The UNDP-GEF POPs Resource Kit - International POPs Elimination ...

Convention in May, 2001. The principal focus of these Enabling Activities is assisting
countries in preparation of their Implementation Plans and first reporting obligations. Initial
Enabling Activity guidelines, reviewed by the GEF Council at its May, 2001 meeting, are in
Annex C.
POPs Enabling Activities are eligible for 'full funding' of agreed costs, e.g. no
incremental cost analysis is required as for 'full-sized' projects. Countries may request up to
$500,000 for Enabling Activities under GEF's expedited approval and disbursement
procedures; larger requests must go through standard GEF project cycle procedures. The
range of actions that may be carried out under Enabling Activities are summarized in Annex
C, para. 25. A template to assist countries in preparing Enabling Activity proposals is also
included in Annex D.
Since 1991, UNDP has played a leading role in supporting both the Climate Change
and Biodiversity Enabling Activities. To date, UNDP-GEF has provided Enabling Activity
assistance to 83 countries (64%) and 94 countries (82%) for Biodiversity and Climate
Change Enabling Activities, respectively. A large majority of Enabling Activity projects
were executed by national agencies, creating opportunities for strong country ownership of
project results. As part of this effort, UNDP substantially increased its in-country capacity in
environment, including capacity to provide in-country technical assistance. For these
Enabling Activities, UNDP Country Offices have played a pivotal role in ensuring general
management oversight, including administrative support, serving as a liaison with UNDP
New York, and facilitating the development and implementation of the Enabling Activity
projects. UNDP also set up an effective system of regional and sub-regional coordinators to
provide technical support for the national execution of Enabling Activities and to
complement the managerial and administrative support provided by the UNDP Country
Offices.
1--Lessons Learned from the Climate Change and Biodiversity Experiences
While distinct technically, there are many similarities in the Enabling Activity process
among Climate Change, Biodiversity and POPs. These include preparation of inventories,
action plans, and reporting obligations to the Conventions. Enabling Activities also have in
common the need for public involvement, inter-sectoral coordination, institutional
strengthening, capacity building and awareness raising. Thus there are clearly numerous
lessons from the largely completed Biodiversity and Climate Change Enabling Activities
processes which should be transferable to POPs Enabling Activities. A synthesis of these
lessons, identified in recent evaluations of both the Climate Change and Biodiversity
Enabling Activities, is summarized below.
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