GEF CSO CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP
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| Participants during the GEF CSO Capacity Building workshop |
Environmental
Management for Livelihood Improvement Bwaise Facility (EMLI) and the GEF CSO
Network Uganda Chapter supported by Government of Uganda, GEF Small Grants
Programme and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the
CSO-Government Dialogue Project organized a capacity building meeting on 12 September 2017 at Kampala Kolping Hotel to update members on a number of GEF related matters aimed
at building member capacity.
The RFP for Eastern Africa, Mr. Robert Bakiika from EMLI informed members
about the objective of the meeting; to build members capacity in GEF matters
and also identify needs for further capacity development. He said that the network
is under pressure to review its membership due to the evolving process were
some member organizations have progressed into agencies, hence the need to draw
a distinction between GEF CSO network members and agencies. He further informed
members that the minimum requirements for updating membership are; an annual
report and an audited report.
Ms. Iyango Lucy Anne
made the opening remarks on behalf of Mr. Paul Mafabi, the Director of
Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Water and Environment. In her remarks, she urged members to enhance
partnerships other than individualism to ease access to GEF funds. She also said
that collaboration and enhanced capacity are important in developing of
bankable projects that can attract funding and urged members to
also take into consideration the issue of value for money when implementing projects
and when reporting on the project outcomes hence making the issue of
integrating impact programmes in the project cycle more relevant.
In addition
members were urged develop proposals for GEF funding in consultation with the
relevant GEF agencies in the country to ensure that their proposals are in line
with GEF requirements.
GEF Operational
Focal point representative Mr. Denis Mugagga from Ministry of Finance Planning
and Economic Development applauded CSOs for their initiatives in supporting
government commitments. He said that CSO-Government Dialogue project is one
avenue that will continue to strengthen engagements between CSOs and the
Government towards more fruitful discussions. He noted that SGP is the most
effective programme in managing climate change since its impacts are felt on
the ground and therefore informed members that in the next programming, funds
will be allocated to SGP.
Members were
informed about the dwindling resources for the GEF Small Grants Programme that
is due to the general status of the country. For example Uganda has already
reached its exit stage from Small Grants Programme. In addition, Mr. John
Stephen Okuta from UNDP/SGP said that the slow growth and development of the
country limits the level of funds received by Uganda. He therefore concluded by
informing members that the overall growth and development of the country is
important to cover up the limitation affecting Uganda’s access to grants under
SGP.
He further said
that SGP mandates all countries that apply for the fund to meet the
co-financing requirement that is determined by a ratio of 1 dollar to 6 dollar
co-financing from the grantee country.
During the
meeting one of the members raised a concern about having most SGP projects
implemented in Karamoja. In response Mr.
Okuta informed members that GEF/SGP, a corporate programme under GEF uses
affirmative action to identify areas for project implementation thence areas
like Karmoja are always selected due to their vulnerability levels especially
to climate risks.
Members further
raised a concern about the limited access to information relating to the
available GEF issues especially
funding. In reply, Mr. Okuta informed members that the secretariat is resource
constrained and this hampers, its role to ensure that information is
disseminated to all members hence they employ a case by case strategy that does
not accommodate all members.
The meeting used
a quiz exercise to build members capacity in GEF issues. This provide insights
to members about GEF matters. The
members recommended the exercise as a good strategy towards capacity building.
EMLI through the
project coordinator, presented highlights of the GEF CSO Government dialogue
project and mentioned that it goal is to strengthen support mechanisms of SGP
through establishment of CSO Government Dialogue project. The meeting was
informed that the project is currently progressing with the compilation of a
compendium of MEAs ratified by Uganda while assessing the status of MEAs
implementation, challenges and making relevant recommendation among other
activities.
In conclusion,
members recommended that there is need for GEF-CSO government Dialogue project
to facilitate exchange visits and experience sharing amongst GEF members to
enhance capacity on how to implement successful GEF projects.
In addition
members recommended for decentralization of GEF CSO Network meetings other than
holding them only in Kampala.
For more information about the workhop presentations and quiz, download from the links below;
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