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pdf implementation report |
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GEFSEC Project ID: 2700
UNDP Project ID: 3469
Country: Regional – East Asia Participating Countries: Cambodia; China; DPR Korea; Indonesia; Lao PDR; Malaysia; Philippines; Thailand; Timor Leste; and Vietnam; with Brunei Darussalam, Japan, RO Korea and Singapore participating on a cost-sharing basis.
Project Title: Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia
Other project Executing Agency(ies): IMO
GEF Focal Area: International Waters
GEF Operational Program: OP9
Starting Date: January 2006
Estimated Date of operational closure: June 2007
Estimated Date of financial closure: September 2007
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PART I - Project Achievements
A- Summary
The PDF-B project was designed and implemented with the objective of formulating an approved work programme for the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). The project entailed a series of consultations with participating national governments, their partners at the subnational, country and regional levels, as well as collaborating international agencies and organizations. Over an 18-month period (January 2006 to June 2007) the project was able to achieve all outputs and outcomes identified in the Project Document. Specifically, outputs and outcomes were delivered as summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: Project Achievements – Outputs and Outcomes
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Outputs |
Ouput targets |
Outcomes |
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Output 1: Baseline assessment/TORs for streamlining national policies and actionsplans. |
1. Baseline assessments were completed in 11 countries, namely: Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam. Japan and RO Korea also submitted baseline assessments using their own resources. 2. TORs/work plans for SDS-SEA implementation were prepared by: Cambodia; China; Indonesia; Lao PDR; Philippines; Thailand; Timor Leste and Vietnam. |
1. The information gathered and collated during the baseline assessment phase allowed countries to analyze the status of their respective national policies, programs and projects and how they contributed to implementation of the SDS-SEA. As a consequence, incremental activities and outcomes associated with the proposed GEF-supported project were then defined and discerned from national efforts. 2. The TOR/work plans provided countries with a road map for implementation of the SDS-SEA over the first three years of the GEF-supported project, focusing on: a) depletion of coastal and marine fish stocks and associated biological diversity, and b) nutrient over-enrichment and oxygen depletion from land-based pollution of coastal waters, through policy reforms, institutional arrangements and ICM implementation. 3. Co-financing commitments of $27,594,400 were also confirmed by the participating governments in support of the TORs and work plans. |
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Output 2: Lao PDR and Timor Leste confirmed as new participating countries for SDS-SEA implementation. |
1. National consultative workshops were held in Lao PDR (June 2006) and Timor Leste (July 2005), where senior government officials were briefed on the SDS-SEA. |
1. Senior Government Officials from Lao PDR and Timor Leste signed the Haikou Partnership Agreement for the Implementation of the SDS-SEA, during the Ministerial Forum of the EAS Congress. |
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2. Capacity development work programs identified and agreed to by each country, aimed at reducing disparities related to SDS-SEA implementation. 3. Sites identified and selected for the development and implementation of ICM programs in Lao PDR and Timor Leste, in partnership with national agencies and local government units. |
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2. Senior government officials from Lao PDR and Timor Leste attended the 12th Programme Steering Committee of PEMSEA in August 2006, to participate in regional consultations concerning implementation arrangements for the SDS-SEA. 3. Capacity needs assessments completed in Lao PDR and Timor Leste in April and June 2007, respectively. Capacity development program formulated for each country to enhance SDS-SEA implementation. |
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Output 3: National and regional consultations conducted. |
1. National consultations/forums were conducted in 10 countries: a) Cambodia: March 2006; b) China: May 2006; c) DPR Korea: September 2006; d) Indonesia: April 2006; e) Japan: February 2006; f) Philippines: February/June 2006; g) RO Korea: May 2006; h) Singapore: January 2006; i) Thailand: March 2006; and j) Vietnam: March 2006. 2. Consultations/joint meetings/ workshops were undertaken with regional and international agencies, organizations, programs and projects, as follows: a) 12th Programme Steering Committee of the PEMSEA Regional Programme: August 2006, reviewed, analyzed and approved the work program and schedule of the SDS-SEA implementation project; b) COBSEA-PEMSEA Joint Regional Workshop on Partnership Opportunities for Enhancing GPA Implementation: September 2006; c) GEF/UNDP/World Bank/IW Learn/PEMSEA Workshop on GEF International Waters Strategic Partnerships for Danube-Black Sea and the Seas of East Asia, during the UNEP GPA IGR2 Conference: October 2006; d) PEMSEA workshop on Local Government Implementation of GPA: Partnerships in Integrated Management of Coastal and Marine Areas organized and conducted as part of the UNEP GPA IGR2 meeting: October 2006; e) EAS Congress 2006, involving 42 co-organizing agencies and organizations and more than 800 participants: December 2006. |
1. Consensus established among countries on the strategies, objectives and work program for SDS-SEA implementation. A 10-year transformation process was agreed to by the countries, wherein PEMSEA will transform from a project-oriented regional initiative to a self-sustaining regional mechanism for the implementation of the SDS-SEA, with its own legal identity. 2. Three countries (i.e., China, Japan and RO Korea) have agreed to finance the PRF Secretariat Services component of the regional mechanism. |
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3. Twelve organizations/programs signed the Partnership Operating Arrangements for Implementation of the SDS-SEA in December 2006, namely: Conservation International Philippines; Coastal Management Center, Philippines; UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme; IOC/WESTPAC; Korea Environment Institute; Korea Maritime Institute; Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute; Ocean Policy and Research Foundation, Japan; Oil Spill Response and East Asia Response Limited, Singapore/UK; Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK; UNEP Global Programme of Action; and the UNDP/GEF Yellow Sea LME Project. With the signing, these organizations are recognized as PEMSEA Partners in the EAS Partnership Council. |
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4. In addition: a) An agreement has been signed with the UNDP Small Grants Programme in support of NGOs/CBOs/POs participation in the formulation and implementation of coastal strategies at the local government level; b) The World Bank, UNDP and PEMSEA are in the process of forging a pilot Strategic Partnership Arrangement for implementation of the SDS-SEA; c) An MOA has been signed with UNEP-GPA, outlining areas of cooperation and collaboration regarding implementation of GPA within the framework of the SDS-SEA in the East Asian region; d) PEMSEA and COBSEA prepared a joint policy brief entitled Partnership Opportunities for Enhancing GPA Implementation in the East Asian Region (2007-2011), which was presented to the GPA IGR2 meeting in October 2006. The policy brief outlines ways and means of promoting enhanced collaboration and sharing experiences and knowledge among countries and regional programs and projects. COBSEA sits as an Observer at the EAS Partnership Council; e) The GEF/UNDP Yellow Sea project signed the Partnership Operating Arrangements of PEMSEA in December 2006, thereby becoming a member of the EAS Partnership Council; f) The GEF/UNEP South China Sea project collaborated with PEMSEA in the organization and implementation of the EAS Congress 2006 and sat as an Observer during the Inaugural Meeting of the EAS Partnership Council in December 2006; g) Letters of Cooperation have been signed with: i) Conservation International concerning areas of collaboration in East Asia with regard to resource and biodiversity conservation and protection in the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas; ii) the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and the Victorian Coastal Council (VCC) of Victoria, Australia, for awareness-building, skills enhancement and professional development, linkage-, partnership, and local alliance—building, and strengthening the use of intellectual capital through networking for marine education, training and research; iii) NOAA covering the integrated freshwater to oceans management approach, focused on the Jiulongjiang River in the Xiamen-Zhangzhou-Longyan region of Fujian Province; iv) 3 Korean research institutions, namely Korea Maritime Institute, Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, and Korea Environment Institute, to broaden knowledge sharing and capacity building in integrated coastal management in the East Asian Seas region; SENSA; IOI; SEAFDEC; NACA; NOWPAP. |
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Output 4: Monitoring and evaluation plan |
1. Regional meeting of experts organized and conducted to discuss the framework of a State of Coasts (SOC) reporting system for East Asian Seas; 2. Templates prepared for local (ICM), subregional, national and regional SOC reports; 3. Regional meeting of experts adopted templates for SOC, relevant indicators and work program for SOC reporting outcomes and impacts at the different levels of interest, including GEF and UNDP. |
1. A matrix outlining stakeholder participation at the local, national and regional levels was accomplished and agreed to by the governments and their partners. 2. An SOC reporting system, consistent with GEF process, stress reduction and environmental and social status indicators was drafted and agreed to by a multidisciplinary regional expert group. 3. The Stakeholder Participation Plan was incorporated into the work programs of the participating countries for ICM scaling up, integrated river basin and coastal area management, SGP project development and implementation, and capacity development. |
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4. Stakeholder Participation Plan prepared based on national and regional consultations, including recommendations from EAS Congress workshops/meetings (e.g., ICM dialogue; Achieving MDG through local capacities for ICRM; Small Grants Programme; and Implementing GPA) |
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Output 5: GEF Executive Summary and GEF-UNDP Project Document |
1. The 12th PEMSEA Programme Steering Committee meeting reviewed and approved the Project Document in August 2006; 2. The supplemental 9-point annex for the project was approved by the GEF Sec in February 2007; 3. Executive Summary and ProDoc revised in response to new GEF formats. |
1. The Executive Summary and Project Document were submitted on schedule for consideration by GEF Council during its June 2007 meeting. |
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Output 6: Bridging Activities |
1. National workshops conducted in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam to identify capacity development needs, delineate linkages with related projects/programs, and identify project sites. 2. Capacity development programs and schedules completed for each participating country. 3. ICM training program and manual prepared, including training-trainers program and ICM mangers program. 4. Post graduate ICM curriculum developed by experts/ universities in the region. 5. ICM scaling up strategy and work program completed in 5 countries. |
1. MOAs signed with participating governments regarding the national work program and resource commitments for implementation of the SDS-SEA during the three-year project. 2. Co-financing commitments totaling $33,374,400 confirmed. |
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6. SOC reporting system confirmed by multidisciplinary expert group. |
PDF Completion Status
All operational aspects of the project preparation have been completed in accordance with the UNDP Project Document, as summarized in the previous section. Table 2 summarizes the status of approved allocations and committed resources for the six major project activities.
Table 2: Completion Status of Project Activities
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Approved |
Actual | |||||
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Proposed Activities at Approval |
GEF Financing |
Co-financing |
Completion status |
GEF financing |
Co-financing |
Uncommitted GEF funds |
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1. Baseline Assessment conducted in 8 countries |
21,700 |
76,000 |
Completed |
39,545 |
95,000 |
-17,845 |
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2. Confirmation of SDS-SEA work plan and capacity development programs in Lao PDR and Timor Leste |
110,600 |
31,500 |
Completed |
108,600 |
28,000 |
2,000 |
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3. National and regional consultations conducted |
120,000 |
135,250 |
Completed |
113,156 |
150,000 |
6,844 |
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4. M&E Plan developed |
14,000 |
4,400 |
Completed |
13,500 |
4,400 |
500 |
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5. GEF Executive Summary and Project Document prepared, endorsed by countries and submitted to GEF/UNDP |
34,331 |
44,000 |
Completed |
33,146 |
44,000 |
1,185 |
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6. Bridging activities conducted in 8 countries, to facilitate preparation of work plans/resource allocations |
297,969 |
10,550 |
Ongoing |
290,653 |
76,000 |
7,316 |
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Project Management |
101,400 |
0 |
Completed |
101,400 |
0 |
0 |
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TOTALS |
700,000 |
301,700 |
700,000 |
397,400 |
0 | |
B – Record of Stakeholder Involvement in Project Preparation
Stakeholder involvement in the preparation of the project was accorded as a consequence of a series on local, national and regional workshops and seminars. The records concerning the various consultative events have been summarized in Table 3.
PART II - PDF Financial Delivery
The financial delivery status of the project is as follows:
a) All GEF funds have been committed as of 30 June 2007; the financial report for the project is pending and expected to be submitted before the end of September 2007.
b) There were no major discrepancies between the approved allocation of GEF funds, and the actual commitment of GEF funds during project implementation. There was a cost overrun during the baseline assessment phase of the project, due primarily to the substantial volume of information (i.e., $43.5 billion in baseline activities/programs were collated and analyzed). The cost overrun of $17,845 was addressed through savings in the other 5 components of the project;
c) Co-financing expenditures (actual) exceeded co-financing commitments (planned) by $95,700, primarily as a consequence of the extensive national and regional consultations that occurred in 2006. The additional expenditures were absorbed by co-convenors of the various workshops and meetings conducted as part of the consultative process, including the workshops and side events organized during the EAS Congress 2006.