BACKGROUND PAPER on United Nations Development Programme (UNDP ...

will build the capacity for programme management. Its demonstrably successful
programme management package helps clients correctly define the problem;
identify the inputs necessary to address it; sequence the inputs and outputs to
deliver on target; monitor and evaluate interventions so as to remain on track; and
document lessons learned. UNDP will also introduce information and
communications technology tools so clients can continuously access and develop
the knowledge they need beyond the life-span of individual programmes.
Support for climate and environment roles
Latin American and Caribbean countries are playing leading roles on the world's
environmental stage, with support from UNDP. In terms of climate change,
Argentina hosted the Conference of Parties in December 1998, becoming the first
developing country to propose initiatives for joint implementation. Regarding energy,
Brazil has fostered many of the ideas that led to the Clean Development
Mechanism. Moreover, the continent has the greatest proportion of urban dwellers,
and urban poverty is the key poverty issue. The region has gone furthest in terms of
experimenting with privatization of urban environmental services.
UNDP's regional strategy on the environment -- "Forging and Strengthening the
Development-Environment Links" -- will promote investment in new areas, such as
the impact of macro-economic policies, the interface between environment and
crisis management, and green investments. There are also plans for a periodic
sustainable development report and a sustainable development index.
In addition to country and regional activities, UNDP supports Latin American and
Caribbean sub-regional initiatives. For example, Mesoamerica -- the area covered
by the seven countries of Central America and Panama and the five southernmost
states of Mexico -- faces rapid degradation of its natural resource assets, reduced
productivity, increased poverty, and greater vulnerability to hurricanes and other
extreme climatic events. UNDP is assisting governments in the Mesoamerican
region to design and implement a “biological corridor”, providing a strategic
framework for investments and technical assistance.
The framework covers biodiversity conservation by connecting protected areas,
agricultural development, watershed protection to maximize ecosystem services,
and decreased vulnerability to the effects of extreme climatic events. Some $100
million is being invested for biodiversity conservation by the Global Environment
Facility (GEF).
The GEF is a fund which is managed by a secretariat representing UNDP, the
World Bank and the UN Environment Programme amongst others. Additional
contributions are flowing in from the Inter-American Development Bank, and
German, Danish, American and other bilateral agencies.
UNDP has developed tools, methodologies, and approaches that can be tailored to
the diverse needs of clients at different stages of the problem.
Diagnosis: UNDP is, with resources from the Global Environment Facility (GEF),
currently assisting 31 of 33 countries in the region to prepare their First and Second
National Communications, as required by parties to the Climate Change
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