OPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS OPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGAGEMENT OF CIVIL FOR ENGAGEMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN GEF PROJECTS SOCIETY IN GEF PROJECTS

AND PROGRAMMESAND PROGRAMMES

presented bypresented byFaizal Parish Regional/Central Faizal Parish Regional/Central

Focal Point Focal Point GEF NGO NetworkGEF NGO Network

GEF and Civil SocietyGEF and Civil Society

Civil society as key stakeholders in the work Civil society as key stakeholders in the work of GEFof GEF

GEF Public Participation Policy GEF Public Participation Policy GEF decisions on GEF and Civil SocietyGEF decisions on GEF and Civil Society Options for engagement of Civil Society in Options for engagement of Civil Society in

projects in South and East Asiaprojects in South and East Asia Key concerns of CSOs in this meetingKey concerns of CSOs in this meeting Proposed next steps Proposed next steps GEF NGO Network GEF NGO Network

Many indigenous cultures and local communities depend on natural resources

Environmental Degradation has major local and global impacts Environmental Degradation has major local and global impacts

Civil society as key Civil society as key stakeholdersstakeholders

in the work of GEF in the work of GEF Important stewards of natural resources and Important stewards of natural resources and

environmentenvironment Direct beneficiaries from sound environmental Direct beneficiaries from sound environmental

management management Directly impacted by poor environmental Directly impacted by poor environmental

managementmanagement Can provide major contributions to safeguarding Can provide major contributions to safeguarding

global environmental benefits and ensuring global environmental benefits and ensuring sustainability of GEF programmes.sustainability of GEF programmes.

Civil Society should thus be a main partner for Civil Society should thus be a main partner for effective implementation and long term effective implementation and long term sustainability of GEFs worksustainability of GEFs work

GEF Public participation GEF Public participation PolicyPolicy

Adopted by GEF in 1996Adopted by GEF in 1996 Effective public involvement is critical to the Effective public involvement is critical to the

success of GEF-financed projects. success of GEF-financed projects. When done appropriately, public When done appropriately, public

involvement improves the performance and involvement improves the performance and impact of projects by:impact of projects by: Enhancing recipient country ownership of, and Enhancing recipient country ownership of, and

accountability for, project outcomes accountability for, project outcomes Addressing the social and economic needs of affected Addressing the social and economic needs of affected

people people Building partnerships among project executing agencies Building partnerships among project executing agencies

and stakeholders and stakeholders Making use of skills, experiences, and knowledge, in Making use of skills, experiences, and knowledge, in

particular, of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), particular, of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community and local groups, and the private sector in the community and local groups, and the private sector in the design, implementation, and evaluation of project design, implementation, and evaluation of project activities activities

GEF Public participation PolicyGEF Public participation Policy Key principlesKey principles

Projects should, as appropriate, Projects should, as appropriate, address the address the social, cultural, and economic needs of social, cultural, and economic needs of people people affected by GEF-financed projects. affected by GEF-financed projects.

ResponsibilityResponsibility for assuring public involvement for assuring public involvement rests within the countryrests within the country, supported by the GEF , supported by the GEF Implementing Agencies Implementing Agencies

Public involvement activities will be conducted in Public involvement activities will be conducted in a a transparent and open mannertransparent and open manner. .

All GEF-financed projects should have All GEF-financed projects should have full full documentation documentation of public involvement activities.of public involvement activities.

There should be There should be transparencytransparency in the in the preparation, conduct, reporting, and evaluation of preparation, conduct, reporting, and evaluation of public involvement activities in all projects.public involvement activities in all projects.

The GEF Agencies willThe GEF Agencies will

support countries in: support countries in: involving stakeholdersinvolving stakeholders at the earliest phase of project at the earliest phase of project

identification and throughout design, implementation, identification and throughout design, implementation, and evaluation.and evaluation.

providing relevant, timely, and accessible providing relevant, timely, and accessible informationinformation to as many stakeholders as possible; to as many stakeholders as possible;

provide the provide the financial and technical assistancefinancial and technical assistance necessary for recipient governments and project necessary for recipient governments and project executing agencies to ensure effective public executing agencies to ensure effective public involvement.involvement.

facilitating broad as well as project-specific facilitating broad as well as project-specific consultationsconsultations, especially at the local or sub-national , especially at the local or sub-national levels; and levels; and

promoting the participationpromoting the participation of stakeholder groups of stakeholder groups throughout the project cycle. This promotion includes throughout the project cycle. This promotion includes awareness raising and capacity strengthening activities. awareness raising and capacity strengthening activities.

Develop guidelinesDevelop guidelines for public involvement in their own for public involvement in their own GEF-financed projectsGEF-financed projects

Enhancing engagement of CSOs Enhancing engagement of CSOs in GEF 5 (Approved November 2010) in GEF 5 (Approved November 2010)

CSOs invited to National dialogues and national CSOs invited to National dialogues and national portfolio identification exercises to propose ideas portfolio identification exercises to propose ideas for potential projects or programmes.for potential projects or programmes.

CSOs invited for Extended Constituency MeetingsCSOs invited for Extended Constituency Meetings CSOs to be consulted in development of Project CSOs to be consulted in development of Project

Concept (PIF)Concept (PIF) PIF to identify engagement of CSOs and proposed PIF to identify engagement of CSOs and proposed

rolerole Project Document to include stakeholder Project Document to include stakeholder

engagement plan.engagement plan.

Further steps being Further steps being considered to enhance considered to enhance

engagementengagement Developing policy framework for GEF Developing policy framework for GEF

and indigenous peoplesand indigenous peoples Enhancing implementation of the GEF Enhancing implementation of the GEF

Public involvement PolicyPublic involvement Policy Capacity Building for Civil Society to Capacity Building for Civil Society to

enhance their engagementenhance their engagement Monitoring and enhancing CSO access Monitoring and enhancing CSO access

to GEF resourcesto GEF resources

Options for engagement of Options for engagement of CSOs in projects in South and CSOs in projects in South and

East AsiaEast Asia Project implementers (SGP, MSP, FSP) Project implementers (SGP, MSP, FSP) Project partners or service providersProject partners or service providers Project advisers/steering committee Project advisers/steering committee

membersmembers Project target groupsProject target groups Facilitating engagement of indigenous and Facilitating engagement of indigenous and

local communitieslocal communities Monitoring and enhancing CSO access to Monitoring and enhancing CSO access to

GEF resourcesGEF resources

Areas of CSO action in Areas of CSO action in RegionRegion Public Awareness and participationPublic Awareness and participation

Technical guidance and trainingTechnical guidance and training Community participationCommunity participation Sustainable livelihoodsSustainable livelihoods Environmental educationEnvironmental education Recycling/waste managementRecycling/waste management River and forest rehabilitationRiver and forest rehabilitation Renewable energyRenewable energy Protected area managementProtected area management

Key concerns by CSOs in Key concerns by CSOs in this meetingthis meeting

Recent reductions in funding for CSO-led projectsRecent reductions in funding for CSO-led projects Historically little strategic involvement of CSOs in the development Historically little strategic involvement of CSOs in the development

of country plans and projects.of country plans and projects. GEF Public Participation policy needs to be fully implemented in this GEF Public Participation policy needs to be fully implemented in this

region - In particular – region - In particular – Engagement of CSOs in national consultation and Portfolio Engagement of CSOs in national consultation and Portfolio

development processes.development processes. Development of clear guidelines for Civil society engagement – Development of clear guidelines for Civil society engagement –

generic and country specificgeneric and country specific Effective participation of civil society in project development and Effective participation of civil society in project development and

formulation.formulation. Special Policy/mechanisms for engagement of indigenous Special Policy/mechanisms for engagement of indigenous

communities communities Enhanced consideration of Gender and social issuesEnhanced consideration of Gender and social issues

Proposed next stepsProposed next steps Strengthening of networking and collaboration among CSOs in the Strengthening of networking and collaboration among CSOs in the

region – at regional and country levelregion – at regional and country level Building of capacity of CSOs in region to work effectively with GEFBuilding of capacity of CSOs in region to work effectively with GEF Development of guidelines for enhanced CSO engagement in Development of guidelines for enhanced CSO engagement in

project and programme development.project and programme development. Meetings in each country between CSOs and the GEF Operational Meetings in each country between CSOs and the GEF Operational

focal point (agreed by GEF Council Nov 2010).focal point (agreed by GEF Council Nov 2010). CSOs to work in partnership with OFPs to develop options for CSO CSOs to work in partnership with OFPs to develop options for CSO

engagement in projects and programmes.engagement in projects and programmes. Documentation and monitoring of level of CSO engagementDocumentation and monitoring of level of CSO engagement Reporting on progress and constraints to annual regional ECW Reporting on progress and constraints to annual regional ECW

meetings. meetings. Written proposal to meeting tomorrow. Written proposal to meeting tomorrow.

GEF NGO NetworkGEF NGO Network Established in 1995 to facilitate CSO input to Established in 1995 to facilitate CSO input to

GEF GovernanceGEF Governance More than 400 active members in 15 regionsMore than 400 active members in 15 regions Facilitate Civil society input to GEF policy Facilitate Civil society input to GEF policy

making and implementation.making and implementation. Organise CS consultations and provide input on Organise CS consultations and provide input on

each agenda item of GEF councileach agenda item of GEF council Monitor and build capacity at regional and Monitor and build capacity at regional and

national level for CSO engagement in GEF national level for CSO engagement in GEF activities activities

GEF NGO NetworkGEF NGO Network Guidance to government focal points and Guidance to government focal points and

agencies on options for CSO engagement in agencies on options for CSO engagement in GEF programmesGEF programmes

Current Regional Focal points – Current Regional Focal points – South Asia – Foundation for Ecological Security, South Asia – Foundation for Ecological Security,

IndiaIndia South East Asia – Global Environment Centre, South East Asia – Global Environment Centre,

MalaysiaMalaysia NE Asia - under electionNE Asia - under election

Details on Details on www.gefngo.org