PDF Co-financing (details
provided in Part II, Section E – Budget)GEF
Agency30,000National
Contribution240,000Italy100,000Others1,631,000Sub-Total PDF
Co-financing:2,001,000Total PDF Project Financing:2,701,000
* Indicate approval date of PDFA ** If
supplemental, indicate amount and date of originally approved PDF
Record of endorsement on behalf of the Government:
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Country |
Name |
Title |
Date of Letter Endorsement |
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Albania |
ABESHI,
Pellumb
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Secretary General Ministry
of Environment |
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Algeria |
ECHIRK,
Djamel
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Inspector
General of Environment |
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Bosnia and Herzegovina |
DOKO,
Dragon
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Minister |
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Croatia |
RUKLIC,
Gordana
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Expert
Advisor |
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Egypt |
KHALIL,
M.S.
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Chief
Executive Officer |
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Lebanon |
KHOURY,
Nancy
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Public
and International Relations |
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Libya |
AMER,
Mohamed M.
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Head
Office of Planning and Emergency |
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Morocco |
BALAFREJ,
Taha
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Directeur
du Partenariat |
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Serbia and Monte Negro |
VUCINIC,
Boro
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Minister |
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Syria |
HASSOUN,
Imad
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Deputy
Minister |
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Tunisia |
DALI,
Najeh
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Director
International Cooperation for the Environment |
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Turkey |
SARIKAYA,
Hasan Z
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Undersecretary
of Environment and Forestry |
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PART I - Project Concept
The Project Concept (Annex 1) describing the background, environmental concerns and the two main elements (Regional Component and Investment Fund) of the proposed Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean Sea LME was approved for GEF pipeline in December 2004. The present PDF-B request is prepared in order to fully design the activities, timeframe and budget for the implementation of the Regional Component under the Strategic Partnership. Another PDF-B request to develop the Investment Fund component of the Strategic Partnership will be developed and submitted by the World Bank.
The PDF-B is designed to complete a Project Brief and the IA Project Document with detailed budget, description of anticipated actions, a costed work plan for the project, and the necessary planning and stakeholder consultations for the successful implementation of the Project. The PDF B resources will be used to:
Fully define all components for the full size project;
Define execution arrangements, including coordination mechanisms among partner agencies and the Investment Fund component;
Develop a stakeholders/public involvement and M&E plan;
Enable the preparation of the Project Brief and respective IA Project Document; and
Mobilize co-financing for the Full Project implementation.
I Definition of the final design of all components of the Full Project
Component I. Facilitation of policy and legislative reforms for SAP MED and SAP BIO
(UNEP/MAP through MED POL, CP/RAC, PAP/RAC, REMPEC and SPA/RAC) (GEF-$100,000; co-financing - $50,000)
The development and implementation of policies and legislation reforms aimed at addressing transboundary causes of environmental degradation of the Mediterranean Sea, as established in the SAP MED and SAP BIO, will be one of the objectives of the Project. Adequate capacity will be developed in the countries for legal/institutional set up, reforms and harmonization of policies needed to reverse degradation trends and living resources depletion, following the priorities established by the SAP MED and SAP BIO.
Expected outcomes of the full project:
Legal, institutional and policy reforms in order to achieve the targets, set by the two SAPs, implemented at the national level.
Policies and legislation aimed at addressing sectoral causes of environmental degradation of the Mediterranean Sea developed and implemented.
Multi-stakeholder participation in the implementation of the NAPs and SAPs strengthened;
Strengthened planning and management capacities for Integrated Coastal Management –(ICM) at national and local levels in the Mediterranean countries, and identification and management of MPAs; and
A sustainable management regime capable of coordinating regional actions to overcome the key transboundary issues facing the Mediterranean Sea, and improvement of long term sustainable financing for the implementation of the Sap-MED.
PDF-B Activities:
The PDF-B activities will have two main objectives:
(i) Allow the detailed design of this component of the full project, including relevant process – stress reduction indicators;
(ii) Assist the countries to reach consensus at the inter-ministerial level on their needs for reforms and the commitments emerging from each country’s National Action Plan and SAP BIO National Action Plans, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and other relevant protected areas planning documents.
Activities will include the following preliminary assessments:
Assess countries needs in the development and implementation of policies and legislation aimed at addressing sectoral causes of environmental degradation of the Mediterranean Sea;
Assessment of the permit, inspection and compliance systems of discharges in the countries and preparation of a programme of action according to countries’ needs;
Assess the feasibility of the application in the region of the differentiated responsibility approach for pollution reduction including the indication of each country’s proposed share;
Preparation of an assessment of the present national monitoring programmes as tools for the SAP/MED pollution reductions measures implementation;
Preparation of an assessment of the status of countries’ laws and regulations related to illegal discharges by ships including the identification of gaps, country needs and priority actions;
Identify countries’ needs in legal, policy, and institutional reforms to strengthen the management of existing Marine Protected Areas;
Assess countries’ needs in strengthening of planning and management capacities for Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) at national and local levels and the development of a methodology for the selection of demonstration projects for effective management of coastal areas;
Review of relevant regional and national legal instruments, programmes and institutional arrangements in order to identify gaps and needs in coverage of Marine Litter and make proposals for changes, if appropriate; and
Assessment of relevant capacity building needs for implementation of policy and legislative reforms in the countries.
Component II. Replication Strategies. SAP MED and SAP BIO
(UNEP/MAP – WORLD BANK), (GEF-$30,000; co-financing - $30,000)
The PDF-B will develop a replication strategy to ensure the replication of successful demonstrations, and the broader dissemination of the lessons learnt and results achieved under the Investment Fund, the Regional Project and the overall Strategic Partnership.
PDF-B activities:
Development of the replication strategy for each project under the Investment Fund. The strategy will include, inter alia:
the replication context for each demonstration, i.e.: the number, location, areas/sites in the Mediterranean where the specific technology/practice could apply;
based on the above, a strategy aimed at promoting actual replication of each demonstration implemented under the Investment Fund Element of the Strategic Partnership, including ad hoc dissemination programs, site visits and exchanges, etc;
assessment of the value of demo projects replication;
evaluation of the overall expected impact should full replication occur.
Development of the replication strategy for the Regional Project under the Strategic Partnership. This strategy will:
Establish intensive monitoring, learning, outreach and evaluation process;
Promote replication of project successes, and particularly its more innovative initiatives, during its own lifetime;
Develop aggressive and systematic awareness and results dissemination program;
Organize Annual Replication Workshops, to be conducted, coinciding with Steering Committee Meetings;
Organize/participate to regional and global conferences;
Develop Project and sub-project websites, according to IW LEARN standards;
Produce printed materials, etc. involving multiple partners.
Through these multiple mechanisms and partnerships, information on successful investment and policy reform promotion strategies, innovative financing modalities and new partnerships will be widely disseminated. This will promote replication of individual Investment Fund demonstration projects and of the Regional component activities as well as the Strategic Partnership itself.
Component III. Technical Assistance
Sub-Category 1. Implementation of the SAP MED and related NAPs (pollution reduction strategies). (UNEP/MAP thought MED POL and CP/RAC, UNIDO, ICS-UNIDO, UNEP/GPA, UNEP Regional Seas, METAP),
This Component of the full project will enhance the capacity of the countries in the implementation of the provisions and commitments contained in the regional SAP as translated into the NAPs. The expected outcomes of this component of the full project are:
Strategies of pollution prevention and reduction addressing the issues identified in the SAP MED introduced in the plans and policies of the Mediterranean countries;
Regional pool of well trained experts capable of addressing successfully the pollution prevention and reduction objectives of the SAP MED in the national plans and policies;
Enhanced capacity of the participating countries to address industrial pollution reduction in an integrated manner;
Increased use of environmentally sound technology at demonstration hot spots resulting in reduction of pollution loads from industrial hot spots in accordance with SAP-MED objectives; and
Improved sharing and dissemination of information on industrial best environmental practices in the Mediterranean Region.
The PDF-B will concentrate on the design of three major elements: management of marine litter; introduction of environmentally sound technologies; development of sustainable financing mechanisms for SAP MED implementation. Activities related to each of these elements are described below in more detail.
A. Marine Litter – (UNEP/MAP, UNEP Regional Seas), (GEF-$25,000; co-financing - $60,000)
The PDF-B activities will develop a regional initiative aimed at assisting countries to implement the “Guidelines for Management of Marine Litter for the Mediterranean Region” which were developed during and within the context of the SAP MED.
PDF-B Activities:
Collection and review of existing status, data and information on Marine Litter in the Mediterranean region;
Identification of potential partners of the civil society (Academia, private sector and NGOs);
Fully develop and cost the activities of the Full size project under this sub-category, and organize a regional workshop to agree on the technical proposal for the Full Size Project; and
Identify sources of co-financing for this element.
B. Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technology in the Mediterranean region – TEST MED – (UNIDO), (GEF-$70,000; co-financing - $95,000)
This element will replicate in the Mediterranean region the TEST methodology which was successfully piloted in the Danube region (UNDP-UNIDO).
PDF-B Activities:
The PDF-B will consolidate national and regional partnerships and strengthen the ownership of the initiative in the participating countries.
Preparation of analysis of existing information and gaps analysis in 4 eligible countries;
Review and tailor the TEST methodology for effective application at SMEs of the MED region;
Definition of the scope and terms of reference for project activities, including agreement of an appropriate Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, indicators, and milestones;
Identify appropriate and effective financing mechanisms/incentives to be put in place at national/regional level to facilitate private sector investments in Environmentally Sound Technology (EST);
Identify sources of co-financing for the activities of the full project; and
Fully develop and cost the activities of the Full size project under this sub-category.
C. Sustainable financing mechanism for the SAP/MED implementation – (UNEP/MAP, MED POL, EUWI MED, UNEP/GPA), (GEF-$20,000; co-financing - $153,000)
This element will assist countries to develop financial sustainable initiatives to implement their NAPs building on the use of short term financing options to finance “hot spot” priority actions, and develop the framework conditions for the implementation of medium to long term actions, including a proposal for a region- wide mechanism to strengthen long term sustainable financing.
PDF-B Activities:
Review of existing and potential financing mechanism in the region;
Develop a proposal for an action plan covering regional initiatives to strengthen long term financing mechanisms in the region, including a broader assessment of activities currently and planed by other stakeholders; and
Organization of a joint regional conference for ministries of finance, economy, environment and water resources to discuss the further development of long term sustainable financing in the region;
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Sub-Category 2. Implementation of the SAP BIO and related NAPs (biodiversity protection strategies). (UNEP/MAP, SPA/RAC. FAO/GFCM, WWF MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAMME OFFICE), (GEF-$20,000; co-financing - $153,000)
The priority actions to be implemented during the full project, as identified in the project’s concept are:
Strengthening and assisting the existing MPAs, especially with regard to monitoring management effectiveness
Strengthening of the network of priority marine and coastal protected areas identified by countries and improvement of existing MPAs
Implement inventorying, mapping and monitoring programmes on the effectiveness of marine and coastal protected areas
Assessing and mitigating the impact of threats to biodiversity, especially in the existing MPAs:
Capacity-building, stakeholders involvement and awareness raising.
The PDF B work will initially identify and strengthen the relevant regional implementation mechanisms and develop partnerships to secure co-financing. Next, the PDF B will develop a Regional Operational Programme that will allow the immediate start-up of priority regional actions in the Full Project. As proposed, sub-category 2 could focus on strengthening the Mediterranean Protected Areas Network (MEDPAN), which was created, by all the Mediterranean riparian countries, in 1990 under the Mediterranean Technical Assistance Programme. MEDPAN is driven by the riparian country line agencies and includes participation from UNEP-MAP RAC/SPA and Blue Plan, IUCN, donors, private sector, riparian and international NGOs (WWF, etc.), and scientific institutions. It is in the process of being revived with WWF-France taking over the Secretariat (previously provided by the Parc national de Port Cros). MEDPAN was a very active network, which promoted the implementation of major priority conservation activities on the ground (marine protected areas) as well as knowledge management and a regional monitoring system to measure the impact of pollution on ecosystems and species, and addressed the invasive species issues. Through the EU INTERREG IIIC programme (which funds transboundary cooperation programmes) and in partnership with WWF MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAMME OFFICE, MEDPAN is being reactivated to ensure its original strategic mandate. This is the opportune time for the GEF to forge a partnership with MEDPAN and develop a framework of priority global biodiversity activities including the priority identified in the proposal of protecting 20% of the coast as marine fishery reserves.
During the implementation of this sub-category during the PDF-B phase, the following criteria will be used to assess the success of the proposed activities: global benefits, incremental cost reasoning, fit with OP2, fit with Strategic Priorities 2 and/or 1 and 4, country drivenness through work with the line ministries within the framework of their national conservation strategies which go beyond the NAPs of the coordinating agencies, replication effect, complementarity to, versus duplication of, ongoing activities.
A) Implementation arrangements and partnerships
Identify crucially needed conservation activities to be implemented during the full size project, based on the marine hot spots identified and endorsed by the countries;
Review existing national implementation arrangements in each country and incorporate relevant macro elements of the SAP-BIO into existing national processes and procedures. Proposals should cover financing SAP-BIO implementation (National SAP-BIO Correspondents);
Prepare an inventory of all relevant national and regional projects. Contacts will be established with all potential ‘partner’ projects; and
Identify potential partners and co-financiers of the Full Project. A proposed strategy for developing partnerships and co-financing will be developed. Initial communications will be established with each potential partner (RAC/SPA)
B) Capacity building: monitoring and strengthening MPAs
Identify capacity building need to strengthen the existing Marine Protected Areas, especially with regard to monitor management effectiveness of MPAs
Design methodology to measure effectiveness of the MPAs and derive lessons to apply to the replication component of the Strategic Partnership;
Identify the needs in strengthening and improvement of the regional network of priority marine and coastal protected areas;
Identify gaps in regional inventorying, mapping and monitoring programmes on the effectiveness of marine and coastal protected areas; and
Organize a priority meeting with the country directors of protected areas and the Mediterranean Protected Areas Network.
C) Filling gaps, raising awareness
Develop a regional programme to assess and mitigate the impact of threats to biodiversity, especially in the existing MPAs;
Identify actions needed to improve understanding of Med. Coastal and marine sensitive habitats and filling in gaps in biodiversity; and
Undertake stakeholder analysis. Develop stakeholders involvement plan and awareness raising campaign: to strengthen cooperation and coordination of all stakeholders, increase stakeholders participation in conservation initiatives and increase awareness raising on marine and coastal biodiversity conservation and MPAs (to be an integral part of the Project Stakeholders Involvement Plan).
D) Regional operational program
Review the list of 30 Regional Priority Actions identified in the SAP-BIO document and finalize the list of high priority regional actions (RAC/SPA, WWF MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAMME OFFICE);
For each selected High Regional Priority Action, undertake a pre-feasibility study, providing details of the required activities, time-scales, funding requirements, global benefits, partners and replicability (RAC/SPA, WWF MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAMME OFFICE); and
Hold a regional meeting to finalize the feasibility studies and combine the studies into the Regional Operational Programme (RAC/SPA).
E) Preparation of relevant section of the Full Project Brief
Develop the component for the Project Brief, including components and activities, outputs and outcomes, cost, timeline, stakeholder involvement plan, logical framework, incremental cost analysis, co-financing, implementation arrangements and participatory mechanisms (RAC/SPA, WWF MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAMME OFFICE).
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Sub-Category 3. Implementation of the SAP BIO related to the conservation and sustainable management of vulnerable or endangered fish and invertebrates, including IUCN/CITES lists, and sustainable related fisheries (living resources strategies) (FAO/GFCM, SPA/RAC), (GEF-$55,000; co-financing - $38,000)
The actions to be undertaken at the regional and national levels for the conservation and sustainable management of vulnerable or endangered fish and invertebrates, as prioritized in the SAP BIO and relevant NAPs, were outlined in the Project Concept as follows:
Assisting the countries to implement fisheries and living resources reforms and programs to meet GFCM, ICCAT, SAP BIO and WSSD 2010/2015 sustainable fisheries targets;
Improve single-species and multi-species selectivity of gear and fishing practices, addressing particularly the problems of multi-species catch, discards and ghost-fishing;
Assisting the countries to develop and implement the Mediterranean Strategy to reduce fishing-related mortality of marine mammals, turtles and sea birds;
Assist the countries to implement the Mediterranean Strategy to eliminate particularly harmful fishing practices, building on the SAP BIO regional report: “Effects of fishing practices on the Mediterranean sea: Impact on marine sensitive habitats and species, technical solution and recommendations”;
Develop new fisheries management techniques (fishing rights, economic incentives); and
Improve coordination between fisheries and environmental commissions and institutions.
The preparation work will elaborate on these specific actions and define the activities – outputs and outcomes of this sub-category of the Full Project. The following preparatory activities will be undertaken:
A) Regional review
Analyze the results of the SAP-BIO sub-project (including all national and sectoral reports) regarding the impacts of fisheries on biodiversity, on sensitive habitats and on sensitive species (FAO) and identify gaps and follow up actions;
Analyze the results of the SAP-BIO sub-project (including all national and sectoral reports) regarding inventories of species of interest to fisheries, including endangered and vulnerable fish and vertebrate species and identify gaps and follow up actions. Analyze notably the national action plans and national reports (FAO); and
Prepare a comprehensive regional review on main issues related to integrating marine biodiversity conservation and fisheries in the Mediterranean. The Review should cover the following issues (FAO):
The need for a new Species Guide;
Conservation and sustainable management of vulnerable and endangered fish and vertebrate species;
Existing fishing practices, addressing particularly the problems of multi-species catch, discards and ghost-fishing, single-species and multi-species selectivity of gears;
Reductions in fishing related mortality to mammals, turtles and sea-birds;
Reductions of the impact of trawling on critical habitats;
Importance of traditional fishery practices and management systems;
Innovative management mechanisms, eg: fishing rights and economic incentives;
Needs for policy, legal and regulatory reforms;
Need for reserves and new protected areas;
Training needs, global benefits, economic benefits, key partners and coordination aspects;
B) Country assistance programs
Identify gaps and countries needs to implement fisheries and living resources reforms and programs to meet GFCM, ICCAT, SAP BIO and WSSD 2010/2015 sustainable fisheries targets;
Develop a comprehensive countries assistance programme, to implement fisheries and living resources reforms and programs to meet GFCM, ICCAT, SAP BIO and WSSD 2010/2015 sustainable fisheries targets; and
Develop Mediterranean Strategy to eliminate particularly harmful fishing practices, building on the SAP BIO regional report: “Effects of fishing practices on the Mediterranean sea: Impact on marine sensitive habitats and species, technical solution and recommendations.”
C) Preparation of the relevant section of the Full Project Brief
Develop the component for the Project Brief, including activities, outputs and outcomes, cost, timeline, stakeholder involvement plan, logical framework, incremental cost analysis, co-financing, implementation arrangements and participatory mechanisms (RAC/SPA, WWF MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAMME OFFICE).
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Sub-Category 4. Regional Strategies to manage and protect coastal aquifers. (UNESCO), (GEF-$55,000; co-financing - $85,000)
This sub-category will identify and develop regional, national and sub-national actions and pilot demonstrations aimed at reversing coastal aquifer related degradation trends, with focus on:
the growing salinization of coastal aquifers;
the contamination due to polluted sub-marine aquifer discharges (e.g.: karst systems);
the loss of ground-water dependent coastal ecosystems and wetlands.
Activities will also be developed to introduce the systematic assessment of aquifer vulnerability along the Mediterranean coastal regions, so that priorities maybe addressed in the revised TDA-SAP (Groundwater was not included in previous diagnostics).
PDF-B Activities:
A) Preliminary diagnostic analysis of the Mediterranean Coastal aquifers.
Preliminary compilation on Mediterranean Coastal aquifers assessment/ itemized studies;
concept for assessment/management of risk/uncertainty;
1st working Meeting – and Report RAC/SPA, National Focal Points; and
1st Formulation Workshop;
B) Coastal wetlands
Sites identification for protection of groundwater dependent coastal ecosystems and eco-hydrogeology applications for management of coastal wetlands.
C) Aquifer vulnerability
Develop Terms of References for coastal aquifer vulnerability mapping.
D) Identification of demonstrations
Identification, selection, formulation of aquifer demonstration investment options.
E) Prepare relevant section of Full Project Brief
2nd Formulation Workshop; and
Develop the component for the Project Brief, including components and activities, outputs and outcomes, cost, timeline, stakeholder involvement plan, logical framework, incremental cost analysis, co-financing, implementation arrangements and participatory mechanisms.
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Sub-Category 5. Regional Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) (UNEP/MAP, GWP-MED, METAP), (GEF-$50,000)
As a complement to the implementation of MED SAP addressing upstream actions to prevent and mitigate land based sources of marine pollution, the sub-category will facilitate the incorporation of the basins draining into the Mediterranean Barcelona Convention framework and thus establish the needed strong linkages with the GPA on Land Based Sources of Pollution.
The PDF-B will provide an overview of present situation and will focus on linking with and strengthening existing mechanisms and initiatives at the regional and national level such as the Petersburg Phase II/Athens Process on shared water resources, the Mediterranean Component of the EU Water Initiative, GEF IW-LEARN, IHP-ISARM etc. It will also elaborate the next steps to be undertaken within the full project.
Many countries in the Mediterranean are currently in a stage of institutional reform, orienting priorities and practices towards an IWRM approach. The progress achieved so far varies from advanced to poor. At the same time, though there are valuable experiences to share, it is recognized that there is no ‘one-solution-for-all’ as regards water management at the national level; this is mostly due to country particularities, the large number of sectors involved and the complexity of managing multi-interests.
Given the current water problems faced in the Mediterranean, there is need to take action and assist the countries to address challenges of effective management particularly of their shared water resources. The issue involves a long process that in many cases is particularly complex since it often involves sovereignties. At the same time, while there are a lot of experiences to share, there is currently no specific model for developing integrated management plans of shared water resources in the Mediterranean neither an action plan that links current initiatives with national needs.
PDF-B Activities:
Preparation of a preliminary Assessment of the current status of shared river basins, international lakes and shared aquifers in the Mediterranean region. The Assessment will provide information about physical and socio-economic characteristics of major shared water bodies; will describe impacts, uses, needs and demands, as well as, key managerial aspects, achievements, challenges and constraints for each area. A similar exercise has recently been completed for the South East Mediterranean countries with the support of Germany and within the Petersburg Phase II / Athens Process. The assessment will address countries not studied in the latter and is expected to become a helpful tool for the overall planning of the project;
Development of an Action Plan to strengthen shared water resources management in the Mediterranean. The Action Plan will link issues and types of interventions of integrated shared water resources management with on-going and planned regional and national initiatives, undertaken by states, international organizations and stakeholders. Types of interventions to be addressed may include policy development and planning, management measures, investments, institutional strengthening and law enforcement, capacity building and training, etc. Recommendations for priority actions to be undertaken will be related with potential donors’ interest; and
Preparation of the relevant section of the Full Project Brief, including a stakeholder validation meeting.
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Sub-Category 6. Regional Integrated Coastal Management
(UNEP/MAP through PAP/RAC, METAP), (GEF-$50,000; co-financing - $85,000)
Integrated Coastal Management is one of the priorities of the Mediterranean Action Plan, and one of the most important instruments to mitigate the impacts of the transboundary pollution in the Mediterranean. The Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention have in fact recommended that a draft Protocol be prepared by 2005 with a view of its adoption in the next biennium.
The protocol is presently being drafted and its discussion at the next CP meeting will be followed by a wide discussion among the regional stakeholders. The Protocol will be a catalyst for increased efforts by the countries to strengthen their policy and institutional framework for sustainable development of their coastal regions. An early identification of priority actions to be implemented when protocol will be in place is needed to guide its drafting and adoption process, as well as to help countries to prioritize their efforts towards better ICM in their national context and regional contexts.
PDF-B Activities:
Preparation of the policy briefs in 6 eligible countries of the region: 2 in Maghreb countries, 2 in Eastern /Mashrek countries, and 2 in the Northern Mediterranean;
Organization of the 3-day regional workshop with the objective of identifying the priority actions for ICM in the region with a view of the forthcoming ICM Protocol and reach agreement on the specific areas where integrated coastal management will be demonstrated; and
Develop the relevant section of the Full Project Brief, including components and activities, outputs and outcomes, cost, timeline, stakeholder involvement plan, logical framework, incremental cost analysis, co-financing, implementation arrangements and participatory mechanisms.
II Development of the Coordination Mechanisms for the Strategic Partnership (GEF-$175,000; co-financing - $75,000)
The following overall coordination architecture is outlined in the Project concept. During PDF-B works, this framework will be discussed an agreed upon with countries Focal Points and other relevant stakeholders.
A Strategic Partnership Steering Committee (as described in Component IV of the Project Concept), which will tentatively include National Focal Points (appointed by the participating governments and assisted by technical advisors nominated from cooperating national institutions), the President of the Bureau of the Contracting Parties of the Barcelona Convention, the GEF Secretariat, UNEP/DGEF, UNEP/MAP (MED POL and MAP-associated RACs), UNEP/GPA, WB, METAP, GWP-Med, UNESCO IHP, UNIDO, ICS-UNIDO, IUCN, FAO, WWF MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAMME OFFICE and any other major donors to the project. Two active regional NGOs might also be included in the Steering Group to ensure public participation and dissemination of project information to the relevant stakeholders. It is expected that this overall governing body of the Partnership will meet twice during the preparation period of the Strategic Partnership and its two components.
A Coordination Group will be responsible for the overall coordination of the Strategic Partnership, in particular ensuring effective exchanges and synergies between its two Components (Regional Project and Investment Fund). It will be formed by:
The MAP Coordinator (chair)
Representatives of the GEF Secretariat
Representatives of MED POL and RACs
The Project Manager of Component 1 (Regional Project),
UNEP/GEF Coordination Office Representative
The World Bank-GEF Regional Coordinators (ECA and MENA),
The World Bank Task Managers responsible for the Fund’s projects
Representatives of co-executing agencies
Representatives of co-funding partners and donor countries.
II.1 Execution Arrangements for the Regional Component
(Project: “Implementation of agreed actions for the protection of the environmental resources of the Mediterranean Sea and its coastal areas”)
Final agreement on the execution arrangements will also be reached during the early stages of PDF-B works. As stated in the Project Concept, the Regional Component of the Strategic Partnership will be implemented by UNEP and executed by UNEP/MAP through MEDPOL, MAP’s associated RACs; UNEP/GPA, and the following other co-executing agencies:
FAO – activities related to fisheries;
METAP (World Bank) – activities related to capacity building, economic and financial mechanisms, ICM as well as linkages with the Investment Fund;
UNESCO IHP – activities related to the groundwater issues;
UNIDO and the ICS-UNIDO – activities related to industrial pollution and cleaner production technologies;
GWP-Med – activities related to IWRM;
World Bank (with UNEP MAP), replication strategy, coordination
WWF MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAMME OFFICE – activities related to biodiversity protection.
Initial consultations will be held in order to clarify the project strategy and ensure that governments appoint National Focal Points (NFPs) and agree on a Project Preparation Steering Group which will then be established and convened in order to agree upon the detailed work plan and timetable for the project and the terms of reference and location of its coordinator and technical assistants. The institutions having initial direct roles in the project will also be identified and technical experts will be nominated. The Steering Group will include NFPs (appointed by the participating governments), technical advisors (nominated from cooperating national institutions), UNEP, WB, FAO, UNESCO, UNIDO, WWF MEDITERRANEAN PROGRAMME OFFICE and MAP. It will also include any major donors to the project. A Project Coordinator will serve as Secretary to the Steering Group. Also two active regional NGOs will be included in the Steering Group to ensure public participation and dissemination of project information to the relevant stakeholders.
A comprehensive regional and national Stakeholder Involvement Plan for the full Project Phase will be formulated during the PDF B implementation. In the countries, National Stakeholder (inter-ministerial) Committees, with representation from the public, private and NGO sectors, will be established to coordinate project activities and ensure that decisions of the Steering Group are implemented in the countries.
PDF-B activities:
Design a strong overall coordination of the two Elements of the Partnership, including the establishment of the Strategic Partnership Steering Committee, Coordination Group, A Strategic Partnership Coordinator, and independent evaluation function;
Establishment of National Focal Points and Inter-ministries Coordinating Committees in all eligible countries;
Recruitment of the PDF-B coordinator and technical assistants;
Preparation of Stakeholders Involvement Plan for the Full project;
Development of effective management and coordination mechanism for the Full project,
Development of effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism for the Full project (M&E Plan);
Development effective project information and lessons learned dissemination strategies;
Preparation of the GEF project brief for the submission to the GEF Council;
Securing co-financing for the Full project activities;
Securing countries co-financing of the Full project;
Donor conference and Meeting of high level governmental representatives (project focal points) and key stakeholders to agree on the key elements of the project brief
Preparation of the UNEP project document for Full project implementation.
Relevant Process Indicators, Stress Reduction Indicators, and Environmental Status Indicators will be developed and that will serve to inform the M&E process as well as being adopted by the participating countries as tools for long-term monitoring of project objectives. One particularly important Process Indicator will be the level of ratification by participating countries to various pertinent regional and international MEAs by the end of the project.
The outputs from this PDF-B process will include:
Consolidated Mechanisms for consultation and co-ordination among various Stakeholders through a Regional Steering Committee, Coordination Group, National Inter-ministry Committees;
Stakeholders Involvement Plan;
GEF International Waters M&E Indicators established and M&E plan developed;
Project dissemination and replication strategies developed.
A fully costed Project Brief (and ultimately IA’s respective Project Documents) indicating agreed incremental costs, the sources of baseline funding and co-financing required to implement identified national and regional demonstration projects will be produced.
The justification for this PDF B Grant lies in the need to develop a Regional Project under the new Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) was established in 1975, as the first Regional Seas Programme of UNEP, with the Convention on the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Pollution (the Barcelona Convention) as its legal basis. In 1997 the project proposal for a "Strategic Action Programme to Address Pollution from Land-Based Sources in the Mediterranean Region (SAP MED)", prepared under a GEF PDF-B Grant, was adopted by the Contracting Parties. As a follow-up, the Project proposal “Determination of Priority Actions for the further Elaboration and Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Mediterranean Sea" was submitted to GEF and approved by its Council in April 2000.
The approved Project includes the "Preparation of a Strategic Action Programme for Biodiversity in the Mediterranean Region (SAP BIO)". The SAP BIO has recently been adopted by the Thirteenth Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona (Catania, Italy, 11-14 November 2003).
In order to accelerate on the ground implementation of the SAPs, and assist with the early implementation of the ICM Protocol, a collective effort for the protection of the environmental resources of the Mediterranean - the Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean Sea Large Marine Ecosystem - is being proposed by UNEP and the World Bank to all the countries of the Mediterranean and to all international cooperation Agencies, IFIs and bilateral and multi-lateral donors. The proposed Partnership – which builds upon the model and lessons learnt from the GEF Black Sea/Danube Partnership – is a basin-wide multi-stakeholder collaboration with the main objective to assist basin countries in implementing reforms and investments in key sectors that address transboundary pollution reduction, biodiversity decline, habitat degradation and living resources protection priorities identified in the two SAPs. The Partnership will serve as a catalyst in leveraging policy/legal/institutional reforms as well as additional investments for reversing degradation of this damaged large marine ecosystem its contributing freshwater basins, habitats and coastal aquifers.
The proposed Strategic Partnership will consist of the two individual components, which fit together to assist the countries in a collaborative manner according to each agency’s comparative advantage:
Regional
Component
D – Timetable
see annex 3
See Annex 4
A - Convention Secretariat
B - Other IAs and relevant ExAs
Annex 1. Approved GEF Concept for the Strategic Partnership
Annex 2. PDF-B timetable
Annex 3. PDF-B Budget
Appendix A: Project Concept
Appendix B: Stocktaking meeting report