Talking Points 37625 A newsletter providing information on GEF activities and processes I. Highlights of June Council Volume 5. No.2 May, 2005 Meeting In this issue: The next meeting of the GEF Council is scheduled to be held June 3­8, 2005 in Washington, DC. An NGO consultation, which will be held on June 2, 2005, will precede the meeting. I. Highlights of June Council Meeting The Provisional Council Meeting Agenda is available below. For more information on the upcoming council meeting, including the council papers, please, visit the II. Focal Point News GEF Website, www.theGEF.org (click on "council documents"). III. Country Dialogue News The following are snapshots of two of the agenda items for the meeting, along with the provisional IV. Focal Area News agenda. GEF Council Continues Discussion on V. GEF-NGO Network News Resource Allocation Framework VI. News from the GEF Office of Following the endorsement of the Policy Monitoring and Evaluation Recommendations of the Third Replenishment in October 2002, the GEF Council has been working on developing a Resource Allocation Framework (RAF). VII. News from the Implementing The council has discussed the RAF at meetings in Agencies 2003 and 2004, and at two consultations that were held in September 2004 and March 2005. At the November 2004 meeting, three motions were tabled VIII. News from GEF Small Grants by members with a view to facilitating a final decision Programme on the RAF at the meeting in June 2005. There are two outstanding structural issues: (i) the IX. Good Practice Notes content of the performance indicator, especially as it relates to governance at the national level (and the related issue of public disclosure); and (ii) the X. Other News percentage of GEF resources that should be allocated to individual countries (and, therefore, how much XI. New GEF Publications should be left for allocation within a group or groups). A paper, GEF/C.25/8, GEF Resource Allocation XII. Focal Point Update Framework, has been prepared for council review with a view to advancing discussion on these issues. In addition, the GEF Secretariat has prepared six technical notes to support further discussions on the RAF. These notes can be found at http://www.thegef.org/Operational_Policies/RAF_Hist orical_Documents_Archive.html. GEF Project to Further Strengthen Focal Points and Constituency Coordination Proposed In 1999, the GEF Council approved the funding of a program to support members and focal points. At the 1 of 11 meeting in May 2003, the GEF Council agreed to 11. Corporate Budget FY06 continue the program pending an evaluation of the 12. Process for selecting CEO and Chairman of program. An evaluation completed in May 2004 the GEF recommended that the GEF support program be continued but reshaped to enable increased and 13. Resource Allocation Framework consistent guidance, information, and advice to focal 14. Fee System points and Council Members through direct contact 15. Strengthening Focal Points and Council with the GEF Secretariat. Members 16. Procedures for Approval of Work Programs GEF/C.25/9, Elements for Strengthening National Focal Points and Enhancing Constituency 17. Cost Effectiveness of GEF Projects Coordination in GEF Recipient Countries proposes a 18. Review of Action Plan to Respond to four-year program of assistance to further strengthen Recommendations for Improving GEF's national focal points and Council Members. The Performance administration of the program would be streamlined 19. Confirmation of Constituencies and financial resources made available to focal points 20. Other Business and Council Members on the basis of an agreed work plan. 21. Joint Summary of the Chairs New guidelines of eligible expenditures will provide increased flexibility, while emphasizing the need to II. Focal Point News enhance coordination and mainstream global environmental aims in the policies and programs of the recipient countries. Accountability for expenditures Cameroon Hosts Constituency Meeting will be exercised through annual reporting by the focal points and Council Members in accordance with a GEF Focal points from Burundi, Cameroon, Central standard reporting format. Funding will also be African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of provided to allow Council Members to convene two Congo met in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from March 31­ constituency meetings per year, which can be April 1, 2005. The constituency meeting presented an attended by both the political and operational focal opportunity for focal points from participating points. countries to interact and discuss constituency matters, including the identification of a schedule for The GEF Secretariat will be responsible for rotation among member countries of the constituency. management and strategic oversight of the program, and UNEP will assist in administering the disbursement of funds to focal points and Council III. Country Dialogue News Members. Panama and Djibouti Host National If the proposal is approved by the council, the Dialogues Implementing Agencies and the GEF Secretariat will collaborate in the preparation of a project proposal to operationalize the program. In April 2005, Panama and Djibouti hosted national dialogues on the GEF. In Panama, the Autoridad Provisional Agenda Nacional del Ambiente, with support from the UNDP, organized the dialogue. More than 80 stakeholders 1. Opening of the Meeting attended the event, representing national and local 2. Election of a Chairperson governments, civil society, including indigenous 3. Adoption of the Agenda groups, the private sector, the donor community and 4. Statement by the Chair of Scientific and the media. The dialogue focused on identifying Technical Advisory Panel national priority areas that emerged from Panama's 5. Monitoring and Evaluation enabling activities and their link to the GEF's strategic 6. Statements by Executive Secretaries of the priorities. Conventions and the representative of UN Commission on Sustainable Development Djibouti's National Dialogue, which was held from 7. Relations with Conventions and Other April, 16­18, was hosted by the Ministère de l'Habitat, Institutions de l'Urbanisme, de L'Environnement et de 8. Report on Climate Change Funds l'Aménagement du Territoire with support provided by 9. Land Degradation UNDP. More than 60 stakeholders representing national and local government, civil society, the 10. Work Program 2 of 11 private sector, the donor community and the media, regional centers and information networks for rapid participated. The main focus of the dialogue was to response to extreme weather events. raise awareness of the role GEF can play in linking On the basis of climate convention guidance, the GEF global environmental issues to Djibouti's national Secretariat prepared a programming paper in priorities as outlined through their climate change and collaboration with its Implementing Agencies and the energy, biodiversity, and land degradation strategies, Convention Secretariat. The programming paper their Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, and their provided a basis for discussion to mobilize resources Capacity 21 efforts. The latter efforts emphasize from donor countries. The GEF has so far mobilized Djibouti's two-year program entitled "Strengthening $34 million for the SCCF. These first results were presented in Buenos Aires during the tenth Environmental Capacities and the Process of Conference of the Parties of the Climate Convention. Participation through the PANE (National Environmental Action Plan). The program seeks to References: 1. GEF Council Paper GEF/C.24/12 2. establish the Directorate of Environment, which will be GEF Council Paper GEF/C.25/4/Rev.1 responsible for capacity building at the national level. For more information, please, contact Dick Hosier, rhosier@thegef.org and Boni Biagini, Djibouti's detailed national dialogue report, prepared bbiagini@thegef.org. by the GEF operational focal point, is available on the Initiative's website at www.undp.org/gef/dialogue. Biodiversity Panama's National Dialogue report will soon be available. GEF Biodiversity Task Force Develops New Tracking Tools Stephen Gold, Global Manager, GEF National Dialogue Initiative, contributed to this article. The Biodiversity Task Force was established to facilitate interagency collaboration on strategic and IV. Focal Area News policy issues within the Biodiversity Focal Area. The task force is comprised of the GEF Secretariat's Climate Change biodiversity team and representatives from the Implementing Agencies and Executing Agencies. Donors Mobilize $34 Million for Special Climate Change Fund The task force has developed tracking tools to measure progress towards achieving portfolio-level The Climate Convention established two new funds to be managed by the GEF: the Least Developed biodiversity targets that were established as part of Country (LDC) Fund and the Special Climate Change the GEF-3 business plan for the Biodiversity Focal Fund (SCCF). Area. In addition to being used to report on the achievement of GEF-3 portfolio-level targets, the The SCCF is aimed at meeting special needs of tracking tools will help inform ongoing program-level developing countries under the climate regime and monitoring of the focal area. Tracking tools have been gives top priority to adaptation. Under the SCCF, the developed for the two main strategic priorities in GEF will support projects that address the adverse effects of climate change and increase resilience of biodiversity: (i) catalyzing the sustainability of vulnerable countries. In particular, the SCCF identifies protected area systems, and (ii) mainstreaming activities in priority areas, such as water resources biodiversity in production landscapes and sectors, management, land management, agriculture, health, which encompasses more than 80 percent of GEF infrastructure development, fragile ecosystems investment in biodiversity. (including mountain ecosystems) and integrated coastal zone management. To improve disease control prevention, the SCCF calls for activities to For more information please contact Mark Zimsky, improve monitoring of diseases and vectors affected mzimsky@thegef.org, or see the GEF website at: by climate change and related forecasting and early http://thegef.org/Operational_Policies/Eligibility_Criteri warning systems. The SCCF will also support a/templates.htm. See Annex G: Prepare Project Capacity Building for preventive measures as well as Executive Summary, page 11. for the planning, preparedness and management of disasters relating to climate change, including contingency planning for droughts and floods in areas prone to extreme weather events. The SCCF Fund will also help strengthen and establish national and 3 of 11 Land Degradation 2005 in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The main objective of the meeting was to ensure that global efforts to reduce and eliminate a list of highly hazardous Highlights of the Meeting on the Convention chemicals move forward. to Combat Desertification The conference made a number of decisions with The third session of the UN Convention to Combat direct relevance to the GEF. It developed and Desertification's Committee for the Review of the adopted Guidance to the Financial Mechanism which Implementation of the Convention (CRIC-3) was convened in Bonn, Germany, from May 2­11, 2005. will be transmitted to the GEF. The conference has Delegates reviewed the implementation of the also developed and adopted Terms of Reference for Convention in Africa, considered issues relating to the the first review of the Financial Mechanism. In Convention's implementation at the global level, addition, it adopted the Memorandum of shared experiences, and made concrete Understanding between the conference and the GEF recommendations for the future work of the Council for further consideration and adoption by the Convention. Council. The key thematic topics for review at CRIC-3 were: The conference also established a POPs Review Committee that will be responsible for evaluating (a) Participatory processes involving civil society, chemicals that could be added to the initial list of 12 nongovernmental organizations and POPs. The Committee will hold its first meeting in community-based organizations; Geneva later this year to review four proposed chemicals. Its recommendations will be forwarded to (b) Legislative and institutional frameworks or future annual meetings of the Conference of the arrangements; Parties for decisions on whether and how new POPs should be added to the Convention. (c) Resource mobilization and coordination, both Furthermore, recognizing the strong synergies domestic and international, including existing between the Stockholm Convention and the conclusions of partnership agreements; Basel Convention on Transboundary Movements of Hazardous and Other Wastes, the meeting lent its (d) Linkages and synergies with other support to the guidelines for managing POPs wastes environmental conventions and, as as adopted by the Basel Convention last year and appropriate, with national development encouraged countries to apply them. strategies; The meeting also agreed on how to evaluate the (e) Measures for the rehabilitation of degraded Convention's progress in reducing the levels of POPs land and for early warning systems for in the environment. It established a system for mitigating the effects of drought; requesting and registering temporary exemptions to the phase-out of certain chemicals. The meeting (f) Drought and desertification monitoring and welcomed and accepted the invitation of Switzerland assessment. to locate the Convention's secretariat in Geneva. The report from the meeting highlighted the slow pace V. GEF-NGO NETWORK NEWS of implementing the Convention and the insufficient financial resources available to address the problem Independent Review of the GEF-NGO of land degradation. It called upon the donor community to substantially increase the funding Network in Progress envelope for this focal area. The report will be considered at the seventh Conference of the Parties, Since its inception, the NGO Network has which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, in strengthened its capacity and provided constructive October 2005. inputs to GEF policies and programs. However, there is still a lack of knowledge, information, and capacity Persistent Organic Pollutants to work with the GEF, particularly among NGOs in developing countries. Four New Chemicals Proposed for Phase-Out at Stockholm Convention The NGO guide to the GEF will help to provide more The first meeting of the Conference of the Parties information on the GEF and thus build the capacity of (COP 1) of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent NGOs to participate in GEF projects. To complement Organic Pollutants (POPs) was held from 2-6 May 4 of 11 this initiative, the Central Focal Point of the GEF-NGO synergies (a more positive form of win-win) Network has asked the GEF Secretariat to assist in between or among focal areas. conducting a review of the network to provide 2. In some projects, synergies may be questionable to the point that the risk of "double jeopardy" concrete recommendations on how it can be further arises in having to establish baselines and enhanced. achieve and measure separate but synergistic impacts. That is, it may be that holding projects The independent review is looking at the operation responsible for multifocal outcomes could be and management of the GEF-NGO Network, its roles beyond project capabilities and budgets. and responsibilities, and how NGOs interact with the network. The review to be completed by the end of The review concluded that OP12 is useful for the July, 2005, will also provide recommendations on how GEF, but will require more careful strategic the network can be more effectively and supported prioritizing, improved quality of entry, and improved and on how participation of NGOs in the network can methods for monitoring and learning from IEM be enhanced. approaches. The study and the response by the GEF Secretariat VI. News from the GEF Office of will be presented at the June 2005 council meeting Monitoring and Evaluation and can be found under the Council Documents section of the GEF website at www.theGEF.org. For GEF Office of Monitoring and Evaluation more information, please, contact Aaron Zazueta at Studies Effectiveness of Operational azazueta@theGEF.org Program 12 (OP 12) to Promote Integration and Synergies GEF Evaluates Support for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety One of the key tasks of the GEF Office of Monitoring In February 2005, the GEF Office of Monitoring and and Evaluation is to review the progress and results Evaluation began evaluating activities that help of the GEF portfolio. The Office recently completed a countries prepare for entry into force of the Cartagena review of GEF's Operational Program 12: Integrated Protocol. The protocol is under the Convention on Ecosystem Management. The study assessed the Biological Diversity (CBD). operational program's effectiveness as a GEF mechanism to promote integration and synergies and The evaluation focuses on four key issues: whether there are alternative integration options among the biodiversity, climate change, and 1) The consistency of GEF support to the international waters focal areas. Cartagena Protocol, 2) The relevance and effectiveness of GEF The study found that overall project documents did a support to capacity building efforts, good job in addressing process-related issues, such 3) Countries' progress on building the requisite as partnership arrangements, country-drivenness, capacities towards the ratification and and stakeholder participation. Projects did not score implementation of the Cartagena Protocol, as well, however, on technical factors that are 4) The effectiveness and efficiency of the important to potential success: sound initial diagnosis modalities and approaches of GEF support of problems and assessment of potential solutions; compared to similar projects. accurate establishment of baselines; appropriate scientific and technical approaches to problem The evaluation will review activities to develop draft solution; monitoring of change or impact; and National Biosafety Frameworks (NBFs) in 130 mechanisms to learn from experiences and adapt countries and the efforts to implement such accordingly. Few projects convincingly presented frameworks in 12 countries. It will also look at initial potential synergies among focal areas--an important plans for the establishment of national mechanisms to criterion for the success of OP12 projects. Two participate in the Biosafety Clearing House under the important considerations require more attention CBD in 50 countries. during project preparation: About 30 countries have recently completed their 1. "Win-wins" versus trade-offs must be assessed NBFs. The material yielded by NBFs will form the carefully in terms of working to achieve (a) data basis of the evaluation. development or poverty alleviation objectives while maintaining or increasing global The final draft report will be completed for submission environmental goods and services, and (b) to the GEF Council by mid-October 2005. For more 5 of 11 information, please, contact Jarle Harstad at A list of the projects, along with a list of published jharstad@theGEF.org. articles and reports, are in Benguela Current News (2003, 2004) and found on www.bclme.org. VII. News from the Implementing For more information on the program, please, contact Mick O'Toole, Chief Technical Adviser, BCLME, and Agencies Nik Sekhran: nik.sekhran@undp.org, Regional Coordinator, UNDP-GEF Southern Africa. UNDP National Capacity Self Assessments for Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Serbia and Montenegro Help Ensure Program Facilitates Sustainable Management Ownership of Environmental Activities and Protection of the Ecosystem An initiative of Namibia, Angola and South Africa, the Since the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Program became a GEF member in 2001, the country has is working to facilitate the sustainable management become a union of the two member states of Serbia and protection of the ecosystem. The program aims to and Montenegro, each with its own legislative and improve the management structures and capacities of policy frameworks regarding environmental issues. the three countries to deal with environmental Although these changes have occurred, the initial problems and issues that transcend national objective for UNDP-GEF involvement has remained boundaries. The GEF is supporting the program the same: to support sustainable development in the through UN D P. areas of global environmental concerns. The program is strengthening regional ecosystem Because of the country's political developments, the management capacities in the Benguela Current UNDP Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) country office Ecosystem by developing scientific and economic faced new challenges concerning the national information on the ecosystem. It is also piloting capacity self-assessment (NCSA) project. As the measures and building capacity to address implementing agency, UNDP was mandated to assist transboundary management problems associated the country, and thus the member state governments, with fishing, mining, oil exploration, coastal in determining their capacities, assessing priority development, and pollution. A major emphasis is on needs, and developing plans of action in order to developing the know-how and skills needed to ensure implement conventions and meet the country's the longer term sustainability of an ecosystem-wide commitments to global environmental management. management approach. Activities include: To achieve these goals, UNDP developed the Twin- (g) Operationalizing an ecosystem Track approach, now a common tool in implementing approach to fisheries management, SCG European Union aspirations. Member state specifics had to be acknowledged, while UNDP's intermediary and facilitatory role helped in adopting a (h) Developing a responsible joint approach to common problems. aquaculture policy for the region, The NCSA project in Serbia and Montenegro has (i) Improving knowledge and ensured full ownership of action plans and understanding of the artisanal environmental commitments by the authorities in both fisheries, especially in Angola, member states, and the novel Twin-Track approach has been replicated by the UNDP-GEF enabling (j) Developing a regional oil spill activity in climate change. contingency plan for the region, For more information on the NCSA or any other (k) Harmonizing national environmental GEF/environmental activities in Serbia and policies and legislation for marine Montenegro, please, contact mining, dredging, and offshore saba.nordstrom@undp.org. petroleum exploration and production. Promoting Energy Efficient End-Use Equipment through Market Transformation One of the main recommendations is the formation of an Interim Benguela Current Commission. A study to Promoting energy efficient end-use equipment (such identify the needs and requirements for establishing a as domestic appliances, lighting, electric motors, regional marine resources commission for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems) is Benguela region was recently completed and the important for mitigating climate change. Energy commission is now being established. labelling and minimum energy efficiency standards 6 of 11 are instrumental for the large-scale transformation of inspired pilots, a national electric utility is providing markets for end-use equipment. three million CFLs free-of-charge to poor communities Standards and labels have proven to be one of the to help manage energy demand as the government most promising policy instruments in countries where expands rural electrification programs. they have been introduced with care. Used for many years in numerous developed countries, they Preliminary results from a post-program study of ELI delivered tangible results. In the context of energy efficiency, the standards are a set of procedures and suggest that, across the seven countries, ELI reduced regulations that prescribe the energy performance of energy consumption by 2,590 gigawatt hours and manufactured products. Labels affixed to reduced CO2 emissions by 2 million tons between manufactured products indicate energy performance 2000 and 2003. Today, one of the ways ELI lives on and efficiency in a way that allows for comparison is through a self-sustaining product certification between similar products or endorses the product's institute in China, which will build on the institutional use. partnerships established in the ELI countries to extend product certification to a range of efficient The GEF has already sponsored specific standards lighting technologies worldwide. This will include and labelling activities in China, Brazil, and Tunisia. market development for important new technologies, Standards and labels projects have recently been approved in India and in the Andean countries, while such as light emitting diodes. other projects are in preparation in South Africa, Kenya, Southern Cone Region, Asia, and Eastern The report on ELI will be available at Europe. www.ifc.org/enviro. For more information, please contact Russell Sturm, ELI Global Program Manager, As a fundamental step towards meeting the rsturm@ifc.org and Li Tienan, ELI Quality Certification challenges of market transformation, UNDP-GEF has Institute, China Standard Certification Center, developed an alliance with the Collaborative Labeling litn@cecp.org.cn. and Appliance Standard Programme (CLASP), which has created the second edition of Energy-Efficiency Phase 1 of Africa Stockpiles Programme Labels and Standards: A Guidebook for Appliances, Fully Funded Equipment, and Lighting Products. Available electronically The Africa Stockpiles Programme (ASP) was (http://www.clasponline.org/disdoc.php3?no=289) and conceived as a strategic partnership among the in hard copy format, the updated publication is a African Union, the UN Food and Agriculture comprehensive guide that should serve numerous Organization, the Pesticide Action Network, the World governments and GEF partners around the world. Bank, World Wildlife Fund, and the GEF. These For more information, please, contact Benoît Lebot, partners agreed to pool resources and expertise in a UNDP-GEF Climate Change Technical Adviser collaborative, comprehensive effort to clean up and benoit.lebot@undp.org. safely dispose of all obsolete pesticide stocks from Africa and to establish preventive measures to avoid future accumulation. Most of these chemicals-- World Bank comprising mainly of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)--are poorly maintained and are leaking Transforming Markets for Efficient Lighting chemical toxins into the ground, water, and air. The resulting pollution is an urgent environmental hazard and growing threat to public health and wildlife. In May, IFC released The ELI Story: Transforming Markets for Efficient Lighting, a publication on the The ASP is designed as a 12­15 year program, Efficient Lighting Initiative (ELI). Supported by a $15 consisting of four overlapping phases, each of which million investment from the GEF, ELI ran from 1999 to will last 4­5 years. The total cost of the program is 2003. It helped market development for energy- estimated at $250 million, of which the GEF would efficient lighting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions contribute up to $80 million. In 2002, the GEF approved $25 million in support of Phase 1 of the in seven countries--Argentina, the Czech Republic, ASP. A recent donation from Sweden and a Hungary, Latvia, Peru, the Philippines, and South commitment from the African Development Bank Africa. ELI achieved substantial market growth for bring total commitments and contributions to the ASP efficient lighting during its three-year life span. In to nearly $60 million. Current plans are to bring the Peru, annual sales of compact fluorescent bulbs ASP to the World Bank's board for approval within a (CFLs) increased twenty-fold from 250,000 to over 5 few months and to launch the program immediately thereafter. million per year. In South Africa, thanks to ELI- 7 of 11 In Phase 1, comprehensive clean-up and prevention Lanka. The agreement calls for 15-20 U N Volunteers will take place in Ethiopia, Mali, Morocco, South to work with the SGP National Coordinator and the Africa, Tanzania, and Tunisia, with an additional pilot local communities towards this end. project in Nigeria dealing with prevention and preparation for disposal. In addition, Phase 1 will Hawksbill Baby Turtles from Qeshm Island implement prevention programs and prepare for obsolete pesticide disposal in eight other African In the three-year span of the SGP project, over countries. 27,000 highly endangered baby Hawksbill turtles have been sent from Qeshm Island in Iran to the Persian Gulf. At the end of April 2005, SGP Iran was able to VIII. News from GEF Small Grants obtain a written permit from the Department of Programme Environment to allow the tagging of the mother turtles. The program is in the process of buying the tags from Australia and is hoping to catch up with the turtles NEWS FROM GEF SMALL GRANTS during egg-laying season. PROGRAMME Three SGP Projects Win Awards in Senegal Commission on Sustainable Development-13 Three SGP projects won awards at the Grand Prix of During the 13th session of the U.N. Commission on the President of the Republic of Senegal. The topic of Sustainable Development, the Small Grant the competition was sustainable management of Programme (SGP) distributed a fact sheet on the natural resources. First prize went to the Regional collaboration between SGP and the UNDP Federation of the Association for the Promotion of Community Water Initiative, which will build on the Women in Ziguinchor for a project on community- success and experience of the SGP mechanism and based, integrated and sustainable management of the other UNDP small grants schemes. The goal is to mangrove swamp ecosystem in the region of help countries in reaching Millennium Development Goals that place high priority on water resources Ziguinchor. Third prize was given to a women's management, water supply, and sanitation for the association in the Natural Reserve of Poponguine for poor. a project to restore and conserve biodiversity. A prize was also given for the SGP project to reforest a mangrove swamp in Senegal. SGP, UNDP, and Columbia University Graduate Student Workshop IX. Good Practice Notes In April, 2005, the SGP, in collaboration with the Sustainable Energy Programme of UNDP and the Côte d'Ivoire: Country Coordination and Columbia University graduate school, held a seminar: Strategies for Scaling up Community-driven Energy the GEF Interventions to Reach the Millennium Development Goals. A study begun in 2005 is examining how The government of Côte d'Ivoire has established a community climate change projects can be scaled up coordinating unit and advisory body to monitor the to address local community development energy management of the GEF portfolio. The unit reports to services. Three Columbia University student teams the Ministries for Economy and Finance, are focusing on SGP projects in Kenya (micro-hydro), Environment, Water and Forests, and Foreign Affairs. Dominican Republic (solar PV), and Nepal (micro- hydro). The GEF Operational Focal Point is assisted by a small committee known as the Technical Secretariat. A final output of the study will feed into the larger The Technical Secretariat is composed of four UNDP advocacy and policy report on the importance members representing the technical ministries of accessing energy services in achieving the responsible for the environment and other Millennium Development Goals. The policy report will development institutions. contribute to discussions at the Millennium Summit in September. The GEF Coordinator works closely with stakeholders at the national level in the design and implementation SGP and U N Volunteers Collaborate on of GEF projects, ensuring communication with Tsunami Recovery executing agencies, the Political Focal Point, and convention focal points. Civil society representatives, SGP is finalizing an agreement with U N Volunteers such as women, youths, NGOs, the private sector, on post-Tsunami recovery and rehabilitation in Sri and representatives of other ministries are also involved in developing projects from the design stage 8 of 11 to the implementation phase. To promote greater (b) Ecosystem changes that have contributed awareness of the GEF, the Operational Focal Point substantial net gains in human well-being and conducts outreach activities through workshops and economic development have been achieved at the mass media. growing costs in the form of degradation of other services. Approximately 60 percent (15 Since October 2001, the GEF Coordination Unit has out of 24) of the ecosystem services that organized information workshops in collaboration with support life on Earth are being degraded or the UNDP and the World Bank. Workshops cover used unsustainably. Only four ecosystem various goals, including general outreach and services have been enhanced in the last 50 information, and project development. The GEF years including crops, livestock and Coordination Unit also uses mass media to discuss aquaculture. The use of two--capture fisheries information on the GEF. For example, a television and fresh water--is now well beyond levels program featured the coordinators of the GEF that can sustain current, much less future, thematic focal areas and of GEF-financed projects in demands. Scientists say that these problems Côte d'Ivoire, as well as certain NGOs. The aim of the will substantially diminish the benefits for future program was to introduce the GEF to the public at generations. large. (c) The degradation of ecosystem services could Looking ahead, the Coordination Unit plans to put grow significantly worse during the first half of more emphasis on soil degradation. There are plans this century and is a barrier to achieving the to organize a workshop to inform officials of the UN Millennium Development Goals. In all the relevant ministry about these concerns. four plausible futures explored by the scientists, they project progress in eliminating Alimata Kone-Bakayoko, the GEF Operational Focal hunger, but at far slower rates than needed to Point in Côte d'Ivoire, contributed to this article. halve the number of people suffering from hunger by 2015. The scientists warn that changes in ecosystems influence the X. Other News abundance of human pathogens such as malaria and cholera, as well as the risk of Millennium Ecosystem Assessment emergence of new diseases. (d) The challenge of reversing the degradation of The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a project ecosystems while meeting increasing demands implemented by UNEP and partially funded by the can be met under some scenarios involving GEF, was launched on March 30, 2005 in various significant policy and institutional changes. cities throughout the world. The Assessment focused However, these changes will be large and are on the linkages between ecosystems and human well- not currently under way. The report cites being and, in particular, on ecosystem services. It options to conserve or enhance ecosystem services, while at the same time-reducing synthesized information from the scientific literature negative trade-offs or positively impacting other and relevant peer-reviewed data and models but did services. not aim to generate new primary knowledge. It involved approximately 1,360 experts from 95 The MA Board concluded: "It lies within the power of countries who volunteered to conduct the human societies to ease the strains we are putting on assessment, while 900 served as reviewers and the natural services of the planet, while continuing to editors. use them to bring better living standards to all. ... Achieving this, however, will require radical changes The four main MA findings are the following: in the way nature is treated at every level of decision- making... The warning signs are there for all of us to (a) Humans have changed ecosystems more see. The future now lies in our hands." rapidly and extensively in the last 50 years than in any other period. This was done largely to meet rapidly growing demands for food, GEF Activities at CSD-13 fresh water, timber, fiber and fuel. More land was converted to agriculture since 1945 than in The GEF participated in the 13th session of the U.N. the 18th and 19th centuries combined. Commission on Sustainable Development in New Scientists said that this resulted in a substantial York from April 11­22, 2005. This session focused and largely irreversible loss in diversity of life on policy recommendations for overcoming obstacles on Earth. in the areas of water, sanitation, and human settlements. 9 of 11 GEF participation was important because GEF works control termites without harmful chemicals, foster civil with more than 135 countries to restore society participation, and develop national transboundary water resources and prevent conflicts implementation plans. The series also features the among different users, an important step to ensuring Africa Stockpiles Programme (see above article on a reliable supply of clean water. Over the past 14 ASP). years, GEF has invested more than $1 billion to help prevent conflict among and within nations competing GEF Website New Content for limited water resources. These GEF grants have The GEF website now features separate pages for catalyzed an additional $3.6 billion in cofinancing from the different focal areas: partners. GEF's contributions in this area are primarily Biodiversity - through its international waters and biodiversity focal www.thegef.org/Projects/Focal_Areas/bio/bio.html areas. Climate Change ­ www.thegef.org/Projects/Focal_Areas/climate/climate. Len Good, GEF Chairman and CEO, participated on a html Panel of Finance and Development Cooperation International Waters - Ministers and in a ministerial session on www.thegef.org/Projects/focal_areas/iw/iw.html implementation challenges. His major themes Land Degradation - covered the importance of managing land and water www.thegef.org/Projects/focal_areas/land/land.html resources in an integrated manner and balancing Persistent Organic Pollutants - competing water uses if the Millennium Development www.thegef.org/Projects/focal_areas/pops/pops.html Goals are to be reached. Ozone Depleting Substances - www.thegef.org/Projects/focal_areas/ozone/ozone.ht Over the two-week period, GEF maintained a strong m presence at the meeting. GEF, UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank organized a side-event in which representatives of the governments of China and Brazil, and the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River made presentations about their GEF projects. On behalf of the GEF, UNDP organized a side event on How to Obtain a GEF Grant, which provided practical information on GEF grant financing. The GEF Secretariat and the Implementing Agencies also organized a briefing at the CSD-13 Learning Center, which focused on integrated water resources management based on practical experiences in GEF projects. XI. New GEF Publications GEF Global Action on Water (Folder and Fact Sheets) The GEF Global Action on Water series was launched through a news release and at the GEF exhibit at CSD-13. These fact sheets highlight GEF's contribution to transboundary water resources management, water scarcity, groundwater protection, conflict resolution, and pollution reduction. They are available at www.theGEF.org GEF Global Action on Persistent Organic Pollutants (Map, Folder and Fact Sheets) [Available in English, French and Spanish] This series highlights the GEF's efforts to help developing countries combat persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and was released to coincide with the First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention in Punta del Este, Uruguay in May, 2005. The fact sheets address how the GEF is helping countries destroy dangerous pollutants and 10 of 11 XII. Focal Point Update New GEF Council Members, Alternates and Focal Points March 200\5 - May 2005 Alternates Name Country Category Date of Nomination Mr. Tibor Farago Hungary Alternate Member / Political Focal Point 04/06/2005 Mr. Anton HILBER Switzerland Alternate Member / Political Focal Point 04/07/2005 Prof. Alfred OTENG-YEBOAH Ghana Alternate Member 04/13/2005 Council Members Name Country Category Date of Nomination Council Member / Ms. Verónica Querejazu Bolivia Political Focal Point / 03/23/2005 Operational Focal Point His Excellency Pierre Hele Cameroon Council Member 03/23/2005 Mr. Ton van der Zon Netherlands Council Member 05/13/2005 Ms. Claudia Grayeb Bayata Mexico Council Member / Political Focal Point 05/18/2005 Operational Focal Points Name Country Category Date of Nomination Mr. Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury Bangladesh Operational Focal Point 03/23/2005 Mr. Nima Wangdi Bhutan Operational Focal Point 03/23/2005 Mr. Alain Edouard Traore Burkina Faso Operational Focal Point 03/24/2005 Mr. Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya Thailand Operational Focal Point 03/24/2005 Mr. Vyacheslav Kruk Ukraine Operational Focal Point 03/24/2005 Mr. Bing Wang China Operational Focal Point 03/30/2005 Mr. Lionel Nurse Barbados Operational Focal Point 04/21/2005 Mr. Agus Purnomo Indonesia Operational Focal Point 04/21/2005 Political Focal Points Name Country Category Date of Nomination His Excellency Keod Smith Bahamas Political Focal Point 03/23/2005 Mr. Nima OME Bhutan Political Focal Point 03/23/2005 His Excellency Moshe Semonetta Israel Political Focal Point 03/30/2005 His Excellency Suhair Al-Ali Jordan Political Focal Point 04/21/2005 Mr. Nikola Ruzinski Croatia Political Focal Point 04/26/2005 Mr. Leander Treppel Austria Political Focal Point 05/04/2005 11 of 11