Regional Workshop for Co-ordinators of Global Environment Facility opens

Accra, Sept. 19, GNA - A five-day Africa Regional Workshop for National Co-ordinators of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) started in Accra on Monday with a call on the management to allocate more resources to poor countries.

Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, made the call in a speech read on her behalf at the workshop organized by GEF/SGP in Ghana.

The workshop that was attended by more than 60 participants from Africa and the United States, would be used to launch the implementation of GEF/SGP fifth operational phase in Africa.

The workshop would also provide training and guidance on the vision and strategy of the programme, results based management framework and GEF's visibility policy for the next four years.

It is expected to provide a platform to discuss implementation arrangements and reforms of the fifth operational phase of the programme.

Participants are expected to share lessons and good practices on community-based approaches to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, land degradation, international waters and chemicals.

Ms Ayittey pledged the government's commitment to allocating part of its GEF resources to the SGP for the implementation of projects that focused on gender and alternative livelihoods in poor local communities.

She lauded the contributions of SGP in promoting sustainable socio-economic growth.

Funded by the GEF as a corporate programme, SGP is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the GEF partnership, and is executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services.

Mr Kamil Kamaluddeen, UNDP Country Director, underscored the importance of infusing better governance, greater transparency and accountability in the implementation of the SGP.

He said that the programme would promote the formation and strengthening of community-based organizations to take lead roles in environmental management.

The GEF /SGP launched in 1992, supports activities of non-governmental and community-based organisations in developing countries towards climate change abatement, conservation of biodiversity, protection of international waters, reduction of the impact of persistent organic pollutants and prevention of land degradation while generating sustainable livelihoods.

The programme has supported 170 community-based projects around Global Significant Biodiversity Areas within the tropical high rainforests, RAMSAR sites, and Wetlands within the coastal marginal forests, mountainous areas within the middle belt semi-deciduous.

It has provided over 13,000 grants to communities in 122 developing countries.

The GEF unites 182 countries in partnership with international institutions, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives.

It is the largest financier of projects to improve the global environment, as an independent financial organisation.

The GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozonelayer, and persistent organic pollutants.