Agency’s Project ID: PIMS 3311


Country: Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu,Vanuatu


Country Eligibility: All countries eligible under para. 9 (b) of the GEF Instrument


Project Title: Sustainable integrated water resources management in Pacific Island Countries


GEF Agency: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Other Executing Agency(ies): South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC)

Duration: 3 months


GEF Focal Area(s):

GEF Operational Program(s): OP9–Integrated Land & Water with relevance to OP 10

GEF Strategic Priority(ies): IW 3 Undertake Innovative Demonstrations for Reducing Contaminants and Addressing Waters Scarcity; and linkages to IW 2 Expand Global Coverage with Capacity Building Foundational Work

Estimated Starting Date: October 2004

Financing Plan (US$)
GEF Project/Component
PDF A / 2536,000

Sub-Total GEF

/ 25,000

Co-financing

GEF Agency
National Contribution
In Cash
In Kind
Others / 11,000
Sub-Total Co-financing: / 11,000
Total Project Financing: / 36,000

Record of endorsement on behalf of the Government:

Various – see following page / Date:
This proposal has been prepared in accordance with GEF policies and procedures and meets the standards of the GEF Project Review Criteria for PDF Block A approval.

Yannick Glemarec
Deputy Executive Coordinator / Andrew Hudson, Principal Technical Advisor
Project Contact Person
Date: 13 September 2004 / Tel. and email:212.906.6228

PROJECT CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Request for PDF Block A for


Record of endorsement on behalf of the Government:

(Enter Name, Position, Ministry) / Date: Month, day, year
Vaitoti Tupa, GEF Operational Focal Point, National Environment Service, Cook Islands / 21 July 2004
C.T. Tuiloma, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Squatter Settlement and Environment, Fiji / 16 August 2003
Joseph Cain, GEF Operational Focal Point, Department of Island Development and Industry, Republic of Nauru / 21 July 2004
Crossley Tatui, GEF Operational Focal Point, Office for External Affairs, Niue / 16 July 2004
Aiono Mose Pouvi Sua, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, GEF Operational Focal Point, Samoa / 15 July 2004
Moses Biliki, Director of Environment and Conservation, GEF Operational Focal Point, Department of Forests, Environment and Conservation / 13 July 2004
Uilou Surnani, Director of Environment and GEF Operational Focal Point, Kingdom of Tonga / 13 July 2004
Ernest Bani, Head, Environment Unit (GEF OFP), Republic of Vanuatu / 27 July 2004

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PART I: Project information

1. Project linkage to national priorities, action plans and programs

i) Global priorities and concerns

1. This project addresses the linkages and interactions of three global priority areas as articulated at World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002 (and earlier), namely Water, Climate Change and Adaptation, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

2. WSSD specifically called for priority attention to the five areas of WEHAB, the first of which is Water (& Sanitation). The Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) specifically identify water and sanitation as being essential to sustainable development and poverty alleviation. The UN through the CSD in its post WSSD and Agenda 21 review of global priorities (CSD11), prioritized water as the most important issue when restructuring its bi-annual sectoral cycle, which will now concentrate on water resources, water supply & sanitation for 2003-2005 (CSD12-13).

3. The WSSD recognised the particular challenges and vulnerability faced by SIDS within the context of sustainable development and called for support, including for capacity building, for the development and further implementation of freshwater programmes for SIDS, including through the GEF focal areas. GEF in its strategic priorities for International Waters focal area explicitly put a note to prioritize LDCs, SIDS, and IDA nations over competing proposals.

4. The issues of climate change, climate variability and climate adaptation were also reinforced at WSSD but have earlier been debated at the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol (1997). The inherent vulnerability of SIDS to all hazards, but in particular climatic hazards, is perhaps best articulated by the IPCC itself, when it developed its vulnerability index to climate change, using export dependence, insularity and remoteness and susceptibility to natural disasters. The IPCC concluded that SIDS (0.590) are nearly three times as vulnerable as developed countries (0.208), and half again as vulnerable as other developing countries (0.417).

5. It is clear therefore even from the global perspective, that being able to adequately forecast, plan, prepare, manage and protect national water resources through climatic extremes, whether these be existing short term cyclonic events and medium term El Nino – La Nina seasonal and annual variations or long term predicted climate change associated further increases in climate variability, is a pre-requisite to achieving, and ultimately maintaining, sustainable development.

6. In accordance with forthcoming 10-year Review of the Barbados Programme of Action for SIDS (BPoA +10) in August 2004 in Mauritius, the AOSIS Inter-regional Preparatory Meeting (held in Nassau, The Bahamas, in January, 2004) has adopted both the Nassau Declaration and the AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States) Strategy Paper in preparation for the Mauritius Meeting which inter alia highlight following issues closely related to this proposal:

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Freshwater Resources:

· SIDS continue to face water management and water access challenges, caused in part by deficiencies in water availability, water catchment and storage, pollution of water resources, saline intrusion exacerbated inter alia by sea-level rise, and leakage in the delivery system.

· The access to safe water, the provision of sanitation and the promotion of hygiene are the foundations of human dignity, public health and economic and social development and are among the priorities for SIDS.

· SIDS in the Caribbean and the Pacific regions have demonstrated their commitment to SIDS-SIDS cooperation with the Joint Programme for Action for Water and Climate, launched at the 3rd World Water Forum in March 2003.

· The international community must support the implementation of this programme, and the proposal to broaden it to all SIDS regions.

· The international community must provide assistance to SIDS for capacity-building for the development and further implementation of freshwater and sanitation programmes, and the promotion of integrated water resources management, including through the Global Environment Facility focal areas and the World Water Assessment Programme, and through support to the GPA Coordination Office.

· The international community should therefore ensure full support of the global targets and initiatives around Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

· The WMO, supported by the international community, must continue to implement actions to strengthen national capacity through the Hydrological Cycle Observation System (HYCOS) proposal and recommendations regarding water quality.

Land Resources:

· SIDS are encouraged to present proposals for funding under the UNCCD and CBD, through the GEF. Taking into account that the GEF is the financial mechanism of both conventions, the GEF must facilitate SIDS access to GEF financial and technical resources to develop and implement projects to address land degradation.

Biodiversity Resources:

· Many SIDS have ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and have initiated national biodiversity strategic action plans and developed national nature reserves and protected areas.

· WSSD confirmed the essential links between biodiversity and livelihoods.

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Coastal and Marine Resources:

· SIDS are defined by their historic, cultural and economic links to the oceans and seas with the coastal margins representing in many cases the primary loci of habitation, industry and related infrastructure. Impacts from such land-based activities are therefore a major contributor to degradation of coastal and nearshore environments.

· They continue to be heavily dependent on their marine resources, particularly for the sustainable livelihoods of coastal communities.In recognition of this important link SIDS in the Pacific adopted in 2002 the Pacific Island Regional Ocean Policy (PIROP) as a means towards adopting an intergrated ecosystem based approach to sustainable ocean management.

Management of Wastes:

· While some SIDS have made significant progress in both planning and implementation of waste management policies, programs and strategies, most countries have serious difficulties in terms of financial and technical capacity in dealing with waste management issues.

· SIDS must implement the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, as appropriate, with support from the international community in particular UNEP, by undertaking initiatives specifically addressing the vulnerabilities of SIDS.

Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise:

· The adverse effects of climate change and sea-level rise continue to threaten the sustainable development, livelihoods and existence of SIDS.

· Financial and technical support must be provided, particularly through the GEF, for the adoption of better adaptation strategies and action, not only for technical studies but also for the actual implementation of those plans.

· The GEF must apply their rules of access and simplify their disbursement procedures so as to take into account the special circumstances of SIDS.

Natural and Environmental Disasters:

· The international community must strengthen the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) as a dedicated facility to address national disaster mitigation, preparedness and early-warning capacity, and the mainstreaming of risk management into the national planning process.

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Science and Technology:

· It is recognized that science and technology is a cross-cutting issue for all sectors for SIDS sustainable development. Since 1994 some SIDS have been able to strengthen the science and technology base of their economy, while others still require significant support.

· In furtherance of the above the international community must support the setting up of regional clearing house mechanisms for SIDS specific technologies. The existing mechanisms such as the regional SIDSNet could be used as a basis to build on.

· The strengthening and further development of SIDS-SIDS cooperation and experience sharing in this area is crucial and should be made a priority, especially in regard to utilizing the national and regional institutions of SIDS.

ii) Pacific regional and national priorities, action plans and programs

7. The long-term commitment of the PICs is demonstrated by their commitment to, among other things, the goals and objectives of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, the Pacific Way, and membership in regional organizations such as the Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC), the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), and the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) as well as their membership in funding agencies such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank. PICs have committed to the implementation of the GEF funded Strategic Action Programme (SAP) of Pacific Small Island Developing States, implemented through UNDP and SPREP.

8. The water priorities of the Pacific have been articulated in a regional consultation undertaken through out 2002, in preparation for the 3rd World Water Forum. The main outcome of the consultation was the Pacific Regional Action Plan on Sustainable Water Management (Pacific RAP). In August 2003, the Forum Leaders Summit formally endorsed the Pacific RAP – giving the endorsement of 16 countries Heads of State to the Pacific RAP.

9. The Pacific RAP takes a holistic approach to achieving sustainable water management in the Pacific.

The actions are structured around six thematic areas:

Theme 1 WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT including Water Resources Assessment and Monitoring, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, Integrated Water Resources and Catchment Management

Theme 2 ISLAND VULNERABILITY including Disaster Preparedness; Dialogue on Water and Climate

Theme 3 AWARENESS including Advocacy; Political Will; Community Participation; Environmental Understanding; Gender

Theme 4 TECHNOLOGY including Appropriate Technologies; Demand Management and Conservation; Human Resources

Theme 5 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS including Policy, Planning and Legislation; Institutional Strengthening

Theme 6 FINANCE including Costs and Tariffs, Alternative Models; Role of Donor Organisations and Financing Institutes

10. The Pacific RAP was created by 18 country delegates (the 15 countries mentioned above and in addition: American Samoa; the Maldives and; East Timor) agreeing to the priority actions, as identified in their national level consultations, held in advance of the regional meeting. The need to address this issue of ensuring sustainable water resources management is therefore considered to be a national priority in the majority of countries. However, what is also important to note, is that most countries recognize they cannot develop adequate water resources management and maintain it nationally. Hence the necessity to address this issue through a regional approach, which increases the national level of resilience. The need for additional partners for the implementation of the Pacific Regional Action Plan on Sustainable Water Management was recognized, underlined by the need for a holistic approach in water management in general. To this effect, the RAP has been incorporated into the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) Type II Partnerships. The overall aim of the Pacific Type II Initiatives is to ensure coordination and increased partnerships in meeting the WSSD goals through its Plan of Implementation.

11. The Pacific Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Water Management was submitted by the Pacific Island Countries to the UN Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD) in Johannesburg at WSSD in August 2002. The Pacific Type II Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Water Management is coordinated and facilitated by the intergovernmental organisation SOPAC (South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission), which has the regional mandate to support the Pacific Island Countries in water & sanitation. SOPAC is assisted in this task by a deputy facilitator, the University of the South Pacific.

12. The objective of the Pacific Water Type II is to implement the RAP, inclusive of its sister strategies, the Pacific Wastewater Policy Statement and the Pacific Wastewater Framework for Action, as effectively as possible. Partners involved in the Pacific Type II Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Water Management are listed in Chapter 10 of Part II.