Roles and Responsibilities of Council Members and Focal

Roles and Responsibilities of Council Members and Focal Points GEF Expanded Constituency Workshop 27 – 29 March 2012 Tirana, Albania

Stakeholder Roles • Discuss the role of each stakeholder at your table with respect to the GEF – What is the responsibility of the Council Member to their constituency? – How is the political focal point involved in GEF activities? – What should convention focal points do in preparation for COP negotiations concerning the GEF? – What are some specific ways for CSOs to become more involved in GEF activities? – What are the activities that an OFP could do with their $9, 000 direct support/annual work plan budget? – What challenges are faced when implementing the Annual Work Plan? – How could each stakeholder assist with the visibility of the GEF? – How could each stakeholder better understand the work of the GEF in their country? – What is done to promote coordination within your country? Is a GEF steering committee a useful tool?

What is the responsibility of the Council Member to their constituency?

How is the political focal point involved in GEF activities?

What should convention focal points do in preparation for COP negotiations concerning the GEF?

What are some specific ways for CSOs to become more involved in GEF activities?

What are the activities that an OFP could do with their $9, 000 direct support/annual work plan budget?

What challenges are faced when implementing the Annual Work Plan?

How could each stakeholder assist with the visibility of the GEF?

How could each stakeholder better understand the work of the GEF in their country?

What is done to promote coordination within your country? Is a GEF steering committee a useful tool?

Political Focal Points Specific responsibilities of Political Focal Points: • Stay abreast of GEF governance matters, informing interested parties, including convention focal points, about GEF policies, governance issues, and related activities. • Facilitate in-country consultations on GEF governance matters • Serve as liaisons on GEF governance matters within their countries, with the GEF Constituencies to which their countries belong, and with the GEF Council Members representing their respective Constituencies. • Communicate the views of their governments, as well as give comments and suggestions on the GEF’s existing or proposed policies to the GEF Secretariat.

Guidelines for Operational Focal Points General Responsibilities: • Serve as the main contact of the GEF Secretariat, GEF Agencies and national stakeholders with respect to country environmental strategies and objectives, GEF project information and country GEF project reports. • Consult with CSO and other key stakeholders in country on GEF matters as well as provide information on GEF activities, including project implementation, results and impacts. • Raise awareness in country on GEF • Mainstreaming of GEF objectives in national policy frameworks. • Follow Projects in Country.

Guidelines for Operational Focal Points Country Support Programme Responsibilities: • Request and organize voluntary National Portfolio Formulation Exercises (NPFEs) and Multi -stakeholder dialogues. • Actively participate in Expanded Constituency Workshops and Constituency Meetings. • Utilize annual support to focal points appropriately.

Guidelines for Operational Focal Points Operational Responsibilities: • Endorse projects before the Agencies submit the Project Identification Form (PIF) to the GEF Secretariat for clearance. • Use the GEF Project Management Information System (GEFPMIS) to enter project concepts (voluntary activity) and for the tracking of GEF projects and programs, in addition to tracking in more detail through Agency systems. • Collaborate on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) at project, program, and portfolio levels. • Work with the Agencies in drafting the Project Identification Form (PIF) and responding to the GEF Secretariat project review sheet comments, as appropriate. • Actively participate in the project life cycle from inception until its completion. • Ensure GEF visibility policy is respected.

Visibility of the GEF • The visibility of the GEF is vital to ensure that the GEF is known, recognized and funded. • Council adopted a decision on Enhancing the Visibility of the GEF (Document GEF/C. 40/08) • Operational Focal Points are expected to: – Know the content of this decision – Promote its implementation – Inform the GEF Secretariat when it is not being respected so that the Secretariat may take appropriate action.

Thank you for your attention Questions?