GEF The Greenline - World Bank€¦ · the international waters focal area. Sustainable Forest Management and REDD+ financing at the GEF - Since its inception in 1991, the GEF has

GEF The Greenline

http://www.thegef.org/gef/greenline/Jun10/index.html[3/29/2011 1:44:43 PM]

A RECORD REPLENISHMENT: $4.25 BILLION FORTHE GEF’S FIFTH CYCLEThe world’s largest public environmental fund, the Global Environment Facility ,received a record boost from donor countries on May 12th, 2010 with more than30 nations pledging $4.25 billion... More...

FOURTH GEF ASSEMBLY:HIGHLIGHTSThe fourth Assembly of the GEF was held in Puntadel Este, Uruguay, on 25-26 May 2010 and waspreceded by a Civil Society Forum and a GEFCouncil meeting that took place in the same venue.The GEF Assembly gathered GEF stakeholders toreview the policies and operations of the Facility.

Over 1,000 participants attended the Assembly, representing member states, UNagencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, and the private sector.More...

UNCCD AND THE GEF: LINKSBETWEEN LAND DEGRADATIONAND SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENTWhile in Uruguay, the GEF has decided to officiallyrecognize in its charter that it will be the primaryfinancing mechanism of the United Nations

Convention to Combat Desertification. The commitment signals to investors thatthe solutions the Convention offers to promote sustainable land management arenot only well-intentioned, but indeed are financially feasible through new fundingfrom the world’s largest environmental funding organization. More...

ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES THEUN’S INTERNATIONAL YEAR OFBIODIVERSITYIn April, the United Nations declared to 2010 to bethe International Year of Biodiversity. On May 27,the GEF decided to use the fourth Assembly as aplatform to commemorate IYB and to spreadawareness about the importance of biodiversity.

The event was held at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, Uruguay and wasalso co-hosted by the Uruguayan Council for International Relations (CURI).More...

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GreeningOpportunities atWorld Events -World events hostedby developingcountries andtransition economies—like the World Expo

2010, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the2008 Summer and 2014 WinterOlympics, and the 2010Commonwealth Games—present aunique opportunity to showcaseenvironmentally sound technologiesand practices.

Experiences fromSGP: ProtectingInternationalWaters - Thispublication highlightsthe work of the GEFSmall GrantsProgramme (SGP) in

the international waters focal area.

SustainableForestManagement andREDD+ financingat the GEF - Sinceits inception in 1991,the GEF has financedover 300 projects and

programs focusing on forest

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GEF The Greenline

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PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITYADVOCATES: CIVIL SOCIETYFORUMThe Civil Society Forum was held on May 24, theday before the official start of the fourth Assemblymeeting of the GEF. Several panels were held withkey leaders of Uruguayan, Latin American, and

international civil society organizations (CSOs), focusing on the role of CSOs,local and indigenous communities in protecting the environment, Latin Americanexperiences with GEF projects, and specifics of improving CSO-GEF partnershipin the next stage of GEF-5. More...

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conservation and management indeveloping countries. The total GEFallocation to forest initiatives during thisperiod amounts to more than $1.6billion, leveraging $5 billion from othersources.

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GEF The Greenline

http://www.thegef.org/gef/greenline/Jun10/replenishment.html[3/29/2011 1:45:00 PM]

A RECORD REPLENISHMENT: $4.25 BILLION FORTHE GEF’S FIFTH CYCLE

The world’s largest public environmental fund, the Global Environment Facility(GEF), received a record boost from donor countries on May 12th, 2010 with morethan 30 nations pledging $4.25 billion.This replenishment marks the firstsignificant multilateral step toward the commitments in Copenhagen regardingclimate change and in other key international environmental agreements. The $4.25 billion pledged for the next four years is the largest ever increase in fundingfor the GEF.

“This record replenishment, representing a 52% increase in new resourcesprovided by donors is a testimony to the international donor community’scommitment to the environmental agenda,” said Axel van Trotsenburg, WorldBank Vice President for Concessional Finance and Global Partnerships and Co-Chair of the GEF-5 replenishment negotiations. “The GEF’s comprehensivefocus, supporting climate change, biodiversity and other critical environmentalareas, coupled with its ability to deliver funding through multilateral developmentbanks and the UN family, is what makes it a uniquely important facility,” headded.

The GEF’s plan of action is to channel these new resources toward measurableresults in six key environmental focal areas: climate change, biodiversity,international waters, land degradation, persistent organic pollutants, mercury andthe ozone layer. Over the next four years the GEF will direct funds to: lowercarbon dioxide emissions, expand sustainable management of protected areasand critical landscapes, strengthen multi-state cooperation on trans-boundarywater systems management, reduce persistent organic pollutants in land andwater, reduce mercury emissions, and expand and protect the Earth’s forestcover.

The GEF will also implement a package of policy and operational reforms to giverecipient countries greater ownership in funding choices. The strongreplenishment allows the GEF to meet obligations under several internationalagreements for which the GEF serves as a financial mechanism, including theUnited Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change, the StockholmConvention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the United Nations Convention toCombat Desertification, the Montreal Protocol, and the Convention on BiologicalDiversity.

Commenting on the replenishment, CEO of the GEF Secretariat, Monique Barbut,noted: “This welcome increase in resources for the financial mechanism of theConvention on Biological Diversity should kick off the upcoming Conference ofthe Parties to the convention in Nagoya, Japan this October on a positive note.”Madame Barbut, who is also Co-Chair of the replenishment negotiations, added,“It is now the GEF’s responsibility to transform these resources into concreteresults on the ground. We are committed to supporting policy reforms for astronger GEF, with a focus on recipient country ownership, more efficientimplementation, and greater responsiveness and accountability to the UNConventions.”

Regarding climate change, Madame Barbut commented further: “Thisreplenishment is the first tangible confirmation of the financial commitments made

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A Record Replenishment: $4.25 Billion forthe GEF’s Fifth Cycle

Fourth GEF Assembly: Highlights

UNCCD and the GEF: Links between LandDegradation and Sustainable Development

Assembly Celebrates the UN’s InternationalYear of Biodiversity

Partnering with Community Advocates: CivilSociety Forum

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FROM THE GEF EVALUATION

OFFICEGEF Evaluation Office Book Launch of“Evaluating Climate Change andDevelopment”

Evaluation of the Strategic Priority forAdaptation (SPA)

FROM OUR PARTNERS

GEF-UNIDO Partnership supports POPs-free Industries

SGP’s Community-based approach to theImplementation of the StockholmConvention

FROM THE GEF NGO NETWORK

Life in the GEF…..where Land Matters

Fresh water prawn farming for womenlivelihood in the Kribi area, SouthCameroon

Strengthening the Network of TrainingCenters for Protected Area Managers ofNorthern Eurasia

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in Copenhagen last December, including some of the Fast-Start Financing, inparticular, through the creation of a new initiative inside the GEF linked tosustainable forest management—REDD Plus.” Of the replenishment fund,approximately $1.35 billion will be programmed specifically for the climate changefocal area.



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programs focusing on forestconservation and management indeveloping countries. The total GEFallocation to forest initiatives during thisperiod amounts to more than $1.6billion, leveraging $5 billion from othersources.



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GEF The Greenline

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FOURTH GEF ASSEMBLY: HIGHLIGHTS

The fourth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) was held in Puntadel Este, Uruguay, on 25-26 May 2010 and was preceded by a Civil SocietyForum and a GEF Council meeting that took place in the same venue. The GEFAssembly gathered GEF stakeholders to review the policies and operations of theFacility. Over 1,000 participants attended the Assembly, representing memberstates, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, and the privatesector.

The Assembly featured plenary sessions and a series of roundtables to discusstwo broad areas of reform, namely: enhancing country ownership; and improvingthe effectiveness and efficiency of the GEF. Alongside these, participants tookpart in numerous side events and in an exhibition area featuring the work ofdonors, recipients, civil society, international organizations, and implementingagencies.

The host country also organized several visits to GEF project sites. In addition toits regular plenary sessions, the Assembly’s three significant accomplishmentsincluded the new commitment to a strategic partnership between UNCCD and theGEF, a special event celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB), andcomprehensive forum for held specifically for civil society organizations and theirleaders.



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GEF The Greenline

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UNCCD AND THE GEF: LINKS BETWEEN LANDDEGRADATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

While in Uruguay, the GEF has decided to officially recognize in its charter that itwill be the primary financing mechanism of the United Nations Convention toCombat Desertification (UNCCD). The commitment signals to investors that thesolutions the Convention offers to promote sustainable land management are notonly well-intentioned, but indeed are financially feasible through new funding fromthe world’s largest environmental funding organization.

"This action taken by the Assembly to amend the GEF instrument affirms andstrengthens the role GEF plays in delivering on the ground results for today'sglobal environmental challenges, and sustainable land management is a key toolto protect food security, particularly among the world's most poor and vulnerablewho always suffer the most from the ravages of climate change and speciesloss," said Mrs. Monique Barbut, CEO and chairperson of the GEF.

“In our new funding cycle we expect to reach up to one billion family farms tohelp guard against soil erosion and preserve up to 500 million hectares of land,”she added. “This is a landmark decision for the reasons cited by Mrs. Barbut,”added Mr. Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, in response to theannouncement, “but it is more than that.”

“The GEF’s decision is a vote of confidence in the Convention’s ability to deal, atonce, with a mix of overwhelming global challenges that range from povertyalleviation, food insecurity, drought and water stress, to forced migration,mitigation and adaptation to climate change, deforestation and energy crises,”Mr. Gnacadja added.

Mrs. Barbut and Mr. Gnacadja noted that the decision is expected to induceconsiderable leverage investments, over the next four years, towards better landuse practices in developing countries because short of addressing soil protectionand land reclamation, policymakers face an uphill challenge for effectiveprotection of land, water and air.

Similar sentiments echoing the need for better land management and sustainableagriculture practices were heard from several of the Assembly’s constituencies,most notably from the representatives of several African and Asian nations.



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ASSEMBLY CELEBRATES THE UN’S INTERNATIONALYEAR OF BIODIVERSITY

In April, the United Nations declared to 2010 to be the International Year ofBiodiversity (IYB). On May 27, the GEF decided to use the fourth Assembly as aplatform to commemorate IYB and to spread awareness about the importance ofbiodiversity.

The event was held at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, Uruguay and wasalso co-hosted by the Uruguayan Council for International Relations (CURI).Several speakers addressed the Assembly, recognizing the moral imperative topreserve biodiversity and the urgency required to prevent further species loss.

Monique Barbut, CEO of the GEF, warned that by destroying our biologicalwealth we endanger the safety nets provided by nature on multiple fronts. Shenoted the fifth GEF replenishment adds more resources for biodiversity projectsand additional elements to GEF’s strategy that will have positive repercussionsfor biodiversity.

Multiple speakers, including the Environmental Minister of Uruguay, GracielaMuslera, and Thomas Lovejoy, Chairman for the GEF Scientific and TechnicalAdvisory Panel (STAP), argued that much work still needed to be done to preventbiodiversity degradation, and that IYB Day at the fourth Assembly was moreabout raising awareness than celebrating accomplishments.

The environment used to be treated by classical economists and policymakers asa mere externality, a means towards an end of economic productivity and not asan end in itself. Recognizing this outdated philosophy, Inger Anderson, incomingVice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank, argued thatdegradation of natural assets does affect the economic productivity of the worldas a whole, hurting the poor disproportionally in the process.

She continued to say that the challenge facing the Bank is to look at biodiversity,poverty reduction and economic growth and combating climate change in aholistic manner, to seek opportunities to link support for biodiversity into otherareas of Bank lending, such as combating climate change.

At closing of the event, participants were invited to a special exhibition,“Biodiversity is Life, Biodiversity is Our Life.”

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PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY ADVOCATES: CIVILSOCIETY FORUM

The Civil Society Forum was held on May 24, the day before the official start ofthe fourth Assembly meeting of the GEF. Several panels were held with keyleaders of Uruguayan, Latin American, and international civil societyorganizations (CSOs), focusing on the role of CSOs, local and indigenouscommunities in protecting the environment, Latin American experiences with GEFprojects, and specifics of improving CSO-GEF partnership in the next stage ofGEF-5.

Monique Barbut, GEF CEO and Chairperson, opened the Civil Society Forum onMonday morning noting the crucial role of CSOs in GEF-5. She explained thatGEF-5 provides an opportunity to reform key aspects of GEF operations andadded that CSOs should participate in the development of national GEF businessplans and be part of national delegations to GEF regional meetings. Sheemphasized CSOs are an integral part of the GEF mission and key to achieveresults at the global level.

The panels themselves allowed various CSO leaders to present on particularGEF projects they helped participated in, assisting the GEF to bridgecommunication barriers and to allow for greater community ownership of GEFprojects during implementation. At the end of the day, a draft Punta del Este CivilSociety Forum declaration was presented with conclusions andrecommendations.

The Forum declaration recommended that: CSOs and GEF should work tostrengthen the recognition of indigenous people rights; GEF outreach to CSOsshould be enhanced; equitable access to funds should be ensured and fundsallocated to CSOs should be at least 20-25% of total GEF funding through theintroduction of targets and incentives; the SGP should be maintained; CSOsshould be more engaged in oversight and guidance of national and regional fullsized projects; the GEF voluntary fund to support consultation and empowermentof CSOs should be made operational; and the role and function of GEF CSOnetwork should be strengthened.

GEF The Greenline

http://www.thegef.org/gef/greenline/Jun10/Partner1.html[3/29/2011 1:48:44 PM]

FPO

GEF-UNIDO PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTS POPS-FREEINDUSTRIESBy Carmela Centeno, Mohamed Eisa and Heinz Leuenberger, EnvironmentalManagement Branch, UNIDO, [email protected]

The United Nations Industrial DevelopmentOrganization (UNIDO) plays a leading role in theimplementation of the Stockholm Convention onPersistent Organic Pollutants. Since theConvention opened for signature in 2001, UNIDObecame one of the principal agencies assistingdeveloping and transition economy countries tomeet their obligations under the convention.

UNIDO was awarded the status of Executing Agency with ExpandedOpportunities by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) in May 2000 inrecognition of its comparative advantage in the area of industry- related POPsissues.

With the support of GEF, UNIDO has embarked on actions to assist countries inthe development of their National Implementation Plans (NIPs), formulateenvironmentally sound management methodologies and technology transferapproaches and has established forums in developing countries and transitioneconomies, for the implementation of Articles 5 and 6 of the Convention.

NIP Development

The implementation of the SC started with the development of the NationalImplementation Plans (NIPs) of parties through the GEF Enabling Activitiesfunding mechanism. To date, over 50 countries have requested and receivedUNIDO’s assistance to develop their NIPs. The priority actions reflected in theNIPs have enabled UNIDO to address industrialization issues related to theelimination and/or reduction of POPs emissions and releases to the environment.Particularly, the unintentionally-produced POPs releases have been addressed inseveral industrial sectors of Article 5 (Annex C Part II and III source categories)of the Stockholm Convention. UNIDO has a clear comparative advantage andmandate to undertake programmes related to these sectors and promotesustainable industrial development.

Promotion of Non-combustion Technology

In response to the Stockholm Convention’s provision on the promotion ofenvironmentally sound management of POPs, UNIDO has received GEFapproval for a global programme on the “Demonstration of viability and removalof barriers that impede adoption and successful implementation of available, non-combustion technologies for destroying POPs”. The programme was approved inMay 2003 and currently involves Slovakia on the management of complex PCBwastes and PCB-contaminated equipment, the Philippines forelimination/disposal of PCB oil and China for the environmentally soundmanagement of obsolete POPs pesticides and incineration fly ash. With suchGEF support, UNIDO has continued to promote the introduction of non-combustion technologies in medical waste management cycle as well as otherhazardous wastes and chemicals.

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BAT and BEP Programmes

In a move to expand its POPs programme and to assist developing countries andcountries with economies in transition in implementing the BAT/BEP relatedprovisions of Article 5 of the Convention, UNIDO has established regional forumson BAT/BEP for the East and South East Asia (ESEA) and Countries of EasternEurope, Caucasus and Central Asia (CEECA) sub-regions. The same programmewill be launched in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Africansub-regions of COMESA, ECOWAS and SADEC.

The BAT and BEP Forums are a programmatic regional initiative of UNIDO on theintroduction of the Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Best EnvironmentalPractices (BEP) on industry-related priority sectors using the Conventionguidelines and guidance document as well as the UNEP toolkit for quantificationof dioxins emissions. The main objective of the Forums is to create an enabling,non-legally binding framework for regional cooperation to facilitate thedevelopment, diffusion and deployment and transfer of BAT/BEP through thedevelopment of regionally-harmonized initiatives for priority industrial sourcecategories. Information dissemination, awareness raising and implementation ofmeasures are done in close cooperation with the joint UNIDO-UNEP Resourceefficient and Cleaner production network.

Support to Africa LDCs

The GEF has strongly supported special programmes in Africa’s LDCs tostrengthen institutional capacities in implementing some of the priority actionplans of the NIPs. Through this initiative, UNIDO and the United NationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP) have joined hands in assisting African LDCs tointegrate their activities related to SC implementation to the sub-regional(COMESA, ECOWAS, SADEC) environment and economic developmentprogrammes.

Cross-cutting Issues

The future GEF chemical management strategy is currently being anchored onthe synergy amongst multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). UNIDO’spolicy in project formulation and development, strives to explore this synergy andexpand on the opportunities linking the MEAs. In a practical example, thedevelopment of a BAT/BEP project focusing on unintentionally produced POPs inthe fossil fuel-fired utilities and industrial boilers, the project explored theidentification of possible options for the simultaneous reduction of dioxins andC02 in response to the Stockholm Convention and Climate Changerequirements.

The international chemicals agenda is continuously evolving with newagreements being established and new substances coming into focus rangingfrom speciality chemicals to chemicals in consumer goods and services. TheStockholm Convention will continue to expand its list of chemicals and provideguidance and guidelines on the management of these chemicals. While there is aneed to introduce alternatives to these chemicals, other cross-cutting measuressuch as overall chemicals management could very well feature in future GEFfocal areas where countries could benefit from UNIDO support.

UNIDO shall continuously develop projects and embark on initiatives on industry-related chemicals management addressing the need for ultimate innovativetreatment processes and safe disposal technologies. UNIDO is also committed indeveloping systems aiming at “closing the loop” of the lifecycle of thesechemicals and to prevent pollution at source through engaging bothmanufacturers and users to take environmental actions in an integrated manner.This reflects the commitment of UNIDO, through the support of GEF, to derivehigh in its agenda, the implementation of the Convention and supporting greenindustry for sustainable industrial development and opening new avenues fortransfer of clean technologies. Cleaner production centers will play a crucial rolein the information dissemination, capacity building and implementation.

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SGP’S COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TO THEIMPLEMENTATION OF THE STOCKHOLMCONVENTIONBy Small Grants Programme

GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) is GEF’s window for small-scale activitiesat the community level to support the implementation of the StockholmConvention. It has contributed to the implementation of the StockholmConvention through piloting innovative demonstration models through community-based interventions, developing communities’ capacities, and strengtheningpartnerships to generate greater impact in the persistent organic pollutants (POP)focal area. SGP has funded 236 POPs projects (see Figure 1 for the regionaldistribution of the POPs portfolio). Despite the relatively short duration of SGP’sintervention in POPs focal area, it has provided innovative models andapproaches, enhanced technical and management capacities in POPs focal areaat the community level through online training, and established partnership withinternational NGO network for awareness-raising and collaboration.

Innovation and Demonstration

SGP has piloted innovative demonstration models and approaches to prevent,reduce and eliminate POPs at the community level. SGP’s POPs portfolio mainlycontains the following types of projects in POPs focal area: prevention of openburning of plastics and other solid waste, integrated pesticide management,organic farming, and awareness raising and capacity building activities. SGPpilot activities have not only provided innovative models for replication andupscaling but also increased awareness of POPs through UNDP’s practicenetwork and the media. A dump for domestic solid waste was severely affecting the community of IsletaSur in Cuba. Approximately 150 tons of solid waste was being burnt at the site ondaily basis, emitting large quantity of dioxin and furan, noxious vectors, smoke,and other emissions. Through a SGP project, the community eradicated thesource of the pollution and transformed the site into a garden. Three hectares ofthe dump have now been planted with fruit a tree, compost is being produced,and a plant nursery and recycling facility for rubber, plastics, and metals. Therecycling centre is also providing employment for 40 local residents, including 19women. The transformation of the dump has been led by a community member,who was also awarded the National Environmental Award 2006, the top annualprize given by the Ministry for the Environment. The project leader has won theCNN Hero Award in 2007 and the final nominee for the UNDP Administrator’sInnovative Award.

Capacity Development

POPs focal area is relatively new to SGP. NGOs and communities haverelatively low awareness and technical capacity in POPs focal area. Similarly,many national steering committee (NSC) members and national coordinators(NCs) of the SGP lack adequate knowledge regarding this new focal area. Aninteractive online POPs Training Module (www.sgp-pops.org) was developed andlaunched to build technical and management capacities of NGOs andcommunities in developing and implementing small scale community projects tosupport the implementation of the Stockholm Convention. This is the first and theonly online training course available for focal area development at the community

http://www.sgp-pops.org/

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level. There are four language versions available online (English, French,Spanish and Russian), and the Arabic version is to be put online soon. As ofFebruary 2010, 512 national coordinators, SGP grantees and partners havetaken the online training and given highly positive feedbacks to the trainingmodule.

Partnership

SGP has established a collaborative partnership with the International POPsElimination Network (IPEN) to promote the POPs focal area and to facilitatecommunication, coordination and effectiveness in assisting NGOs and CBOs intheir efforts to implement the Stockholm Convention and to reduce and eliminatePOPs. A joint communiqué was signed between SGP and IPEN, laying out thefoundation for the cooperation between SGP and IPEN. SGP works closely withIPEN to build capacity among eligible NGOs, CBOs and SGP country offices byproviding information about POPs; reaching out to NGOs and communities;sharing the knowledge and experience throughout SGP and IPEN networks,supporting the development and implementation of POPs projects withinformation and available SGP funds, and leveraging co-financing for SGP POPsprojects.

GEF The Greenline

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WORKING TOGETHER FOR A TOXICS-FREE FUTURE:APPLYING GLOBAL CHEMICAL POLICY TO LOCALPRACTICEBy Björn Beeler, International Coordinator IPEN, [email protected]

The International POPs EliminationNetwork (IPEN) is a global networkof more than 700 public interest non-governmental organizations workingtogether for the elimination ofpersistent organic pollutants (POPs)and other persistent toxic substanceson an expedited yet sociallyequitable basis. IPEN mission

includes achieving a world in which chemicals are no longer produced or used inways that harm human health and the environment, and where POPs andchemicals of equivalent concern no longer pollute our local and globalenvironments, and no longer contaminate our communities, our food, our bodies,or the bodies of our children and future generations. IPEN promotes NGOparticipation in international chemical policy processes and NGO capacity buildingto both contribute to the development of such policies as well as apply thesepolicies on the ground in developing countries and countries with economies intransition.

POPs & the StockholmConvention Negotiations

IPEN was founded in 1998 inMontreal, Canada during the firstmeeting of the IntergovernmentalNegotiating Committee for a global,legally-binding instrument on POPs.Initially, IPEN’s main objective was tosecure the adoption of a strong andeffective global POPs treaty. Whenthe Stockholm Convention was

adopted in 2001, IPEN revised its platform and scope of work, and agreed thatIPEN’s new mission would be: . . . to facilitate effective involvement by itsParticipating Organizations in local, national, and international activities topromote the elimination of POPs and other persistent toxic substances.

GEF MSP: The International POPsElimination Project

Once the Stockholm Convention wasadopted, IPEN moved to put the policyinto practice. With help from the GlobalEnvironment Facility (GEF) and otherdonors, IPEN began to establish itsregional infrastructure, and soon wasable to support over 290 NGO activitiescontributing to national preparations for

Stockholm Convention implementation in 65 developing countries and countries

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Regional Hubs colored regions

with economies in transition. This IPEN project was known as the InternationalPOPs Elimination Project (IPEP).

Sustainability &Continuity BeyondIPEP

The eight IPEN RegionalHubs established in 2004are sustainable operationstoday. In 2007, after IPEPwas completed, theRegional Hubs continuedto maintain regionalnetworks, and began

conducting a 2-year Regional Assessment with over 200 NGOs in 80 countries.In 2009, 3-year Regional Action Plan frameworks were finalized, which highlightpriority chemical concerns, needs, capacities and opportunities for futureactivities. Today the eight IPEN Regional Hubs maintain regional NGO networksfunctioning in Arabic, English, French, Spanish and Russian.

Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management(SAICM)

In 2003, IPEN further extended its scope of work by agreeing to engage, as anetwork, in the preparatory process to develop a strategic approach tointernational chemicals management (SAICM). IPEN coordinated participationand interventions by public health and environmental NGOs in all SAICMpreparatory meetings and in the 2006 Dubai Intergovernmental Conference onChemicals Management (ICCM), where SAICM was agreed. In the margins of theICCM, IPEN adopted a new common platform: the IPEN Declaration for a Toxics-Free Future, which states, that IPEN has an: “. . . expanded commitment to workfor and achieve by the year 2020 a Toxics-Free Future, in which all chemicals areproduced and used in ways that eliminate significant adverse effects on humanhealth and the environment, and where POPs and chemicals of equivalentconcern no longer pollute our local and global environments, and no longercontaminate our communities, our food, our bodies, or the bodies of our childrenand future generations.”

Global SAICM Outreach: Making SAICM Real to Civil Society

Since 2006, IPEN has broadenedcivil society participation fromdeveloping and transitioncountries in SAICM throughcreation and implementation ofthe SAICM Global OutreachCampaign. Beyond the hundredsof IPEN ParticipatingOrganizations, this Campaign hasbrought in several other keyinternational health, labor, andagriculture NGO networks to forma global NGO coalition to raise

awareness about SAICM.

This Campaign has served to expand civil society awareness in all regions wheretoxic chemical exposure represents a real and growing threat to public health andthe environment. IPEN has been a principle player in securing commitments fromNGOs and other civil society organizations stating their intention to participate innational and local efforts that contribute to the SAICM implementation, with thegoal of advancing toward the achievement of the 2002 World Summit onSustainable Development (WSSD) and SAICM 2020 goal. Today, more than1,000 NGOs in over 110 countries have joined the Campaign.

The SAICM Global Outreach Campaign produced NGO guides to POPs, SAICM


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and Hazardous Pesticides, plus and Citizens’ Report for the 2nd InternationalConference on Chemicals Management. The educational booklets (below) areavailable in many different languages (see http://www.ipen.org/campaign/).

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Heavy Metals: Lead & Mercury

By 2008 IPEN had begun to expand its efforts into heavy metals, due to NGOpriorities noted in 2007/2008 Regional Assessments and the evolving landscapeof chemical policy issues, specifically on lead and mercury.

Initially focusing on a push for the globalelimination of lead in paint, IPEN, working withNGOs across the globe, and launched theChildren's Health First and Eliminate Lead Paintcampaign. Unfortunately, lead in paint is an oldtoxic threat still affecting young children today.In 2002, the WSSD took two vital decisions toprotect children's health from exposure to lead.The first called for the phase out of lead ingasoline, and the second, the phase out of leadin lead-based paints and in other sources ofhuman exposure. This paved the way for anIPEN Participating Organization from India,Toxics Link, to form a partnership to promote

the global phase-out of lead in paints. This partnership proposed a global phase-out at the ICCM2 in May 2009, where it was endorsed. From there, the SAICMGlobal Partnership to Eliminate Lead in Paint was created.

In addition, IPEN’s constituency pushed for IPEN to engage in preliminarydiscussions for global action on mercury. Therefore, following an IPENinternational sampling activity on products containing mercury and theiralternatives and the UNEP Governing Councils decision to negotiate a global

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mercury treaty in 2009, IPEN established an IPEN Heavy Metals Working Group.Since then, IPEN has adopted an IPEN “Views on a Global Mercury Treaty”, withthe aim to promote a strong mercury treaty to reduce and eliminate mercurythreats to children, communities and the environment.

Learn more about IPEN’s Toxics-Free Future mission and work at www.ipen.organd see the online animation at www.ipen.org/info.



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FRESH WATER PRAWN FARMING FOR WOMENLIVELIHOOD IN THE KRIBI AREA, SOUTH CAMEROONBy Jonas KEMAJOU SYAPZE, Director OPED – Organization for Environment andSustainable Development, [email protected] / [email protected]

Coastal communities in the area of Kribi-Campo depend heavily on freshwaterecosystems for their livelihoods. Here, the freshwater prawn is one of thefisheries resources of significant socio-economic value. Traditional capturingtechniques are most often unsustainable and may reduce the population of thespecies in aquatic ecosystems. This project, funded by GEF / SGP was to develop and promote a technology forfreshwater prawn farming accessible to local communities.

The main actions included 1) the design of a training tool kit on freshwater prawnfarming, 2) awareness activities and training of fishing women on prawn specieswith high reproductive potential, 3) support in building, technical and ecologicalmanagement of prawn aquaculture facilities and 4) the organization of themarketing chain.

The project helped reduce post-harvest losses by 100%.

It has been effective at improving women's income by reducing the number ofhours of work dedicated to prawn farming that have been used to carry on other

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activities; It has been calculated an increase of household revenues by 30%. Theproject also has strengthened the entrepreneurial capabilities of women.Monitoring activities will support the establishment of sustainable small andmedium-size community enterprises.

This experience shows that real opportunities exist in the development offreshwater prawn aquaculture. To promote the extension of this activity to otherfishing communities, OPED has received a grant from the Congo Basin ForestFund (CBFF) which will finance the construction of 300 prawn aquaculturefacilities in the project area. Besides promoting freshwater prawn farming, thisnew project will also promote the adoption and development of improved smokingtechnology for fish drying, and the monitoring of mangroves. This integratedproject will be conducted in partnership with the World Fish Center, the Universityof Sterling and Village Communities and will generate substantial alternativeincomes for the conservation of mangrove ecosystems that are at the center ofcurrent issues related to climate change.

Project main results:

Active participation of 178 fishermen including 44 men, 104 women and 30during information and awareness activities in project activitiesParticipatory elaboration of a practical guide on aquaculture for the use offarmers. 100 copies were distributed during participatory exercises involving experts in the fieldThe organization of 30 environmental education sessions with theparticipation of 197 youth, 192 women and 159 men85 Fishers of which 58 women have participated in training workshops inaquaculture techniques and basic principles of marketing, accounting andfinancial managementThe distribution of fishing equipment to women groups and support ofbeneficiaries (logistics, financial and technical) in the implementation of theirprawn aquaculture initiatives (nursing, food processing, feeding, andmaintenance of prawns in cages)The technology for freshwater prawn mastered and 10 cages establishedwith about 180 freshwater prawns per cage;Formulation and processing of 20 kg of food suited to the nutrition of prawns,Creation and registration of two common initiative groups of active women;Development of partnerships between buyers – producers




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STRENGTHENING THE NETWORK OF TRAININGCENTERS FOR PROTECTED AREA MANAGERS OFNORTHERN EURASIABy Elena Nikolaeva, Environmental Education Centre “Zapovedniks”,[email protected]

This article presents the results of GEF/UNEP project “Strengthening the Networkof Training Centers for Protected Area Managers of Northern Eurasia” that wasimplemented by Environmental Education Centre “Zapovedniks’ and its partnersin 2005-2008.

The project was aimed at improving biodiversity conservation and livelihoodsthrough a better management of Protected Areas (PA) in Russia, Ukraine,Belarus and Kazakhstan. The total project budget was 2.4 million USD, including1 million USD from GEF. Among the main participating parties there were federalprotected areas of the 4 countries as well as key PA Agencies (the Ministries ofNatural Resources of Russia and Belarus, the State Committee for Forestry andHunting in Kazakhstan, State PA Service of Ukraine Ministry of EnvironmentalProtection).

The main objectives of the project were identified as follows: 1) to improve theskills of PA managers and staff in four project countries in critical aspects of PAmanagement; 2) to secure stronger political and other stakeholder’s support forPA in the region.

Within those objectives numerous activities have taken place, especially differenttraining courses and public awareness campaigns for PA managers. Actuallyabout 200 Protected Areas were somehow involved in the project, and about2500 people were trained. As a consequence, PA staff has started to apply newskills and use innovative approaches in PA planning and management. Buttrainings were focused not only at PA specialists: politicians, businesses andlocal communities also participated in the programs and were involved in pilot

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projects. All that resulted in increased political support for PA in the projectregion. However, it was one of the most challenging tasks here as the majority ofpeople in Northern Eurasia have very little understanding about the values ofprotected areas.

The project was initiated by Environmental Education Centre “Zapovedniks” – anNGO that has been working for 14 years to raise public awareness and supportfor PA in Russia. It is the only Russian organization that provides trainings forrepresentatives of protected areas. Since 2007 Centre “Zapovedniks” is amember of the Network of European Environmental Training Centers ofExcellence - association of acknowledged professional organizations that train PAstaff.

Indeed the most practical result of GEF/UNEP project is the creation of 4sustainable training institutions in each project country which continue to operateon a regular basis, have professional teams of trainers, possess methodical andresource materials available for the trainees and, what is very important,developed a unique technique to engage participants in the training process. Alleducational seminars, round tables and study visits organized by the TrainingCenters include interactive methods such as professional games and role playsto create effective educational environment and motivate trainees to intensivework. People not only gain knowledge and skills, but also change theirperceptions and attitudes somehow.

For example, Elena Elistratova from Shorsky national park in Russian Siberia toldher colleagues after the training that she“ completely changed her attitudestowards environmental education and understood that it is a science which isnecessary to conceive during the whole life”. Galina Zamyatina, the DeputyDirector of Ranger Service in Astrakhansky Zapovednik in the South of Russiawrote the following: “As one of my participants said, if he had taken part in suchtraining courses before, he would have perceived his destiny to be a ranger inanother way; he assumes that he completely overlooked his point of viewconsidering his work”.

Special attention at all seminars is given to the process of exchanging experiencebetween the participants. Usually people that take part in training come fromvarious regions of Russia and CIS, and it is always useful and interesting to learnhow their colleagues manage their areas. Each participant gets a chance toorganize his own lesson — «Creative workshop». Every time a seminar ends upwith the development of an individual pilot project by participants for its furtherimplementation at their PA.

The Training Centers in 4 project countries function as a joint network: exchangetheir experience, disseminate publications, monitor and evaluate their results. Thelast meeting of Training Centers coordinators took place in Kanevsky biospherereserve in Ukraine in December 2009. Now, after eighteen months from the endof the project, it is possible to say that all four Centers have become sustainable:despite of the fact that direct funding from GEF is no longer available, the Centershave gained recognition and get requests to conduct trainings from federal andregional PA, State PA Agencies and different conservations projects (like UNDP,WWF, etc). For instance, Russian Training Center organized 8 seminars and 5study tours since the end of GEF project and is now involved in 3 otherconservation projects. Among the future plans is creation of regional TrainingCenters in various regions of the country.




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Documents

GEF The Greenline - World Bank€¦ · the international waters focal area. Sustainable Forest Management and REDD+ financing at the GEF - Since its inception in 1991, the GEF has