G-PAS First Synthesis 22 Nov 2007

GEF-Pacific Alliance for Sustainability
Identification of priorities in view of project preparation


BIODIVERSITY

Sustainable Finance Systems for Island Protected Area Management (Micronesia Challenge) – Marshall Islands, Palau and Micronesia
GEF Agency: UNEP

Invasive Species Management – Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Cook Island, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu
GEF Agency: UNDP, FAO

Strengthening community-based marine resources and fisheries management (Coral Triangle Initiative) – Solomon Island and Papua New Guinea
GEF Agency: Asian Development Bank

Terrestrial/Forestry Protected Area Management – Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and Niue
GEF Agency: UNDP

Mainstreaming of biodiversity – Tonga and Timor Leste
GEF Agency: World Bank

Comments on other proposals not being included in the first list:

Kiribati:
Integrated Island Biodiversity
Nauru:
Nauru Integrated Coastal Management Programme
Niue:
Biotechnology and Biosafety for Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability
Samoa:
Sustainable Management of Coastal Resources at Vaiusu Bay
Tonga:
Mainstreaming Biodiversity conservation into all sectors
Marine Ecosystems

ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Building resilience to climate change (Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change) – Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
GEF Agency: UNDP (World Bank, UNEP)

Timor Leste – Not included in the above mentioned PACC project. A follow up project from NAPAs, as determined by the country. (LDCF)[1]
GEF Agency: UNDP

Palau - Not included in PACC. Disaster preparedness, response, related to climate change and climate variability, mitigate the negative impacts of natural disasters on the environment and structures- (SCCF)
GEF Agency: World Bank

Marshall Islands – Not included in PACC. Enhancing Resilience of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems to Climate Change – (SPA) project
GEF Agency: World Bank

Comments on other proposals not being included in the first list:

Tonga – PACC first.
Other Priorities: Activities need to be finalized first in PACC with the implementing agency. Climate proofing, with ADB

Cooks- PACC first.
Other Priorities: Integrated Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management-SCCF

Samoa- PACC First.
Other Priorities: Integrated Climate Change Adaptation in Samoa. (SCCF). Clarification is needed to make sure activities do not have overlap with PACC.

Nauru- Needs additional work as the list of priorities is unclear and follow up projects are difficult to envision.

Solomon Islands - PACC first – need to determine activities in PACC
Other Priorities: Climate Proofing, Enhancement of National Meteorological Hydrological Service related to Climate Change and Variability – (SCCF)

Fiji- PACC First-
Other Priorities: Enhancing resilience in tourism sector to CC impacts – (SCCF)

Micronesia. PACC first,
Other Priorities: (?) finalize activities. Climate Proofing (SCCF)

Please note that there are no resources left in the SCCF except for the PACC project (there is a possibility to include in the PACC the two remaining island states that are not in the PACC, Marshall Islands and Palau. As Kiribati has already accessed $2 million GEF resources through the SPA and can access $3.5 million GEF/LDCF resources it is fair to give priority to the other two island states). Even though it would be more efficient to add two more states to the PACC - Palau and Marshall Islands may select a different Implementing Agency, as the process is country driven.

There are some resources, although limited, under the SPA in the GEF trust fund. The SPA does not follow the RAF. The LDCF and SCCF do not follow the RAF.

As the resources under the SCCF have been all allocated, except for the resources planned to finance the PACC, all priorities that fall under the SCCF can be submitted under the SCCF only after it is communicated that the donors have announced new pledges to the SCCF.

Climate Change Mitigation Projects

Energy efficiency project - Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, Cook Islands. Energy Efficiency focusing on electricity end uses (demand side management), appliance labeling, and technology transfer is a good idea. Improved energy efficiency of buildings (e.g. Government buildings, tourism.), Enhanced Institutional and technical capabilities to implement energy efficiency. . There is the possibility of formulating a good regional energy efficiency project here, if countries agree. Other countries might choose to participate as well.
GEF Agency: World Bank, UNEP, ADB, UNDP

ADMIRE Project in Marshall Islands was recently web-posted for approval by the GEF.
GEF Agency: UNDP

Extended PIGGAREP in Nauru and Palau should be feasible as both are proposing some form of renewable energy projects. Neither are in PIGGAREP or SEFI.
GEF Agency: UNDP

LULUCF Project in Papua New Guinea replacing the proposed biomass project which is not very well described and raises questions about its sustainability. We would therefore suggest that PNG use their CC allocation and combine it with resources from the BD focal area and make it a larger sustainable forests project, using the CC money to ensure LULUCF benefits.
GEF Agency: UNDP (World Bank)

Comments on other proposals not being included in the first list:

Fiji and Vanuatu: Both countries propose transport projects. There should be some collaboration and cooperation as the solutions of SIDS in these areas may be quite similar. Perhaps a regional program could be proposed to ensure some sharing of experiences and approaches.

Kiribati: Kiribati is already participating in PIGGAREP, so proposing another RE project at present does not seem practical. Better to wait until PIGGAREP makes progress.


INTERNATIONAL WATERS

Integrated Water Resources Management/Water Supply Protection
GEF Agency: UNDP and UNEP

Ridge to Reef and Integrated Coastal Management -Palau, Micronesia and Soloman islands. This project can be included in the Coral Triangle Initiative.
GEF Agency: Asian Development Bank

POPS

Solid waste management – Palau, Micronesia
GEF Agency: ADB, UNDP

POPS Implementation- Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa
GEF Agency: UNEP

POPs Monitoring – Kiribati, Fiji
GEF Agency: UNEP

CROSS-CUTTING CAPACITY BUILDING

Development of capacity to sustain global environmental benefits (Follow-up of NCSAs) – Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands
GEF Agency: UNEP, UNDP, World Bank
[1] Acronyms: LDCF Least Developed Countries Fund
SCCF Special Climate Change Fund
SPA Strategic Priority on Adaptation