Minutes of the LPAC Meeting

United Nations Development Programme
14 May 2008
Local Project Appraisal Committee, LPAC Meeting
Project - Identification and implementation of the adaptation response measures for
Drini-Mati River Deltas
Meeting participants:
Beneficiary
Daniela Godo, Director of Project Management Unit, Ministry of Environment,
Forestry and Water Administration, Albania (MoEFWA)
UNDP
1. Norimasa Shimomura, Country Director
2. Alma Mustafaraj, Operations Manager
3. Vladimir Malkaj, Cluster Manager
4. Entela Lako, Programme Officer
5. Eno Ngjela, Programme Officer
6. Fran Deans, UNV Programme Officer
7. Blythe Fraser, Public Information Officer
8. Alma Gjoni, Programme Associate
9. Elvita Kabashi, Programme Associate
10. Xhesi Mane, Programme Associate
11. Jakob Schemel, Junior Programme Officer
12. Carlo Benedetti, UNDESA/UNDP Capacity Development Specialist
13. Ermira Fida, Programme Manager
14. Mirela Kamberi, National Project Coordinator
15. Englantina Demiraj, Project Team Leader
16. Lirim Selfo, Project Manager
17. Klodiana Marika, National Technical Expert
18. Violeta Zuna, Project Coordinator
19. Odeta Zheku, Public Information Assistant
20. Melita Leka, Administrative Finance Assistant
21. Besa Menzelxhiu, Administrative Finance Assistant
Partner Organization
Mihallaq Qirjo, Albania Country Office Director, Regional Environmental Center
(REC)
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Location and timing
The meeting took place at the UNDP Country Office on 5 May 2008 between 10:00 –
11:00.
Materials distributed
The final version of the project document was circulated prior to the meeting;
Handouts of the project presentation were distributed at the meeting.
Opening remarks
Norimasa Shimomura opened the Local Project Appraisal Committee Meeting for
“Identification and implementation of the adaptation response measures for Drini-Mati
River Deltas”, part of the Climate Change Programme. He considered the meeting to be a
final and overall assessment on the project’s activities, management arrangements as well
as a last chance for comments and questions. He pointed out that the project was
prepared in compliance with GEF policies and procedures, not leaving room for much
flexibility.
Presentation of the Project
The project was presented by Climate Change Programme Manager, Ermira Fida,
starting with a general overview of Climate Change in general, as the an international
challenge of the 21st Century and moving to Climate Change as a national issue,
expected negative impacts in different sectors and the need for adaptation and mitigation
activities. The project itself was described, starting with the steps from the initial idea
which came from the previous climate change studies such as Albania’s First National
Communication and Technology Needs Assessment towards the PDF Block A (Project
Development Facility) and then to MSP (Medium Size Project) formulation and approval
making it the first adaptation project under the SPA (Strategic Priorities for Adaptation)
in the Region. The process was labour intensive due to a shift of the Global Environment
Facility (GEF) Strategic Programme (GEF-3 to GEF-4), as well as national barriers and
gaps.
Ms. Fida explained the budget sources of the project: GEF grant; Government of Albania
– Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration cash and in kind
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contributions; and UNDP Albania. The Government of Albania and REC will provide
parallel financing.
The expected duration of the project is four years and the selected project site area is the
Drini Mati River Delta, selected based on the following criteria:
Significant biodiversity values;
Internationally recognized area;
Critical vulnerable region of the country from the ecosystem point of view;
Priority area for development (MDG Regional Report of Lezha).
Several Projects/Programmes on the ground: EU-Environmental Legislation and
Planning for Albania (ELPA); World Bank projects: Integrated Coastal Zone
Management (ICMZ), Natural Resources Development (NRDP), and
International Development Association, Integrated Water and Ecosystem
Management Project (IDA-IWEM), REC-Small Grants Programme, GEF-Small
Grants Programme, but none take into account climate related threats.
Areas of the country that are most vulnerable to climate change and that would benefit
from adaptation measures have been identified and prioritized though broad based
stakeholder consultation as well as: Analysis carried out in Albania, as part of Albania’s
First National Communication, Technology Needs Assessment; and Albania’s Second
National Communication. The area given the highest priority is the entire Drini cascade
extending from inland Kukes to the Drini delta.
Ms. Fida highlighted the overall development goal of this medium size project: to
establish a mechanism that ensures government strategies and actions address the
negative effects of climate change.
The analysis undertaken at a national scale (FNC), regional scale covering the coastal
zone (TNA) and at the level of the entire Drini cascade extending from inland Kukes to
the Drini delta (SNC) have however been fundamental in prioritizing, the area where
adaptation to climate change should be taken into account following a rigorous
methodology and process.
The overall development goal of this medium size project is to assist Albania in
establishing a mechanism by which strategies to moderate, cope with, and take advantage
of the consequences of climate change are enhanced, developed, and implemented.
The presentation then focused on the three project outcomes, their outputs, and activities,
highlighting that the third outcome is standard for a medium size project. It was stated
also that given the crosscutting nature of the project, and the fact that the success of this
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project depends on the engagement of the stakeholders in the process, the project team in
the Climate Change Programme has worked in close cooperation with local government
units, and other interested parties.
An overview of the management structure of the project was explained, integrating the
medium size project into the Climate Change Umbrella Programme, built around three
main pillars: Green House Gas (GHG) inventory, GHG mitigation and Vulnerability and
Adaptation.
Regarding project risk management, it was mentioned that risks were identified and a
strategy provided, but it is not final and will be re-evaluated during the project’s
inception phase.
Project monitoring and evaluation will be conducted in accordance with established
UNDP and GEF procedures by the project team and the UNDP Country Office, with
support from the UNDP/GEF Regional Coordination Unit in Bratislava. Also, the
Logical Framework Matrix provides performance and impact indicators for project
implementation along with their corresponding means of verification.
Regarding the project implementation arrangements, MoEFWA will execute the project
under the UNDP National Execution modality (NEX) and a National Project Director
will be delegated by the Executing Agency.
Questions and Comments from participants:
- One of the questions was if the baseline methodology of this project could be used for
other adaptation projects in other sectors.
Answer: The First and Second National Communication identified the sectors that would
be negatively affected by climate change. In the case of biodiversity protection,
adaptation measures aim to ensure that natural ecosystems are able to respond to climate
change, by reducing or removing existing pressures. The current baseline offers several
opportunities to integrate adaptation. Moreover, several planning and programming
exercises aimed at strengthening environmental sustainability have taken place in the
region as well as an overall move towards further decentralization of responsibilities to
the Regional Administration. Other sectors that would be negatively affected by climate
change include natural ecosystems and energy. Although the baseline methodology for
the energy sector (exploitation of Hydro resources) is being treated separately, given its
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complexity. A concept note on renewable energy resources has already been submitted to
the donors.
- Questions followed concerning regional activities and collaboration with local and
central government bodies.
Answer: A package of amendments to sustainable development activities and
programmes in the in the zones surrounding protected areas in the Drini Mati River
Deltas will be provided as part of the project in cooperation with relevant national
stakeholders. Furthermore, it will be determined how existing region-wide programmes
can be modified by the integration of specific adaptation response measures. For this
purpose, a series of technical workshops followed by round table discussions and
bilateral meetings at the policy level are envisaged. A matrix of stakeholders has already
been developed and will be updated and reviewed accordingly during the process.
- A question covered information on the existence of measurable indicators to project
results.
Answer: The project document provides objectively verifiable indicators and during the
inception phase the indicators might be revised accordingly.
-A comment was made regarding the importance of gender equality and the difficulty of
providing its relevance given the technical background of this specific project and of
environmental projects in general.
The project team said that the issue will be considered during the inception phase of the
project.
-Another comment emphasized the importance of the standard letter of agreement
between UNDP and the Government for the provision of support services, given that the
project will be executed under NEX modalities.
Clarification was asked regarding project budget, allocated resources and parallel cofinancing
activities.
- A last comment was made regarding the communication strategy and the development
of knowledge products as provided under outcome three. Given the technical and
scientific background of the project, an effective communication strategy will be
essential. The project team was encouraged to cooperate and make use of UNDP Public
Information Unit.
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The meeting was closed by thanking everyone for their participation and feedback.
Follow up issues:
Receive Delegation of Authority (DOA) letter;
Enter the Project Budget in ATLAS;
Duly sign the Project Document; and
MSP start up implementation – June 2008.
Conclusion
The LPAC approved the project.
Albania