OPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

FOR ENGAGEMENT OF CIVIL

SOCIETY IN GEF PROJECTS AND
PROGRAMMES

presented by
Faizal Parish Regional/Central Focal
Point
GEF NGO Network
 GEF and Civil Society
 Civil society as key stakeholders in the work of GEF
 GEF Public Participation Policy
 GEF decisions on GEF and Civil Society
 Options for engagement of Civil Society in projects
in South and East Asia
 Key concerns of CSOs in this meeting
 Proposed next steps
 GEF NGO Network
Many indigenous cultures and local communities
depend on natural resources
Environmental Degradation has major local and global impacts
Civil society as key stakeholders
in the work of GEF
 Important stewards of natural resources and
environment
 Direct beneficiaries from sound environmental
management
 Directly impacted by poor environmental management
 Can provide major contributions to safeguarding global
environmental benefits and ensuring sustainability of
GEF programmes.
 Civil Society should thus be a main partner for effective
implementation and long term sustainability of GEFs
work
GEF Public participation Policy
 Adopted by GEF in 1996
 Effective public involvement is critical to the
success of GEF-financed projects.
 When done appropriately, public involvement
improves the performance and impact of
projects by:
 Enhancing recipient country ownership of, and accountability
for, project outcomes
 Addressing the social and economic needs of affected people
 Building partnerships among project executing agencies and
stakeholders
 Making use of skills, experiences, and knowledge, in particular,
of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community and local
groups, and the private sector in the design, implementation,
and evaluation of project activities
 GEF Public participation Policy
Key principles
 Projects should, as appropriate, address the social,
cultural, and economic needs of people affected by
GEF-financed projects.
 Responsibility for assuring public involvement rests
within the country, supported by the GEF
Implementing Agencies
 Public involvement activities will be conducted in a
transparent and open manner.
 All GEF-financed projects should have full
documentation of public involvement activities.
 There should be transparency in the preparation,
conduct, reporting, and evaluation of public involvement
activities in all projects.
 The GEF Agencies will
 support countries in:
 involving stakeholders at the earliest phase of project
identification and throughout design, implementation, and
evaluation.
 providing relevant, timely, and accessible information to
as many stakeholders as possible;
 provide the financial and technical assistance necessary for
recipient governments and project executing agencies to ensure
effective public involvement.
 facilitating broad as well as project-specific consultations,
especially at the local or sub-national levels; and
 promoting the participation of stakeholder groups
throughout the project cycle. This promotion includes awareness
raising and capacity strengthening activities.
 Develop guidelines for public involvement in their own GEF-
financed projects
 Enhancing engagement of CSOs
in GEF 5 (Approved November 2010)
 CSOs invited to National dialogues and national
portfolio identification exercises to propose ideas for
potential projects or programmes.
 CSOs invited for Extended Constituency Meetings
 CSOs to be consulted in development of Project
Concept (PIF)
 PIF to identify engagement of CSOs and proposed role
 Project Document to include stakeholder engagement
plan.
 Further steps being considered
to enhance engagement
 Developing policy framework for GEF and
indigenous peoples
 Enhancing implementation of the GEF Public
involvement Policy
 Capacity Building for Civil Society to enhance
their engagement
 Monitoring and enhancing CSO access to
GEF resources
Options for engagement of CSOs in
projects in South and East Asia
 Project implementers (SGP, MSP, FSP)
 Project partners or service providers
 Project advisers/steering committee members
 Project target groups
 Facilitating engagement of indigenous and local
communities
 Monitoring and enhancing CSO access to GEF
resources
 Areas of CSO action in Region
 Public Awareness and participation
 Technical guidance and training
 Community participation
 Sustainable livelihoods
 Environmental education
 Recycling/waste management
 River and forest rehabilitation
 Renewable energy
 Protected area management
 Key concerns by CSOs in this
meeting
 Recent reductions in funding for CSO-led projects
 Historically little strategic involvement of CSOs in the development of
country plans and projects.
 GEF Public Participation policy needs to be fully implemented in this region
- In particular –
 Engagement of CSOs in national consultation and Portfolio

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

and country specific

 Effective participation of civil society in project development and

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

 Enhanced consideration of Gender and social issues

 Proposed next steps
 Strengthening of networking and collaboration among CSOs in the region
– at regional and country level
 Building of capacity of CSOs in region to work effectively with GEF
 Development of guidelines for enhanced CSO engagement in project and
programme development.
 Meetings in each country between CSOs and the GEF Operational focal
point (agreed by GEF Council Nov 2010).
 CSOs to work in partnership with OFPs to develop options for CSO
engagement in projects and programmes.
 Documentation and monitoring of level of CSO engagement
 Reporting on progress and constraints to annual regional ECW meetings.
 Written proposal to meeting tomorrow.
 GEF NGO Network
 Established in 1995 to facilitate CSO input to GEF
Governance
 More than 400 active members in 15 regions
 Facilitate Civil society input to GEF policy making
and implementation.
 Organise CS consultations and provide input on
each agenda item of GEF council
 Monitor and build capacity at regional and national
level for CSO engagement in GEF activities
 GEF NGO Network
 Guidance to government focal points and agencies
on options for CSO engagement in GEF
programmes
 Current Regional Focal points –
 South Asia – Foundation for Ecological Security, India
 South East Asia – Global Environment Centre, Malaysia
 NE Asia - under election
 Details on www.gefngo.org