Strategic
Action Program

Progress Reports
PDF-Block
B Phase Final Report

SAP
Formulation Interim Report

Diagnostic
Study

TDA
Analysis

Dialogue
on Water and Climate

PDF-Block B Phase Final Report
Formulation of the
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis

The first meeting of the Steering Committee was held in
Managua, Nicaragua, on November 19 and 20, 1998. During the meeting, the
Steering Committee approved the staffing for the project (numbers and
types of specialists), the TORs for Technical Coordinators and
consultants, and the work plan and timetable.

In January of 1999, project activities began. The core of the
technical group was already working, and during the first two months of
1999 efforts were focused on Activity 2 of the project, Review of the
Major Present and Emerging Environmental Issues in the Project Area.
Particular attention was given to the marine-coastal zone, since this area
had not been included in the previous study.

As of May 15, 1999, all contracts has been signed as
planned. By June 15, Activity 2, Review of Environmental Issues; Activity
3, Review of Transboundary Problems; and Activity 4, Review of
Institutional Issues, were completed. In preparation for two national
workshops, held during the week of May 10-14, the Technical Coordinators
and consultants, in close coordination with the National Directors, worked
with civil institutions, non-governmental organizations, and indigenous
and coastal communities to identify initiatives and priority actions and
formulate proposals to be included in the project brief. A preliminary
evaluation of the two national workshops indicated that they were very
successful. Both had a high attendance (approximately 50 participants
each) and a good and balanced representation of the different sectors.
Those present participated actively and effectively in all the sessions,
particularly in those specifically designed by the Technical Units for
that purpose: the working group and proposal presentation sessions.

On June 3 and 4, 1999, the first binational workshop was
held in San José. Its main objective was to present a first draft of the
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and discuss a proposal for local,
national, and binational institutional arrangements for the formulation of
the Strategic Action Program (SAP). As at the two national workshops,
there was very high attendance and a very good and balanced representation
of the different sectors.

On June 22, the second and last binational workshop was
held in Managua. During the event, a first draft of the GEF Project Brief
was presented and discussed with the participants. That same week, on June
24 and 25, the second meeting of the Steering Committee was held, with the
participation of high-ranking officials of the Governments of Costa Rica
and Nicaragua and local government authorities; representatives of UNEP,
UNDP and the OSDE were also present. The event was opened by Mr. Enrique
Bolaños Geyer, Vice-President of Nicaragua.

On September 23 and 24, 1999, the third and last meeting
for this phase of the Steering Committee was held in Washington, D.C. Mr.
Roberto Stadthagen, Minister of MARENA, and Mr. Carlos Manuel Rodríguez,
Vice-Minister of MINAE, chaired the meeting and were accompanied by
representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and local governments
of their countries. Representatives of UNEP and GEF were also present. Dr.
Richard A. Meganck, who at the time was the Director of the OSDE, opened
the meeting and was accompanied by OSDE staff responsible for the
coordination of the project at GS/OAS headquarters, in Washington, D.C.
Like the second meeting, this third meeting of the Steering Committee was
characterized by excellent technical presentations made by the two
Technical Coordinators and an active participation of the members of the
Steering Committee.

On the first day, the two Technical Coordinators, Mr.
Juan José Castro of Costa Rica and Mr. Javier López of Nicaragua,
presented the proposed project for consideration by the Steering
Committee. The Project Brief, whose main objective is "the formulation of
a Strategic Action Program for the Integrated Management of the Water
Resources and the Sustainable Development of the San Juan River Basin and
its Coastal Zone", identifies five distinct action areas: (1) the
generation of basic up-to-date, basin-wide information and consolidation
of a binational information system; (2) the creation of a well-coordinated
bilateral planning process for the SJRB; (3) the implementation of a
gender-oriented public participation process; (4) the strengthening of
public institutions and private organizations; and (5) the formulation and
implementation of environmental education activities for the incorporation
of innovative production techniques and sustainable social habits.

By November of 1999, the two Technical Units located in
San José and Managua, with the technical assistance of the OSDE, completed
the preparation of the final version of the Project Brief and its annexes.
Recommendations and agreements reached at the third meeting of the
Steering Committee were evaluated and incorporated. Later, the governments
submitted the Project Brief to UNEP, through their Operational Focal
Points. At its regular meeting May 19, 2000, the GEF Council approved the
funding request for US$3.93 million.

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