Block A PDF

Part I - Eligibility	
1.	Project name:

Integrated Ecosystem Approach to Conserve Biodiversity and Minimize Habitat Fragmentation in the Russian Arctic
De	2.	GEF Implementing Agency:

UNEP
	
3.	Country or countries in which the project is      being implemented:

The Russian Federation
	4.   Country eligibility:
The Russian Federation is eligible for GEF assistance under paragraph 9(b) of the GEF instrument. In addition, the Russian Federation ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity on 5 April 1995.
	
5.	GEF focal area(s), and/or cross-cutting issues:
Biodiversity
	6.  Operational program/Short-term measure:

OP# 2 Coastal, Marine and Freshwater 
OP# 4 Forest Ecosystems	
7.	Project linkage to national priorities, action plans, and programs:

National Priorities and Action Plans
The project will assist the Russian Federation State Committee for Environmental Protection (RF SCEP) in fulfilling obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Arctic Council (AC) Program for the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), thus reaching a level of implementation equal to that of other Arctic nations.

The Project is consistent with and complementary to Arctic conservation objectives and priorities of the RF National Strategy and Action Plan for the CBD, which is now close to completion, especially as it applies to:
•	rare arctic flora and fauna conservation;
•	further development of the protected areas network in the Russian Arctic;
•	ecological restoration of disturbed northern ecosystems;
•	information support for and implementation of regional models of biodiversity conservation;
•	natural resource mapping and integrated land-use planning.

The attached letter of support from the Russian GEF focal point stresses Russia’s intention to give the project high priority through Russia’s international environmental agreements, especially CAFF. 

The project will be implemented in full collaboration with the RF State Committee on Northern Affairs (Goskomsever), RF Ministry of Natural Resources, RF Ministry of Economy and the RF Forest Service. Participation by northern indigenous groups will be coordinated by the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON), representing 30 recognized northern indigenous groups.  

Related programs and projects
The GEF supported “Biodiversity Conservation in Russia (BCR)” project was launched in 1997 and will end in 2002. Its three main components cover: (1) preparation of an overall Russian Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan, (2) development and strengthening of the Russian Protected Areas System, and (3) a component aimed at the conservation of Lake Baikal and its watershed biodiversity.  The BCR project was designed to cover important parts of Russia’s ecosystems, but has no Arctic focus. 

GEF has recently supported two UNEP/PDF projects under the aegis of the Arctic Council: (1)  identification and remediation of major sources of land-based transboundary pollution in Russia affecting the Arctic marine environment (PDF-B) and,  (2) an assessment of the effects of persistent contaminants on the Russian indigenous communities and support for the integration of these communities into the framework of actions and assistance of the Arctic Council (PDF-A for an MSP). Both of these UNEP implemented projects focus on contaminants and fall under the GEF Operational Program on International Waters.  Although the project described herein will not have any direct overlap with the two existing UNEP/GEF initiatives, the three projects when taken together, will greatly enhance and improve overall environmental protection and human welfare in the Russian Arctic. 

Currently, UNDP/GEF, also in collaboration with the RF SCEP, is developing a portfolio of projects in the Russian Far East, especially in and around the Kamchatka Peninsula. These are: 
•	Demonstrating sustainable conservation of biological diversity in four protected areas in Russia’s Kamchatka Oblast;
•	Conservation management of wild salmonid diversity in Kamchatka;
•	North Pacific fisheries stock conservation management; and
•	Long-term sustainable management of marine biological resources in the Kommandorsky Island. 

The present project will draw on experiences gained and lessons learnt during the implementation of all ongoing and planned GEF projects in Russia. 

CAFF is engaged in several activities relevant for this project. These are discussed is Section I. 12 below. 	
8.	GEF national operational focal point and date of country endorsement:

The GEF Operational Focal Point for Russia is  Dr. Amirkhan Amirkhanov. A PDF- A was endorsed October 29, 1999. 
	
9.	Project rationale and objectives.

Rationale:
The geographical focus of the project is the Russian Arctic land mass which covers 6.349.780 km2 and constitutes approximately 43% of the circumpolar terrestrial Arctic as defined by CAFF.

The Russian terrestrial Arctic provides nearly half of the habitat at the circumpolar level and serves as the nursery or feeding ground for millions of migratory birds and mammals from the Asian, African and European continents. Approximately 270 bird species, mostly migratory, breed in the Russian Arctic. Seven of these are globally threatened.  The RF SCEP has identified sixteen (16) Arctic species and subspecies of birds as rare or of special conservation concern within CAFF. About 20 Arctic mammal species and subspecies (mostly marine mammals) have been identified as rare, vulnerable or endangered by RF SCEP. The share of bird and mammal species listed in the Red Data Book of Russia is generally higher in the Arctic than elsewhere.  Seventy endemic vascular plant species have been identified in the Russian Arctic and only 37% of these rare elements of the vascular flora are currently protected within Russian Nature Reserves (Zapovedniks). Arctic species are highly adapted to the harsh environmental features of the North and sensitive to environmental changes and intense exploitation levels. Low species diversity is frequently compensated for by complex population structures and high genetic diversity. 

The Russian Arctic ecosystems are well recognized as major drivers of global climate systems, atmospheric gas exchange and ocean current system. The Russian contribution to the stabilization and proper functioning of these systems is therefore crucial.

The Russian northern territories are home to 30 formally recognised indigenous peoples’ groups. They still rely extensively on hunting, herding, gathering and other traditional activities for their subsistence and are therefore dependent on healthy ecosystems and abundant wildlife and hunting grounds. 

In addition to their importance for biodiversity, global ecosystem functioning, and cultural heritage conservation, Russia’s northern territories hold enormous forest, mineral, metal and petrochemical 

resources which are valuable today and which could prove to be of key importance to Russia’s prosperity and future economic security if their use is properly planned and managed.  

The vast ecosystems of Arctic Russia are still relatively undisturbed compared to more southern ones. They are among the last remaining wilderness areas of the world - large enough to allow ecological processes and wildlife populations to fluctuate and biological diversity to evolve and adapt naturally.  However, these areas are under increased pressure due to negative impacts of a shifting political system, poorly controlled and unwise local development activities and possible effects of global change processes. These combined factors threaten to cause irreversible habitat destruction and fragmentation. The permafrost, underlying the thin biologically active layer, augments disturbances and restoration efforts are extremely difficult.  Hence, every effort should be made to prevent disturbances and maintain the global biodiversity benefits provided by Russian Arctic ecosystems. 

Objectives:
The full project—to be fully developed using project preparation funds—will focus on conserving and ensuring sustainable use of globally significant biodiversity. Efforts will be concentrated on improving ecosystem management outside designated protected areas where economic development pressures are intense and existing protection measures are weak and inadequate. The Project will encourage and establish mechanisms for full consultation and participation of indigenous people, local communities, regional and  federal authorities.

Although the main focus is on integrated management of non-protected territories, the project’s documentation phase will provide a basis for establishing additional protected areas, especially on regional level in the Oblasts selected for project work. However, at present 95% of Russia’s Arctic landmass remains outside protected areas and few management mechanisms are in place to ensure biodiversity and landscape conservation in these areas.  

The objectives are to: 
1.	Provide an overview of biological diversity of the Russian Arctic, identifying major undisturbed ecosystems and sites of biological and cultural significance and document activities that threaten their integrity. 
2.	In a few Model Areas, develop replicable demonstration models for integrated ecosystem management that:
•	Mitigate threats to biodiversity, minimise habitat fragmentation disruption and degradation of natural ecosystems, and promote the maintenance of large tracts of wilderness in a natural, undisturbed state.
•	Conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and provide a secure livelihood of indigenous and local people;
3.	Strengthen the capacity of federal and local authorities, indigenous people and other stakeholders to participate in the design and implementation of integrated  management plans through provision of technical and professional expertise for: documenting and systematising information on biological and cultural diversity and land-use; assistance with the establishment of appropriate administrative and consultation mechanisms;  and design and delivery of public awareness and training programs.
	
10.	Expected outcomes:

The full project will create and implement operational integrated management plans for biodiversity conservation in selected Model Areas and serve as a pilot or model for the rest of the Russian and other relevant parts of the Arctic. 

The expected long-term benefits of the project will include: 
•	Improved links and communication between legal institutions, management structures, public bodies, indigenous people and non-governmental organizations on local and regional level.  Improved communication is one mean to accomplish enhanced conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. 
•	Baseline support for the creation of Regional Ecological Network in northern Russia (at present such networks are being implemented in central, western, and far-east Russia).
•	Effective and innovative approaches to sustainable use and conservation and of biological diversity that can be replicated elsewhere. 
•	Improved legislation and administrative structures for habitat management outside of formally protected areas. Legislation changes will positively affect the Russian Arctic and the country as a whole. 
•	Enhanced federal and local capacity for information management, habitat conservation and land-use planning. 
•	Enhanced capacity of indigenous communities of northern Russia for biodiversity conservation and resource management.
•	Enhanced local understanding and approval of biodiversity conservation measures.

The project will deliver the following major products: 
•	Improved Russian Arctic Information Database and overview maps of major wilderness areas, biological “hot spots” and areas of cultural significance.
•	Analyses of gaps in habitat protection and activities that lead to encroachment and fragmentation of habitats.
•	Proposals for new protected areas.
•	In-depth inventories and analysis of biological and cultural diversity in selected Model Areas.
•	Land-use plans and integrated ecosystem based management strategies for Model Areas.
•	Innovative mechanisms for implementing integrated management strategies in Model Areas.
	
11.	Planned activities to achieve outcomes:

•	Arctic Overview

In order to provide an Arctic overview and context for the project, existing key data on Arctic biological and cultural diversity will be gathered during the PDF-B phase from Russian institutions and ongoing and completed CAFF and other international projects.   Data compiled for the World Bank Biodiversity Conservation project for Russia, the CAFF Russian Gap Analysis and Biodiversity Overview Report, and the WWF-Arctic Programme and GRID-Arendal Wilderness Mapping project will be re-analyzed and updated using new data. This overview will also form the basis for the Russian component of a new circumpolar ecosystems map and Arctic region information database and Ecological Network. The priority will be to provide data necessary for final selection and delineation of Model Areas and, as appropriate, to suggest new protected areas.
 
•	Designation and Establishment of Model Areas

Based on information gathering, consultation and screening studies conducted during the PDF-B phase, three to six Model Areas will be delineated, within the Oblasts selected during the PDF-A, for development of integrated resource and management plans for biodiversity conservation. A consultation and participation plan will be completed and implemented to ensure participation by local and regional governmental authorities, indigenous people’s representatives, industry, as relevant, and other stakeholders with interests in the areas selected.

•	Documentation of Biological and Cultural Diversity in Model Areas

For each of the Model Areas, existing biological, geophysical, cultural and human impact information will be compiled and systematized, including preparation of digital data and maps as needed for preparing an analysis of biodiversity and threats to biodiversity. This information will form the basis for sustainable resource management, land-use and conservation plans, including proposals for new protected areas. New information will be gathered as needed to support management needs including the use of remote sensing technology to improve base mapping.

•	Analysis of Management Practices in Model Areas

The management practices of various sectors will be compiled and evaluated for efficiency and shortcomings based on current land-use and management practices in each Model Area. The sectors evaluated will include subsistence agriculture, fishing, herding and animal husbandry; forestry, recreation and tourism, oil, gas and other industrial activities.

•	Preparation of Integrated Management Plans for Model Areas

Based on the analysis and documentation above, integrated management plans will be developed for the Model Areas. They will be based on a multi-stakeholder participation and rely on ecological and a socio-economic analysis of biological and cultural diversity and resources.

•	Management and Implementation Arrangements 

For the PDF-A (and PDF-B) a Steering Committee will be established, composed of RF SCEP, UNEP and CAFF.  Russia will chair meetings of the Steering  Committee.

For the PDF-B, a UNEP led Expert Task Team (ETT) will be established, composed of representatives from all major national and international project stakeholders including relevant Russian federal ministries, expert agencies, and RAIPON, to oversee practical project work.  

A Local Project Committee, led by RF SCEP and composed of federal authorities, local and indigenous authorities and other stakeholders, will be established in each Model Area to oversee implementation of sub-projects and training, awareness and capacity building programs. 

Administration of project funds and contracts and quality control during the PDF-A and B will be provided by UNEP GRID-Arendal. The CAFF Secretariat will provide secretariat functions for the Steering Committee and Expert Task Team. A Russian institution, appointed by the RF SCEP, will provide technical support for local project activities. 

Appendix III shows a graphical overview of the proposed management structures for the PDF-A and PDF-B phases. Management structures for the full project will be elaborated based on the experience gained during the PDF-B phase. 
	
12.	Stakeholders involved in project:

National: 
•	State Committee of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection (RF SCEP)
RF SCEP is a governmental committee responsible for issues related to environmental protection (formerly Ministry of the Environment).
RF Ministry of Economy
•	RF Ministry of Natural Resources
•	RF  Forest Service. 
•	RF State Committee of the Russian Federation for Northern Affairs (Goskomsever)
•	Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON represents the interests of Russia’s northern indigenous people.)

Local (to be decided and formulated during the PDF-A): 
•	Local and regional authorities 
•	Indigenous people’s representatives
•	Local representatives of Federal agencies and authorities  (RF SCEP and RF SCPN, Sectoral Ministries)
•	Sectoral and industrial representatives as relevant
National expert institutions:
•	To be decided during the PDF-A.

International coordinating bodies:
•	UNEP
•	Arctic Council Program for the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) 
International expert institutions: 
•	Directorate for Nature Management, Norway
The Directorate for Nature Management (DN) plays an important role in the bilateral agreement on environmental cooperation between Russia and Norway and leads the biodiversity group under this agreement. Habitat conservation, environmental monitoring, wildlife management and general nature management (legislation etc.) are among the priorities of the bilateral cooperation with Russia.  Bilateral activities with Russia, relevant in the context of the proposed project, include projects on: Arctic tourism, monitoring, protected areas, legislation and environmental management exchange and improvement and sustainable use of wildlife. DN actively participates in programs under the Arctic Council, especially CAFF. Besides being the CAFF Designated Agency, Norway/DN presently holds the chairmanship in CAFF.

•	UNEP Global Resource Information Database (GRID) – Arendal, Norway

•	Others to be decided during the PDF-A.

In addition to Russian expert institutions, the project will use available expertise in the Arctic Countries from institutions including, but not limited to the Directorate for Nature Management, Norway.
	
Part II - Information on Block A PDF Activities	
13.	Activities to be financed by the PDF:

(Note: Prior to the initiation of the PDF A, the first planning meeting of RF SCEP, UNEP/GRID and CAFF was held in Moscow, October 25-26, to prepare a preliminary list of Oblasts that will serve as project sites and to plan the PDF-A.)

Objectives of PDF-A:
•	Select Oblasts  in Arctic Russia for project work.
•	Consult with relevant agencies, indigenous representatives and other stakeholders on federal and local/Oblast level
•	Initiate selection of Model Areas within Oblasts.
•	Select additional Russian and international expert agencies to execute project work. 

NOTE: Entities in parentheses at the end of each activity are the responsible parties for the implementation of that activity.

Activities:
1.	Consultations with local stakeholders and planning of workshop (RF SCEP).
2.	Review and analysis of government steering systems, institutional settings, major activities and relevant stakeholders as well as tentative Model Areas in each of the selected Oblasts (RF SCEP).
3.	Consultations with Arctic States to identify additional expert agencies to serve as project partners (CAFF).
4.	Consultations with UNDP and World Bank GEF Projects in Russia (UNEP/GRID).
5.	Workshop with local authorities and other stakeholders from the selected Oblasts to solicit their input and ideas for the PDF-B (RF SCEP). 
6.	Preparation of a PDF-A Report (CAFF Secretariat/UNEP/GRID and RF SCEP).
7.	During the PDF-A (and PDF-B) discussions on co-financing will be held with: 
•	bilateral programs dealing with biodiversity conservation, i.e. the Russian-Norwegian, Russian-Finnish and Russian-Dutch ones (RF SCEP);
•	Arctic Council member states and observer countries (CAFF); 
•	major industrial stakeholders  (i.e. when Model Areas have been identified and delineated during the PDF-B) (UNEP/GRID and RF SCEP);
•	NGO’s such as WWW-Arctic Programme (CAFF).

UNEP/GRID and the CAFF Secretariat will provide quality control and administration services during the implementation of the PDF Block A.

Appendix I details activities, outputs and costs of the PDF-A. Appendix II provides a graphic overview of the PDF-A phase over time. 	
14. Expected outputs and completion dates:

•	Oblast reports and  a “short list” of tentative Model Areas by January  2000.
•	Evaluation of governmental and major stakeholder participation in selected Oblast by January 2000.
•	Decision on additional participants in the project by end of January 2000.
•	Workshop report by end of February 2000. 
•	Summary conclusions from the PDF-A phase to be incorporated into a PDF-B for submission in March 2000.

Appendix I details activities, outputs and costs of the PDF-A.
	
15.	Other possible contributors/donors and amounts:
The Government of Norway/Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide US$ 28 900 in co-financing for the PDF Block A.
RF-SCEP, UNEP/GRID-Arendal, and the CAFF Secretariat will each provide US$ 3000 in in-kind contributions during the PDF Block A.	
16.	Total budget and information on how costs will be met (including the Block A grant):

Total Budget for the PDF-A is US$ 62 900 of which the GEF portion is 25 000.  Co-financing sources will provide a total of US$ 37 900 (28 900 in cash and 9000 in-kind).

Activity			   GEF	   NORWAY      RF SCEP    GRID           CAFF	TOTAL
1. Co-ordination		3000				3000
2. Oblast reports		2000	600			2600
3. Consult Arctic States		4250			3000	7250
4. Consult GEF -Russia		2125		3000		5125
5. Workshop	25 000	9025	2000			36 025
6. PDFA Report/PDF B  		4250	400			4650
7. Management 		4250				4250
TOTAL	25 000	28 900	3000	3000	3000	62 900

Appendix I  details activities, outputs and total costs of the PDF-A.	
Part III - Information on the Applicant Institutions	
17.	Name:

UNEP/GRID-Arendal
(Note: UNEP/GRID is the applicant institution, however, the project is a collaborative effort of RF-SCEP, CAFF and UNEP/GRID)

	18.	Date of establishment, membership, and leadership:

GRID-Arendal is a non-profit foundation established in 1989 by the government of Norway to strengthen the United Nations through its Environment Programme (UNEP). GRID-Arendal is providing the public and governmental bodies with science-based and clearly understandable environmental information, is supporting UNEP’s telecommunication systems, and is building capacity for environmental information management. Its main mission is to raise awareness and strengthen policies supporting sustainable global development for present and future generation. The geographic focus of GRID-Arendal is the Nordic countries with adjacent seas, the Polar regions and Central and Eastern Europe. The board of GRID-Arendal constitutes individuals from UNEP, Arctic Council, the Arctic Science community and Nordic countries.
	
19.	Mandate/terms of reference:

UNEP has designated GRID-Arendal as the UNEP Key Center on Polar Environmental Assessment and Early Warning issues with particular focus on the Arctic.	20.	Sources of revenue:

GRID-Arendal’s core funds are provided by the Government of Norway. Project funding comes from a variety of sources  (including UNEP). 	
21.	Recent activities/programs, in particular those relevant to the GEF of applicant institution and project executing agencies:

State Committee of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection (RF SCEP)
RF SCEP is a governmental committee responsible for issues related to environmental protection (formerly Ministry of the Environment).

UNEP/GRID-Arendal is the implementing agency for the Saami/Nordic "Programme for capacity building and participation of Russia’s indigenous people in the sustainable development of the Arctic". GRID-Arendal implements and builds a network of institutions dealing with environmental information and reporting in the Central and Eastern Europe (including most of the former Soviet republics). GRID-Arendal has contributed to the Arctic Council working groups, CAFF, AMAP and PAME, mainly in the fields of data handling, GIS analysis, graphical production and information dissemination (internet). GRID-Arendal holds the secretariat and is one of the founders of the Arctic environmental Data Directory (ADD) which is a cooperative effort among all information and data sources in the Arctic. Alone and through ADD, GRID-Arendal is one of the major information sources on the internet for environmental information in the Arctic.
CAFF was established in 1991 under the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS), a voluntary arrangement adopted by a Declaration of the environmental Ministers of Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. The AEPS has since been absorbed into the Arctic Council, established by Ministerial Declaration in (1996). Four indigenous organisations have “Permanent Participant Status” to the Arctic Council and its subsidiary bodies. They are the Aleutian International Association (AIA), the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC), the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON), and the Saami Council.
CAFF represents a network of governmental authorities and institutions in the Arctic countries, dealing with biodiversity documentation, nature conservation (including legal aspects), natural resource and wildlife management (including integrated ecosystem based management strategies and co-management systems).  In this sense, CAFF represents the collective nature conservation and wildlife management capacity of the Arctic countries. Presently, Norway (Mrs. Berit Lein, Directorate for Nature Management) holds the chairmanship of CAFF. The CAFF International Secretariat, Iceland, provides administrative support to the CAFF Program.
CAFF was established to work for circumpolar ecosystem conservation. It is the biodiversity conservation arm of the Arctic Council and a forum for the Arctic countries to collaborate for conservation and sustainable utilisation of Arctic flora, fauna and their habitats. CAFF is the only inter-governmental program of its kind for the conservation of the Arctic environment and is an important vehicle for Russia’s northern conservation efforts. RF SCEP represents Russia’s interests in CAFF. 
CAFF program work is guided by a CAFF Strategic Plan for the Conservation of Arctic Biological Diversity, patterned largely on relevant provisions of the CBD and built around five objectives, consistent with Russian conservation priorities. The five objectives address:  (1) monitoring of biological diversity; (2) conservation of genetic resources, species and their habitats; (3) establishment of protected areas; (4) conservation outside protected areas; and (5) integration of biodiversity conservation objectives into economic activities. 
CAFF has developed a comprehensive program to monitor protected areas called the Circumpolar Protected Areas Network (CPAN). A Strategy and Action Plan for CPAN was approved by the Arctic environmental ministers in 1996. CPAN’s goal is to “facilitate implementation of initiatives to establish … an adequate and well managed network of protected areas that has a high probability of maintaining the dynamic biodiversity of the Arctic region in perpetuity”.  The resulting network is intended to represent as fully as possible the wide variety of Arctic ecosystems, contribute effectively to maintain viable populations of all Arctic species and serve to maintain ecological and evolutionary processes. For Arctic parties to the CBD, CPAN is seen as being instrumental in responding to the obligation in Article 8 of the Convention.  Only 5% of the terrestrial Russian Arctic is currently protected within CPAN, while the circumpolar average is 15%. Among the priorities of CPAN is to increase formal area protection in the Russian Arctic and this project will assist in that regard. However, at present 95% of Russia’s Arctic landmass remains outside protected areas and few management mechanisms are in place for habitat conservation outside of strictly protected areas.  
The CPAN project has indicated that several ecosystems and habitats, critical in terms of biodiversity conservation, are underrepresented. This applies primarily to the more biologically productive systems such as the Northern Taiga, Coastal Zone and Marine areas. An ongoing gap-analysis seeks to clarify this situation and identify major gaps in habitat protection in the Russian Arctic and one of the goals of this project is to support and enhance this study and identify and delineate priority areas to be protected.
Another CAFF project underway, will seek to define, within the context of biodiversity conservation, sacred sites and sanctuaries of indigenous people and develop protection criteria for these sites for incorporation into CPAN. 
CAFF is furthermore preparing an overview report “Arctic Conservation Issues: Status and Trends of Arctic Flora, Fauna and Their Habitats”. The report aims, inter alia, at compiling existing key information on circumpolar Arctic biodiversity, highlighting its cultural and social value and assessing its overall status and health to raise awareness among the general educated public and decision makers. Although the above mentioned projects will contribute to providing a base and circumpolar context for the present project, a solid focused effort will be necessary to improve general habitat management in the Russian Arctic, not least outside the Protected Area System.
	
Part IV - Information to be completed by Implementing Agency	
22.  Project identification number:
	
23.  Implementing Agency contact person:
M. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Coordinator, UNEP/GEF, PO Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya 	
24.  Project linkage to Implementing Agency program(s):
GEF has recently supported two UNEP projects under the aegis of the Arctic Council: (1)  identification and remediation of major sources of land-based transboundary pollution in Russia affecting the Arctic marine environment (PDF-B) and,  (2) an assessment of the effects of persistent contaminants on the Russian indigenous communities and support for the integration of these communities into the framework of actions and assistance of the Arctic Council (PDF-A for an MSP). Both of these UNEP implemented projects focus on contaminants and fall under the GEF Operational Program on International Waters.  Although the project described herein will not have any direct overlap with the two existing UNEP/GEF initiatives, the three projects when taken together, will greatly enhance and improve overall environmental protection and human welfare in the Russian Arctic. Coordination and collaboration of the three projects will be facilitated and enhanced by the fact that UNEP is the IA for all three projects.	

Appendix I: Breakdown of activities and costs
Activity	How	Output	Duration	Resources	Estimat. costs ($ US) 	
1. Coordination of activities within Russia and consultations with local authorities and stakeholders	Hire a Russian coordinator	Coordination of work within Russia, initial consultations with stakeholders	Nov-Feb	15 RU w/w	3000	
2. Subcontract reports on government steering systems, institutional settings, major threats, key stakeholders and tentative Model Areas in selected Oblasts.	Identify Russian consultant, contract, follow-up, QC.	Report	Nov - December.	1 Subcontract 
3 RU w/w	2000
600	
3. Consult Arctic States re: co-financing and participation of additional expert agencies. 	Presentation at SAO meeting in Washington, DC, 18-19 Nov
Discussion at CAFF meeting in Trondheim, December 13-14, 1999. 	Financing and participation by relevant agencies		2 W w/w
1 international travel	4250
3000	
4. Consult with UNDP and the World Bank GEF Projects	Meetings with UNDP and WB GEF project staff	Clarification on existing GEF projects to avoid duplication and exploit synergies	Nov-December	1 W w/w
1 international travel	2125
3000	
5. Consult local stakeholders.	Stakeholder Workshop in Moscow 	Input to project incorporated into PDF Block B and overall project design.
Declaration of commitment 
and support.
Planning of fact finding missions to Oblasts during  the PDF-B Phase	4 days, February 2000	5 W w/w
5 international travels 
2 RU w/w
1 Subcontract
	10 625
15 000
400
10 000	
6. Report on  PDF-A activities  and  finalise PDF-B		Report
PDF B	February 2000	2 W w/w
2 RU w/w	4250
400	
7. PDF-A management, follow up and Quality Control.	Keep track of activities. Report to Steering Committee, Quality Control.	Detailed Work Plans and progress report.	Oct- February	2 W w/w	4250	

TOTAL				23	RU  w/w
12  W w/w
2 Subcontracts
7  international travels
	4400
25 500
12 000
21 000
62 900	

Appendix II

October

RF SCEP, UNEP and CAFF met in Moscow (25-25/10):
-	Selection of Oblasts for project work. 
-	Planning of the PDF-A

Consultations with RF State Committee on Northern Affairs (Goskomsever) and RAIPON (25/10)

Appointment of Russian Coordinator 

Support letter from RF GEF Focal Point.

Submission of PDF-A

March 2000
Submit a PDF-B

November – January 2000

Consult other Arctic States on co-financing and expert input

Address other outstanding issues

UNEP
CAFF 

February 2000

Stakeholder workshop in Moscow

Federal authorities
Local authorities
Local stakeholders
RAIPON
UNEP
CAFF

November – January

Inform and consult federal collaborators.

Identify, inform and consult local authorities and key stakeholder

Arrange for a report on each Oblast

Organize a Stakeholder Workshop

RF SCEP Coordinator

RF SCEP
Coordinator

OVERVIEW OF THE PDF-A
Appendix III: Management structure

Project Management

Overvew reports and assessments
Organized as subcontracted projects.

Project work organized as subcontracts supervised by the ETT.  Technical support  by the administrative bodies.

Russian: 
•	Administrative support for Local Committees and projects.
•	To be appointed 

International:
•	Administration of budget, contracts and sub-projects,  QC
•	UNEP/GRID-Arendal
•	Secretariat for Steering Committee and Expert Task Team
•	CAFF Secretariat

Project Administration

Model Area 1-4
Organized with a specialist committee similar to the one above. Local representatives of Goscomecologia chair each committee.

Steering Committee:

RF SCEP 
UNEP
CAFF 

Model Area 1-4
Organized with a specialist committee similar to the one above. Local representatives of Goscomecologia chair each committee.

Model Area 1-4
Organized with a specialist committee similar to the one above. Local representatives of Goscomecologia chair each committee.