GEF NATIONAL COORDINATION MECHANISMS:

GEF NATIONAL COORDINATION MECHANISMS:STRATEGIES FOR PRIORITY SETTING

AND IMPROVING THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND RESULTS IN THE FIELD

CAMEROON’S EXPERIENCE

By:Justin NANTCHOU NGOKO

GEF/Cameroon Operational Focal Point

PRESENTATION OUTLINEPRESENTATION OUTLINE1.1. BACKGROUND: Why and how Cameroon decided to BACKGROUND: Why and how Cameroon decided to

undertake the coordination and priority-setting undertake the coordination and priority-setting processprocess

22.. Process undertaken to establish coordination Process undertaken to establish coordination mechanisms, elaborate strategies, determine mechanisms, elaborate strategies, determine national priorities and improve the communications national priorities and improve the communications system and results in the field terrainsystem and results in the field terrain

3.3. Main actors and agencies involved in the GEF Main actors and agencies involved in the GEF coordination processcoordination process

4.4. Impact of the process on Cameroon’s contribution Impact of the process on Cameroon’s contribution within GEFwithin GEF

5.5. Challenges/difficulties encountered and solutions Challenges/difficulties encountered and solutions foundfound

6.6. Main lessons learnt and outlookMain lessons learnt and outlook

1. BACKGROUND:1. BACKGROUND: Scattered activities/conflicts between Scattered activities/conflicts between

actors and limited impacts on the actors and limited impacts on the groundground

Current GEF reforms (RAF):Current GEF reforms (RAF): need for need for results on the ground; need for better results on the ground; need for better organization to avoid waste of time and organization to avoid waste of time and available resourcesavailable resources

GEF Awareness-raising to enhance GEF Awareness-raising to enhance support to GEF Focal Points support to GEF Focal Points in their in their coordination rolescoordination roles

2.2. Process undertaken to establish Process undertaken to establish coordination mechanisms …coordination mechanisms …

National information and training National information and training workshop on GEF mechanismsworkshop on GEF mechanisms

Identification of key stakeholders Identification of key stakeholders based on principles and selection based on principles and selection

criteria in relation with roles criteria in relation with roles to be playedto be played

2.2. Process undertaken to establish Process undertaken to establish coordination mechanisms … coordination mechanisms … (cont’d)(cont’d) Creation of National GEF Committee by Creation of National GEF Committee by

ministerial order: composition, missions ministerial order: composition, missions and relations with GEF Focal Pointsand relations with GEF Focal Points

Compilation of telephone and e-mail Compilation of telephone and e-mail address directoryaddress directory

Elaboration of activity monitoring planElaboration of activity monitoring plan

3. Main actors and agencies involved: 3. Main actors and agencies involved: composition and rolescomposition and roles Public sector:Public sector: Government ministries, Government ministries,

Universities and Research Institutions, Universities and Research Institutions, Convention Focal Points (biodiversity, climate Convention Focal Points (biodiversity, climate change, desertification, POPs, NEPAD, etc.). change, desertification, POPs, NEPAD, etc.). Coordinate process, initiate projects, technical support, Coordinate process, initiate projects, technical support, mobilization of projects’ counterpart contributionsmobilization of projects’ counterpart contributions

Private sector and civil society :Private sector and civil society : initiate initiate projects in relation with local communities, support projects in relation with local communities, support cofinancing mobilization and project implementationcofinancing mobilization and project implementation

3.3. Main actors and agencies involved: Main actors and agencies involved: composition and roles composition and roles (cont’d)(cont’d) GEF Implementing Agents :GEF Implementing Agents :

Technical expertise and support for cofinancing Technical expertise and support for cofinancing mobilizationmobilization

Occasionally, Occasionally, Subregional Organizations: Subregional Organizations: e.g. COMIFAC e.g. COMIFAC

4.4. Impact of the process on Cameroon’s Impact of the process on Cameroon’s contribution within GEFcontribution within GEF Visibility of activities on the ground and Visibility of activities on the ground and

enhanced synergy between actorsenhanced synergy between actors Strengthened motivation and dynamism Strengthened motivation and dynamism

of actors on the ground and improved of actors on the ground and improved contribution to GEF work programmecontribution to GEF work programme

Participatory approach to priority-Participatory approach to priority-identification processus within the RAFidentification processus within the RAF

5. Challenges/Difficulties encountered, 5. Challenges/Difficulties encountered, and solutions foundand solutions found5.1. Challenges/Difficulties encountered5.1. Challenges/Difficulties encountered

Limited confidence on the ground: Limited confidence on the ground: GEF proceduresGEF procedures

Difficulties in understanding the RAF and Difficulties in understanding the RAF and meeting the deadlines for submitting the meeting the deadlines for submitting the list of project conceptslist of project concepts

Disproportion between CSP funds and Disproportion between CSP funds and the scope of GEF-OFPs’ tasks to be the scope of GEF-OFPs’ tasks to be carried out on the groundcarried out on the ground

5.1. Challenges/Difficulties encountered 5.1. Challenges/Difficulties encountered (cont’d)(cont’d)

Stakeholders’ allowances and Stakeholders’ allowances and media motivationmedia motivation

Conflicts between Implementing Conflicts between Implementing Agents’ procedures and GEF Agents’ procedures and GEF procedures on the groundprocedures on the ground

GEF/OFP under threat of being GEF/OFP under threat of being removed at any time without removed at any time without valid reasonsvalid reasons

5.2. Solutions found and envisioned5.2. Solutions found and envisioned Awareness-raising of stakeholders on Awareness-raising of stakeholders on

their personal interest in the process their personal interest in the process Suggestion to GEF regarding Suggestion to GEF regarding

production of simple guide to project production of simple guide to project elaboration in RAF thematic areaselaboration in RAF thematic areas

Suggestion to GEF regarding enhanced Suggestion to GEF regarding enhanced support to GEF/OFPs commensurate support to GEF/OFPs commensurate with their missions: ongoing training to with their missions: ongoing training to RAF, operating funds, etc.RAF, operating funds, etc.

5.2. Solutions found and envisioned 5.2. Solutions found and envisioned (cont’d)(cont’d) Consideration being given to possible Consideration being given to possible

budget allocation for GEF activitiesbudget allocation for GEF activities Suggestions to GEF regarding actions to Suggestions to GEF regarding actions to

increase stability of the GEF FP increase stability of the GEF FP institution: requiring set duration of FP institution: requiring set duration of FP mandate, ensuring permanence and mandate, ensuring permanence and sustainability of actions on the groundsustainability of actions on the ground

6. Main lessons learnt and outlook6. Main lessons learnt and outlook

6.1. Main lessons learnt6.1. Main lessons learnt An enduring process requiring An enduring process requiring

consistency and perseveranceconsistency and perseverance A place to share experiences and A place to share experiences and

identify real problems as well as identify real problems as well as sometimes unhoped-for solutionssometimes unhoped-for solutions

Facilitation of ownership of initiatives Facilitation of ownership of initiatives and prioritiesand priorities   

6.2. Outlook6.2. OutlookBuilding stakeholders’ capacities: Building stakeholders’ capacities:

RAF/Small Grant ProjectsRAF/Small Grant ProjectsParticipation of the GEF/OFP in a Participation of the GEF/OFP in a

Radio/TV broadcast programmeRadio/TV broadcast programmeCreation of collaborative platform Creation of collaborative platform

with some media outlets such as with some media outlets such as Radio Environnement (Radio) et Radio Environnement (Radio) et Canal 2 International (TV) Canal 2 International (TV)

6.2. Outlook6.2. Outlook (cont’d) (cont’d) Continuation of consultations in Continuation of consultations in

connection with identification of connection with identification of Cameroon’s environmental priorities Cameroon’s environmental priorities within the GEF Resource Allocation within the GEF Resource Allocation Framework (RAF) Framework (RAF)

Holding regular meetings of the National Holding regular meetings of the National GEF CommitteeGEF Committee

Awareness-raising for local groupsAwareness-raising for local groups Elaboration of a database of projects and Elaboration of a database of projects and

on the ground monitoring activities on the ground monitoring activities (as (as allowed by our resources)allowed by our resources)

THE ENDTHE ENDTHANK YOUTHANK YOU

FOR YOUR KINDFOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION ATTENTION !!!!!!