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UNDP-GEF Medium-Size Project (MSP)
Governments of Chad, Egypt, Libya, Sudan _____________
United Nations Development Programme
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Title of Project
Formulation of an Action Programme for the Integrated Management of the Shared Nubian Aquifer
Table of Contents
Section Page
SECTION I: Elaboration of the Narrative 4
SECTION II: STRATEGIC RESULTS FRAMEWORK (attachment) 8
SECTION III : Total Budget and Workplan (attached in MSP) 9
SECTION IV : ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 9
Signature Page 10
Annex I (Terms of Reference for Project Manager and Administrative Assistant) 12
Annex II (Strategic Results Framework (16 pages) 16
Annex III Medium Sized Project (78 pages) 32
Acronyms
CEDARE Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe
COB Convention on Biological Diversity
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
GEF Global Environment Facility
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency
IBWC International Boundary Waters Commission
IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development
ISARM Internationally Shared (Transboundary) Aquifer Resources Management
MSP GEF Medium-Sized Project
NARIS Nubian Sandstone Aquifer Regional Information System
NEPAD New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development
NSAS Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System
OSS Sahara and Sahel Observatory
SADA Shared Aquifer Diagnostic Analysis
SAP Strategic Action Programme
UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNDAF United Nations Development Assistance Framework
MYFF Multi-Year Funding Framework
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PART I: Situation Analysis
1. The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) is one of the largest aquifers in the world covering approximately two million square kilometres of Northeast Africa in Chad, Egypt, Libya, and Sudan. The NSAS is the world’s largest fossil aquifer system with reserves estimated at 375,000 km3. In the arid desert areas of the countries that share the aquifer, groundwater is a primary source of water for the human population and the indigenous ecosystems.
2. With growing populations and decreasing water available from other sources, there is increasing pressure to enhance the abstraction of this tremendously valuable resource that, under current climatic conditions and based on current knowledge, appears to be only marginally rechargeable. This increased pressure to use these shared groundwater resources, despite limited knowledge of the transboundary impacts, represents a potential threat to a precious resource that if not properly assessed and monitored, could lead to the deterioration of water quality and/or irrational water use with the potential to harm biodiversity, accelerate land degradation processes or even negatively impact regional cooperation efforts.
3. The region is wrought with water shortage amidst growing human populations. Destruction of ecosystems is leading to increased desertification and loss of natural habitat. One challenge in developing an adequate management strategy is the continued lack of sufficient knowledge about the aquifer needed to develop a rational use of the aquifer resources that can benefit the four countries. Further issues include inadequate institutional mechanisms and operational frameworks for management of water currently being exploited from the NSAS including loss of springs due to poor allocation of wells, change in the natural environment including species and habitats, poor understanding of local legislation and water rights, insufficient understanding of interactions between horizons, and impacts of development on the local and regional sustainability of groundwater.
4. In general, there is a lack of a proper database and analytical capacity to synthesize available information as a basis for determining and undertaking future technical investigations and developing appropriate strategies. Hence, there is a need to establish a framework for enhanced management of the NSAS.
PART II: Strategy
5. The Long-term Goal of the project is to establish a rational and equitable management of the NSAS for sustainable socio-economic development and the protection of biodiversity and land resources. To achieve this goal, it will be necessary to (i) Prepare and agree on a Shared Aquifer Diagnostic Analysis (SADA) to jointly identify, understand and reach agreement on the priority issues, threats and root causes of the NSAS; (ii) Address and fill key methodological, data and capacity gaps needed for strategic planning decisions, using appropriate technical approaches with a focus on isotope techniques and applications under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); (iii) Undertake the preparation of a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) to outline the necessary legal, policy and institutional reforms needed to address the priority threats and their root causes as identified in the SADA for the NSAS with a focus on the environmental aspects of aquifer management; and (iv) Establish a framework for developing an agreed legal and institutional mechanism towards a NSAS convention for joint four-partite management and rational use of the shared NSAS System.
6. The project long-term goal will contribute to UNDP MYFF goal on energy and environment under the water governance service line. The project is also in agreement with MYFF core result on transboundary dialogue and processes to improve cooperation on regional and global water challenges in place. The project contributes to sustainable management of natural resources, which is in line with the UN framework of activities and the national priorities of the four countries as identified in the several UN reports such as the UNDAF for Egypt and UN-World Bank Joint Mission Report for Sudan in 2005.
7. The project will build on and strengthen existing analytical frameworks and establish institutional and legal mechanisms for the sustainable management and use of the shared NSAS. This enhanced framework and intensified cooperation will set the basis for better management of the shared aquifer resources.
8. The project will review past, ongoing and planned activities through national or international resources, with the aim of assessing collaborative frameworks and mechanisms to explore synergies with other ongoing activities, avoiding duplication in effort and capitalizing on lessons learnt, particularly with regard to regional water governance initiatives.
PART III : Management Arrangements
9. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will execute the project under UNDP Agency Execution arrangements. The IAEA will oversee the work and duties of the Project Manager to ensure that UNDP-GEF funds and IAEA matching funds are assigned to activities agreed to in the work plan, that progress reports are submitted on time, and that the Project Steering Committee meetings are held as agreed. The project national focal points will facilitate the implementation of project activities on the national level in coordination with their respective UNDP Country Office. UNDP-GEF will provide necessary support and backstopping to ensure proper implementation progress, review products and documents, and where necessary filter project results to be in line with overall objectives as well as UNDP-GEF requirements. A project inception regional workshop will be organized at the beginning of the project, involving relevant stakeholders, to allow for the preparation and agreement of a detailed project workplan.
Project Manager:
10. In accordance with its relevant recruitment procedures, the IAEA in coordination with UNDP-GEF, will interview potential candidates and select a qualified Project Manager. The Project Manager (PM) will be based in Vienna at IAEA headquarters with extensive travel in the region and will be responsible for executing day-to-day activities. One Administrative Staff will support the PM. The PM will be responsible for project planning and timely implementation of the workplan to achieve project objectives in accordance with the directives of the Project Steering Committee. The PM’s responsibilities will also include recruitment and follow-up with national consultants, communication and coordination among all stakeholders, and ensuring quality project deliverables. Annex I shows the TORs of the Project Manager and the Administrative Assistant.
Executing Agency:
11. The IAEA will be responsible for overall project management of the MSP. The IAEA will lead the technical components of the project given its expertise in the groundwater sector and based on its utilization of isotope techniques. This will include the role as interlocutor between the participating countries and UNDP/GEF, disbursing funds as appropriate in accordance with the workplan and participating in monitoring missions and in the meetings of the Project Steering Committees. The IAEA contribution of US$618,000 will be used in parallel to support activities already identified on the draft work plan in the MSP and will be disbursed in accordance with the IAEA’s financial rules and regulations.
Aquifer Government Officials (National Focal Points):
12. The preparation of the UNDP-GEF MSP followed a consultative process, which included a meeting on the Transboundary Management of the Nubian Aquifer convened in March 2004 at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, with financial support from UNDP. Representatives from the four-aquifer countries concerned as well as representatives from UNDP/GEF, UNESCO and the Centre for Environment & Development for the Arab Region & Europe (CEDARE) took part in the meeting. The meeting was successful in terms of bringing together country representatives and potential partners to discuss and agree on a common understanding of the modalities for implementing a possible UNDP/GEF MSP. The focus was to enhance the existing regional coordination and management mechanism for the critical and effective joint management of the Nubian Aquifer. The roles of other organizations in project implementation and possible co-funding sources were also discussed. (see annex 1 of the MSP for a full report of the meeting).
13. There will be a coordinated effort of programme supervision, technical review and backstopping between the different partners concerned. In the course of the project implementation, Aquifer Government Officials will represent their countries in the Project Steering Committee meetings, coordinate activities on the national level, liaise with relevant national institutions and assist the Project Manager during regular missions to the aquifer countries in consultation with UNDP COs. The Aquifer Government Officials will also ensure that support from their respective Governments are delivered on time and in line with their respective plans for development of the Nubian Aquifer over the period of the MSP. The government contributions will cover some parallel activities in addition to the value of staff time and both fixed and running costs associated with work on the project in the countries from their respective budgets.
Project Steering Committee (PSC):
14. A regular policy, managerial and technical oversight will be established under the overall supervision and coordination of The Project Steering Committee (PSC). The PSC will comprise of all relevant stakeholders/partners designated Aquifer Government officials, IAEA, UNDP-GEF, UNESCO, etc. It will meet at least once a year and more frequently if needed to guide and assess project implementation accordingly. Responsibilities of the PSC will include approving detailed work plans and following-up on project progress and reviewing the project deliverables.
15. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will provide US$50,000 as in-kind contribution to the project and its input will be used appropriately.
16. In order to accord proper acknowledgement to GEF for providing funding, a GEF logo should appear on all relevant GEF project publications, including among others, project hardware and vehicles purchased with GEF funds. Any citation on publications regarding projects funded by GEF should also accord proper acknowledgment to GEF. The UNDP and IAEA logos should also appear and should be more prominent.
PART IV: Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Plan and Budget
Project monitoring and evaluation will be conducted in accordance with established UNDP and GEF procedures and will be provided by the project team and UNDP Country Office (UNDP-CO) with support from UNDP/GEF. The monitoring of the project will be based on the project monitoring and evaluation plan as described in Component 5 “Project Monitoring and Evaluation” of the MSP Document. This will be complemented by monitoring feedback from stakeholders, who will be consulted and supported to communicate with the Joint Authority of the Nubian Aquifer and the Project Steering Committee, through the Project Manager, on observed issues and specific objectives and interests.
The Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Plan will include the following Activities:
· Regular (monthly) progress reporting to UNDP/GEF Technical Advisor for International Waters/Land Degradation, to PPRR and the IAEA by the Project Manager,
· At least annual meetings of the Project Steering Committee,
· Preparation of project implementation plan including budget (updated as needed,)
· Annual GEF APR/PIR,
· One independent project evaluation exercise (end of project)
The PM will also be responsible for drafting additional reports as requested by the Implementing and Executing agencies, particularly those related to the achievement of project milestones and performance.
The overall responsibility for reporting vis-à-vis UNDP rests with the IAEA. Quarterly Project Development Reports (PDRs), annual audited financial statements and final project reports will be provided in accordance with existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UNDP.
Financial transactions of the project shall be subject to the internal and external auditing procedures laid down in the Financial Regulations and Rules of the IAEA.
PART V: Legal Context
This Project Document shall be the instrument referred to as such in Article I of the Standard Basic Assistance Agreement between the Government of Egypt and the United Nations Development Programme, signed by the parties on 19 January 1987 The host country implementing agency shall, for the purpose of the Standard Basic Assistance Agreement, refer to the government co-operating agency described in that Agreement.
UNDP acts in this Project as Implementing Agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and all rights and privileges pertaining to UNDP as per the terms of the SBAA shall be extended mutatis mutandis to GEF.
The UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt is authorized to effect in writing the following types of revision to this Project Document, provided that he/she has verified the agreement thereto by the UNDP-GEF Unit and is assured that the other signatories to the Project Document have no objection to the proposed changes:
Ø Revision of, or addition to, any of the annexes to the Project Document;
Ø Revisions which do not involve significant changes in the immediate objectives, outputs or activities of the project, but are caused by the rearrangement of the inputs already agreed to or by cost increases due to inflation;
Ø Mandatory annual revisions which re-phase the delivery of agreed project inputs or increased expert or other costs due to inflation or take into account agency expenditure flexibility; and
Ø Inclusion of additional annexes and attachments only as set out here in this Project Document
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PART I : Logical Framework Analysis (THIS WILL BE COMPLETED AFTER THE INCEPTION MEETING)
See Annex II
Table 1: Objectively Verifiable Impact Indicators
Table 2: Indicative Outputs, Activities and quarterly workplan
See Annex II
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See Annex II
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Approved MSP proposal: See Annex III
Other agreements
See the approved MSP: Annex 8- Letters Confirming Co-funding and Annex 9- GEF Focal Point Endorsement Letters
PART II: Organigram of Project
(will be finalized at the Inception Meeting)
PART III: Terms of References for key project staff and main sub-contracts
See Annex I
Country: _______________Egypt____
UNDAF Outcome(s)/Indicator(s): Enhanced natural resources management, environmental sustainability and food security
(Link to UNDAF outcome. If no UNDAF, leave blank)
Expected Outcome(s)/Indicator (s): Improved Capacity of national/sectoral authorities to plan and implement integrated approaches to environmental management and energy conservation
(CP outcomes linked to the SRF/MYFF goal and service line) _Effective Water Governance
Expected Output(s)/Indicator(s):
(CP outcomes linked t the SRF/MYFF goal and service line) Effective Water Governance
Implementing partner: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
(designated institution/Executing agency)
Other Partners: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
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Agreed by (Government of Egypt): _______________________________________________________
Agreed by (Government of Sudan): _______________________________________________________
Agreed by (Government of Libya): _______________________________________________________
Agreed by (Government of Chad): _______________________________________________________
Agreed by (Implementing partner/Executing agency):________________________________
Agreed by (UNDP):_____________________________________________________________
