OPERATIONAL PROGRAM NUMBER 10
CONTAMINANT-BASED OPERATIONAL PROGRAM
GUIDANCE
10.1 Guidance for this Operational Program (OP) comes from the GEF Council in the
Operational Strategy. Operational Programs in the International Waters focal area
provide a planning framework for the design, implementation, and coordination of
different sets of GEF International Water projects that can achieve particular global
environmental benefits. Through different operational programs, emphasis is placed
on various kinds of interventions and certain types of projects that can lead to
implementation of more comprehensive approaches for restoring and protecting the
International Waters environment. Operational Programs are established to ensure
systematic coordination among implementing agencies, countries, and other actors as
well as to generate programmatic benefits for the global environment that would not
otherwise be achievable.
10.2 In the Contaminant-Based Operational Program, the GEF includes projects that
help demonstrate ways of overcoming barriers to the adoption of best practices that
limit contamination of the International Waters environment. Four components
characterize the range of projects in this operational program. One includes a set of
limited demonstration projects for addressing land-based activities while others
include projects related to contaminants released from ships, persistent toxic
substances such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and targeted regional or global
projects useful in setting priorities for possible GEF interventions, meeting the
technical needs of projects in this focal area, or distilling lessons learned from
experience.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
10.3 The long-term objective of the Contaminant-Based Operational Program is to
develop and implement International Waters projects that demonstrate ways of
overcoming barriers to the use of best practices for limiting releases of contaminants
causing priority concerns in the International Waters focal area, and to involve the
private sector in utilizing technological advances for resolving these transboundary
priority concerns.
10.4 Short-term objectives of the program include:
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(a)
demonstrate strategies for addressing land-based activities that degrade
marine waters through development of a component consisting of one
pilot project in each of the world's development regions;
(b)
harness involvement of U.N. agencies and institutions specializing in the
development of modern technology as executing agencies for
International Waters projects addressing non-indigenous species in ship
ballast water, use of new technology to assess and reduce contaminant
loading of International Waters, and prevention of releases of globally
significant toxic substances such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs);
(c)
leverage significant private sector support to conduct at least one major
demonstration using modern technology to prevent shipping accidents,
oil spills, and releases of contaminants as well as to demonstrate
innovative measures for addressing MARPOL issues; and
(d)
develop several regional or global International Waters projects aimed at
deriving and disseminating lessons learned from projects undertaken in
the pilot phase and the permanent GEF, sharing the learning experience
with groups of countries cooperating on International Waters projects,
and addressing the technical and institutional needs of those countries
cooperating on International Waters projects.
PROGRAM SCOPE
10.5 In the Contaminant-Based Operational Program, GEF plays a catalytic role in
demonstrating ways to overcome barriers to the adoption of best practices limiting
contamination of International Waters. Since the focus is contaminants rather than a
specific waterbody, there is no requirement that these projects be tied to a particular
multi-country collaborative effort as there is in the two other International Waters
operational programs. However, projects are encouraged where an imminent threat
exists and where neighboring countries wish to collaborate. Several components are
included to illustrate application of this operational program to different types of
contaminants from different sources. While pollution abatement and prevention
should also be a key element of other operational programs, this one focuses on poorly
addressed contaminants and aims to utilize demonstrations to overcome barriers to
adoption of best practices, waste minimization strategies, and pollution prevention
measures. Demonstration projects or project elements that test the use of innovative
policies or economic instruments, such as tradable pollution reduction allocation
systems, would be a priority in this operational program.
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10.6 The operational program includes narrowly focused regional or global projects
that can help meet particular technical needs or build capacity for the use of certain
measures by various on-going International Waters projects. Targeted technical
demonstration and capacity building projects can help build awareness in countries
that are participating in International Waters projects and serve as a means to
encourage best practices, develop tools for finding solutions, and formulate policies for
innovative institutional approaches. Also included in this operational program are
global International Waters projects that help contribute to the development of strategic
approaches across operational programs in the focal area and facilitate exchange of
experience among different International Waters initiatives. From these exchanges,
capacity can be built and lessons learned derived for wider application.
10.7 Pollution prevention is stressed in this operational program. Prevention, not
remediation, is a more cost effective strategy. In fact, industrial waste minimization
programs and technological advances that can prevent ship collisions and discourage
spills may increase profits of the private sector once barriers are removed -- and may
assist as part of "user pays" and "polluter pays" strategies to provide funding for
sustaining regional cooperation aimed at protecting transboundary waters. (Waste
minimization assessment, technology transfer, and information exchange will be
fostered in projects dealing with global toxic contaminants.) Private sector involvement
is sought to leverage needed investments and innovative modalities such as contingent
finance may be tested.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
10.8 International water projects normally require a long-term commitment on the
part of governments, implementing agencies, donors, and GEF to leverage the intended
sectoral changes -- to address the root causes -- of complex environmental problems in
this focal area. While the two other operational programs are characterized by the need
for a more deliberate process, the contaminant-based operational program is intended
to include an array of projects that address certain high priority contaminants in the
areas of land-based activities which degrade marine waters, global toxic pollutants, and
ship related contaminants. A fourth component represents the collection of global and
regional projects that provide programmatic and strategic benefits for the global
environment through technical support, assessment, and derivation of lessons learned
across operational programs in this focal area. As with other International Waters
operational programs, the GEF will normally play an important catalytic role in
funding solutions that address the most threatening global contaminants. Expected
outcomes of this operational program include a series of projects in these four different
components.
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10.9 A key assumption is that substantial private sector resources will have been
leveraged over time as part of the demonstration projects aimed at removing the
barriers to adoption of the measures. Another assumption is that there will be close
cooperation among GEF Implementing Agencies and possible executing agencies on
demonstration projects. A mixture of project elements addressing technical issues,
scientific assessment, analysis, capacity building, and investments may be needed to
adequately meet objectives.
PROGRAM OUTPUTS
10.10 The outputs of the operational program encompass a number of projects that
focus on certain types of contaminants that degrade the International Waters
environment. Consequently, GEF interventions in this operational program tend to
demonstrate that technological barriers can be overcome or that measures aimed at
removing barriers can be implemented. Some barriers involve lack of information or
the lack of training. Others involve the legal, regulatory, or sectoral policy adjustments
needed to reduce environmental stress. Innovative programs, financing measures, and
demonstrations of technologies characterize certain projects.
10.11 Outputs from individual International Waters projects in this operational
program can be inferred by the types of activities included for each of the components
listed under "Types of Activities". A key assumption is that over time, successful
demonstrations will be replicated, approaches to certain problems will be repeatedly
utilized by implementing agencies, and barriers to adoption of pollution prevention
measures will have been removed.
TYPES OF ACTIVITIES
10.12 GEF activities under this operational program are quite varied and
programming will be accomplished to limit the number of projects to a representative
amount in each of the difference components. Typical activities for projects in different
components include:
Land-Based Activities Demonstration Component
10.13 Land-based activities can be addressed in all three operational programs of this
focal area depending on the setting and the waterbody. Because the other two
operational programs represent more deliberate processes, this component includes a
series of demonstration projects (at least one in each development region of the world)
consisting of basins or areas draining to coastal\marine waters. Fast-track
demonstrations of approaches, techniques, pilot projects, innovative technologies,
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institutional arrangements, and contaminant release how these should be addressed in
relation to other stresses. In particular, several demonstrations involving the use of
economic instruments are of high priority. Project preparation should include an
analysis of priority contaminants, the barrier being removed, and a strategy for
implementing needed baseline and additional actions. These demonstration projects
may be useful for testing strategies countries might wish to pursue under the Global
Programme of Action for land-based activities that degrade marine waters.
Global Contaminants Component
10.14 Some toxic pollutants that are persistent in nature can be considered as "global
contaminants" because they are transported long distances in ocean currents or through
deposition from the atmosphere. They can accumulate in living organisms and can
pose human or ecosystem health risks. Some of these pollutant releases are associated
with certain industrial processes across the world. Contaminated International Waters
sometimes cannot be rehabilitated through regional action alone because this may
place particular regions or enterprise at an economic disadvantage in world markets.
Substances such as mercury, dioxin, PCBs, persistent organic pollutants and some
pesticides that can disrupt human endocrine systems or pose human health threats are
candidates for global action. This component is designed to be consisted with
initiatives on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) underway as part of the Global
Program of Action.
10.15 The GEF may support activities that help characterize the nature, extent and
significance of these contaminants and support the agreed incremental cost of processes
and measures that demonstrate prevention or reduction of releases in recipients
countries.
Ship-Related Contaminants Component
10.16 Various interventions have been planned as part of pilot phase International
Waters projects to address releases of oil, and garbage from ships. As the projects
mature, lessons will be derived from the experiences. In the near term of the GEF,
special emphasis is being placed on interventions to prevent the transfer of non-
indigenous species in ship ballast water, in demonstration of new technology to help
ships avoid collisions in busy corridors, and to prevent unauthorized releases of
contaminants while leveraging private sector involvement. The new information
technology may discourage releases of oil and non-degradable waste, and provide a
means of determining whether ballast water was exchanged in accordance with best
practices to prevent transfer of species and to address MARPOL issues. Once barriers
to use of the new technology are overcome, efficiency gains and reduced insurance
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costs may raise the profits of the private sector and some of these profits might
contribute to financial sustainability following the end of GEF involvement.
Regional/Global Technical Support Component
10.17 The complexity of International Waters projects raises technical questions about
how and what contaminants to monitor, how to analyze complex sets of data, where to
get help, how countries can institutionally work together, and how to involve the
public in decision-making. Targeted regional or global capacity-building projects may
be necessary to help increase awareness on how to jointly address these contaminant
problems. Global projects in this component can help individual groups of countries
to share experience with other areas around the globe and lessons can be derived from
the experience. New computer simulation models, remoting sensing tools, and
information systems have been developed -- especially for marine and coastal areas --
that can help countries sort through complex decisions for dealing with root causes of
transboundary environmental degradation. Targeted technical information sharing,
capacity building, and training opportunities may also be appropriate. In addition,
certain global projects of a strategic nature that assess contribution of contaminants to
the environmental status of International Waters or that develop longer-range
approaches may be programmed in this operational program.
10.18 Outputs from individual International Waters projects in this operational
program include:
(a)
work to implement number of fast-track demonstration projects of
approaches, techniques, pilot projects, innovative technologies,
institutional arrangements, and the use of economic instruments;
(b)
an analysis of the priority contaminants requiring action and the
identification of the barriers to the required actions;
(c)
the establishment of multi-country, donor, institutional, and stakeholder
commitments to implement expected baseline and additional actions;
(d)
the initiation and documentation of stakeholder participation in
determining the identification of the priority contaminants, the barriers to
action, and the expected baseline and additional actions to be
implemented;
(e)
the development of computer simulation models, use of remote sensing
technology and information systems, especially for marine areas, can help
countries sort through complex decisions for dealing with root causes of
transboundary environmental degradation;
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(f)
the development of interim best practices for minimizing risk, phaseout
of the use of a particular contaminant or of a process that generates a
problem contaminant, pollution prevention strategies, substitution of
chemicals in feedstock, and possible other interim measures;
(g)
the incremental cost of funding of priority actions needed to remediate
the negative transboundary affects of contaminants. This funding could
include cost-shared incentives for leveraging government, private sector,
or donor action in implementing priority solutions on the ground that
involve:
(i)
costs associated with the development of new technologies to
neutralize priority contaminants and the development of economic
instruments to illustrate the feasibility of measures to abate/-
prevent priority contaminant releases;
(ii)
costs associated with the establishment of information sharing
mechanisms, capacity building, and training opportunities with
regard to the safe handling and disposal of priority contaminants;
(iii) costs associated with the development of computer simulation
models and information systems for dealing with root causes of
environmental degradation; and
(iv)
costs associated with targeted research to assess the impact of
specifically identified priority contaminants on human and
ecosystem health.
INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
10.19 The Contaminant-Based Operational Program involves more single IA projects
than the other two operational programs. It also involves more specialized agencies,
such as the IMO, and technology institutions in the execution of projects. Projects in
this operational program may not be mutually exclusive from some regional
International Waters projects in other operational programs. By including the
flexibility that comes of demonstration projects for priority contaminants, IA's may be
able to respond more comprehensively to country driven interests.
10.20 Stakeholder involvement and participation is an essential part of this operational
program. A necessity for participation of the various stakeholders (including the
private sector) within and across countries can improve the quality, effectiveness,
implementation, and sustainability of projects. However, there is a need to identify the
key stakeholders through a stakeholder analysis (or social assessment), determine the
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levels at which their involvement will be required, and define the process that will
ensure their effective participation. Linkage through computer-based networks is
promising. Networking among stakeholders and government organizations can foster
broad involvement in planning and implementing GEF International Waters projects
and should help to improve the quality, public awareness, and scientific basis of
International Waters projects. These technological innovations promote transparency
among cooperating nations regarding key information, encourage broader participation
by stakeholder groups within country and across countries, and provide a basis for
evaluation.
RESOURCES
10.21 Programming is done in this operational program for the four components of the
program (Land Based Activities Demonstration Component, Global Contaminants
Component, Ship-Related Contaminants Component, Regional/Global Technical
Support Component). Three-year resource requirements for the operational program
are estimated to be between $30 - 50 million.
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