GEF Small Grants Programme in Romania Benefits for environment and communities

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• GEF Small Grants Programme in Romania- Benefits
  for environment and communities
• 18 May 2007, Chisinau, Republic of Moldavia

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Overview GEF SGP is a GEF corporate
programme in Romania SGP was launched in
December 2004 it is implemented by UNDP in the
name of the GEF Implementing Agencies, and
executed by UNOPS till present it provides 35
grants, up to US 700,000 in total GEF SGP
projects link to large GEF projects, as they
address to the communities that live in (or in
the surroundings of) protected areas, including
national and natural parks set up via GEF
projects
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• In Romania, GEF SGP has
• Thematical priorities
• most grants address biodiversity conservation,
  some grants address climate change and others
  address to international waters
• Target groups NGOs and CBOs
• Partners local administrations/ municipalities,
  schools, research institutes, academies, private
  sector, etc.
• Geographical focus
• covering important environmental hotspots, that
  include natural and national parks, biosphere
  reserves and other protected areas

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• GEF SGP niche in Romania
• global environmental benefits in the GEF focal
  areas through community-based initiatives and
  actions in line with countrys priorities and
  needs

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• The long-term goal of GEF SGP in Romania
• to contribute to achieving global environmental
  benefits with community-level action,
• through
• projects implemented by NGOs and CBOs in order
  to
• - protect international waters,
• - conserve biodiversity,
• - reduce the likelihood of adverse climate
  change,
• - phase out the persistent organic pollutants
  and
• - manage the land in a sustainable way.

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SGP Country Programme Strategy Projects
contain capacity building for the empowerment of
local communities and practical activities
leading to obtain benefits for the environment
and communities Projects are based on local
ideas following a participatory process The
projects are locally managed, by local NGO/CBO in
partnership with other local stakeholders
Projects have SMART objectives activities have
measurable results Projects are limited in
time up to 2 years There is a network of NGO
grantees exchange of info, best practices, etc.
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• SGP Romania Strategy for the RAF Funds
• The GEF SEC approved a 300,000 USD amount for the
  first 2 years of the GEF-4 RAF for SGP projects
  in climate change (150,000 USD per year).
• In order to respond to the CEOs request made to
  SGP Programmes using RAF, the SGP National
  Coordinator together with theNSC designed a draft
  Strategy for the Use of RAF Climate Change Funds
  at GEF SGP Romania.
• The Strategy is based on
• the GEF-4 Draft GEF Focal Area Strategy for
  Climate Change,
• the SGP climate change related activities,
• Romanias National Strategy on Climate Change,
• Romanias National Action Plan on Climate
  Change.
• The Strategy was discused with by the GEF
  Operational Focal Point and the UNFCCC Focal
  Point (at Ministry of Environment).

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• GEF SGP Romania Main Objectives (1)
• To increase communities awareness, understanding
  and involvement in issues related to GEF areas of
  intervention, local livelihood needs and poverty
  alleviation
• To support local communities and NGOs/CBOs in
  their initiatives that contribute in achieving
  global environmental benefits, poverty
  alleviation and empowerment
• To strengthen NGOs/CBOs capacity in project
  design and implementation, and increase their
  participation at environmental protection
  decision making process

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• GEF SGP Romania Main Objectives (2)
• To establish strong working relationships among
  the GEF SGP, NGOs, CBOs, local communities, the
  national and local government bodies and
  agencies, research institutions, private
  businesses, UN/ GEF Implementing Agencies
  projects, other donors programmes
• To make a relevant selection of projects, in
  compliance with programmes geographical focus,
  thematic focus, impact orientation, national
  priorities and local community needs
• To achieve high GEF SGP visibility and popularity
  through funding appropriate project proposals,
  dissemination of good results, and application of
  well designed communication and outreach
  strategies
• To substantially contribute to knowledge
  management for NGOs, CBOs, and communities
• To set the basis for long-term programme
  sustainability.

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Local management of the programme NC
PA NSC 8 members, mostly from
non-governmental sector, recognized
personalities in their field of work related to
the GEF priorities The GEF Operational Focal
Point sits in the SGP National Steering
Committee.
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• Grant making (1)
• Concept paper received continuously
• Call for Proposals 1-2/ year
• Based on Romanian GEF SGP Strategy
• Dedicated Application Guidelines instrument for
  the applicant explaining thoroughly how to ensure
  the eligibility of the project proposal, in line
  with GEF and SGP requirements

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• Grant making (2)
• Capacity building for potential grantees
• NC/PA free assistance at the elaboration of
  project proposals to meet the eligibility
  criteria, including use of GEF indicators
• Dedicated training sessions
• Meetings with stakeholders in the geographical
  eligible regions participatory process for
  local project ideas and follow-up
• Participation at meetings and exchange with other
  existing networks and donors, i.e. environmental
  NGOs, local facilitators, rural-net, LEADER,
  Association of Communes, Regional Environmental
  Centre, Carpathian Foundation etc.

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• Grant making (3)
• Capacity building for the grantees
• Assistance at the incorporation of the NSC
  recommendations in the final projects
• Dedicated training session with new grantees
• Implementation and Reporting Guidelines
• Annual SGP event exchange between the programme
  management and the grantees.

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• Steps in the process of proposals selection (1)
• Screening NC and PA
• Independent evaluation each NSC member, based
  on a common evaluation matrix
• Evaluation criteria
• Applicant eligibility, Geographical and thematic
  eligibility SMART objectives Project
  contributes to impacts on environment, poverty
  reduction and empowerment
• Measurable results use of indicators in the
  programme matrix including global indicators
• Involvement of local communities, with an accent
  on women and youth in rural areas local
  ownership, empowerment of local communities
• Sustainability Replication, Dissemination
• Co-financing must be proved
• Common evaluation NSC meeting, decisions taken
  in consensus.

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• Steps in the process of proposals selection(2)
• NSC approves a number of proposals for financing
• NSC gives recommendations for the improvement of
  project proposals fulfilling the recommendations
  is mandatory to obtain the financing/ grant
• NC communicates the recommendations to the NGO
  and ensures that these are fulfilled before
  approving the grant NC also advices the NGO with
  regard to fulfilling the recommendations
• Once these are fulfilled, the grant is approved
• Grant contract is signed
• Grant is disbursed in 3 tranches contract signed
  disbursement of first tranche
• Project coordinators are trained on
  implementation, self-monitoring and evaluation of
  project, reporting Implementation and Reporting
  Guidelines.

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• Project implementation
• Based on the programmes Implementation and
  Reporting Guidelines and on the project proposal
• Performed by local NGO/CBO together with the
  local partners
• Follows in detail the approved project
• Self monitoring and evaluation
• Project coordinator keeps close contact with the
  NC and PA, sends periodically reports
  trouble-shooting.

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• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Interim reports and final reports (narrative and
  financial)
• Reports are thoroughly analyzed in the office
  additional info may be required (NGO provides
  additional info if necessary)
• Co-financing also must be proved
• NC performs monitoring and evaluation visits to
  projects monitoring reports comparison with the
  interim and final reports submitted
• If the project is being implemented in line with
  the proposal, then the report is approved and
  next tranche disbursed
• Final reports contain very specific information
  on the achievement of objectives, results are
  measured via the established indicators in the
  programme matrix
• Yearly reports at the country level on the
  achievement of indicators
• Based on the results, the strategy for the next
  year is defined with the NSC.

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Co-financing aspects 50 co-financing 25 in
kind and 25 cash Can be at programme level or
at project level Comes from other donors,
private sector, local communities themselves
Example Coca Cola co-financing (for 2 projects,
international waters area of intervention)
Ensures local ownership of the project and the
sustainability of the initial project idea.
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• Outreach/ Achievements
• Based on a communication strategy
• Periodic announcements on e-lists, website,
  networks
• Calls advertised in local newspapers
• Every visit (ME) in the field is used also to
  advertise the programme, to meet stakeholders and
  to gather new project ideas to build on
• Annual SGP event and exhibition.

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• Adaptive management
• SGP is a learning programme
• It is continuously incorporating feedback and
  lessons learnt in the Application Guidelines,
  based on the newest developments, findings on the
  field and project proposals received.

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Community Involvement in SGP funded initiatives
Involving women into the projects activities for
its sustainability
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Community Involvement in SGP funded initiatives
Making the most out of waste wood by turning it
into useful objects
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Training session with the forest private
owners Educational activities with children
within local communities
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• Community Involvement in SGP funded initiatives

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• Thank you!
• Romanian GEF Focal Point
• Ministry of Environment and Sustainable
  Development
• Silviu STOICA GEF PFP, Romania
• Secretary of State
• Maria-Elena TEODORESCU GEF OFP
• E-mail address silviu.stoica_at_mmediu.ro
  maria.teodorescu_at_mmediu.ro
• Web site www.mmediu.ro