Benin 27 August 2015
PAGE 1 OF 6 (Please submit completed form to countries@gcfund.org) Executive Summary(in one page) Country (or region) Benin Submission Date 27/08/2015 NDA or Focal Point Directorate General of Climate Change Management Ministry of Environment in charge of Climate Change Management, Reforestation, and Protection of Natural and Forest Resources NDA: Name: Mr. ComlanMédardOuinakonhan Avenue Jean Paul II, 01 BP 3621 Cotonou, Benin Tel: +229 97446807 E mail: medouicom@yahoo.fr Contact Point (both NDA/FP and delivery partner) Readiness Area/s Request Summary(in 200 words) Delivery Partner:UNEP Contact Point on operational issues: MsDionyssiaGeka, Deputy Director,Office for Operations (OfO), UNEP Tel: +254-20-512-3993 Mobile +254- (0)70-902-3993 Email: dionyssia.geka@unep.org Contact Point on technical issues: Ms. ErmiraFida, Head, GEF Climate Change Adaptation Unit, Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI), UNEP Office land line: (254-20) 76 23113 Mobile: + 254 714 636329 Email: ermira.fida@unep.org 1. Establishing and strengthening National Designated Authorities (NDAs) or Focal Points 2. Strategic frameworks for engagement with the Fund, including the preparation of country programmes 3. Selection of implementing entities or intermediaries, and support for accreditation 4. Initial pipelines of programme and project proposals Climate change is projected to manifest itself in Benin through higher average temperatures, a longer dry season, and increases in the intensity and frequency of droughts and floods. These changes will impact negatively on water availability, agricultural production, and human health and well-being. In the meantime, the country lacks the technical capacity and financial resources to overcome and cope with the anticipated changes. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme activities will contribute to strengthening the country s technical and coordination capacity, with a view to enhancing its access to adequate climate financing to address climate threats and implement identified priorities for action. The initial phase of the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme will focus on the strengthening of the National Designated Authority (NDA), in line with the standardised readiness packagefor the Readiness Support Programme activity 1. As a result of the Readiness Support Programme activities, it is expected that the capacities of the NDA coordination team to effectively fulfil its roles and responsibilities in relation to the Fund are significantly strengthened. Anticipated Duration Estimated total cost 15/10/2015 14/10/2017 (24 months) Up to US$150,000
PAGE 2 OF 6 SECTION A: RATIONALE FOR REQUEST A.1 Background Please provide country overview including initiatives related to climate finance e.g. NAMAs NAPs etc. Benin signed and ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992 and 1994 respectively. It also ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2002. The country submitted its National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA)in January 2008. Through the NAPA development process, five priority adaptation projects were identified, four of which are under implementation 1 with financial support from the GEF, WAEMU; WHO, UNICEF; the Islamic Development Bank, the Saudi Fund, the Kuwait Fund, etc. The fact that the NAPA projects were government priorities may explain in part the highly successful resource mobilisation (both from domestic and international sources) for their implementation. The development of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process started in 2013. However, meetings, trainings and consultations started already in 2011, and led to the development of a rough roadmap, the implementation of which will deliver an institutional arrangement (the Commission Béninoise du Plan National d Adaptation in French), which in return should facilitate the effective integration of adaptation into key sectoral and national development plans and programmes. Benin also developed its National Human Resources, Learning and Skills Development Strategy to strengthen the country s capacity for a green, low emissions and climate resilient development. This strategy is pending Cabinet approval. With regard to climate finance access, Benin started its preparation process in May 2013, when a Cabinet decision on the transformation of the National Environmental Fund (FNE) into the National Fund for the Environment and Climate (FNEC) was passed. Its statutory instruments were then revised to enable the FNEC to mobilise climate finance resources as soon as the GCF was operational. The country has also benefitted from a GCF Readiness Programme with financial support from German s Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, implemented by UNDP, UNEP and WRI. The draft UNDP/UNEP/WRI programme was developed in October 2013, following extensive consultation with stakeholders (including around 200 people from public structures, parliament, the private sector, other technical and financial partners and Civil Society Organisations), and later validated in February 2014. However, the programme is yet to enter the implementation phase. On 26 August 2014, the Directorate General of Climate Change (within the Ministry of Environment in charge of Climate Change Management, Reforestation, and Protection of Natural and Forest Resources) was nominated as the National Designated Authority (NDA) for the GCF and started engagement with the GCF Secretariat. In December 2014, Benin s NDA met GCF staff in the margins of the COP 20 in Lima (Peru), to discuss the GCF s Readiness Programme and the different types of activities that could be supported through the programme. A.2 Justification for request Please explain how the readiness request will have an impact in your country and align with the goals of the readiness program. Please also discuss how the proposed activities are aligned with country priorities and strategies, and how link with existing climate finance initiatives in country. The DGCC (Directorate General of Climate Change Management) is presently the NDA, as an interim arrangement. An inter-ministerial committee to support the DGCC will soon be set up by decree to take up the NDA role. The various structures that will be part of the NDA will then officially designate their representatives. One of the core functions of the new structure as NDA will include the oversight of potential implementing entities in identifying, selecting and implementing projects and programs to be funded by the GCF. Given the scale of these projects and programmes, their number and their diversity, the new structure serving as NDA will need to develop an appropriate monitoring mechanism in order to ensure the effective use of the Fund s resources. Hence the need to focus on strengthening the capacity of the members of the inter-ministerial committee, to enable them to ensure their full contribution to the functioning of the NDA. The activities proposed for support from the GCF readiness and preparatory support programme will complement with those to be undertaken by the German-funded GCF Readiness Programme being implemented by UNDP, UNEP and WRI. To ensure that the two sets of activities do not overlap, the activities under the German-funded programme have been mapped, in close collaboration with UNEP, against those that can be supported by the GCF readiness support, and any possible overlap eliminated. Both programmes will be implemented under the DGCC, which will ensure effective collaboration and coordination between them. SECTION B: SCOPE OF WORK 1 Benin s submission to the 38 th session of the SBI regarding its Experience with the application of the guidelines for the national adaptation plan process for the least developed country Parties 15 May 2011 accessible here
PAGE 3 OF 6 B.1 Description of activities(please provide detailed logical framework as an annex). If consultancy service is required to undertake proposed activities, please also include a brief terms of reference of the service in this section or as an annex. The initial phase of the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme in Benin will focus on the standardised readiness package for strengthening of the National Designated Authority (NDA) (activity 1). The activities to be implemented are described below, with an initial logical framework included as Annex I. Activity 1: Strengthening the National Designated Authority (NDA) The NDA in collaboration with the delivery partner will recruit short-term experts, with a good command of both French and English languages, to strengthen its technical and linguistic capacity. A combination of national and international experts is envisaged to support the NDA in carrying out the following tasks: 1. Strengthening the knowledge and capacities of the NDA coordination team to fulfil its roles and responsibilities; 2. Coordination and liaison with other ministries, relevant departments and agencies on key issues relating to the GCF, including consultations on the development of a country programme; and 3. Building the capacity of the NDA to engage stakeholders and organising multi-party consultations. The NDA may also add other activities, within the overall envelop of US$150,000, in accordance with the Fund s defined scope of work in the Standardised Package for NDA or Focal Point Strengthening, available at: http://www.gcfund.org/fileadmin/00_customer/documents/accreditation/scope_of_work_package_1_nda_strengthenin g.pdf. B.2 Expected results As a result of the activities to be undertaken in the initial phase of the Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme, it is expected that the capacities of the NDA coordination team to effectively fulfil its roles and responsibilities in relation to the Fund are strengthened, in particular to: 1. Use the knowledge acquired on the country s climate- and development-related needs, priorities, strategies, plans, relevant institutions and stakeholders 2. Facilitate and coordinate a country coordination mechanism and multi-stakeholder engagement 3. Monitor, evaluate and maintain an overview of activities of the Fund 4. Disseminate information on the operational procedures of the Fund to country stakeholders, including in local languages SECTION C: BUDGET (include total cost and share of GCF funding) Please use the separate budget template provided to detailed relevant line items. A detailed budget will be provided with the inception report. Based on the guidance from the standardised package for activity 1, the following high-level, indicative budget breakdown is envisaged: Activity 1:US$ 150,000 Consultant fees: US$ 60,000 Consultant travel and per diems: US$ 18,000 Workshops: US$ 45,000 Other costs (including audit fees): US$ 7,500 Contingency: US$ 7,500 Delivery partner fee: US$12,000 Note: please refer to the Fund s guide on indicative budgets for the standardised packages for activity 1. SECTION D: IMPLEMENTATION PLAN D.1 Implementation arrangements Please include information on delivery partners. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been selected as Benin s delivery partner for the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme. UNEP has considerable experience in implementing projects and providing scientific guidance in the field of climate change. To date, UNEP has facilitated the completion of 15 NAPAs and has assisted 38 countries in developing National Communications. It has also implemented or is in the process of implementing approximately 80 adaptation projects at global, regional and national levels.
PAGE 4 OF 6 UNEP has considerable experience in helping countries in accessing climate finance, in particular in partnership with the GEF, as well as through the capacity building and technical support given to countries to gain direct access to the Adaptation Fund. UNEP is also currently implementing, in partnership with UNDP and WRI, a programme to strengthen countries readiness to access the GCF. Benin is one of the recipient countries of this programme. UNEP will take responsibility for implementing the readiness activities under the leadership of the NDA. With the guidance from the NDA, UNEP will hire consultants and procure other services to deliver Activity 1. The detailed implementation arrangements including the procurement plan and a detailed implementation plan will be further elaborated in the inception document. D.2 Disbursement and implementation schedule The funding will be transferred to UNEP, as the delivery partner, in three tranches: The first disbursement, which amounts US$ 60,000, will be transferred upon the submission of an inception document from UNEP to the Fund, in form and substance acceptable to the Fund, which includes detailed implementation plan, procurement plan and budget; The second tranche of US$ 65,000 will be transferred upon submission of an interim progress report and audited financial report, in form and substance acceptable to the Fund, including an expenditure statement; and The final disbursement of US$ 25,000 will be made upon submission of a completion report and financial report, including an audited expenditure statement. D.3 Procurement plan Please provide detailed procurement plan including methods. UNEP, under the guidance of the NDA, will competitively procure services consistent with the UN procurement rules and regulations, outlined in the UN procurement manual. The terms of reference (ToR) of consultants will be developed under the guidance of the NDA to include the tasks outlined in the request summary above. Items such as venues and travel for stakeholder workshops to be organised will also be procured consistent with the UN procurement rules and regulations. The consultants ToR, information on the process and the results of procurement to be undertaken will be included in the inception document where such information can be provided in advance. The process and the results will be included in the interim progress and completion reports once such procurement has been undertaken and completed. SECTION E: MONITORING & REPORTING PLAN Please describe the frequency and responsibility for monitoring the indicators, the source of information that will be used to measure the indicators and the timing for submitting the interim and final reports of the activities implemented and outputs and outcomes achieved. The proposed programme will follow UNEP standards for monitoring, reporting and evaluation processes and procedures. A monitoring and evaluation framework (covering both technical and financial aspects of the programme) will be set up, with oversight from the inter-sectoral committee for the readiness programme. The interim and final reports will be submitted as outlined in section D.2 (disbursement and implementation schedule), and will include reporting against the logical framework in Annex 1. SECTION F: RISK & MITIGATION MEASURES Please describe the expected risks (external and internal) that could influence the timing and quality of the deliveries. Highlight if there might be critical risks that could compromise the overall implementation. For each risk, identify the possible early corrective measures that will be in place to avoid or mitigate any negative impact. No major risks anticipated
PAGE 5 OF 6 Annex I. Logical Framework PROJECT SUMMARY INDICATORS BASELINES OUTCOMES 1. NDA capacity to undertake Fundrelated responsibilities and engage national stakeholders strengthened OUTPUTS 1.1 A process for supporting coordination across stakeholders and facilitating engagement (including periodic meetings / workshops) 1.2 Annual report on activities of the Fund and other relevant funding mechanisms and institutions in the country 1.3 Information materials on the operational procedures of the Fund in local languages (where relevant) and distribution lists of recipients 1.1 Capacity to coordinate across stakeholders and facilitate effective consultation and communication 1.2 Knowledge on climate and finance priorities strengthened 1.3 System for reviewing proposals and issuing recommendations (or noobjections) established 1.4 Capacity and systems to monitor, evaluate and report on the activities of the Fund and other relevant finance mechanisms and institutions established 1.5 Information, including in local languages, on procedures of the Fund to disseminated to country stakeholders 1.1.1 Write up of the coordination process, and convening schedule 1.1.2 Meeting minutes and participant lists documenting engagement of at least xx groups 1.2.1 Electronic copy of the annual report, and details of public dissemination channels 1.3.1 Links to electronic copies of presentations, information materials, climate and development information disseminated to distribution lists where relevant. 1.3.2 At least xx information materials on the fund developed and disseminated to at least xx people
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