Use of Information Management and Public Participation by GEF IW Projects

2004-09-09 TIA Study Group, Hosei U., Tokyo

Use of Information Management and Public Participation by GEF IW

Projects

Dann Sklarew, Ph.D.Director/Chief Technical Advisor

GEF IW:LEARN

Global Environment Facility• Global funding support for

worldwide environmental issues since 1992 Earth Summit

• Implemented by UNDP, UNEP & World Bank, with many partners

• International Waters (IW) focal area supports shared aquifers, river basins, lakes, and marine ecosystems

IW Focal Area Approach• Goal: Assist countries in making changes so the waterbody

and its multi-country basin can sustainably support human activities.

• Focus: “Seriously threatened waterbodies” and “most imminent transboundary threats” to ecosystems

• Priority: Changes in sectoral policies and activities

• Financing: Countries’ collaboration to identify priority concerns, baseline and additional actions needed; then (potentially) their commitment to realize additional actions

GEF IW Projects’ Methods

• Conduct Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA)– Transboundary strategic environmental assessment of

priority concerns and underlying human factors

• Develop and Pursue Strategic Action Program (SAP)– Legal framework, adaptive management regime and

actions for each country to address priority concerns

• Invest in sound science and adaptive management– Via technical assistance, capacity building, demonstrations

Key Steps in TDA-SAP Process

1. Development of the project idea

2. Joint fact-finding

3. Preparing the SAP

4. Implementing the SAP

Information Management

• TDA is founded upon solid technical information about water, sociological and ecological processes, status and trends

• SAP monitoring and evaluation, indicators of success measured via (info) indicators

• A process of successive approximation

Public Participation

• Identify and consult with stakeholder groups

• Conduct stakeholder analysis and develop Stakeholder Involvement Plan (SIP)

• Hold stakeholder meeting to review TDA• Involve stakeholders (as appropriate and

feasible) in preparing SAP

Principles of Stakeholder Involvement

• Earth Summit:1. Information access2. Inclusion in decision-making3. Course of redress

• GEF:1. Stakeholder identification2. Info. dissemination3. Consultation…and ideally participation in implementation, monitoring

and evaluation (e.g., advisory committees, grants)

Who are stakeholders?

• In theory: Anyone who impacted by decision or able to prevent decisive action from occurring.

• In practice: Those with “vested interest” in either the issue &/or their relationship with those making the decision(s).

Where to go for help?

GEF IW:LEARN Project

• Goal: Strengthen Transboundary Waters Management (TWM) via structured learning and information sharing among stakeholders

• Focus: GEF IW projects

• Priorities: Peer-to-peer learning of lessons, innovation transfer, stakeholder involvement, positive impacts and post-project sustainability

IW:LEARN Activities

For more information

• Please visit…– GEF IW:LEARN Web Site www.iwlearn.org– GEF International Waters www.iwlearn.net

• Or contact IW:LEARN [email protected]: +1 (202) 518-2054

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