Transcript Concurrent Feedback Sesion:OP 9 Projects

CONCURRENT FEEDBACK SESSION
OP 9 PROJECTS
Facilitator : Philip Weller
 NGO : Ger Bergkamp
 Rapporteur : Maryam Niamir-Fuller
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PROCEDURAL ISSUES:
TDA and SAP
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importance of participatory process
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OP 9 requires even more participatory work than other
OPs ; we need to develop real bottom-up processes that
match upstream planning
Is “TDA to SAP” a good approach ?
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in some cases it has not built upon existing or previous
efforts (e.g. West Africa) and local knowledge and in
other cases does not link or coincide with ongoing
national planning frameworks
there is no process for M&E while doing SAP
TDA and SAP cont.
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Posting “best practices” examples for TDA, SAP
and Integrated Land and Water Management on
the websites
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Regional SAP has to be supported by National
SAPs
Recommend organizing another special
session/occasion to discuss further the value of the
TDA-to-SAP approach
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PROCEDURAL:
Communication

Effective communications strategy needed
between project and all stakeholders
communication gap between local stakeholders
and IA HQ and GEF
Best practices should be used in a timely manner,
and should be disseminated between projects
through exchanges.
Thematic mapping very useful tool, to determine
“hot spots”, and use for dialogue and decisionmaking
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PROCEDURAL:
Development
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rigidity of procedures
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final Brief may not address real needs, because
it is modified too much by GEFSEC and other
reviews
Greater coordination of GEF projects with
other ongoing or pipeline IA projects
 Difficult to know what is coming down the
pipeline; may result in duplication.
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PROCEDURAL:
Endorsements
 may
take a long time
 some IAs require too many signatures for
the same project; need to standardize
process
 early involvement of OFP needed
PROCEDURAL:
Financial continuity

Funding stream from project development
to implementation must be continuous
TECHNICAL:
Sustainability
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Ownership and sustainability
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must get inter-sectoral coordination and buy-in
early in project development; not just land and
water sectors, but also finance, foreign, etc.
OP 9 projects engage both development and
environmental issues
projects must be driven by regional and
national priorities and have their genesis in the
region
Sustainability cont.
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need for capacity and institutional building before
project start-up
Not enough work on building capacity during
project lifetime (local community, counterparts)
Projects should be managed as much as possible
by national and regional staff
OTHER TECHNICAL ISSUES
OP 9 projects are more holistic than others
(biod, desertification, etc.) which is positive
but it may be hard to find focus for the
project, and what GEF increment should be,
so we need good system boundary
assessments.
 Projects cannot only address technical
needs, but also must be aware of political
processes
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Other Technical Issues cont.
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Need better clarity and distinction between
OP 8, 9 , 2 and 12
Lessons Learnt and M&E
Research must address project needs
 Need more IA coordination, for lessons
learnt
 M&E systems have to be transparent, where
countries report on processes and results;
TPRs may not be best venue.
 M&E has to cover post-project reviews.
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SUMMARY/RECOMMENDATIONS
Put TDA and SAP best practices examples
on the websites
 Review TDA and SAP approach
 Careful definition and assessment of system
boundary needed in OP 9 projects
 Multi-sectoral coordination needed early on
 Participatory process must be structured,
systematic, and an integral part of the
planning process.
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