Enhancing GEF National Coordination, Communications

1
Enhancing GEF National Coordination,
Communications Outreach

• Ugandas Experience
• The National Convention Coordination Group (NCCG)
• The National Operational Focal Point
• Ministry of Finance, Planning Economic
  Development
• Kampala UGANDA

2
Introduction

• Ugandas National Political/Operational Focal is
  held by the DST in the MFPED.
• The OFP ensures that GEF projects are country
  driven based on national priorities.
• MFPED is responsible for overall national
  development planning and macro-economic
  framework.
• OFP heads a GEF National Steering Committee
  comprised of representatives from MWE, MAAIF,
  NEMA, MUK, NCST, FPs for CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD,
  POPs, SGP, GEF IAs and NGOs.
• All Convention Focal Points GEF funded
  programmes are coordinated by the National
  Steering Committee under the OFP.

3
The National Steering Committees Mandate is to

• Coordinate all GEF activities.
• Review all GEF project proposals and ensures that
  the are in line with the Government set policies
  in the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP).
• Prioritise projects for GEF funding.
• Approve or reject project proposals for GEF
  funding.
• Provide oversight monitoring of the
  implementation of on-going GEF funded projects
  including site visits.
• Disseminate information on GEF to stakeholders.
• The NSC meets on a quarterly basis and is
  supported by two technical staff in MFPED that
  form its Secretariat.

4
National Convention Coordination Group (NCCG)

• Uganda is among 5 countries implementing a pilot
  project focusing on Capacity Building to
  Alleviate Poverty through Synergistic
  Implementation of Rio MEAs.
• The NCCG was established in 2005 with the
  objective to provide a framework for the
  individual and institutional collaboration for
  the synergetic implementation of the MEAs and
  acts as a Steering Committee to the MEAs project.

5
Membership of the NCCG

• Institutions actively involved in implementing
  various components of the MEAs, work through a
  collaborative network and facilitate coordination
  among the existing relevant ministries and
  stakeholders, these include
• Focal points for the Multilateral Environment
  Agreements/Conventions CBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC,
  Convention on Wetlands and International Waters
  and
• Relevant key ministries MWE, MAAIF MFPED.
• MWE heads the NCCG.

6
Achievements

• A multi-stakeholder NCCG established and steers
  the project and developed partnership among its
  members.
• Ownership has been built through working together
  on 3-year work-plan, carrying out public
  awareness together. Resulted in shared vision.
• Dissemination of information on MEAs through the
  media.
• Dedicated project manager that provides
  backstopping to the NCCG.
• Established cooperation with other stakeholders,
  UNDP/GEF-SGP, grantees- NGOs and Schools.
• Plans sensitization of Parliamentary committee on
  Natural Resources.

7
Challenges

• The members of the NCCG are committed on their
  own jobs and take the NCCG activities as
  secondary. Difficulty in getting members to
  participate fully in the NCCG activities
• Proper communication strategy is still lacking.
• Coordination with the local governments is still
  weak and they have low capacity to implement MEAs
  low awareness of MEAs.
• Data and information on MEAs are lacking.

8
Lessons Learnt

• Drawing broad participation of the key players
  through the NCCG has enhanced decision-making and
  implementation of MEAs.
• Through collaboration with the SGP facilitated
  resource mobilisation for micro grants through
  co-funding and joint activities, impact was
  realised.
• Some of the Communication programmes have been
  achieved through utilization of some of the
  existing programmes in the MWE.
• The beneficiary through their activities created
  awareness of MEAs.

9
Conclusion

• The Coordination of GEF programmes/ projects are
  streamlined within the existing Government
  institutions this has strengthened the ownership
  of the programmes/projects and are consistent
  with set national policies and priorities.

10
Thank You