UNEP/GEF INTERNATIONAL WATERS PORTFOLIO

Third Biennial GEF International Waters Conference

20-25 June 2005, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Vladimir Mamaev, SPO UNEP/DGEF

Role of UNEP

• UNEP’s role in the GEF is set out in the Instrument that governs operation of the Facility and is elaborated in the Action Plan on UNEP-GEF Complementarity adopted by UNEP’s Governing Council and the GEF Council.

• UNEP HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN GEF WATERS IN THE PILOT PHASE (1991-1994) AND DURING PHASES I, II and III AND PHASE II (1994 TO PRESENT).

Project Environmental assessment and early warning

Policy development

and law

Policy implementation

Technology, industry

and economics

Regional Cooperation

Environmental conventions

Mediterranean X X X X X Sao Francisco X X X X X Volta river X X X Shrimp Trawling

X

Africa Coastal Tourism

X X

South China Sea

X X X X X

GCLME X X X X CCLME X X X Russian Arctic X X Bermejo X X X X X GIWA X DELTAmerica X X IW:Learn X

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UNEP IW Portfolio

• The first UNEP/GEF project in the International Waters focal area was approved by the GEF Council in November 1996 (Strategic Action Programme for the Binational Basin of the Bermejo River, Argentina and Bolivia, GEF grant $3.22 million, total funding $5.96 million).

• As at June 2005 the UNEP IW Portfolio consist of 35 projects with GEF grant funding of $124 million and total funding of $261 million.

• The portfolio comprises 21 full size projects, 7 medium-sized projects and 7 projects under development with project preparation and development (PDF) grants.

• These include six full size projects implemented jointly with one or more of the other GEF implementing agencies.

Full Size Projects approved since Dalian

• Addressing Land-based Activities in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO-LaB), 8 Countries US$ 4,511,140.

• Addressing Transboundary Concerns in the Volta River Basin and Is

Downstream Coastal Area, 6 Countries, US$ 5,719,880. • Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas Management in Small Island

Developing States of the Caribbean. (co-implemented: UNEP, UNDP) - 13 Countries, US$ 13,382,691 (UNEP- $7,270,450).

• Combating coastal area degradation and living resources depletion in the Guinea Current LME through regional actions. (co-implemented: UNDP, UNEP) –15 Countries US$ 20,812,404 ( UNEP - $9,099,699).

• Strengthening Global Capacity To Sustain Transboundary Waters: The International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (IW:LEARN), Operational Phase. (co-implemented with UNDP and WB) – FSP- Global, US$ 6,350,000 (UNEP–1,491,534).

Medium Size Project Approved since Dalian

• Promoting Ecosystem-based Approaches to Fisheries Conservation and LMEs, Global, US$ 995,000.

• Fostering a Global Dialogue on Oceans, Coasts, and SIDS, and on Freshwater-Coastal-Marine Interlinkages, Global, US$ 995,000.

• Dissemination of Experiences and Lessons Learned in the water

Resources management across Latin America and the Caribbean's (DELTA)

Project Concepts approved since Dalian

• Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean Large Marine Ecosystem – Regional Component: Implementation of agreed actions for the protection of the environmental resources of the Mediterranean Sea and its coastal areas (jointly with WB).

• Atlantic and Indian Ocean SIDS Integrated Water Resource and Wastewater Management (jointly with UNDP).

• Implementing Sustainable Integrated Water Resource and Wastewater Management in the Pacific Island Countries (jointly with UNDP).

UNEP IN GEF-IV

• The UNEP interventions in the GEF during the period 2006 -2010 will aim at achieving complementarity and synergy with the regular work programme of UNEP.

• They will build on UNEP’s comparative advantages as well as the success of the implementation of the UNEP GEF Action Plan on Complementarity adopted by the 19th session of the UNEP Governing Council as well the 13th session of the GEF Council.

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• As a result of the successful completion of foundation (enabling activity equivalent) projects during GEF 2 and GEF 3, the focal area is now moving toward facilitating the mobilization of finance for on-the-ground action to address the priority concerns of

these freshwater and marine transboundary systems.

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• The new Strategic Objectives proposed for the period 2006 -2010 do not represent a departure from this conceptual framework. Rather, they represent an evolution reflecting lessons of experience, the findings of the current Program Study, draft OPS 3, STAP advice, and the GEF movement towards integrated natural resources management and regional collaboration needs recognized by the global community through the MDGs and WSSD.

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1. To catalyse implementation of management action programs, regional/national reforms, and stress reduction measures agreed through TDA-SAP or equivalent processes for transboundary water systems.

Implementation of agreed Strategic Action Programs (SAPs) that were developed during GEF 2 and 3 for the following transboundary water systems in LAC:

• Implementation of a Strategic Action Program (SAP) for the Integrated Management of Water Resources of the São Francisco River Basin and Its Coastal Zone.

• Implementation of a Strategic Action Program for the Integrated Management of Water Resources and the Sustainable Development of the San Juan River Basin and Its Coastal Zone.

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Strategic partnership modalities will be used in two regions for the implementation of agreed Strategic Action Programs (SAPs), developed during GEF 3:

• Implementation of a Strategic Action Program (SAP) for the Integrated Management of the Pantanal and Upper Paraguay River Basin, Land/Water Strategic partnership.

• Mediterranean Sea Strategic partnership.

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2. Focussing on SIDS – IWRM plans.

Based on the successful experience gained during the development of the UNEP/UNDP SIDS project in the Caribbean and in response to the request of the countries expressed during the Mauritius SIDS meeting in January 2005, UNEP in partnership with UNDP is developing the following projects to respond to SIDS needs:

• Atlantic and Indian Ocean SIDS Integrated Water Resource and Wastewater Management, and

• Implementing Sustainable Integrated Water Resource and Wastewater Management in the Pacific Island Countries.

UNEP IN GEF-IV3. Responding to STAP advice – addressing the

transboundary issues of the coastal aquifers.

Based on the advice received from STAP, UNEP in GEF-4 will initiate several FSP and MSP to address the issues of

transboundary aquifers. The following projects are under

Development:

• Gulf of Guinea coastal aquifers.• Caribbean Sea SIDS coastal aquifers.• Management of Hydrological Risk in the Chad Aquifer System.• Management of the Basalt Aquifer shared between Jordan and

Syria.• Joint management of the Merti aquifer shared between Kenya

and Somalia.• Kalahari-Karoo Aquifers.

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4. Expanding geographical coverage of UNEP IW projects.

UNEP will start the implementation of the projects

developed during the GEF 3:

• Amur-Heilong River Basin• Amazon River Basin • Protection of the Canary Current LME• African Coastal Tourism• Rio Bravo Basin

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5. Undertake Innovative demonstrations.

• UNEP will continue to develop projects to address land Based Sources of pollution and assist the countries to implement the Global Programme of Action.

• UNEP will initiate new projects with emphasis on reducing persistent toxic substances, consistent with UNEP and GEF chemicals agenda, addressing water scarcity/competing water uses through IWRM, and initiatives involving public-private partnerships and innovative financing as a contribution toward the MDGs and WSSD Targets.

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• UNEP will continue to expand the geographical coverage of the transboundary water systems through the development of new foundational projects that will use the TDA/SAP methodology in their implementation.

Partnerships

• Successful implementation of UNEP IW projects will rely on establishing strategic partnerships with other UN agencies with shared mandates for the environment, international research and scientific organisations, national and international NGOs, development banks, the private sector, and others. These strategic partners will be distinguished by their potential to complement UNEP’s strengths.

THANK YOU

HAVE A GOOD DAY