MEDIUM-SIZED PROJECT BRIEF

A SHORT TERM RESPONSE MEASURE

Development and Integration of the environmental component in the “Partnership for African Renewal”programme

Project Summary

Project Identifiers	
1.   Project name: Development and Integration of the Environmental Component in the “Partnership for Africa Renewal” Programme. 	2.   GEF Implementing Agency: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)	
3.   Country or countries in which the project is being implemented: Africa Regional	4.   Country eligibility: The countries are eligible under paragraph 9 (a) and (b) of the GEF Instrument.  The African countries making this request are parties to The African Convention on Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, UNCBD, UNFCCC and UNCCD . 	
5.   GEF focal area(s): This projects takes a comprehensive and holistic view of the environment and cuts across all the GEF focal areas, specifically Climate Change, Biodiversity Conservation, International Waters, Ozone layer depletion  and Land Degradation.	6.	Operational program/Short-term measure: 
This project is a GEF Short Term Response Measure intended to ensure that the Millenium Africa Renewal Program currently being prepared in response to the United Nations Millenium Declaration  of September 2000 adequately incorporates appropriate measures that will protect the Global Environment. 
	
7.	Project linkage to national priorities, action plans, and programs:
Acting in their respective capacity as President of the OAU, the President of the Group of 77 and the President of the Non aligned Movement, the Presidents of Algeria, Nigeria and South Africa have been requested by African Governments to prepare the Millennium African Programme/Partnership for African Renewal. This initiative has received strong support and endorsement by the Secretary General of the United Nations as well as the Presidents of the Bretton Woods institutions from the OAU meeting held in Bamako, Mali in February 2001. The Action Plan will be submitted to the 37th Summit of the OAU to be held in Lusaka, Zambia in June 2001.  In fulfilment of their commitments under the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Africa countries have over the last few decades been taking measures to mainstream environmental considerations into their national development programs.   The GEF, from its experience in assisting African Countries in making National Environmental Action Plans through the UNCBD and UNFCCC, has been requested to provide support to this project which will develop and integrate Global environmental dimensions into this programme.  It provides an opportunity to implement the recommendations related to Africa and the protection of the environment as contained in the Millennium Declaration adopted on 8th September 2000 by 150 Heads of State and Government at the Millennium Summit of the United Nations General Assembly.  	
8.   GEF national operational focal point and date of country endorsement:
The heads of state from Algeria, Nigeria and South Africa are making this request on behalf of the African Countries who are members of the OAU and the request has been endorsed from by the GEF focal points from the three countries as follows;
Mr Rachid Ouali, GEF Operational Focal Point of Algeria, Ministry of Foreign affairs, El Mouradia, Algiers,  Algeria;
 Ms. Anne Ene-Ita, Office of the Director General/Chief Executive,Federal Environmental Protection Agency, The Presidency,  , GEF Operational Focal Point, Nigeria;
Mr, Crispian Olver, Director General, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, GEF Operational Focal Point, South Africa

	
Project Objectives and Activities	
9.   Project rationale and objectives:
Rationale
The GEF has been working with African Governments through the UNCBD, UNFCCC and UNCCD to develop national environmental frameworks that support sustainable development and alleviation of poverty.  This project aims at assisting African countries to consolidate this experience to address in a comprehensive and integrated manner the global environmental challenges facing the continent and promote regional and sub-regional collaboration as part  of the Millenium African Renaissance Programme.  
Overall objective
The overall goal of this project is to assist African countries to prepare and adopt an Environmental Programme for the first decade of the Millennium as an integral part of the Millennium African Renaissance Programme/Partnership for African Renewal.  
The specific objectives of this project are to:
a)	Consolidate from existing national environmental action plans and follow-up activities partly undertaken with GEF assistance, a detailed analysis of the root causes of the environmental challenges facing Africa in natural resources management especially in the area of integrated land and water management given that land degradation is an issue of extreme importance to the continent.
b)	Based on the above analysis and synthesis, elaborate an integrated ecosystem and resource management programme for Africa integrating the GEF Land and Water Initiative for Africa adopted in March 1999 by the GEF heads of agencies for adoption into the Partnership for African Renewal programme;
c)	Prepare the elements for a renewal energy partnership for Africa in line with the GEF/World Bank strategic partnership for Africa as endorsed by the GEF Council in May 1999; 
d)	Develop the science and technology capacity building framework for Africa in line with the elements of the UNDP led GEF Capacity Development Initiative focusing specifically on the scientific and technical capacity needs in Africa for priority areas identified by African countries during the CDI assessment phase:
(I) Assessment focusing specifically on increasing local and regional abilities to carry out relevant assessments relating to:
a.	land degradation as it affects integrated land and water management;
b.	assessment of climate change impacts and their vulnerability of high priority national sectors particularly water and agriculture;

(II)	Integration of environmental considerations into national science and technology policies and programmes requiring capacity in policy analysis and science and technology policy;

(III) strengthening of science research bodies to focus more explicitly on the conduct of science for the solution of environmental problems in the three areas of climate change and the cross cutting area of land degradation in the context of integrated land and water management.

e)	prepare the terms of reference, mandate, role and financing of the institutional mechanism within the OAU to be responsible for the  implementation of the environmental programme for Africa taking into account the recommendation for the establishment of an African Commission on Sustainable Development as endorsed by the 35th Summit of the OAU held in Algiers in July 1999 and the current revision of the African Convention for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
f)	Prepare for the African Partnership Conference to be held in the margins of the World Summit on Sustainable Development	
Indicators:
This project responds adequately to the GEF criteria for short term response measures since although it is not an integral part of an operational program, its outcome is certain, it is cost effective and will enable the GEF to respond to an urgent need which is country driven and in a timely manner.  The priority and urgency of addressing the issue of natural resources ( land and water) degradation in Africa is unchallenged. 

a)	Consolidation of the root causes of major African environmental challenges with a primary focus on integrated land and water management;
b)	Detailed overview of the state of the environment in Africa with a primary focus on the challenges facing land and water management particularly affected by land degradation;
c)	Finalisation and adoption of an integrated ecosystem and resource management programme for Africa for the Partnership for African Renewal programme with a range of financial sources and mechanisms identified and secured for implementing the programme;
d)	Integration of the GEF Land and Water initiative, launched by the heads of the GEF Agencies in March 1999 and endorsed by the GEF Council, into the Partnership for African Renewal programme,
e)	Preparation of  a long term programme for the promotion of renewable energy for Africa with a range of financial sources and mechanisms identified and secured for implementing the programme;
f)	Preparation of an African framework for capacity building in the context of the Capacity Building Initiative of the GEF with a specific focus on scientific and technical capacity with a range of financial sources and mechanisms identified and secured for implementing the programme;
g)	Preparation of the Terms of Reference of the African Commission on Sustainable Development to follow up on the implementation of these programmes ensuring its sustainability once GEF funding is over;	
10.   Project outcomes: 
Environmental Programme for Africa addressing in a long term perspective and in an integrated manner the major environmental challenges facing Africa  (as per the elements outlined above).
	Indicators:
a)	The Environmental Programme for Africa finalised by the steering committee of the Millennium African Renaissance Programme by March 2002;
b)	The Environmental Programme for Africa reviewed and adopted by the special meeting of the African Ministerial conference on Environment to be held in Nairobi in may 2002;
c)	The Environmental Programme For Africa endorsed by the 38th Summit of the Organisation of African Unity to be held in 2002;
d)	The Environmental Programme For Africa submitted as a contribution to the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg in 2002;
e)	The Environmental Programme for Africa submitted to the African Partnership Conference to be held in the margins of the World Summit on Sustainable development;
f)	Implementation of the GEF programmatic approach in Africa initiated; 
g)	Implementation of the GEF Capacity Building Initiative for Africa on scientific and technical capacity initiated.
h)	Endorsement by African leaders the revised African Convention for the conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.  	
11.	Project activities to achieve outcomes (including cost in  US$ or local currency of each activity):

a)	Three meetings of the steering committee of the Millennium African Renaissance Programme/ Partnership for African renewal in Pretoria (July 01)  Abuja (October 01) and Algiers (January 02); ( US $ 75,000  Donor and African Government Support).
b)	Process Development*;
c)	Consolidation of root cause analyses and drafting of Environment Programme; ( US $ 100, 000 GEF Support).
d)	Development of Programme of Interventions; (  US $ 100,000 GEF Support). 
e)	Review of draft environment programme by meeting of African experts and NGOs in early 2002; ( US $ 100,000 GEF Support).
f)	Special meeting of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment to be held in Nairobi in May 2001 to review the draft environment programme; ( US $ 250,000 Donor and African Governments).
g)	Preparation of the African Partnership Conference in the summer of 2002 including consultations with donors to secure financial commitments for the implementation of the environment programme. ( US $ 100, 000 Donor and African Governments). 

(*details are provided in the Section on Activities below).

	Indicators:

a)	Reports to the three Steering Committee meetings;
b)	Environment Programme drafted and reviewed and finalised before the African Partnership Conference;
c)	Review of draft environment programme by African experts and NGOs in early 2002;
d)	Review of draft environment programme by the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment;
e)	adoption of revised environment programme by the African Ministerial Conference on Environment;
f)	adoption of the environment programme by the African partnership Conference.	
12.   Estimated budget (in US$ or local currency):

GEF				          US$     300,000
Co-financing                                     US$     425,000
	
	                    UNEP				US$      20,000   in-kind 
			Algeria	                    US$      40,000   in-kind
                               Nigeria                             US$      40,000   in-kind
                               South Africa                    US$       40,000   in-kind
			Other                                 US$      185,000
                       Sub-total Co-financing	US$    425,000     

              TOTAL:                                           US$    725,000
	
Information on institution submitting project brief	
13.  Information on project proposer:  The Governments of Algeria, Nigeria and South Africa acting as members of the steering committee of the African Renaissance Programme/Partnership for African Renewal have been mandated to prepare an action plan which will include an environment component.	
14.  Information on proposed executing agency (if different from above):  The proposed MSP will be executed the ministries of foreign affairs and environment of the three members of the steering committee in close co-operation with UNEP and the other countries of the region.	
15.  Date of initial submission of project concept: March 2001	
Information to be completed by Implementing Agency:	
16.  Project identification number: Not yet assigned	
17.  Implementing Agency contact person: Mr Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Co-ordinator, UNEP/GEF Co-ordination Office, UNEP, Nairobi, Tel 254-2-624165; Fax 254-2-623557	
18.  Project linkage to Implementing Agency program(s): The fifth Special Session of the Governing Council of UNEP has identified Africa has one of the five priorities for UNEP. This has been translated into programmatic activities in UNEP work programme for 1998-1999 and 2000-2002. The 20th session of the Governing Council of UNEP held in Nairobi in February 1999 adopted its decision 20/27 on Support for Africa. The 21st session of the UNEP Governing Council held in February 2001 adopted its decision 21/15 Support to Africa. UNEP is providing the Secretariat of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment since its establishment in 1985. It is full engaged in the assisting the revitalised AMCEN in the implementation of the objectives of the Abuja declaration adopted in April 2000. UNEP is convening regular African fora for the harmonisation of the African positions for the preparation of major environmental meetings including the conference of the parties to the climate change, biodiversity and desertification conventions. UNEP in the context of the inter-agency task force is spearheading the African efforts for the preparation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. In this regard, a special African version of the UNEP Global Environment Outlook is under active preparation. In addition, UNEP is providing the secretariat of all the African regional seas conventions, including the Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean sea, the Convention for Co-operation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region (Abidjan Convention: adopted 1981, entered into force 1984) and its associated Action Plan (adopted in 1981), restructured in 1993 by the Third Meeting of Contracting Parties).  UNEP also provides the Secretariat for the Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the East African Region and its associated action plan.
It is in this context that UNEP will build upon its links with important bodies within the region and the high level African governmental support for the environmental problems facing the continent to integrate an environmental programme into the Partnership for Africa Renewal Programme.  Funding is being sought for the elements that are GEF eligible and are considered a priority for the countries in the region.  UNEP will build upon the several on-going programmes that will produce valuable information for the environmental programme of the Partnership for Africa Renewal Programme – this includes the UNDP led GEF Capacity Development Initiative, the World Bank/GEF Strategic Partnership on renewable energy; the World Bank MSP on the Land and Water Initiative including the GEF Special Initiative for Land and Water; the UNEP GEF MSP on Development and Protection of the Coastal and Marine Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa and the UNEP GEF projects on the Global International Waters Assessment and the Global Dryland Land Degradation Assessment to ensure that duplication does not occur.	

Project Description
Project rationale and objectives

Rationale
Africa is the world's second largest continent with a land area of nearly 30 million square kilometres. Africa has a wealth of natural resources, including minerals, forests, wildlife and rich marine and terrestrial biological diversity. The continent includes some of the driest deserts, largest tropical rain forests and highest equatorial mountains. Its natural wealth has not fully contributed to the African economic recovery.

Since the 1970s, the environment and key natural resources in most African countries have been increasingly threatened by unsustainable environmental practices and serious socio-economic pressures including population growth and accelerated urbanization which have been compounded by armed conflicts and political unrest. Throughout Africa, poverty is a major cause and a consequence of environmental degradation. Improving the living conditions of the poor majority remains the top political and economic imperative if Africa is to move towards sustainable development. Almost 40% of the people in Africa live below the poverty line. Africa is the only continent on which poverty is expected to rise during the next century. Of the 45 countries on the UNDP list of Low Human Development Indicators, 35 are in Africa. Indeed, two-thirds of the countries included in the category of least developed countries are in Africa.

This situation was recognized by the 150 heads of state and government when they adopted on 8th September 00, at the United Nations Millennium Summit, the Millennium Declaration. They identified the protection of the environment as well as addressing the special needs of Africa as main priorities for international cooperation.

Objective
The overall goal of this project is to assist African countries to prepare and adopt an Environmental Programme for the first decade of the Millennium as an integral part of the Millennium African Renaissance Programme/Partnership for African Renewal (see Annex 1).  
The specific objectives of this project are to:
(I)	Consolidate a detailed analysis of the root causes of the environmental challenges facing Africa in the area of integrated land and water management given that land degradation is an issue of extreme importance to the continent, taking into account the World Bank/GEF project on land and water for Africa;
(II)	Based on the consolidation of analyses available on the subject above, elaborate an integrated ecosystem and resource management programme for Africa integrating the GEF Land and Water Initiative for Africa adopted in March 1999 by the GEF heads of agencies for adoption into the Partnership for African Renewal programme;
(III)	Prepare the elements for a renewal energy partnership for Africa in line with the GEF/World Bank strategic partnership for Africa as endorsed by the GEF Council in May 1999; 
(IV)	Develop the science and technology capacity building framework for Africa in line with the elements of the UNDP led GEF Capacity Development Initiative focusing specifically on the scientific and technical capacity needs in Africa for priority areas identified by African countries during the CDI assessment phase:
(a) Assessment focusing specifically on increasing local and regional abilities to carry out relevant assessments relating to:
- land degradation as it affects integrated land and water management;
- assessment of climate change impacts and their vulnerability of high priority national sectors particularly water and agriculture;

(b) Integration of environmental considerations into national science and technology policies and programmes requiring capacity in policy analysis and science and technology policy;

(c) strengthening of science research bodies to focus more explicitly on the conduct of science for the solution of environmental problems in the three areas of climate change and the cross cutting area of land degradation in the context of integrated land and water management.
(V)	prepare the terms of reference, mandate, role and financing of the institutional mechanism in charge of the implementation of the environmental programme for Africa taking into account the recommendation for the establishment of an African Commission on Sustainable Development as endorsed by the 35th Summit of the OAU held in Algiers in July 1999.
(VI)	Prepare for the African Partnership Conference to be held in the margins of the World Summit on Sustainable Development

Current situation 

Land is the critical resource and the basis for survival for most people in Africa. Agriculture contributes about 40% of regional GDP and employs more than 60% of the labour force. Land degradation is a serious problem throughout Africa, threatening economic and physical survival. Key issues include escalating soil erosion, declining fertility, salinization, soil compaction, agrochemical pollution and desertification. 

On the whole, desertification affects one sixth of the world's population, 70% of all drylands, amounting to 3.6 billion hectares, and one quarter of the total area of the world. In Africa, the impact of desertification is particularly acute. It threatens the lives of millions of persons and seriously affects more than 39% of the total area of the continent. Since, 1950, an estimated 500 million hectares of African land have been affected by soil degradation, including at least 65% of agricultural land. If the degradation of cultivated lands were to continue at the present rate, it is predicted that crop yields could be cut by half within 40 years thus having serious negative impact on the food security of the continent and aggravating the poverty and number of malnourished persons. Although a net food exporter before 1960, Africa has become more dependent on food imports and food aid over the past three decades. In 1995, food imports accounted for 17% of total food needs in the region. The rate is expected to at least double by 2010. As a result of declining food security, the number of undernourished people in Africa nearly doubled from 100 million in the late 1960s to nearly 200 million in 1995. Projections indicate that the region will be able to feed only 40% of its population by 2025. Yet, the agricultural potential of the continent remains untapped. 

There are an estimated 632 millions hectares of arable land in Africa, however, only 179 million, although unevenly distributed, are actually cultivated. The land degradation phenomenon in Africa is being compounded by recurrent droughts and extreme weather events associated with climate change. Nearly two-thirds of African land is arid or semi-arid. The continent is the most seriously affected by desertification which is threatening more than one-third of Africa's land area. All the sub-regions of the continent are affected by desertification. Northern Africa alone has more than 57% of its land threatened by desertification. It is based on this reality that the international community in adoption in 1995 the international Convention to Combat Desertification decided to pay special attention to the African continent through the title of the convention as well as the adoption of a distinct annex on the Regional Implementation for Africa. 

Since the adoption of this unique legal instrument, the priority attached to combating desertification in Africa has been also recognized throughout the proceedings of its Conferences of the Parties. In this regard, it must be noted that the third Conference of the Parties held in Recife, Brazil in November 1999, devoted its attention to reviewing the national reports submitted by African countries. The commitments of the African countries to the issue of combating desertification is evidenced by the ratification of the convention by 52 African countries and the submission in less than two years after the entry into force of the convention of more than 42 national reports. 

Indeed the implementation of the objectives of the convention to combat desertification remains one of the top environmental priorities of the African continent. In this context, the expected decision to designate the Global Environment Facility as the financial mechanism of the convention as called for by the African regional meeting, held in Algiers in October 2000 and endorsed by the fourth meeting of the Conference of Parties in Bonn, Germany, in December 2000 will constitute a major step in the right direction. It will provide African countries with the financial means required to translate the objectives of the convention into reality.

Within the context of the GEF, of particular concern is the threat from land degradation to globally significant terrestrial ecosystems.  During the 80's, for instance, Africa lost an estimated 47 million hectares of forests. By 1995 another 19 million hectares had been lost, an area the size of Senegal. In most African countries, there has been an increasing demand for wood products, especially firewood and charcoal. As a result the consumption of forest products nearly doubled during 1970-1994. At least 90% of African depend on firewood and other biomass for their energy needs.  More recently, new economic reform measures have removed subsidies on energy alternatives, which further increased the demand for firewood and other biomass. Recent projections estimate that the consumption of firewood and charcoal will rise by 5% by 2010. 

Land degradation on the continent affects not just land resources but also important water resources. While Africa uses only about 4% of its renewable freshwater resources, water is becoming one of the most critical natural resource issues. The continent has over than 50 significant international river basins, more than any other continent. Africa harbors the second largest freshwater in the word, the Lake Victoria. For 14 African countries their entire territory falls within international rivers basins. However, the continent is one of the two regions in the world facing serious water problems. The demand for water is increasing rapidly due to population growth and economic development yet water quality is deteriorating.  A major factor is the degradation of water resources from land based sources of pollution particularly silt resulting from soil erosion in the face of increasing land degradation.  It has been estimated that by 2025 more than 460 million, 32% of Africa's population, will be living in water-stressed countries. It must be noted that for the first time environmental refugees are now a greater number than those caused by conflicts. 

Africa's coastal and marine ecosystems also contribute significantly to the economies of many African countries, mainly through fishing and tourism. Marine and coastal resources are under increasing threat from development-related activities. Up to 38% of the African coastline of 40,000km, including 68% of marine protected areas, is considered to be under high degree of threat. 

Among the major causes of the problems facing land and water resources in Africa are agricultural expansion, commercial harvesting, increased firewood collection, inadequate land and tree tenure regimes, inappropriate agricultural systems, and accelerating urbanization and industrialization. 

Compounding these threats is the threat from climate change.  While Africa’s emissions of greenhouse gases are still low, estimated to be only 7% of global emissions (and only 3.5% of the world’s total carbon dioxide), the continent has to contend with the vulnerability it faces from climate change. It is predicted that the continent will suffer the most from the adverse effects of climate change. In the Sahel region, per capita consumption of commercial primary energy is less than 3% of that of industrialized countries. However, millions of people are predicted to suffer from widespread desertification associated with climate change. What is valid for the Sahel region is likely to be valid for the continent as a whole.  

Climate change resulting in sea-level rise and flooding or erosion of low-lying coastal areas will have serious impacts on the continent and its natural resources as evidenced by the 2000 flooding in Mozambique and the severe drought in Eastern Africa. The recent increase in frequency and severity of natural disasters may well be attributed to a global warming.  Nonetheless, sea temperature change is predicted to increase the frequency and intensity of cyclones in the Indian Oceans. The Indian Ocean contains about 15% of the world’s coral reefs, which also could be impacted by climate change.  This calls for greater preparedness as well as measures to mitigate the causes and impacts of climate change. Almost all the African countries have ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and have shown a willingness to adopt actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions given that, in the face of their development, this is likely to grow. This commitment of Africa needs to be matched by a commitment of a similar nature by its partners. 

To date, several initiatives have begun to address the situation at hand.  The GEF has embarked on a Special Initiative for Africa on Land and Water designed to catalyse actions on the part of the GEF Implementing Agencies towards supporting activities relating to the integrated management of land and water resources.  Within this framework, the World Bank has developed a GEF Medium-sized project to develop a co-ordinated approach to the programme.  In the context of water resources, UNEP is carrying out a GEF medium sized project, executed by ACOPS on “Development and Protection of the Coastal and Marine Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa”. The project will identify areas, sites or living resources of regional and global significance that are suffering measurable degradation to determine the sources/causes of this degradation and the associated scales of impact (national, regional and global). It will develop a programme of interventions addressing problems of regional priority. Complementing these initiatives are UNEP’s GEF funded environmental assessments including the Global International Waters Assessment and the Global Dryland Land Degradation Assessment.  

In the context of climate change, UNEP has embarked on a project with the IPCC, the Third World Academy of Sciences and Global Change System for Analysis Research and Training (START) on “Assessments of Impacts of and Adaptation to Climate Change in Multiple Regions and Sectors (AIACC)”.  In the context of greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives, the World Bank has embarked on a Strategic Partnership with the GEF to adopt a programmatic approach to renewable energy promotion.  While these initiatives will each result in a series of actions and/or recommendations for action, they will not all likely receive the high level political support they need for guaranteeing follow-up. What thus exists, while commendable, is a series of separate initiatives that are being undertaken without the needed political weight and momentum needed to ensure follow up once GEF funding for the individual initiatives has been utilised.  Furthermore, they do not take advantage of the leveraging potential of financial resources that collectively they could secure.

The Environmental Programme for Africa for the Partnership for Africa Renewal Programme offers a unique opportunity to forge such a partnership between Africa and its partners in line with the spirit and the letter of the Millennium Declaration of the United Nations General Assembly adopted in September 2000.  It will provide the impetus and momentum for ensuring that the activities mentioned above do not preclude the full potential they can receive.

Expected project outcomes 

The expected outcomes of the project is an environmental programme for the Partnership for Africa Renewal Programme for the first decade of the Millennium which will comprise the following:
(I)	A consolidated analysis of the root causes of major African environmental challenges with a primary focus on integrated land and water management;
(II)	Detailed overview of the state of the environment in Africa with a primary focus on the challenges facing land and water management particularly affected by land degradation;
(III)	An integrated ecosystem and resource management programme for Africa for the Partnership for African Renewal programme with a range of financial sources and mechanisms identified and secured for implementing the programme;
(IV)	An integration of the GEF Land and Water initiative, launched by the heads of the GEF Agencies in March 1999 and endorsed by the GEF Council, into the Partnership for African Renewal programme,
(V)	A long term programme for the promotion of renewable energy for Africa with a range of financial sources and mechanisms identified and secured for implementing the programme;
(VI)	An African framework for capacity building in the context of the Capacity Building Initiative of the GEF with a specific focus on scientific and technical capacity with a range of financial sources and mechanisms identified and secured for implementing the programme;
(VII)	The Terms of Reference of the African Commission on Sustainable Development to follow up on the implementation of these programmes ensuring its sustainability once GEF funding is over.

Activities and financial inputs needed to enable changes

Activity 1: Meetings of the steering committee of the Partnership for African Renewal programme 
 
The Steering Committee of the Partnership for African Renewal programme is comprised of the governments of Algeria, Nigeria and South Africa.  For the purposes of this project, three of the meetings of this steering committee will be devoted exclusively to the preparation of the Environmental Programme for the programme.  It will include representatives from UNEP, an expert in each of the main themes of the project (climate change vulnerability assessment and adaptation; integrated land and water management; and, capacity development with a focus on science and technology) and an NGO representative. 

The first Steering Committee meeting will be held in July 2001 in Pretoria. It will be followed by a meeting in Abuja in October 2001 and a final meeting in Algiers in January 2002.  It is expected that the costs of these meetings be borne by the respective host countries. 

The first Steering Committee meeting will:
a)	confirm and document detailed workplan and timetable for the activities in this Project, including assignment of responsibilities among participants;
b)	agree on the terms of reference for consultants who will assist in the development of the environmental programme;
c)	agree on the structure and format of documents and the precise process to be followed for the development of the programme;
d)	agree on the topics, dates, venues and the participants to be invited to workshops; and,
e)	consider and approve any relevant administrative arrangements;

The second Steering Committee meeting will:
a)	primarily review the draft Environmental Programme;
b)	prepare the terms of reference, mandate, role and financing of the institutional mechanism in charge of the implementation of the environmental programme for Africa taking into account the recommendation for the establishment of an African Commission on Sustainable Development as endorsed by the 35th Summit of the OAU held in Algiers in July 1999;
c)	prepare for the African Partnership Conference to be held in the margins of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

The third and final Steering Committee meeting will agree on follow-up actions for implementing the programme including follow up actions for the proposed African Commission on Sustainable Development. This meeting will pay special attention to ensuring that financial commitments are secured from a range of donors to follow up the implementation of the environment programme that is developed.

Activity 2: Process Development 

The main objective of this activity is devise a procedure for the consolidation of data and information emanating from an on-going range of activities relating to the following: 
(a)	root cause analyses of environmental challenges facing Africa in the area of integrated land and water management;
(b)	root cause analyses of barriers preventing adoption of renewable energy penetration in Africa;
(c)	analysis of scientific and technical capacity needs in Africa focusing primarily on:
(i) Assessment, specifically on increasing local and regional abilities to carry out relevant assessments relating to:
- land degradation as it affects integrated land and water management;
- assessment of climate change impacts and their vulnerability of high priority national sectors particularly water and agriculture;

(ii) Integration of environmental considerations into national science and technology policies and programmes requiring capacity in policy analysis and science and technology policy;

(iii) abilities of science research bodies to apply research for solving environmental problems in the areas of climate change and the cross-cutting area of land degradation in the context of integrated land and water management.

Two internationally recognised consultants will be engaged to develop a process for the identification and consolidation of data sources and information so as to ensure that all relevant sources of information are identified and utilised in the process.  The two consultants will be supported by six local experts feeding into the process and will be approved by the Steering Committee, via mail circulation, before proceeding to the subsequent activity.

Activity 3: Consolidation of root cause analyses and drafting of Environment Programme

Data collation and consolidation of data on root causes of the environmental issues noted in Activity 2 above will be the primary activity of Activity 3.  Among the main areas of on-going initiatives to be consulted include, among others, the following:
(i)	The special African version of the UNEP Global Environment Outlook;
(ii)	Activities undertaken under the auspices of the African regional seas conventions including the Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean sea, the Convention for Co-operation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region (Abidjan Convention: adopted 1981, entered into force 1984) and its associated Action Plan (adopted in 1981), and the Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the East African Region and its associated action plan;
(iii)	the UNDP led GEF Capacity Development Initiative
(iv)	the World Bank/GEF Strategic Partnership on renewable energy; 
(v)	the World Bank GEF MSP on the Land and Water Initiative including the GEF Special Initiative for Land and Water; 
(vi)	the UNEP GEF MSP on Development and Protection of the Coastal and Marine Environment in Sub-Saharan Africa executed by ACOPS;
(vii)	the UNEP GEF projects on the Global International Waters Assessment and the Global Dryland Land Degradation Assessment.

Emanating from a review of these initiatives plus a range of others, the 2 international consultants, supported by 6 local experts, will prepare a consolidated analyses of the following three areas:
(a)	root cause analyses of environmental challenges facing Africa in the area of integrated land and water management;
(b)	root cause analyses of barriers preventing adoption of renewable energy penetration in Africa;
(c)	analysis of scientific and technical capacity needs in Africa focusing primarily on:
(i) Assessment,  specifically on increasing local and regional abilities to carry out relevant assessments relating to:
- land degradation as it affects integrated land and water management;
- assessment of climate change impacts and their vulnerability of high priority national sectors particularly water and agriculture;

(ii) Integration of environmental considerations into national science and technology policies and programmes requiring capacity in policy analysis and science and technology policy;

(iii) abilities of science research bodies to apply research for solving environmental problems in the areas of climate change and the cross-cutting area of land degradation in the context of integrated land and water management.

Activity 4: Development of Programme of Interventions

Based on the above, the 2 international consultants will develop the first draft of the environmental programme, utilising the format agreed to by the Steering Committee.  The draft environment programme will comprise three main components:

(a)	an integrated ecosystem and resource management programme for Africa; 
(b)	a renewal energy partnership programme for Africa; 
(c)	a science and technology capacity building programme for Africa as per the outline above.

Activity 5: Meeting of African experts

The first draft of the environment programme will be reviewed by the Steering Committee at its second meeting and then reviewed at a meeting of African experts.  This meeting will also serve to engage NGOs in the process of development of the environment programme. 

To complement this work and to ensure a wider stakeholder process, subregional consultations will be undertaken by each of the three governments represented on the Steering Committee.  These subregional consultations will serve to engage a broader range of NGOs and scientific organisations in the development of the environment programme. 

Activity 6:  Special meeting of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment

The draft environment programme as reviewed by the African experts meeting will be considered at a special meeting of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment to be held in Nairobi in May 2002. 

Following the inputs received from Activities 5 and 6 above, the 2 international consultants will revise the draft environment programme and submit it to the Steering Committee for review.  The environment programme will be finalised by the Steering Committee by March 2002.

Activity 7: Preparation of the Partnership African Conference

The Environment Programme will be submitted as a contribution to the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg in 2002.  In addition, it will also be submitted to the African Partnership Conference to be held in the margins of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The three members of the steering committee will take the lead to prepare the African Partnership Conference after the adoption by the 38th Summit of the OAU of the environment programme. The cost of this activity is expected to be borne by the members of the steering committee.  This activity will involve a substantial involvement of the donor community so as to ensure adequate financial commitments for the implementation of the environment programme. 

Sustainability analysis and risk assessment

The Millennium African renaissance Programme is an initiative of three African heads of states. The 37th Summit of the OAU to be held in Lusaka in June 2001 will adopt the action plan. The suggested activity enjoys high political support. Such political support at the highest level has been already demonstrated by the adoption by the 35th Summit of the OAU of the Cape Town Declaration as well as the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. The major risk is that the implementation of the Environmental Programme for Africa may fail to attack adequate internal and external financial resources.  However, the activities leading to this project proposal have built an unprecedented degree of political support and consensus, culminating in an endorsement by the OAU Heads of States Summit (July 1999, Algiers). In fact, an appropriate resolution specifically calls on GEF to approve this proposal.  It is envisaged that the project will utilise the momentum gained to ensure the high level political support and thus the follow up of recommended actions. In addition, donor meetings have been integrated into the design of the project so as to consolidate donor funding for the follow up actions.

Stakeholder involvement and social assessment

The principal stakeholders in the execution of this project are the Governments. All stakeholders will be involved at all level including at the level of heads of states during the preparation and finalisation of the suggested Environmental Programme for the Partnership for African Renewal programme at a level which involves the full cabinet support. 

Since follow up actions will require the full engagement of a diverse range of stakeholders particularly NGOs and CBOs, it is envisaged to fully involve them in the design of the programme in consultation with the participating governments. Furthermore, donor agencies will be involved to ensure that these follow up actions do not stay unfunded. 

Incremental Costs Assessment*

The proposed project is incremental to existing programmes and activities described in section “Current situation”. This project aims at identifying and addressing specific causes and sources of environmental degradation in particular priority areas as identified by African countries. It thus paves the way for actions resulting in global environmental benefits, which require that countries develop co-operative solutions in order to maximise net global benefits. Costs of activities to address the problems identified in “Current situation” are way above the cost of this project. GEF financing is being sought only for those components that will build further on the GEF eligible elements for the environment programme.

Total direct financial contribution of the three participating countries to this project (US$ 120,000) can be considered as direct cofinancing not including in-kind contributions, and GEF  financial contribution (US$300,000) be considered as the inc costs. 
*(incremental cost section to be worked on further).

Budget 
Paragraph 11 and 12  provides the breakdown of costs by project activities. 

Expected date of the completion of this project

This project will run for 12 months. A timetable for implementation is provided in Table 2.

Table 2: Implementation plan

Activities	2001	2002	
	J	J	A	S	O	N	D	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	
Activity 1:      Meetings of the Project Steering Committee															
Activity 2:     Process Development 															
Activity 3:    Consolidation of root cause analyses and drafting of Environment Programme															
Activity4: Development of Programme of Interventions															
Activity 5:     Meeting of African experts and NGOs including subregional NGO consultations															
Activity6: Special meeting of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment															
Activity 7: Preparation of the Partnership African Conference															

Public involvement plan

The adoption of the Environmental Programme for Africa will be prepared in full consultation with all major stakeholders including NGOs. The members of the steering committee will undertake to organise such sub-regional consultations in their respective countries. The implementation of the programme will require extensive national consultative processes by all countries involved.

Monitoring and evaluation plan

Monitoring of this project will be done in accordance with the UNEP monitoring and evaluation requirements to ensure that all indicators outlined above are met in accordance with the project implementation plan.  Monitoring will also entail a peer review process supervised by UNEP to ensure quality control in the documents produced. 

ANNEX 1

MARP or
Partnership for Africa Renewal Programme

Ultimate goal of the Millennium Africa Recovery Plan (MARP) : "In the long run what will bring about sustainable development in Africa is when we reduce the perception of risk, and be able to make Africa attractive to investors. To achieve that we need political commitment both in Africa and the West". Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, President Thabo Mbeki's economic adviser, February 2001.

Strengthening of African scientific and technical community (STAP)

UNDP/GEF Capacity Development Initiative

POVERTY ALLEVIATION

AFRICA TO BECOME A FULL PARTNER IN THE GLOBALISATION

Capacity-Building Framework

Component G
Infrastructures
(Renovation+ construction)

Component F
Information Technology +
Communication

Component E

Education

Component A
Conflict prevention and resolution

 OF SUSTAINABLE INV. OPPORTUNITIES 

Component D
ENVIRONMENT
PROGRAMME
(Proposed GEF project)

EXAMPLES OF COMPONENTS TO BE DEVELOPED FOR THE PROMOTION 

Financial
And Ecological Sustainability

INVOLVEMENT

OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS

Linkages BD, CC, Land and Water, POPs, etc.

Existing GEF projects in Africa : Biodiversity (Natural Resources Management)

Recommendations of G8

WB/GEF Strategic partnership for Africa

Renewable Energy Technologies : Potential for Africa

Private sector initiatives +clean technologies

UNEP MSP ACOPS

WB MSP Integrated Land and Water Management

LONG-TERM ACHIEVABLE GOALS

SUB-COMPONENTS TO ACHIEVE MEDIUM TO

Integrated ecosystem and resource management

Component B
Social, Health Rural/Urban 

Component C
Industry (tourism,etc.)

INVESTMENTS PROGRAMME
Strategy+Action Plan
(Economical/Financial priorities)

WB21461
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June 29, 2001 11:37 AM