THEME: Togo’s experiences regarding the elaboration of national GEF strategies

and priority setting.

By :

Mr. Yao Djiwonu FOLLY GEF Operational Focal Point

SUBREGIONAL WORKSHOP FOR GEF FOCAL POINTS IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

Dakar 21-23 May, 2007

a) Background

This process is supported by an enabling legal and policy environment

Favourable environmental law, legal provisions and environmental policy declaration;

Despite this, results remain insufficient

Opportunities Institutionalization of Conventions Focal

Points and agreements within GEF purview Broad feedback and dissemination of Dakar

workshop outcome on RAF to key stakeholders

Relocation of the GEF Operational Focal Point under ministerial cabinet.

a) Background (cont’d)

a) Background (cont’d)

Threats Lack of financial resources; Lack of collaboration on the part of ministry departments and several stakeholders. Motivation Monitoring of GEF project and programme portfolio and improvement of country’s performance regarding resource mobilization

RAF put into place.

a) Background (cont’d)

Process management- Broad dissemination of and feedback on the outcome of the Dakar

workshops on the RAF;

- Two workshops (launch and validation) chaired by the Minister in charge of Environment;

- Creation of a select committee for the elaboration of the basic document and work schedule;

- Compilation of information and summary of priorities;

- Sessions for drafting, reviewing and adopting the document by experts in selected priority areas.

b) Key Actors

- Minister: Chairmanship of launch and adoption workshops and communication of outcome to partners and actors concerned.- GEF Focal Point coordination team: Dissemination of and feedback on outcome re. the RAF; informal consultations of the GEF IAs and EAs; organization of coordination meetings of FPs and national execution entities of conventions within GEF purview; workshop preparation and moderation of activities.

b) Key Actors (cont’d)

- National execution entities and focal points of conventions within GEF purview, key central administrators, key NGOs, key government ministries, coordination team of Poverty Reduction Programme, GEF FP coordination team: Elaboration of document and collaboration in workshops preparation.

- GEF Implementing Agents and other international partners: Participation in validation workshop.

- National reference document broadly disseminated;

- Increased coverage and dissemination of GEF activities on state and private media.

- Increased facilitation and coordination roles of the GEF Focal Point; solicitation to help mobilize financing aimed at integrating GEF activities in the poverty reduction programme and cost-evaluation that result therefrom.

c) Results and Achievements

- Fairly vague knowledge of GEF programmes and policies on the part of several stakeholders;

- Insufficient integration of environmental issues in the in the programmes and projects of several stakeholders;

- Lack of financial resources; - Lack of collaboration on the part of several key

stakeholders; - Actions taken: high-level political involvement;

communication; information.

d) Constraints

e) Lessons Learnt

- Need to have ready access and to facilitate its dissemination;

- Need to be able to organize coordination meetings;

- Need to have ready access to the authorities within the framework of one’s activities and to enjoy a measure of autonomy.

f) Conclusions and recommendations

- Need to place the institution housing the Focal Point under the Ministerial Cabinet;

- Need to institutionalize the focal points of the conventions under GEF purview;

- Need to have a minimum of resources and enjoy a measure of administrative and financial independence.

THE END