GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY

ADDITIONNAL ENABLING ACTIVITY PROPOSAL

Country:  	Benin
Project Title:	Capacity Needs Assessment for the Implementation of the Benin’s  National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 2nd National Report, and  Clearing House Mechanism
GEF Focal Area:	Biodiversity
Country Eligibility:	Convention signed 13 June 1992, ratified 14 June 1994
GEF Financing:	US $202,000 
Government Contribution:	US $40,446
GEF Implementing Agency:	UNDP
National Executing Agency:	Directorate of the Environment of the Ministry of the Environment, Housing and Urban Affairs
GEF Operational Focal Point:	Mr. Ludolphe Gbaguidi
CBD Operational Focal Point:	Mr. J. Raphael Ogounchi
CHM Focal Point:	Mr. J. Raphael Ogounchi
 Estimated Starting Date:	May 2001
Project Duration:			24 months
___________________________________________________________________________

Status of Current Enabling Activity

1. The previously approved enabling activity for biological diversity is entitled “Preparation of the National Strategy and Action Plan for the Conservation of Biological Diversity in Benin and report of Benin to the Conference of the Parties”. At the request of the Government of Benin, GEF has provided assistance to the Directorate of Environment of the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Planning for the preparation of its strategy, in the amount of US$ 233 820. This assistance has enabled Benin to meet its obligations as a signatory of the Convention on Biological  Diversity. Also an amount of US$ 13,950 was granted by the GEF to fund the clearing-house mechanism, bringing the total cost of the project to US$ 247,770.

2. Disbursements under the initial BSAP project began in December 1999 and to date the project has used almost 90% of its budget.  Most of planned activities have been carried out. These included :

 	A round of visits from BSAP staff (steering committee and planning team) to involve the departmental authorities and local populations. 
 	Establishment of the clearing-house mechanism.
 	The stocktaking exercise has been completed, and it led to a draft BSAP that underpinned discussions during provincial/departmental workshops.
 		A first national workshop which led to a national consensus on a long-term vision for the management of biodiversity in Benin and adoption of a draft BSAP.
•	      A  second national workshop that finalized and brought improvements to the draft BSAP was     carried out early in December 2000. 

The national action plan is currently being finalized and concept papers are under preparation for projects towards the implementation of the national biodiversity strategy.

3. By their letter n° 1288/99, the national authorities enthusiastically approved the on-going BSAP project ; and on 25 August 1999 the Council of Ministers approved national counterpart funding in the amount of US$ 48,000, which has been used to cover the costs of office space for the project, the installation of communication equipment and the purchase of a 4x4 vehicle for use in carrying out project activities.
 
5. The first national workshop under the BSAP project, which was held in December 1999, brought together the main parties concerned with biodiversity management, namely, the national government, national and international NGOs, the private sector, bilateral partners, including GTZ, the Netherlands,  the grassroots citizens’ organizations, the College of Wise Men and the Community of the Kings of Benin.  The participants emphasized the necessity of capacity building and suggested avenues of action along the broad lines of the priorities spelled out in connection with the present project.  

6. These projects were endorsed by the GEF operational and political focal points, by the clearing-house mechanism focal point, and by the comprehensive planning committee for the BSAP project, comprising the Ministry of Rural Development, the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Environment, and representatives of women and NGOs.  All these different stakeholders and different decision-making levels agreed that the priorities fit in perfectly with the Government’s priorities (see letters of endorsement) and that they were consistent with the spirit of the national strategy and action plan, as well as the first report to the CBD. The Government of Benin has therefore welcomed the action taken by the GEF Council to authorize additional funding for the assessment of capacity-building needs, for priority setting and for the building of a national consensus with respect to those priorities.

PROJECT  OBJECTIVES

7. The project’s objectives are :

-	Assessment of capacity-building needs for the implementation of general measures for the conservation and sustainable in-situ and ex-situ utilization of biodiversity, in particular  national plans, strategies and legislative measures;

-  Assessment of capacity building needs for the implementation of the initial assessment/monitoring programmes, including taxonomy; 

-	Assessment of capacity-building needs for the preservation and maintenance of knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities concerning biological diversity which embody traditional lifestyles;

-	Assessment of capacity-building needs for the implementation of measures on access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits resulting from the use of such resources;

-	Assessment of capacity-building needs for the promotion of concepts and approaches  relevant to incentive measures; and 

-	Assessment of capacity-building needs for the management of the clearing- house mechanism.

-	Preparation of the Second National Report to the CBD.

8. The following tools will be used to assess capacity-building needs:
-National/departmental focus groups that will lead to realistic and substantiated diagnostics.
-Qualitative surveys and workshops on planning by objectives.
-Thematic studies.
-Rapid polls of « key persons », such as the development partners, journalists specializing in environmental issues, grassroots community organizations,  NGOs, etc
-The use of existing data.

The Government of Benin and UNDO/GEF are satisfied this proposal conforms to the GEF Criteria for Additional Financing of Biodiversity Enabling Activities.

PRIORITIES FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF CAPACITY-BUILDING NEEDS

PRIORITIES
	UNDERLYING RATIONALE FOR THE PRIORITIES	ACTION TO BE TAKEN	EXPECTED OUTPUTS
	COMMENTS	

Implementation of general measures for the conservation and sustainable in-situ and ex-situ utilization, including national plans, strategies and legislative provisions.

Initial assessment/monitoring programmes, including taxonomy. 

Creation and strengthening of capacity for the preservation and maintenance of knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relating to biological diversity embodying traditional lifestyles.

Development of measures on access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits resulting from the use of such resources.

Concepts and approaches relevant to the implementation of incentive measures. 	
The results of the workshop inaugurating work on the preparation of the national strategy revealed that legal provisions and legally binding regulations were out of date or in some cases non-existent, at a time when there were plans to introduce an administrative decentralization that would afford grassroots communities the opportunity for autonomous management of natural resources and biodiversity.

Very little  has been done at the national level with respect to knowing of biological potential and taxonomy, which makes monitoring and protection of endangered species difficult.  An assessment of capacity-building needs will make it possible at a later stage to analyse the national biological potential with satisfactory implementation of the recommendations concerning monitoring and taxonomy which will be produced by the project on the formulation of the national strategy.

Previous experience with biological diversity management has revealed difficulties in adapting modern methods and technologies owing to various incompatibilities relating to the social and cultural values of the target community.  There is an urgent need to create a national capacity to make use of indigenous knowledge as the basis for integrating modern technologies.  In this way, the strategies to be formulated can be oriented toward the prospect of sustainable internalization of local knowledge.

The problem of access to and sharing of genetic resources, which  is one of the components for which the first project will develop strategies, has consistently been considered, but the specific means whereby such access and benefit-sharing can be achieved in practice and linked to specific institutions are still somewhat vague.

The policing approaches and norms used so far for the management of biodiversity have proved to be ineffective.
	
•	Assessment of resource requirements (human, financial, technical and information) for the formulation and adoption of new legislation governing better local and national   management of biodiversity

•	Holding of workshops to build consensus on the needs to be assessed

•	Assessment of capacity-building needs for the  monitoring of  endangered species

•	Identification of resources, strategies and skills needed in the area of taxonomy.

•	Assessment of needs for the thematic analysis and translation of local knowledge.

•	Holding of departmental and national workshops for consensus-building on the necessity of utilizing indigenous knowledge favourable to biodiversity and  on ways and means of  putting such knowledge to good use

•	Assessment of needs for the preparation of measures on access to and equitable sharing of biological resources.

Assessment of needs with respect to institutional and organizational capacity in Benin for the implementation of incentive measures.

Focus group on the adoption at the national level of incentive and promotional measures.	
1-Resource requirements identified and assessed for the adoption of new legislation and legally binding regulations.

2-Workshops conducted.

3-Priority needs for capacity-building for monitoring of endangered species assessed.

4-Resources and skills necessary for taxonomy identified.

5-Financial, technical and information requirements for the thematic analysis and translation of local knowledge assessed.

6-Departmental and national workshops organized and a national consensus secured.

7- Resource requirements for the preparation of measures on access to and equitable sharing of biological resources assessed.

8-Benin’s institutional and organizational capacities for the implementation of incentive measures assessed.

9- Workshop on the adoption of incentive and promotional measures conducted.

	
Activities for the implementation of general measures for the conservation and sustainable use in-situ and ex-situ  of resources are already reflected in the strategy formulation project.

	
Conclusion of the process relating to the clearing-house mechanism.	Necessity of capacity building for the improved utilization of the results of the first national strategy-formulating project and for the exchange of relevant and reliable information for sound biodiversity management.	Assessment of resources (human, financial, material, etc.) needed for the smooth functioning of the clearing house mechanism  of CBD in Benin, creation of a CHM website, training of the cadre to manage it, and implication of governmental agencies besides the civil society in biodiversity information gathering, sharing and sustainable use.	10-Networking needs of the sectors and sub-sectors assessed.

11-Requirements with respect to skills needed to develop and manage reliable data identified and assessed..		

COMPLETION OF THE  CLEARING-HOUSE MECHANISM PROCESS

Action to be taken and justification

10. The BSAP project and its CHM module made possible the purchase of computer hardware and communications equipment for the launching of the clearing-house mechanism.  The assistance to be provided to this process under the present add-on BSAP project will involve primarily training and capacity building  for all the personnel associated with the process, particularly with regard to the management of technical data and documentation and the exchange of relevant and reliable data. 

Expected outputs

11. The expected outputs are the following :
-	Networking requirements of the sectors and sub-sectors assessed ; and
-	Requirements with respect to the skills needed to produce and manage reliable data identified and assessed.

PREPARATION OF THE 2nd NATIONAL REPORT
12. A consultative process for major country biodiversity stakeholders will take place during this add-on module to produce, at the earliest possible, a 2nd national report to COP of CBD in accordance with COP decision V/19.   A wide range of stakeholders will be consulted during the preparation of the report, by the project team

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT/INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

13. Although this project differs by nature from the national strategy formulation (BSAP) project, it consists of a series of activities that are complementary to those of the former project. Due to the BSAP project, a project steering committee already exists that is chaired by the Chief National Consultant (National Project Director).  The Steering Committee sees to the project’s day-to-day operations. It is assisted by a broader Planning Committee that plays the role of a management committee. UNDP provides technical and organizational assistance to the project with funding from the Global Environment Facility.  UNDP has been consulted and informed on a regular basis during project implementation.

14. This add-on needs assessment project will also be executed by the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Planning, which is the technical supervisory ministry for the BSAP.  This project will be implemented on the same administrative and institutional basis as the main BSAP project.

UTILIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT COUNTERPART CONTRIBUTION

15. The Government is providing for this capacity needs add-on project, a contribution of US$ 40,446.  This is, on the one hand, an expression of its commitment, and, on the other hand, to embark upon a process for ensuring the sustainability of the project by providing financial resources to cover those activities not supported by the GEF funds under the current initiative, such as the translation and dissemination of the biodiversity convention in the different national languages and various facilitation tasks.

PROJECT DURATION 
16. The duration of the project will be 24 months, as shown in the time plan below. 

	TIMELINE FOR ACTIVITIES OF THE ADDITIONAL MODULE ON BIODIVERSITY CAPACITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT																												
	MONTHS																												
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												
PRIORITIES AND  ACTIVITIES	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24																												
I- General measures for the in-situ and ex-situ conservation and sustainable utilization of resources.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												
1.1 Assessment  of resource requirements (human, financial, technical and information) for the formulation and adoption of new legislation governing the better local and national management of biodiversity.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

§         1..2 Holding of focus groups to build a consensus on the needs to be assessed.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

II- Initial assessment/monitoring programmes, including taxonomy.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												
2.1 – Assessment of capacity-building needs for the monitoring of endangered species.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

§     2.2- Identification of requirements with respect to resources, strategies and skills needed for taxonomy.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

III Capacities for the preservation and maintenance of the knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous and local communities relating to biological diversity embodying traditional lifestyles. 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

§         3.1 Assessment of needs for the thematic analysis and translation of local knowledge. 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

§         3.2- Holding of departmental and national workshops to build a national consensus on the need to utilize indigenous knowledge favourable to biological diversity and on ways to put such knowledge to good use. 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

IV Access to genetic resources and on sharing the benefits resulting from the use of such resources 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

· Assessment of resource requirements for the preparation of measures on access to and the equitable sharing of  genetic resources 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

V- Concepts and approaches relevant to the implementation of incentive measures.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												
5.1 – Assessment of Benin’s institutional capacities to implement incentive measures. 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

5.2- Workshop on the adoption of nationwide incentive and promotional measures.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

VI- Conclusion of the clearing-house mechanism process.	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												
Assessment of resources needed for the smooth functioning of the clearing-house mechanism and  its transfer .	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

VII- Consultation of the country’s biodiversity stakeholders and write-up of 2nd national report to COP of CBD .	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												
Consultation of country’s biodiversity stakeholders about 2nd national report to COP of CBD and its write-up						 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 																												

Budget Table for the Additional GEF Funding				
ACTIVITIES	OUTPUTS	PROCESS	TOTAL	
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED	 	 	 	
* Original enabling activity, less costs of activities relating to the clearing-house mechanism.	 	 	233,820	
*  Financial assistance for clearing-house mechanism                              	 	 	13,950	
Total approved support	 	 	247,770	
ADDITIONAL REQUEST	 	 	 	
I- Capacity building needs for in-situ et ex-situ Conservation.	 	 	 	
1.1- Assessment of resource requirements (human, financial, technical, information) for the drafting and enactment of new legislation governing the improved local and national management of biodiversity.	1,500	15,000	16,500	
1.2-  Holding of focus groups and dialogue workshops aimed at building a consensus concerning needs to be assessed.	1,000	7,500	8,500	
SUB-TOTAL	2,500	22,500	25,000	
II- Capacity-building needs for the implementation of initial assessment and monitoring programmes, including taxonomy programmes.	 	 	 	
2.1- Assessment of capacity-building needs for the monitoring of endangered species.	1,000	19,000	20,000	
2.2-  Identification of requirements with respect to resources, strategies and skills needed for taxonomy activities.	1,000	19,000	20,000	
SUB-TOTAL	2,000	38,000	40,000	
III- Capacity-building needs for the preservation and maintenance of knowledge, innovations et practices of indigenous and local communities.	 	 	 	
3.1-  Assessment of needs for the thematic analysis and translation of local knowledge.	1,000	18,000	19,000	
3.2-  Holding of departmental and national workshops to build a national consensus concerning the necessity for and the ways and means of utilizing indigenous knowledge favourable to biodiversity.	1,000	20,000	21,000	
SUB-TOTAL	2,000	38,000	40,0000	
IV-  Assessment of capacity-building needs for the preparation of measures on access resources and the sharing of benefits resulting from the use of such measures.	 	 	 	
Assessment of resource requirements for the preparation of measures on access to and equitable sharing of biological resources.	1,000	29,000	30,000	
SUB-TOTAL	1,000	29,000	30,000	
V- Assessment of capacity-building needs for the promotion of concepts and approaches relevant to incentive measures.	 	 	 	
5.1-  Assessment of Benin’s institutional capacity for the implementation of incentive measures.	1,500	18,500	20,000	
5.2-  Workshop on the adoption of national incentives and promotional measures.	1,000	14,000	15,000	
SUB-TOTAL	2,500	32,500	35,000	
VI- Completion of the clearing-house mechanism.                   	 	 	 	
Assessment of resources needed for the operation of the clearing house mechanism of CBD in Benin, creation of a CHM website, training of the cadre to manage it, and implication of governmental agencies besides the civil society in biodiversity information gathering, sharing and use.	1,000	21,000	22,000	
SUB-TOTAL	1,000	21,000	22,000	
VII- Write-Up of 2nd National Report for COP of CBD                   	 	 	 	
Biodiversity stakeholders’ consultation and write up of 2nd national report to COP of CBD	1,000	9,000	10,000	
SUB-TOTAL	1,000	9,000	10,000	
GRAND TOTAL	12,000	190,000	202,000