Transcript WB Session and OP 8: Observations and tentative ideas of what this means for our work on international waters (OP 8) GEF IW Conference,

WB Session and OP 8:
Observations and tentative ideas of what
this means for our work on international
waters (OP 8)
GEF IW Conference, Budapest
14-18 October, 2000
Organize my comments along
Tony’s questions:
•
•
•
•
Can the IW approach work?
Is it working?
Is it too early too tell?
Are there important constraints we are
ignoring?
• What are the implications for the GEF and
more specifically for OP 8?
Personal views - food for thought!
OP8 - specific waterbodies with
“chronic” problems:
260+ international river basins
50 large marine ecosystems (LME)
Number of shared groundwater aquifers
International Waters Challenge Scope & Scale - No blueprints!
Poverty ->Development
Political
relations
Insecurity -> Security
Degradation -> Sustainability
Q1: Can The TDA/SAP
Approach Work ?
• Role of TDA/SAP
 Arrive
at consensus on problems, priorities and
actions - common understanding of the problems
 Okavango
 Lengthy,
time-consuming process; 2-4 yrs often
 Benguela
 Process
- created harmony between the parties
Current
(key outcome) more important than the
output
 Similar exercises done before - no blueprints
available - all will to a certain extent be unique
 Ownership created through the process
Q1: Can The TDA/SAP
Approach Work ?
• Role of TDA/SAP
 Can
we really go the long way as prescribed by the
TDA? Maybe consider to start with smaller,
immediate actions - success attracts success!
 Format requirements - tedious and often difficult!
 Namibia
- Benefit proved faster than the GEF route
 Overall
a useful instrument!
 Key questions: How to translate the SAP into
national actions?
 Requires
national commitment and national processes
Q2: Is it working?
• OP 8 Purpose - “remedial actions”
• Linkage between water resources reform process
and regional environmental management objectives
often not addressed as required in OP8
• Little emphasis on use of economic incentives and
instruments, when applicable, as management tools
• Private sector participation limited
• Involvement of other ministries/sectors - driven by
environment and water - Danube - Min. of Ag.
Q2: Is it working (II)?
• Little attention to lake and wetland management
and watershed management (WWF, IUCN)
• Transboundary implications of dams - WCD??
• Considerable risks associated with creation of
expectations that cannot be realistically achieved
and failure to recognize time frames require for
results - need for an exit strategy?
• Dissemination of SAP to the general public, often
lacking
• When do we start work on the ground? Uncertainty
Q3: Is it too early to tell?
• Yes, little environmental improvement so far
 North-American
Great Lakes - six years to set up
institutional system; 12 years to see environmental
improvements
 Social outcomes as important in the short/medium term
• Major accomplishments; over 50 projects
• First generation IW projects under implementation
- too early to assess results!
 Developed
framework for cooperation
 Second generation just starting
 Monitoring and evaluation built more effectively in
Q4: Are there important
constraints we are ignoring?
• Link to poverty alleviation,
human health, vulnerability and
sustainable development
policies in general
• Overall need for reforms in
various sectors; e.g. civil
service reform (Lake Victoria)
• Political climate for reforms
uncertain
Q5: Strategic Implications for
GEF and IAs?
• Rewrite OP? No - negotiated document
• Flexible, pragmatic interpretation/application
• GEF and IAs need to “walk the talk”
 Ownership
required by the riparians……. but
 Disbursement schedule has to be followed!
 Solution - use consultants - local capacity building?
 Streamlining of procedures; PDF A/B (350’ too small)/C
• Riparians in the driving seat! - not consultants or IAs
• but clearer demonstration of commitment required
 commitment
= ownership
Q5: Strategic Implications for
GEF and IAs (ii)?
• Sustainability
 Key
approval criteria?
 Need to strengthen secretariats; stabilize staffing, set
realistic budgets - responsibility of the riparians not GEF!
 Sustainability of investments - requires policy reforms
• Need to diversify range of national ministries involved
and increase emphasis on local governments
• Give more credibility to existing regional institutions
(e.g. West Africa)
Q5: Strategic Implications for
GEF and IAs (iii)?
• Involve NGOs more actively and ensure
accountability
• TDAs and SAPs should be prepared by riparians Facilitators can be provided (Benguela Current)
• Cooperation not competition between IAs and
others! NGOs are tired of watching the infighting
 multiple
IAs - creates difficulties!
• High transaction costs; delays, funding gaps etc.
• Need for information sharing, transfer of lessons,
comparison of results between the OPs
Q5: Strategic Implications for
GEF and IAs (iv)?
• Can one SAP lead to several projects?
• Ability to deal with acute problems?
• Long-term involvement/support required (Niger,
Chad - long-term program providing bridging
mechanism)
• GEF improve its outreach activities - NGO
complaint!
 should
be able to provide clear guidance now
 clear rules required, goal post should not change during
the process
 GEF vocabulary
 Qs and comments during this conference reflect this
Summary of the Challenges
Basin Level
• Creating and sustaining dialogue at the basin level
- use convening power
• Identifying and supporting initiatives that create
an enabling environment for cooperation
• Creating partnerships through which initiatives
can be supported
• Creating and sharing a global knowledge base to
support collaboration among riparians
• Supporting development investment in projects
that enhance cooperation
The Transboundary River or Lake Basin
•Promote a new water management and
development policy framework in each
riparian country
The
Riparians
•Investment should reward and support
policy and institutional reform -- not
expand or rehabilitate unsustainable
infrastructure, nor reward
unsustainable policy frameworks
Concluding Thoughts (David Grey)
Can pick you friends not your neighbors;
international waters challenge is to make
your neighbor your friends;
BUT
good fences can make good neighbors!
Lesson: no blueprint, comprise, change course
&
do not let the best be the enemy of the good