OP 9 requires even more participatory work than other OPs ; we need to develop real bottom-up processes that match upstream planning.

1. CONCURRENT FEEDBACK
SESSION
OP 9 PROJECTS
Facilitator : Philip Weller
NGO : Ger Bergkamp
Rapporteur : Maryam Niamir-Fuller

2. PROCEDURAL ISSUES:
TDA and SAP
importance of participatory process
– OP 9 requires even more participatory work than other
OPs ; we need to develop real bottom-up processes that
match upstream planning
Is “TDA to SAP” a good approach ?
– in some cases it has not built upon existing or previous
efforts (e.g. West Africa) and local knowledge and in
other cases does not link or coincide with ongoing
national planning frameworks
– there is no process for M&E while doing SAP

3. TDA and SAP cont.
Posting “best practices” examples for TDA, SAP
and Integrated Land and Water Management on
the websites
Regional SAP has to be supported by National
SAPs
Recommend organizing another special
session/occasion to discuss further the value of the
TDA-to-SAP approach

4. PROCEDURAL:
Communication
Effective communications strategy needed
between project and all stakeholders
– communication gap between local stakeholders
and IA HQ and GEF
Best practices should be used in a timely manner,
and should be disseminated between projects
through exchanges.
Thematic mapping very useful tool, to determine
“hot spots”, and use for dialogue and decision-
making

5. PROCEDURAL:
Development
rigidity of procedures
– final Brief may not address real needs, because
it is modified too much by GEFSEC and other
reviews
Greater coordination of GEF projects with
other ongoing or pipeline IA projects
Difficult to know what is coming down the
pipeline; may result in duplication.

6. PROCEDURAL:
Endorsements
 may take a long time
 some IAs require too many signatures for
the same project; need to standardize
process
 early involvement of OFP needed

7. PROCEDURAL:
Financial continuity
Funding stream from project development
to implementation must be continuous

8. TECHNICAL:
Sustainability
Ownership and sustainability
– must get inter-sectoral coordination and buy-in
early in project development; not just land and
water sectors, but also finance, foreign, etc.
– OP 9 projects engage both development and
environmental issues
– projects must be driven by regional and
national priorities and have their genesis in the
region

9. Sustainability cont.
need for capacity and institutional building before
project start-up
Not enough work on building capacity during
project lifetime (local community, counterparts)
Projects should be managed as much as possible
by national and regional staff

10. OTHER TECHNICAL ISSUES
OP 9 projects are more holistic than others
(biod, desertification, etc.) which is positive
but it may be hard to find focus for the
project, and what GEF increment should be,
so we need good system boundary
assessments.
Projects cannot only address technical
needs, but also must be aware of political
processes

11. Other Technical Issues cont.
Need better clarity and distinction between
OP 8, 9 , 2 and 12

12. Lessons Learnt and M&E
Research must address project needs
Need more IA coordination, for lessons
learnt
M&E systems have to be transparent, where
countries report on processes and results;
TPRs may not be best venue.
M&E has to cover post-project reviews.

13. SUMMARY/RECOMMENDATIONS
Put TDA and SAP best practices examples
on the websites
Review TDA and SAP approach
Careful definition and assessment of system
boundary needed in OP 9 projects
Multi-sectoral coordination needed early on
Participatory process must be structured,
systematic, and an integral part of the
planning process.