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Programme Period:2009 - 2011

Key Result Area (Strategic Plan)

Climatechange andEnergy

Atlas Award ID:0056772

MAURICE ILE DURABLE SUPPORT PROJECT

Expected CP Outcome(s):Enabling policy, institutional framework and adaptivestrategies and instruments in place for sustainableand environmentally sound economic growth;involvement of civil society in above strengthened

Expected Output(s):A new trajectory toward a sustainable Mauritiusdefined, agreed upon by key parties, and embarkedupon by the country at large.

Executing Entity: Ministry of Renewably Energy and Public Utilities

Implementing Agencies: United Nations Development Programme

Brief Description

Mauritius is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) located in the Western Indian Ocean. The countryfaces similar constraints and threats as other SIDS that include inter alia, a strong reliance on anincreasingly depleted natural resource base, loss of biodiversity and the degradation of essentialcomponents of the ecosystem, as well as a heavy dependency on fossil fuels and other importedcommodities that support society. Governments response to this worrying situation takes the form of theMaurice Ile Durable (MID) initiative that aims to put the island state on a sustainable trajectory into thefuture. The commitment of Government is reflected in the creation of the MID Fund that is a vehicle fortargeted investment in projects promoting sustainability and to which it has allocated 1.3 billion rupees.UNDP has been requested to provide assistance to the MID Fund as well as to the overall development

of the MID concept. UNDP, in response to the issues and needs identified during MID Week and variousworkshops and consultations before and after this event, proposes the MID Support Project. Thepurpose of this Project is to help to clarify the MID concept, consolidate and harness ongoing and futureactivities into a coherent thrust, and provide a framework in which all parties can be positioned for thebest results, now and into the future. The MID Support Project is a three-tier intervention that includes:(i) a national policy process that will provide the much needed framework for MID, (ii) support for theMID Fund, and (iii) provision of essential technical expertise.

Agreed by (UNDP) Mr C Caldarone, UNDP Resident Representative

Agreed by (Executing Entity- MREPU): Mrs N Nababsing, Permanent Secretary

Total resources required: 250k USD

Total allocated resources: 250K USD

Regular

_________ Other:

o Donor _________ o Donor _________ o Donor _________ o Government 100kUSD

Unfunded budget:

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Agreed by (Government - MOFEE): Mr A Mansoor, Financial Secretary

AcronymsAFD Agence Francaise de Developpement

CP Country Programme

EPZ Export Processing Zone

ICT Information Communication TechnologyMDG Millennium Development Goal

SCP Sustainable Consumption and Production

SIDS Small Island Developing State

TSU Technical Support Unit

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

UNEP United Nations Environmental Programme

WCED World Commission on Environment and Development

WIO Western Indian Ocean

ABOUT MAURITIUS

The island country of Mauritius is situated in the south-west Indian Ocean off the coast of theAfrican continent. Officially named the Republic of Mauritius, this island of just over 2000 squarekilometres incorporates the neighbouring islands of St Brandon, Rodrigues and Agalega.

Mauritius is recognised as having one of the most successful democracies in Africa, with socialand economic progress that few African countries can match. It has one of the highest GrossDomestic Product and Human Development Index indicators on the African continent. Thepopulation of just over 1.3 million inhabitants largely originates from the Indian subcontinent,Africa, China and Europe.

The economy of this culturally diverse nation is in transition. After many years of surviving almostsolely on the sugar industry, the Government decided at independence to diversify by encouragingthe EPZ concept for export programmes and, by 1990, manufacturing had surpassed the sugarindustry and now accounts for more than 70 percent of exports, sugar taking up the remainder. Atthe turn of the century, the Government pledged that industries such as tourism and ICT willbecome the main engines of growth. Moreover, the Government would like to further diversify theeconomy and transform the economy so that it would effectively rest on a number of pillars.

Although Mauritius is a small island, it has an Exclusive Economic Zone of nearly 2 million squarekilometres, that is, an area a thousand times larger than the island itself. This maritime territoryholds huge economic potential for the nation and can play a vital role in its development.

With its aquamarine waters, coral reefs and forest-clad volcanic mountains, Mauritius has an idyllicappearance that lures visitors from afar. Proud of what has been achieved over the last threedecades in terms of the economy, the safety and social security of the island and a strongdemocracy, the local inhabitants like to describe their country as a little paradise. However, this isa paradise under pressure.

Mauritius finds itself in the same situation, and faces similar threats to its survival, as other SmallIsland Developing States (SIDS) that include, inter alia, a strong reliance on a depleting naturalresource base, loss of biodiversity and degradation of essential components of the ecosystem,and a heavy dependency on fossil fuels and other imported commodities that support society.Climate change and rising fuel costs exacerbate the situation. Without careful planning and

sustainability interventions, the country will not have the necessary resilience to recover fromfuture shocks

Fortunately, Government is cognizant of the need for urgent intervention. In his 2008/2009 budgetspeech, The Honorable Dr. Ramakrishna Sithanen, Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and

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Economic Empowerment described a plan of action to build an attractive, modern, inclusive, greenand open Mauritius (AMIGO).

THE MID INITIATIVE

Mauritius is party to the United Nations Small Island Developing States (SIDS) programme - The

Barbados Programme of Action on the Sustainable Development of Small IslandDeveloping States. These nations share common socio-economic and environmental issues andconcerns that are unique to small islands. The concerns of SIDS were recognised by theinternational community when it agreed to Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 during the Earth Summit in1992, which notes that SIDS face special challenges in planning for sustainable development, andagreed to a Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island DevelopingStates. The conference took place in Barbados in 1994 and adopted the Barbados Programme ofAction, the principal international framework for addressing the special challenges and constraintsfaced by SIDS in their implementation of sustainable development. In the Plan of Implementationadopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) (Johannesburg, August /September 2002), a recommendation was made that, "a full and comprehensive review of theimplementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SmallIsland Developing States takes place in 2004". The United Nations General Assembly, at its 57thsession, passed resolution A/RES/57/262 to convene an International Meeting (IM) and welcomedthe offer of the Government of Mauritius to host the event.

The IM took place in Mauritius in January 2005 and undertook a full and comprehensive review ofthe implementation of the Programme of Action. The review sought a renewed politicalcommitment by all countries to the Programme of Action and focused on practical and pragmaticactions for its further implementation, inter alia, through the mobilisation of resources andassistance for SIDS. (See: SIDS International Meeting)

In line with its consistent commitment to sustainable development, the Government of Mauritiushas pledged to undertake various sustainable reforms in all its spheres, from environment, health,education and economy, to socio-cultural upliftment. Prime Minister Ramgoolams vision forachieving this was given effect through allocations in the 2008/2009 budget. The Honorable Dr.Ramakrishna Sithanen, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Empowerment,stated in his budget speech, We will build a green future for Mauritius through the Maurice IleDurable vision of the Prime Minister, and shift to local renewable sources of energy away fromimported fossil fuel.

The aim of the Maurice Ile Durable (MID) programme is to move Mauritius along a sustainabletrajectory and into a green future. This embraces concepts of becoming self sustaining. Towardsthis end, the government has set up the Rs 1.3 billion (approximately US$ 39 million) Maurice IleDurable Fund to be utilised over the period 2008-2011, representing about 0.2% of the GDP of

Mauritius. The Fund will mobilize resources from taxes, Government subsidies, developmentpartners, carbon credits, and the private sector, including the introduction of carbon footprintoffsets in the aviation sector.

The Maurice Ile Durable programme has replaced the National Energy Fund and thus, although itaddresses sustainability across all spheres, it is under the aegis of the Ministry of RenewableEnergy and Public Utilities and currently has energy and waste as focused priorities. Initiativesidentified to date include the efficient use of energy, the promotion of sources of renewable energyand improved management of waste and pollution.

Implementation of the MID programme is assisted by UNDP and AFD. An aide-memoire wassigned in October 2008 by the Prime Minister, Dr N Ramgoolam in Paris for the setting up of a

UNESCO Chair at the University of Mauritius.

The activities to be supported by the MID Fund have been described thus far as:

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Explore all potential for local sources of renewable energy and make use of them toreplace imports

Reduce consumption of fossil fuels

Create an institutional framework for energy generation

Preserve the environment by supporting a solid waste recycling programme, hybridvehicles and other transportation initiatives.

Mention must be made of Prof Joel de Rosnay, of the Cite des Sciences in Paris and specialadvisor to the Prime Minister, who can be credited as one of the originators of the programme. Atan early stage, when oil prices were rising astronomically (a situation that can repeat itself orworse), he called for renewable energy alternatives. In addition, he was instrumental in coining theterm Maurice Ile Durable and in driving it at the highest level and providing the cornerstone of theconcept through his 10 commandments.

The Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) has finalized its project to support theimplementation of activities in the context of the MID concept. Within its project, which is worth 1million Euro in terms of technical assistance, there are a number of components namely: 1)Capacity building to evaluate projects, make decisions and follow up on project implementation

and evaluation of results; 2) Implementation of projects falling within the themes of MID; 3)Enhancement of regional co-operation; 4) Finalization of the MID strategy 2009-2011; and 5)Development of programmes of action in specific fields. The success of the AFD project iscontingent upon both the political commitment to MID and setting up of the Project ManagementUnit under the UNDP Support Project to MID.

Many other individuals and entities have joined forces in further exploring the concept of MID,including the University of Mauritius, the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre, the private sector,Government departments and even certain schools. UNDP has already supported the furtherdevelopment of the MID in a variety of ways across the spectrum of players.

Today there is a significant groundswell in the country calling for the broadening of the concept of

Maurice Ile Durable and, most significantly, to define precisely what sustainability means in thecontext of Mauritius. While a sharp focus needs to be maintained on energy and waste, the otherwell-known dimensions of sustainability reflected in environmental, social and economic concernscannot be neglected and must be addressed now and into the future.

THE CONCEPTOF SUSTAINABILITY

The 1987 World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) provided the widely useddefinition of sustainable development as, development that meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.

Principle 8 of the Rio Declaration (1992) declares that, "to achieve sustainable development and ahigher quality of life for all people, States should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns ofproduction and consumption". This was further addressed in the Johannesburg Plan ofImplementation, adopted by world leaders at the 2002 World Summit on SustainableDevelopment, which states that, the major cause of the continued deterioration of the globalenvironment is the unsustainable pattern of consumption and production, particularly inindustrialised countries. Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) is now a globallyrecognised policy.

The WCED definition of sustainability introduced the concept of inter-generational equity into aworld that had, until the mid- to late 20th century, largely viewed the planets resources as infinite

(source), and the capacity of the globe to absorb waste and toxic discharges (sink), asunassailable.

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The Millennium Development Goals1 today serve as the framework for sustainable development bysetting goals and targets that aim to tackle poverty and promote human development. Together,UNDP and UNEP have been working to support countries in sound environmental managementand, in particular, on achieving MDG 7 on environmental sustainability (the goal that seeks toensure environmental sustainability through a series of targets to be met by 2015). MillenniumDevelopment Goal 7 contains three global targets: Target 9 to integrate the principles ofsustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss ofenvironmental resources; Target 10 to halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainableaccess to safe drinking water and sanitation; and Target 11 to have achieved, by 2020, asignificant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers. These are supported byeight global indicators that can be used to measure global progress 2.

Unlike most of the other MDGs, there are no quantitative targets set for MDG 7, nor is there auniversal understanding of the goal. No blueprint exists for integrating the principles of sustainabledevelopment into country policies and programmes, nor is there any clearly emerging successfulpathway of practice3.

It is therefore up to individual countries, like Mauritius, to interpret and implement MDG 7appropriately according to its resource base as well as its needs. Mauritius has undertaken to

consolidate its numerous sustainable development initiatives into a coherent model of integratedsustainable development. The global MDG 7 targets and indicators are a starting point formonitoring country-level progress towards ensuring environmental sustainability.

Mauritius needs to make its goals relevant to its specific national context by identifying targets tobe built into policies and implementation programmes, as well as indicators to measure progresstowards those targets. In doing so, Mauritius can lead the way in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO);in addition, it can become a world leader by making Maurice Ile Durable its primary nationalagenda and embedding its quest for sustainability in a dedicated national policy that will mobiliseall parties and result in a strengthened civil society.

To significantly enhance the reach of the programme, every government department and

programme should have a sustainability policy which demonstrates the extent to which theprogramme is directed towards the three key MDG targets, and such policies should beenforceable.

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CONTEXT OF MAURITIUS A SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPINGSTATE (SIDS)

As a Small Island Developing State, Mauritius shares common characteristics with other suchnations. The recognition that there are limits to biophysical throughput of resources from theecosystem, through the economic subsystem, and back to the ecosystem as wastes is particularly

pertinent for SIDS, where imported resources carry a high premium due to transportation costs,and where there is no-one elses backyard in which to dispose of wastes. Conceptually, it iseasier to apply the ecosystem concept to an island, through the adaptation of the one planet ideato one island.

SIDSs are more vulnerable to climate change and sea level rise, natural resource depletion andenvironmental disasters, and are hardest hit by global events that affect transportation costs onimports. This means that the pressure for self-reliance is greater, and political will to achievesustainable development is boosted by economic necessity. The effective and sustainable

1The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals to be achieved by 2015 that respond to the world's maindevelopment challenges. The MDGs are drawn from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration thatwas adopted by 189 nations-and signed by 147 heads of state and governments during the UN Millennium Summit in

September 2000.

2 Environment and Energy Group Bureau for Development Policy. 2006. Making Progress on EnvironmentalSustainability: Lessons and recommendations from a review of over 150 MDG country experiences. 3ibid.

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management of wastes, coastal and marine resources, freshwater and biodiversity resources aswell as tourism, energy resources, land resources and communication are all high priorities forSIDSs.

Climate Change and Maurice Ile Durable

Climate change is an undisputed and far-reaching global phenomenon. Although its precise effects aredifficult to calculate, climate change has started to manifest itself in dramatic as well as subtle changes onthe Planet. The impacts of climate change on Mauritius will take various forms. There will be complex effectson the well-being of human beings and the natural environment, and detrimental effects on all sectors theeconomy can be expected. Some examples include, among others, reduced overall precipitation andchanging patterns of precipitation (impacting on the availability of fresh water), increases in flash flooding(which will have a negative effect on recharge of aquifers and increase in sedimentation), sea level rise(damage to coastal infrastructures, salt water intrusion in aquifers, loss of marine biodiversity, etc.), anincrease in the frequency and intensity of cyclones, the potential for an increase in the incidence of tropicaldiseases, more frequent heat waves, and potential degradation of ecosystem services and natural capital.On a small island the accumulative effects of climate change can be devastating. Therefore the MID

initiative should serve to increase the preparedness of Mauritius to adapt to climate change as far aspossible; this will involve mainstreaming adaptation to climate change at the policy level, leading to concreteactions at the operational level. Inclusion of climate change at the policy level will also help to provide aframework for the implementation of a UNDP project aimed specifically at dealing specifically with ClimateChange Adaptation and Mitigation via a number of national actors. As sustainability and climate changeadaptation and mitigation are intimately linked, the latter project can contribute financially to the policyprocess.

Mauritius is located 600 km east of Madagascar (itself an island caught in turbulent times), a longdistance from the African mainland, and even further from the Indian subcontinent. This

geographical isolation coupled with its small size makes the country particularly vulnerable interms of natural disasters, food security and rising fuel costs. The current economic meltdown hasalready made its effects felt across the globe and Mauritius is no exception. Future shocks, thatare more likely to happen than not, may very well have far-reaching effects on the quality of life ofthe people of Mauritius.

The MID initiative is a timely intervention. The quest for a sustainable Mauritius is not only a veryimportantmatter but also a very urgent one. The concept must be operationalised to the bestadvantage of the country now. Failure to do so may see the country embark on a trajectory that isless than optimal which may cost it dearly at some point in the future. Implementation will requirepervasive buy-in of all parties and involves addressing present concerns with an eye on the long-term future.

The MID initiative should be embraced with all its ramifications by Government and civil societyalike. After all, all parties are affected. The best way to achieve this unity may be through aparticipatory policy development process. Parties are far more likely to participate in an initiativethat they fully understand and, with the ownership that comes through participation, they are morelikely to make necessary sacrifices, change habits and be patient when results are not immediate.

SITUATION ANALYSIS

Mauritius is unique in Sub-Saharan Africa and unlike most other West Indian Ocean SIDSs in that

it has a low poverty ratio and a robust economy rooted in manufacturing, trade and businessactivity. It enjoys high rainfall even in the driest areas. The greatest threats to economic andenvironmental sustainability lie in its dependence on oil and petroleum based energy, theextensive transformation of natural habitats, and the degradation of 43% of its land resource due

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to extensive monoculture practice, primarily sugar. These threats are large-scale, multi-sectoraland pervasive in their reach and tenacity, and they cannot be addressed in a piecemeal fashion.

75 to 80 percent of the islands energy requirements are serviced by imported fossil fuel products.Mauritius island status means that it has no potential for interconnection with neighbouringelectricity grids, and this has encouraged the government to look to local and renewable energysources. Privately owned co-generation coal and bagasse (the pulp residue from cane sugarextraction) power plants are being set up under the Bagasse Energy Development Programme.Hydro-electric generation is used to supplement the grid and research is being conducted onpower generation using wind and sea energy and an extension of the programme that supportssolar power generation for households4.

Statistics on land use from 2005 show that only 25 percent of Mauritius land asset remainsuntransformed in the form of forests, scrubs and grazing lands. Initial deforestation and the laterconversion to wide scale and intensive agriculture has resulted in 43 percent of the islandssurface area being used for cultivation, of which almost 99 percent is sugar cane, the balancebeing tea and tobacco. Abandoned cane fields make up a further additional 3 percent of landcover. Built-up areas and infrastructure account for 27 percent of land use and much of this isfocused on the coast, with discharges impacting on water quality of coastal wetlands and marine

waters. Shoreline structures have impeded longshore sedimentation processes resulting in erosionof beaches, which is impacting on the tourism industry5. Total land under protection (includingprivate reserves) in 2007 was just under 15,000 hectares (8% of surface area).

Despite its robust economy, the nations HDI is on a par with a country that has a much lower percapita GDP. The HDI, as an aggregate index, masks disparities within countries. It is thereforepossible that a country may perform well in the aggregate HDI even if its people experience largedisparities in opportunities, as in the case of Mauritius6. The MDG Monitor for tracking progresstowards achievement of MDG goals shows that, in order to address internal disparities, Mauritiusneeds to prioritize programmes in the following areas:

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Goal 4: Reduction of child mortalityGoal 5: Improve maternal health

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development.

The above are indicators of the need to strengthen overall strategies for eradicating poverty andinequality through specific actions in the health and education sectors and stepping upempowerment and other programmes addressing historical imbalances such as the Truth andJustice Commission.

There was no shortage of data and analysis on which to base this proposal. A successful e-Government programme provides the window into a well-resourced and capacitated country studyprogramme. A number of programmes are already established and being implemented in variousGovernment departments, all of which are working towards the MDG targets. These activitiesand/or programmes are, however, happening in a fragmented manner. It is a challenge in itself tounderstand how they all fit together.

Furthermore, as pointed out by many parties consulted, there exists no broad-based and rigorousframework for the MID initiative. In the quest to develop the Maurice Ile Durable concept, this lack

4 Business in Africa online report, first published in Energy in Africa Magazine, February 2006 - April 2006. Corroboratedby the Mauritius Energy Policy, which cites Cyprus as a role model.5

Government of Mauritius, Ministry of Environment and NDU. 2005. Mauritius Staking Out the Future.6HDI is an aggregate measure of human development life expectancy, education, individual wealth. Mauritius is awealthy country, with few poor people, but its HDI is low compared to countries with similar GDP. The reasons becomeevident when you look at the countrys performance against the MDG targets it is weak in the areas listed. Mauritius isoften described as having a high HDI score, but that is just relative to other Sub-Saharan countries, and purely becauseof its material wealth / high GDP.

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of an overarching framework makes it difficult to prioritise, harmonise and assign tasks to differentplayers, including Government departments, and makes it difficult for executing parties such as theMID Fund to evaluate and prioritise proposals.

At present there is a high level of awareness in the country of the MID initiative. It is championedby the Prime Minister himself, in conjunction with key ministries 7. People from all walks of life haveheard ofMaurice Ile Durable, yet for many it is not clear what it entails beyond solar water heaters.Nonetheless, this groundswell of awareness is very valuable, and must be capitalized on before itwanes. This will require a carefully orchestrated information campaign to raise awareness aboutsustainability and its implications. Such a campaign will also provide mechanisms for the citizenryto become active participants in the Maurice Ile Durable initiative.

Even so, enthusiasm and support will wane over time, unless encased in a policy frameworkcoupled with an action plan with prioritized activities over different time frames. The success of asustainable development model for Mauritius therefore necessitates consolidation of existingideas, activities and programmes into a coherent framework for integrated action. What is lackingfirst and foremost is an official national policy that describes the MID concept, incorporates theviews of all parties, including Government and civil society, and promotes clear directions to beembarked upon by the array of role players that will be needed to turn the dream of Maurice Ile

Durable into reality.

A suitable, sustainable delivery vehicle, driver(s) and resources need to be identified, enabled andsupported, in this case the MID Fund plus partners, and the policy framework will require a robustmonitoring and evaluation system that is able to generate reliable data for monitoring trends andinform ongoing evidence-based planning for adaptive management. All of this will require thenecessary capacity to make it work.

Finally, it is to heed the Prime Ministers address on March 19, at the launch of the MID website,where great emphasis was placed on the economy. Without a strong economy it will be difficult, ifnot impossible, for a relatively modern and fairly industrialized nation like Mauritius to shift to asustainable trajectory. Alternative energy sources, better waste management and a more efficient

transport system, to name but a few essential steps, will all cost money to develop.

In the end it is a matter of balancing environmental and social concerns and economic growth.Balance will not find itself, and the country has no time to waste bickering about directions andpriorities. That is why a policy process is necessary so that this dynamic balance can be defined,pursued and carefully maintained.

Rationale for UNDP Intervention

The linkage between the MID initiative, and the current proposal to move it along, UNDP Countryprogramme, is absolute. The Country Programme Document for Mauritius 2009 to 2011 outlinesthe National Priorities / Goals as follows:

To promote broad-based economic and inclusive growth while ensuring equitable accessto public goods, services and opportunities for the poor and vulnerable groups

To improve environmental protection by accessing and utilizing environmental funds,carbon markets, payment for ecosystem services and other financing mechanisms

To mainstream climate change adaptation policies into national development plans basedon improved understanding of the linkages between climate change and otherdevelopment issues and gender-differentiated impacts

7 It is no co-incidence that MID Week was opened by Ministers from the Ministry of Renewable Energy and PublicUtilities, the Ministry of Environment and the National Development Unit, and the Ministry of Industry, Science andResearch. However, virtually every other government department has an important role to play.

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It is evident that these goals are central to achieving a more sustainable situation at country level.Targets and indicators have been set for each of these priorities. UNDP has pledged support 8in anumber of areas such as:

A. Poverty reduction and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals:

Empowerment programme

Programme-based budgeting, sector policies and strategies.

B. Environment

Strengthen national capacities to enforce new environmental measures and legislation

Enhance accountability and transparency in environmental decision-making

Focus on developing enabling policy, institutional framework and adaptive strategies, andcreating conditions for effective natural resources management practices and public-privatepartnerships in environmental protection

All the above areas of support relate directly to the notion of Maurice Ile Durable. A cursory look atsome of the realities in Mauritius presented below supports the need for the Country programme tobe implemented as a matter of urgency, and for the MID initiative to be implemented as a multi-sector intervention with pervasive support.

APPROACH

A three-tier Approach is proposed to support the MID Initiative. The Approach is concretised in theform ofThe MID Support Project that addresses three important aspects:

Development of the National Policy forMaurice Ile Durable

Strengthening the MID Fund Provision of Essential Technical Expertise

In developing this approach, the UNDP will have to reckon with the strategic action plan of the MIDFund itself, which is in preparation and which will cover the period 2009-2011. This strategic planhas been prepared by the MID Board committee members and is being finalized by the Ministry ofRenewable Energy and Public Utilities.

1 Development of the National Policy forMaurice Ile Durable

There is currently no comprehensive and coherent project document, official or otherwise thatsummarizes the overall goal of the MID initiative, and the activities and programmes that will need

to be put in place to pursue the goal of a Maurice Ile Durable. Lack of an overarching policycontributes to a situation where MID-related efforts are not be ideally co-ordinated (and this willbecome more problematic as the initiative gathers momentum), where there may be duplicationand gaps, and possibly a waste of resources and time. The positioning of key initiatives such asthe MID Fund can also be compromised; for instance, lack of a project document that conclusivelyspells out the purpose and scope of the MID Fund, defines all of its activities, and lack of aframework for screening projects slows down implementation and can cause frustration. What isnow necessary is a national policy in which all Mauritians have ownership, and which allMauritians ascribe to. Such a policy will bring many advantages to the MID initiative:

There will be one policy document that encapsulates the MID initiative in a coherent andconsolidated manner, provides a basis for co-ordinating efforts, balances and distributeseffort and resources, and provides overall guidance in the quest for sustainability

8UNDP. 2009. Country Programme Document : Mauritius

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The policy will be a concept framework and basis for the development of evaluation andapproval procedures of proposals that are submitted to the MID Fund. It will help the Fundto keep a sharp focus during the implementation of the overall MID initiative where manyother aspects of sustainability requires attention and involvement from a range of players(but may still call upon assistance from the MID Fund)

The Policy Action Plan will guide policy implementation yet at the same time can help guidefuture government expenditure, ministerial involvement at all levels, and will provide andinviting framework for donor interventions

The policy will identify and fill gaps that may exists between Ministries and the many otherpolicies that relate to sustainability in one way or another (which are most of them)

It will be easy to identify particular policy areas and legislation that may need to be boostedor eventually reviewed

Through the policy process all Mauritians will share ownership, which means they will havea good grasp of the Maurice Ile Durable concept, and will understand that issues are beingtaken care of (but that there needs to be a degree of patience)

UNDP will support a Government-led national policy process in which all government departmentsand civil society groups will participate, including local communities, the private sector, and specialinterest groups. The end result will be a national policy that is the result of a dialogue betweenGovernment and civil society, one which will conclusively and coherently point the way ahead intothe future. The policy will be a guiding document in which the needs and aspiration of the people,balanced with the realities emanating from specialist studies, are endorsed by Government. Thepolicy will be a powerful legacy of the current Government, one which will outlive political cyclesand subsequent governments.

The policy process is depicted in the flowchart (Figure 1) below. The first step is to establish astrong baseline of awareness. Fortunately a strong start has already been made in creating

baseline awareness. However, awareness needs to be expanded to all sectors of society andshould be enriched in terms of what people know and understand (focused awareness). Only thencan participation in the process to be truly meaningful. The fact that a high level of awarenessalready exists means that the process has in fact started already. During this first step the policyprocess can be given official status by the issuing of a statement from the Prime Ministers office.

Figure 1 The National Policy Process forMaurice Ile Durable

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TheCentral to any good policy process is the development of a Vision. This will be the Vision forMaurice Ile Durable, which essentially is a Vision for the country. The Vision is to be developed

with the participation of all stakeholders including Government Ministries, though a series ofvisioning exercises where questions such as, Where do we want to see Mauritius in the future?and, What kind of people do we want to be?

An example of a National Vision forMaurice Ile Durable came from a visioning exercise with fiveschools during a mini Youth Summit on Maurice Ile Durable held at the Rajeev Ghandi ScienceCentre on Friday, March 20 (Figure 2). Similar visioning exercises, requiring one to two hours, canbe held across the nation over a period of two months. The end result will be a composite Visionwhich will then be the National Vision that guides policy development.

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Figure 2 Example of a National Vision forMaurice Ile Durable, as developed by selected schools

The composite Visioning exercise will unite the nation like few other issues that came before it. Ittouches both the present and the future, and penetrates to the core in terms of what it means to be

a Mauritian in a fast-changing global society where many influences are out of control (but towhich national responses can be prepared in good time as best as possible). It is not aGovernment matter only as everyone is affected in small or large ways.

It should be noted that the input from the people into the Visioning process will be informed byspecialist studies (see Figure 1), some of which are already underway (such as the work ofProfessor de Rosnay and the University of Mauritius). Other studies, such as a gap analysis of theinstitutional and legal framework (existing laws and policies) still need to be undertaken. StrategicEnvironmental Assessment (SEA) on the transport system, ongoing studies on energy productionand efficiency, and waste management, are examples of specialist studies that will inform thepolicy process.

Once a National Vision is in place, options will be generated and scenarios will be discussed atministerial level. The process and its results will be summarized as a Green Paper that will beopen to public scrutiny, and further debate will inform a subsequent White Paper which in effect isa Draft Policy to be submitted to Parliament for promulgation as official policy. It is important tonote that, in spite of strong participation, the process remains Government-led. Therefore, whilethe policy initiative has to emanate from the Prime Ministers Office, there has to be a leadMinistry. The obvious one is the Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities considering thepremium on conversion to renewable energy and the urgency to address mounting waste issues.

Two further structures will help to streamline the process: a Scientific Consultative Forum that canbe chaired by a high level experienced person with strong scientific and technical background tobe designated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Renewable Energy and PublicUtilities, and a National Steering Committee that will meet every three to four months and whichwill be a sub-committee of the MID Fund with other relevant persons who may be co-opted as andwhen needed. These structures will enrich the process and bestow further credibility on it. They

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will also function as co-ordinating mechanisms (for research as well as inter-ministerial co-ordination), receptacles for suggestions, constructive criticism, etc.

The national policy should be robust, strongly founded on principles and parameters ofsustainability and above all, dynamicso it can adapt to changing circumstances. Its intention isnot to repeat what is in other policies but to play an overarching role in that sense it will be like arack on which the other policies will be hung like coats - making it easy to identify gaps, overlapsand possibly even contradictions within the extensive legislature of Mauritius.

What would the National Policy forMaurice Ile Durable look like?

It would be pre-emptive and prescriptive to say what the policy will embrace as the MID catch phraseemanating from Prof de Rosnay can be very far reaching and all encompassing. However, from the inputthus far, i.e. the University of Mauritius colloquium, an array of workshops held during MID Week, a miniyouth symposium, and input from a range of parties consulted in the preparation of the current proposal, it isclear that the policy will have a wide reach. It is now generally accepted that sustainability has economic,environmentaland socialdimensions and that there are many inter-relationships between them. It has alsobecome increasingly clear during MID Week that sustainability can be viewed as a state of mind, an attitudethat requires a change in mentality, that ascribes to a set of values and principles that are manifested andplayed out in those three dimensions. To attain a situation where the needs and aspirations of the present

generation are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs first and foremostrequires a conscious set of policy decisions on how to live on the Planet (or in this case, on the island ofMauritius). Such decisions cannot simply be legislated in a top down fashion; rather, through dialoguebetween Government and civil society a far more rigorous top down, bottom up process will be followed.This process will be rich and clarifying, and presents a unique opportunity for Mauritius to decide for once inits history where it is headed as a nation that with all its social concerns is trapped in a physicalenvironment with limited resources that are also limitingin terms of how they can be consumed. From thisgeneral point of departure and from the signs that appeared during MID Week, it can be anticipated that thepolicy would comprise a core where the views, needs and aspirations of the people are reflected in aNational Vision, followed by sector areas such as energy, waste, social human development equity,conservation, transport, education, monitoring and evaluation, climate change, etc. The cross-cutting issuesthat define any society may also need to be addressed in a section on its own. In each section, pertinentissues will be listed, with a foundation of guiding principles, and responses and vehicles of delivery can be

proposed. The policy will therefore unpack the myriad of sustainability issues and then put them backtogether again in an ordered and coherent form.

Finally, a policy without implementation is not worth the paper it is written on. Therefore the policywill be accompanied by a comprehensive and specific Policy Action Plan (see below) that willguide implementation and make it easy to monitor. In the second year the policy can be enacted,or minor revisions may need to be made to other related Laws.

Many policies fail because they lack methodology and the means for implementation. The MIDpolicy will therefore have a clear Policy Action Plan that defines the necessary actions, the players

in whose ambit they fall, and the means by which they can be achieved. Actions will be tied totimelines and a simple monitoring system will measure progress and results that will allow foradaptive measures to be invoked. The already existing MID Fund will be comfortably positioned inthe Policy Action Plan with the MID Fund Board and operational mechanisms as the main actorsfor ensuring delivery over the designated time period that elapses in 2011.

2 Strengthening the MID Fund

The MID Fund is a vehicle created by Government to channel targeted investment for the MIDinitiative; hence its mandate will be closely linked to the policy. Without the formalised policy theMID Fund will remain at the mercy of the tides of interpretation and changes in priorities (perceivedor real); but when carefully positioned within a good policy framework it will be able to keep a

sharp focus. It is housed in the Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities, reflecting theimmediate emphasis on the burning issue of fossil fuels and renewable energy. The MID Fundwill undoubtedly be broadened in its scope. It can easily be led by The National Policy forMauriceIle Durable which will invoke expertise and mandates from other Ministries when necessary. The

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MID Support Project will have as its aim the strengthening of the MID Fund by providing anoperational unit that can execute decisions by the MID Fund Board while also having some degreeof involvement in the other three interventions (policy process, ongoing support for the MIDinitiative and essential technical expertise)

The following structure for the MID Fund Technical Support Unit (TSU)9 is proposed: A Head ofOperations (HO) under the MID Fund chairperson and then three staff under the HO: a technicalofficer, a communications officer, and an administration officer. The Ministry will provide space andclerical/secretarial staff. UNDP can provide ad hocguidance or support to the TSU by way of theMID Support Project task manager in UNDP but the expectation is that the TSU will becomeindependent in time. The TSUs capacity will be boosted by the provision of an outside TechnicalAdvisor funded by AFD for a limited time period.

The MID Support Project represents the opportunity to provide a logical framework for the MIDFund and to identify further activities that will strengthen its effectiveness. The MID Funds logicalframework will provide the necessary guidelines and criteria to assist its directors in allocatingresources to projects that support its objectives and also in gearing additional funds from donors,Government and the private sector, in a co-ordinated drive to put Mauritius firmly on a path tosustainability.

It should be stressed that there is no need for the MID Fund to slow down implementation whilethe process leading to policy is being formalized; on the contrary, the MID Fund is critical in termsof keeping momentum going, generating lessons learned, and providing input into the policyprocess. It should be strengthened institutionally as soon as possible so it is not a burden in termsof the host ministry when it comes to making decisions and contracting outside parties. It isimportant to note that the capacity of the MID Fund Board itself must be deepened possiblythrough a study tour, retreats, etc.

It is recommended that one of the actions to be implemented by the TSU would be a Maurice IleDurable Public Awareness and Information Dissemination (PAID) campaign. This will bedeveloped and launched out of the MID Fund in collaboration with many partners including the

press. A concept such as Brand Mauritius should be considered which could be replicatedelsewhere. This will aim to foster a bottom-up approach whereby the citizenry become thechampions of sustainable development through the popularization of sustainability concepts. (Wehave only one island; let us value every person and our collective history, every piece of land andthe buildings that we have crafted through our labour, every plant and animal, drop of water andocean edge, every ray of sunshine and the air; all of these things that sustain us and support ourwellbeing). One of the elements of this campaign will be a sustainability barometer in the form ofa Sustainability (or MID) Annual Report that looks at how the MID concept is progressing andbeing implemented in the widest sense, and above all helping to document and disseminateexperiences. This annual report will make accessible to all Mauritian citizens the informationgathered through the monitoring programme which is part of the Policy Action Plan. This strategywill target greater self-regulation as one of its outcomes, thereby contributing indirectly to the CPs

aim of strengthening national capacity to enforce new environmental measures and legislation.Through the outcome of heightened awareness of the citizenry, it will also indirectly contributetowards enhanced accountability and transparency in environmental decision-making through thegeneration of a groundswell of demand for such measures. Moreover, mention is to be made ofagreements with the UNESCO, in the aide memoire, to assist in a consultative meeting for thefurtherance of the MID concept.

3 Provision of Essential Technical Expertise

9 The operational unit will be called the MID Fund Technical Support Unit (TSU), or the MID Fund Project ManagementUnit (PMU). The latter infers a project of limited lifetime and is usually associated with donor programmes; the formerrefers to providing support to the MID Fund for the duration of its existence which likely will supersede it initial time-linked mandate. UNDP will fund the operational unit for one year with the expectation that it becomes embedded in theMID Fund initiative and hence the term TSU may be more suitable.

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continuing Action Plan further implemented

Output 2: Support to the MIDFund

Baseline: MID Fund exists but withno supporting structure

Indicators: The MID Fund TechnicalSupport Unit will be in place andoperational

Targets (year 1)

- MID TSA appointed

- MID TSU operating

Targets (year 2 &3)

- MID TSU operating

- Further capacity building forMID Fund

1 Activity Result

Appointments completed

Workplans implemented

2 Activity Result

Actions on LFA in progress

Targeted capacity existed and used

US$100K

Output 3: Provision ofessential Technical Expertise

Baseline: Some in-country technicalexpertise exists (ministries andconsultants), but some specifictechnical expertise will be needed

Indicators: Expertise provided on anas-needed basis

Targets (year 1)

- Identify expertise needed

- Locate experts

Targets (year 2)

- Expertise provided

- Capacity building

3 Activity Result

ToRs, workplans available

Experts engaged

4 Activity Result

Expertise provided

Capacity built

US$50K

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TOTAL BUDGETAND WORKPLAN

Period: 2009 to 2011

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

And baseline, indicatorsincluding annual targets

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

List activity results andassociated actions

TIMEFRAMERESPONSIBLE

PARTY

PLANNED BUDGET

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Funding Source Budget Description Amount

Output 1

Baseline: Green Paper in

PlaceIndicators: Policycompleted andpromulgated

Targets: Policy completed

Related CP outcome:

Environmental protection;Climate change andenergy (see Draft CountryProgramme, 2009-2011)_

1. Green Paper acceptedwidely

-Publish Green Paper

-Disseminate Green Paper

XMinistry of

Renewable Energyand Public Utilities

UNDP

Contractual Services 80,000

2. Vision for MID finalised-Visioning workshops

undertaken-Digest specialised

studies and get input fromexperts

X X

Ministry ofRenewable Energyand Public Utilities

Communication andaudiovisual equipment

10,000

3. Draft Whi te Paperproduced

- Drafting of White paper- Discussions andworkshops as needed

X X

Supplies 10,0004. Green Paper completed

- Discussions with roleplayers and government- Drafting Green Paper

X X

Output 2 Support tothe MID Fund

Baseline: No support for

the MID FundIndicators: TechnicalSupport Unit (TSU) inPlace

1. Personnel recruited-Prepare TOR for personnel

-Advertise posts in local

newspapers and UN JobsCarry out interviews

Select Candidate and issuecontracts

X

Ministry ofRenewable Energyand Public Utilities

UNDP Local Consultants 100,000

X X

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EXPECTED OUTPUTS

And baseline, indicatorsincluding annual targets

PLANNED ACTIVITIES

List activity results andassociated actions

TIMEFRAMERESPONSIBLE

PARTY

PLANNED BUDGET

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Funding Source Budget Description Amount

Targets: TSU fullyfunctional

Related CP outcome:

Environmental protection;Climate change andenergy (see Draft CountryProgramme, 2009-2011)_

2. Office Support for TSU-Advertisement launched

for selection of office space-Obtain clearances for

office space -Purchase offurniture and office space

XMinistry of

Renewable Energyand Public Utilities

Output 3 Provision of

essential TechnicalExpertise

Baseline: Only ad hocand unfocused technicalexpertise available

Indicators: All essentialtechnical expertiseavailable

Targets: ToRs prepared,some executed

Related CP outcome:

Environmental protection;Climate change andenergy (see Draft CountryProgramme, 2009-2011)_

1. Technical Expertiseprovided

- E.g. Assessment of SolarWater Heater Scheme

Possible review of theinstitutional frameworkof the MIDF activities

Recruitment pathwaytypically through UNDP

X X XMinistry of

Renewable Energyand Public Utilities

UNDP

Contractual services 5,000

Internat ional Consultants 40,000

Miscellaneous 5,000

TOTAL

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MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

1. Central to the overall machinery is the MID Fund that reports to the Ministry of Renewable Energy andPublic Utilities

2. Supporting the MID Fund is the MID Fund Technical Support Unit (TSU). The TSU report directly to theChairperson of the MID Fund in terms of tasks given to it

3. It is proposed that ultimately, the MID Fund Board is advised by a Scientific Consultative Forum as well asa Steering Committee which will be a sub-committee of the MID Fund to ensure high level scientists andtechnicians are involved and that there is broad-based involvement across ministries, NGOs and the privatesector

4. In principle, monitoring and evaluation of the MID Support Project by UNDP, other donors and, ifnecessary, other selected entities would be welcome as it would promote funding opportunities for the MIDFund.

5. Overall monitoring of the MID initiative by the National Steering Committee as well as the public at large(for instance through the media, publication of the State of Environment Report and other means)

a) CORE COMMITMENTS AND LINKAGES

The latest United Nations Country Strategy for Mauritius focuses on the environment and statesthat, by fostering sustainable development principles, UNDP will strengthen the national capacitiesto enforce new environmental measures and legislation, enhance accountability and transparencyin environmental decision-making. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening and maintainingsynergies with national and regional initiatives. UNDP will continue to focus on developing theenabling policy, institutional framework and adaptive strategies, and creating conditions foreffective co-management, sound natural resources management practices, public-privatepartnership in environmental protection, and adoption of technologies which are environment

friendly and that will result in emission reduction.

b) PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENT

The project will be nationally executed with UNDP Country Office Support (Country Support toNEX modality). The Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities will be the Executing agencyfor the project. A Technical Support Unit (TSU) will be established within the Ministry of PublicUtilities to implement the project. The TSU will be responsible for the delivery of all project outputsthrough direct action or hiring of necessary experts.

The MID Fund Board will provide guidance to the TSU in the implementation of the project. ThisBoard will advise the TSU Head of Operations, thus supporting the decision-making process.Ultimate responsibility for day-to-day decisions lies with the TSU, which will equally carry theresponsibility for delivery of project outputs.

Moreover, a National Steering Committee (NSC) will be established to provide expert andtechnical guidance to the MID Fund Board in the implementation of the project. The NationalSteering Committee will meet every three to four months and which will be a sub-committee of theMID Fund with other relevant persons who may be co-opted as and when needed. The NSC willbe chaired by the National Project Director (Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities) andwill include representatives from the Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities, Finance,Environment, UNDP and other relevant stakeholders. This NSC will advise the MID Fund Board ofprogress on the delivery of projects by the TSU, thus supporting the decision-making process.

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Moreover a Scientific Consultative Forum can be set up by the Ministry and chaired by a high levelexperienced person with strong scientific and technical background to be designated by theDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities. These structures willenrich the process and bestow further credibility on it.

The project implementation structure is shown diagrammatically below:

Head of

Operations

MID Fund Board

ScientificConsultative

Forum

Chairperson ofMID Fund

NationalSteering

Committee

Monitoring of MIDSupport Project by

UNDP, otherdonors and

selected entities

Clerical andSecretarial

support

Ministry of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities

Technical Officer AdministrativeOfficer

CommunicationsOfficer

Government/PMO/Cabinet

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MONITORING FRAMEWORKAND EVALUATION

Please refer to the Deliverable Description to complete this component of the template.

Suggested text to be adapted to project context

In accordance with the programming policies and procedures outlined in the UNDP User Guide,

the project will be monitored through the following:

Within the annual cycle

On a quarterly basis, a quality assessment shall record progress towards the completionof key results, based on quality criteria and methods captured in the Quality Managementtable below.

An Issue Log shall be activated in Atlas and updated by the Project Manager to facilitatetracking and resolution of potential problems or requests for change.

Based on the initial risk analysis submitted (see annex 1), a risk log shall be activated inAtlas and regularly updated by reviewing the external environment that may affect the

project implementation. Based on the above information recorded in Atlas, a Project Progress Reports (PPR) shall

be submitted by the Project Manager to the Project Board through Project Assurance,using the standard report format available in the Executive Snapshot.

a project Lesson-learned log shall be activated and regularly updated to ensure on-goinglearning and adaptation within the organization, and to facilitate the preparation of theLessons-learned Report at the end of the project

a Monitoring Schedule Plan shall be activated in Atlas and updated to track keymanagement actions/events

Annually

Annual Review Report. An Annual Review Report shall be prepared by the ProjectManager and shared with the Project Board and the Outcome Board. As minimumrequirement, the Annual Review Report shall consist of the Atlas standard format for theQPR covering the whole year with updated information for each above element of the QPRas well as a summary of results achieved against pre-defined annual targets at the outputlevel.

Annual Project Review. Based on the above report, an annual project review shall beconducted during the fourth quarter of the year or soon after, to assess the performance ofthe project and appraise the Annual Work Plan (AWP) for the following year. In the lastyear, this review will be a final assessment. This review is driven by the Project Board and

may involve other stakeholders as required. It shall focus on the extent to which progress isbeing made towards outputs, and that these remain aligned to appropriate outcomes.

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ANNEXES

Terms of Reference: TOR for key project personnel