request for project preparation grant (PPG)

Project Type: Full-sized Project

the GEF Trust Fund

Submission date: 19 November 2007

Re-submission date: 18 December 2007

GEFSEC Project ID¹: 3519

GEF Agency Project ID: 4055

Country(ies): Argentina, Uruguay

Project Title: Reducing and preventing land-based pollution in the Rio de la Plata/Maritime Front through implementation of the FrePlata Strategic Action Programme.

GEF Agency(ies): UNDP

Other Executing partner(s): CARP and CTMFM in coordination with other agencies involved with the SAP.

GEF Focal Area(s): Full-sized ProjectInternational Waters.

GEF-4 Strategic program(s): IW SP2.

name of parent/program/umbrella project:      

a. Project preparation Timeframe

Start date	January 2008
Completion date	December 2008

b. project preparation activities ($)

Describe the PPG activities:
List project preparation activities	GEF Grant	Co-financing	Total
Needs and Technical Assessments	37,000	76,000	113,000
Policy Needs Assessment to review national/federal and municipal policy and governance mechanisms as a basis for creating a policy and investment climate at the local government level that is conducive to investment by the private sector in environmental infrastructure improvement and conservation projects	5,000	11,000	16,000
Review of experiences at national and sub-national levels related to innovative Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)	5,000	10,000	15,000
Gap Analysis of requirements for establishment of multi-sectoral partnerships, in particular at municipal/provincial levels for the development, financing, and implementation of environmental infrastructure improvement and conservation projects	6,000	9,000	15,000
Municipal authorities’ consultations on requirements for PPPs	7,000	7,000	14,000
Policy Needs Assessment to harmonize pollution reduction policy/legislation frameworks across federal/provincial/municipal levels as well as of Cleaner Production regimes in both countries as a basis for defining policy realignment and strengthening, for supporting efforts for setting pollution reduction targets; identification of policy needs for the joint application of the bi-national Water Quality and Sediment Objectives (WQO) methodology and adoption of the bi-national technical protocols for EIA, SEA already developed	6,000	10,000	16,000
Legal analysis of the Commissions’ mandate to define modalities for strengthening CARP	0	2,000	2,000
Gap analysis of TDA updating requirements	4,000	15,000	19,000
Assessment of requirements for updating the FREPLATA Integrated Information System as a management tool for decision makers and for public involvement with the SAP	0	9,000	9,000
Consultations with key counterpart projects in Comprehensive Package of Intervention to determine information management requirements and potential synergies	4,000	3,000	7,000
Pilot Projects Scoping	64,000	252,000	316,000
Capacity building and training needs assessment for municipalities and targeted sectors that will participate in project activities related to Cleaner Production, RIIGLO, Montevideo Effluent Unit and the Coastal-Marine Network	9,000	94,000	103,000
Review of RIIGLO scope and achievements to determine most effective modalities for upscaling	5,000	30,000	35,000
Review of Montevideo Effluent Unit to determine most effective modalities for upscaling	4,000	13,000	17,000
Private sector dialogue on upscaling Montevideo Effluent Unit in Uruguay and replicating in Argentina	5,000	4,000	9,000
Review of Coastal-Marine Network to determine most effective modalities for upscaling	4,000	30,000	34,000
Assessment for establishment of a bi-national network for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) early warning system	5,000	0	5,000
Review of existing coastal wetlands management plans; feasibility assessment of a pilot project for coastal water quality improvement in Samborombón and Carrasco wetlands	8,000	55,000	63,000
Analysis of key entry points for Cleaner Production PPP activities, including review of applicability of TEST methodology	11,000	0	11,000
Prioritization of SAP pilots based on feasibility assessments and capacity building requirements	6,000	20,000	26,000
Integrated assessment workshop to review proposed mechanisms for achieving project objectives for pollutant load reductions	7,000	6,000	13,000
Project Scoping and Definition	49,000	72,000	121,000
Inter-ministerial and inter-agency agreement on Comprehensive Package of Intervention (CPI) incorporating this initiative, and the two Uruguay MSPs for fisheries and adaptation to climate change	4,500	0	4,500
Inter-ministerial and inter-agency dialogue on coordination mechanisms for the CPI, including with municipalities where pilots are sited	3,500	3,000	6,500
Logical framework analysis completed to provide for comprehensive FREPLATA SAP implementation including definition of suite of indicators based on IW requirements and capacity building processes	7,000	6,000	13,000
Technical consultations on definition of SAP Implementation indicators	4,000	4,000	8,000
Strategy and mechanisms defined for institutional coordination between agencies involved in the SAP implementation and the CARP and CTMFM, including clear definition of roles and responsibilities	5,000	6,000	11,000
Bi-national inter-agency dialogues to review and agree on definition of institutional coordination mechanisms and respective roles and responsibilities	5,000	5,000	10,000
Work program and budget identified for proposed components including baseline commitments and co-financing requirements based on the Strategy and mechanisms defined above	8,000	4,000	12,000
Preliminary Stakeholder Involvement Plan and communications strategy prepared that includes private sector and civil society partners, provides for coordination with other key GEF projects in the region, IW: LEARN and defines precise roles, responsibilities, and financial commitments of agencies and partners involved in SAP implementation	8,000	6,000	14,000
Monitoring and evaluation program formulated in accordance with M&E indicators for GEF IW projects	4,000	0	4,000
Preliminary strategy developed and methodologies defined to catalyze resource mobilization for execution of SAP and associated NAP´s	0	11,000	11,000
UNDP and GEF documentation prepared including Project Document and annexes	0	27,000	27,000
Total project preparation financing	150,000	400,000	550,000

c. PPG Budget Requesting Finance by GEF (MILLIONS $)

Cost Items	Total Estimated Person Weeks (PW)	GEF ($)	Co-financing ($)	Total ($)
Local consultants *	122	83,000	385,000	468,000
International consultants*	13	32,500		32,500
Travel **		34,500	15,000	49,500
Total PPG Budget		150,000	400,000	550,000

* Split between local and international consultants might be indicative and subject to the procurement guidelines of the
Agencies. Additional information regarding consultants should be provided in Annex A.

** Allocation for travel includes all costs associated with dialogues and consultations at bi-national and national levels

d. GEF Agency(ies) Certification

This request has been prepared in accordance with GEF policies and procedures and meets the GEF criteria for project identification and preparation.
John Hough UNDP-GEF Deputy Executive Coordinator, a.i.	Paula Caballero Regional Technical Advisor for International Waters, LAC UNDP-GEF Project Contact Person
Date: 18 December 2007	Tel. and Email:507 302 4571 paula.caballero@undp.org

Annex A

Consultants Financed by the Project Preparation Grant (PPG)

Position Titles	$/ Person Week	Est. PWs	Tasks to be performed
Specialists* for review of PPP and Cleaner Production Policy Frameworks	680	38	- Review of experiences at national and sub-national level related to PPP. Contribute to identification of PPP strategic alliances with plans, programs and projects at sub-national and national level. Preliminary Policy Needs Assessment to review national/federal and municipal policy and governance mechanisms required for an enabling environment for private sector investment at municipal and provincial levels. Policy Needs Assessment to harmonize pollution reduction policy/legislation frameworks across federal/provincial/ municipal levels as well of Cleaner Production regimes in both countries as a basis for defining policy realignment and strengthening, for supporting efforts for setting pollution reduction targets Identification of key industrial sectors to be involved with Cleaner Production (C+P) activities. Review of TEST methodology and assessment of application modalities. Draft proposal implementing C+P pilot projects through PPP in both countries and assessment of feasibility based on scope. Proposal of PPP for replicating Montevideo Effluent Unit in Uruguay and Argentina at sub-national level and assessment of feasibility based on scope. - Contribute to formulation of the logical framework matrix.
Specialists* for Capacity Building and Technical Needs Assessment	680	21	Gap Analysis of requirements for establishment of multi-sectoral partnerships, in particular at municipal levels, for the mobilizing PPPs and implementing environmental infrastructure improvement and conservation projects. Capacity building and training needs assessment for municipalities and targeted sectors that will participate in project activities related to Cleaner Production, RIIGLO, Montevideo Effluent Unit and the Coastal-Marine network. - Contribute to formulation of the logical framework matrix.
Specialists* in Environmental Issues	680	26	1. Preliminary design and feasibility assessment of pilot projects to define scope and potential prioritization. Focus on contribution to project objective and upscaling potential including budgetary requirements: 1.1) Wetlands Proposal for rehabilitation of wetlands, restoring hydrological regimes, for pollutant and nutrient discharges reduction in Carrasco and Samborombón Wetlands. Strengthening of existing management plans. Use of wetlands as a tool to reduce pollutant and nutrients loads to coastal waters including PTS. 1.2) RIIGLO - Proposal of PPP to upscale the Information Exchange Network of Rio de la Plata Local Governments (RIIGLO) including: a) update of chemical and microbiological characterization of main coastal discharges for municipalities that integrate the network, b) identification of technical capabilities of local governments and laboratories that are part of the network, c) identification of training and technical needs to increase local governments capabilities, d) strategy to transfer the experience to other local governments, e) identification of information system update needs (ex.: data bases. dynamic charts and maps etc.). 1.3) HABs early warning system - Binational network for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs): elaboration of a PPP proposal for its execution and assessment of its feasibility. 1.4) Coastal-Marine Network - Proposal of capacity enhancement of the Coastal-Marine Network including: a) assessment of coastal water quality, b) identification of training needs in Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). - Contribute to formulation of the logical framework matrix.
Specialists* in governance frameworks and stakeholder engagement	680	12	- Detailed analysis of selected stakeholders involved with the project: active beneficiaries and affected (potential supporters and opponents) and identification of requirements to improve government, public and private involvement in SAP and associated NAP´s implementation. -Draft strategy for dissemination of SAP and associated NAPs outcomes and outputs as an effective policy tool to be used by decision makers and for stakeholder’s engagement. -Draft Stakeholder Involvement Plan that includes private sector and civil society partners and provides for coordination with other key GEF projects in the region. Identification of PPP strategic alliances with plans, programs and projects at sub-national and national levels in coordination with other consultants. - Contribute to a proposed strategy and specific coordination mechanisms between agencies involved in SAP implementation and CARP and CTMFM. - Contribute to formulation of the logical framework matrix.
Specialist in Information System and GIS	680	0	- Assessment of requirements for updating the FREPLATA Integrated Information System as a management tool for decision makers and for public involvement with the SAP. -
Technical specialist in SAP and NAP implementation	Local 680	10	- Review viability of proposals for strengthening municipal/provincial capacities for PPP´s based on experiences such as PEMSEA. - Logical framework analysis including definition of suite of indicators based on IW requirements and capacity building processes Monitoring and evaluation program formulated in accordance with M&E indicators for GEF IW projects. - Prioritization of SAP pilots based on feasibility assessments and capacity building requirements - Identification of verifiable project indicators linked to the capacity building processes. - Preliminary definition of IW P, R, and ES indicators and coordination of inputs for logical framework matrix - Gap analysis of TDA updating requirements
	International 2500	7
Specialists* for inter-agency and inter-ministerial cooperation	Local 680	15	Definition of a strategy and mechanisms for institutional coordination between agencies involved in the SAP implementation and the CARP and CTMFM including clear definition of roles and responsibilities. Development of the Comprehensive Package of Integration to provide for effective coordination of all interventions relevant for a the EBM of the RPMF ecosystem Definition of methodologies and strategies for implementation of NAPs and SAP based on best practices and lessons learned.
	International 2500	6
	115,500	135

* Specialists will be hired in each country

** The weekly fee of $680 corresponds to an average of consultant weekly fees in both Argentina and Uruguay, and an estimate of the variations in fees depending on whether individual consultants or national consulting firms are hired to undertake the various suites of activities/assessments detailed above.