Caution for identification

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www.CITES.org
THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT FUND
Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
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This presentation

• Results from the consultancy paper
• Setting up the Steering Committee
• Possible issues for discussion

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History

• Several attempts have been undertaken to set up
  an African elephant Fund, most notably after
  CoP10 (Harare,1997)
• Main reasons for failures included competition
  for donors lack of influence with donors
• Plan and Fund are an integral part of the CoP14
  compromise!

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Who is responsible for what

• The development of an African elephant Plan is
  clearly directed to the range states
• The establishment of the Fund and the Steering
  Committee is directed to the CITES Secretariat
• Call on donors
• Steering Committee governs Fund and decides on
  organization and administration of the Fund

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Main types of funds

• Endowment funds
• Sinking funds
• Revolving funds

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Endowment funds

• Only return on investment is used for project
  financing
• Main body of money stays intact
• Example A usd 4 million endowment would result
  in usd 200,000 available per year if return on
  investment is 5

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Sinking funds

• Most traditional type of funds
• All funds made available are as soon as possible
  spend on projects
• After a certain amount of time (could be fixed)
  all money is spend and the fund stops
• Example usd 100,000 can finance 4 small projects
  before the fund is liquidated

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Revolving funds

• Main body of funds is replenished yearly from a
  funding source
• The funding source should be sustainable for the
  fund to be a success
• Example A percentage of park entry fees goes to
  the fund

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Analysis

• Traditional public funds cannot cover the total
  financial requirements for elephant conservation
• Overall funding for biodiversity has steadily
  declined over the years
• Financing needs for elephant conservation are
  growing

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WARNING

• There is no pot of gold at the end of the
  rainbow!!!

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Factors for successful funding

• Choose the right trustee for the fund
• Sustained fund raising with private foundations
  and corporations
• Grassroots initiation of projects
• Technical experts to review proposals
• Clear action plan to guide funding decisions
• Participation of all stakeholders

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Factors for successful fundingcontinued

• A clear unique mission statement for the fund
• Broad consultative process involving both donors
  and recipients
• Low overhead, streamlined decision making process
  and effective grant management

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Elephant fund advantages

• Developed as a consensus proposal by range States
• Strong response in donor states to elephant
  conservation
• Options to start databases, small grants while a
  major fund is pursued
• Emphasise unique role of elephants in ecosystems

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Elephant fund disadvantages

• Biodiversity funding is declining, budget
  austerity for CITES
• CITES secretariat is a small trustee with little
  resources
• Single species funding is difficult
• Competition from other species
• Fund goes beyond CITES mandate

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The Plan and the Fund

• Outline for a Plan is a minimum requirement to
  set up a Steering Committee

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Setting up the Steering Committee

• The Secretariat wants to establish a balanced
  credible and competent Steering Committee
• Discussions here to result in an interim Steering
  Committee to be formalised at Standing Committee
  SC 58 July 2009

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Possible issues for discussion

• Internal procedures of the Steering Committee
• Selection of projects
• Secretariat of the Fund

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Internal procedures of the Steering Committee

• Donors and range states
• Objectivity of the Steering Committee and
  impartial decision making
• Total number of persons on the Committee
• Chair of the Committee
• Rules of procedure

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Selection of projects

• Selection on content
• Selection on technical criteria

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Selection on content

• Role of the elephant Plan
• Role of other strategies, roadmaps etc.
• Role of expert advise

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Selection on technical criteria

• Maximum amount of money per project
• Need for co-financing
• Number of projects per country/region
• Frequency of applications
• Who can apply

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Secretariat of the Fund

• Do we need a secretariat?
• Management of the Funds
• Overhead costs
• How does the Steering Committee operate in
  practice