. REGIONAL PROCESS 5 Input via an I-NGO “BirdLife” Ten Country in Africa: SA, Eth, Tunis, Ghana Ten Country in Africa: SA, Eth, Tunis, Ghana Capacity for “NGO-Govt Partnership” to support CBOs in local conservation. Capacity for “NGO-Govt Partnership” to support CBOs in local conservation. Coordinated by Birdlife International and implemented through Birdlife National Partner Organisations (eg Nature Kenya), with Regional Steering Committee and Regional Technical Advisory Committee. Coordinated by Birdlife International and implemented through Birdlife National Partner Organisations (eg Nature Kenya), with Regional Steering Committee and Regional Technical Advisory Committee. GOOD final review, GOOD recent post review GOOD final review, GOOD recent post review

11. CONCLUSIONS? No one-size fits all, design mechanism around real capacities and needs, using existing institutions. ADD Coordination and Linkage mechanisms. ADD regional institution oversight where necessary. No one-size fits all, design mechanism around real capacities and needs, using existing institutions. ADD Coordination and Linkage mechanisms. ADD regional institution oversight where necessary. BUILD National capacity for regional activity. BUILD National capacity for regional activity. STILL NEED for Regionalism in GEF in Africa – economy of scale, shared resources: STILL NEED for Regionalism in GEF in Africa – economy of scale, shared resources: But? Regional Priorities: Pollinators? Bozonet? But? Regional Priorities: Pollinators? Bozonet?