Enhancing GEF National Coordination, Communications & Outreach

Uganda’s Experience: The National Convention Coordination Group (NCCG)

The National Operational Focal PointMinistry of Finance, Planning & Economic DevelopmentKampala UGANDA

Introduction• Uganda’s National Political/Operational Focal is held by the DST in

the MFPED.

• The OFP ensures that GEF projects are country driven & based on national priorities.

• MFPED is responsible for overall national development planning and macro-economic framework.

• OFP heads a GEF National Steering Committee comprised of representatives from: MWE, MAAIF, NEMA, MUK, NCST, FPs for CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD, POPs, SGP, GEF IAs and NGOs.

• All Convention Focal Points & GEF funded programmes are coordinated by the National Steering Committee under the OFP.

The National Steering Committee’s Mandate is to:

• Coordinate all GEF activities.

• Review all GEF project proposals and ensures that the are in line with the Government set policies in the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP).

• Prioritise projects for GEF funding.

• Approve or reject project proposals for GEF funding.

• Provide oversight monitoring of the implementation of on-going GEF funded projects including site visits.

• Disseminate information on GEF to stakeholders.

The NSC meets on a quarterly basis and is supported by two technical staff in MFPED that form its Secretariat.

National Convention Coordination Group (NCCG)

• Uganda is among 5 countries implementing a pilot project focusing on “Capacity Building to Alleviate Poverty through Synergistic Implementation of Rio MEAs’.

• The NCCG was established in 2005 with the objective to provide a framework for the individual and institutional collaboration for the synergetic implementation of the MEAs and acts as a Steering Committee to the MEAs project.

Membership of the NCCG

• Institutions actively involved in implementing various components of the MEAs, work through a collaborative network and facilitate coordination among the existing relevant ministries and stakeholders, these include:

• Focal points for the Multilateral Environment Agreements/Conventions: CBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC, Convention on Wetlands and International Waters; and

• Relevant key ministries: MWE, MAAIF & MFPED.

• MWE heads the NCCG.

Achievements

• A multi-stakeholder NCCG established and steers the project and developed partnership among its members.

• Ownership has been built through working together on 3-year work-plan, carrying out public awareness together. Resulted in shared vision.

• Dissemination of information on MEAs through the media.

• Dedicated project manager that provides backstopping to the NCCG.

• Established cooperation with other stakeholders, UNDP/GEF-SGP, grantees- NGOs and Schools.

• Plans sensitization of Parliamentary committee on Natural Resources.

Challenges

• The members of the NCCG are committed on their own jobs and take the NCCG activities as secondary. Difficulty in getting members to participate fully in the NCCG activities

• Proper communication strategy is still lacking.• Coordination with the local governments is still

weak and they have low capacity to implement MEAs – low awareness of MEAs.

• Data and information on MEAs are lacking.

Lessons Learnt

• Drawing broad participation of the key players through the NCCG has enhanced decision-making and implementation of MEAs.

• Through collaboration with the SGP facilitated resource mobilisation for micro grants through co-funding and joint activities, impact was realised.

• Some of the Communication programmes have been achieved through utilization of some of the existing programmes in the MWE.

• The beneficiary through their activities created awareness of MEAs.

Conclusion

The Coordination of GEF programmes/ projects are streamlined within the existing Government institutions this has strengthened the ownership of the programmes/projects and are consistent with set national policies and priorities.

Thank You