NCSA Project Management Committee Meeting Yasmine Abdel Aziz

NCSA Project Management Committee Meeting Yasmine Abdel Aziz Deputy Project Director 21 st January, 2006

Content of the presentation Progress up todate n Main features of the AWP 2006 n Discussions and comments n Proposed CB 2 project concept of MEAs n

Progress up todate POP has identified four main activities: v set up and operationalization of the PMU v stocktaking and gap identification of the three thematic areas v Nationalization of the MDG 7” Ensure Environmental Sustainability” v BEZRA TV Awareness campaign

Achievements per output a) set up and operationalization of the PMU n The PMU has been fully functional and operational managing the day to day activities of the NCSA as purchase of equipment, hiring of consultants, follow up on the delivery of reports, production of NCSAs publications, holding the NCSA workshops, preparing project proposal, etc, …. .

Achievements per activity b) Stocktaking and gap identification n Three consultants have been hired for development of reports on the three thematic areas in November 2006. Internal discussion on the reports have taken place within the PMU and the draft final has been submitted last week for PMU final approval. Stocktaking of the workshop was not delivered in December 2005 due to the time extended for development of the reports.

Achievements per output: c) Nationalization of the MDG 7 “Ensure Environmental sustainability” n n n A consultant has been hired in November 2005 for development of a report on country Specific targets and indicators under goal 7 of MDGs A working group has been formed from seven line ministries (environment, health, housing, agriculture, water, electricity local development and planning) and have met twice 21/12/2005 - 4/1/2006 The basis for the exercise is the NEAP 2002 -2017 as well national sectoral plans of other line ministries and their already set indicators. An interim report has been submitted to the PMU for review. The report contains literature review at the global, regional and national level and records of the meetings. Final report expected to be submitted by end of February 2006 A workshop for launching the country specific targets did not take place last year and expected to be conducted in the first quarter of this year due to the late holding of the inception workshop in November 2005

Achievements per output: d) Awareness raising n n n n Production of green belt booklet for EEAA on the celebrations of the World Environment Day 2005. Preparation of BEZRA School Campaign instead of the TV series including the three thematic areas. The products of the campaign include : posters, look ups, copybooks, tickets for copybooks, ti shirts, wall magazine, CD, and others. Coordination with the Ministry of education has taken place for choosing of schools in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Suez and Assuit. Contracting of 2 publications companies in December 2005 Approval of the Minister of State for Environmental Affairs on the materials - pending Campaign should start mid February after the mid year vacation in 50 schools.

Main Features of AWP 2006

AWP 2006 includes: Operationalization of the NCSA/ PMU( ongoing 2005 -2006) 2005 remaining activities: n holding the consultation workshop for the three thematic stocktaking and gap identification report. n Finalization of the MDG 7 report and holding the workshop n Conduct BEZRA school campaign and produce final evaluation report on the activity. 2006 original AWP activities: n Based on the three thematic reports, the prioritization phase should start by hiring one consultant n Workshop for discussion of the prioritization report n Support to the GEF National Steering Committee for review of the ongoing GEF activities and proposing new projects for GEF funding

AWP 2006 includes: n n n Development of indepth studies in 2 or 3 thematic areas upon the prioritization phase Holding workshops for discussion of the indepth studies Development of the NCSA Action plan Workshop for discussion of the final NCSA action plan Celebration of one or two thematic areas as desertification 2006 Production of one booklet for NCSA process

Comments from NCSA/ PMU n n n Most of the NCSAs in other countries have been finalized in 24 months, Egypt Plan is too ambitious as it includes support to policy mainstreaming issues beside the original project activities as MDGs, awareness activities, others. Any proposals of activities to be integrated within AWP 2006?

Discussion and Comments from Members

Capacity Building Proposal n n The PMU/NCSA has developed a concept proposal on mainstreaming MEAs in national development plans by strengthening the reporting and monitoring system in Egypt” The proposal has been initiated by UNCBD focal point and in line with the other two focal points stocktaking reports. Discussion and comments on the proposal have taken place for the last 2 months between the RCU- UNDP/CO and NCSA/PMU The concept has been reviewed and endorsed by EEAA and the RCU

MEAs overall objective n The project overall objective is to mainstream Global Environment in national plans and policies by strengthening the monitoring and reporting system for Multilateral Environmental Agreements in Egypt.

MEAs main outputs: n n Outcome 1. An operational monitoring and information management system for MEAs is enhanced at the policy, institutional and individual level. Output 1. 1. A database and its management system developed to include all data categories for global environmental management Output 1. 2. Necessary legislative and regulatory changes made to streamline the procedures for integrated monitoring for global environmental management. Output 1. 3. The capacity of MSEA and other institutions responsible for monitoring are strengthened through provision of necessary technical assistance and targeted training.

MEAs main outputs: n Outcome 2. Coordination mechanism established to comply with the reporting obligations under the global environmental conventions. n Output 2. 1. Necessary legislative and regulatory changes made to involve sectoral agencies in national reporting to the MEAs in a consistent manner. Output 2. 2. Communication and feed back mechanism established for the reporting process to contribute to the national policy and decision-making. Outcome 3. The funding procedure installed to achieve monitoring and national reporting practice on a sustainable basis. Output 3. 1. Funding scenarios developed for the monitoring and reporting; Output 3. 2. Necessary legislative and procedural changes made to operationalise the funding mechanisms for sustainable monitoring and reporting. n n

Component, cost and completion dates matrix Stakeholders and stocktaking analysis 3, 000 May 2006 Feasibility analysis 5, 000 May 2006 Consultation process 2, 000 May 2006 Stakeholder workshop 2, 000 May 2006 Project coordination 10, 000 May 2006 Preparation of MSP proposal 10, 000 May 2006 International Travel 3, 000 May 2006

Procedures for MEAs proposal n n GEF funding will allow between 25, 000 – 35, 000 for preparation of full project document by May 2006 Detailed discussion with all stakeholders will take place between February and May 2006 to cover all stakeholders needs within the overall objective of the project Expected time for start up within 2 months after submission of final project document The final project document will be submitted for NCSA steering committee for approval

Thank you