Proposal for additional funding

Yemen Biodiversity Enabling Activity

Country name:Republic of Yemen

Project Title:Assessment of capacity building needs and country specific priorities in biodiversity

Country Eligibility:Yemen ratified the CBD on 21 February 1996

GEF Financing: US$ 100,000

Government Contribution:US$ 40,000

Estimated Total Budget:US$ 140,000

GEF Implementing Agency:UNDP

National Executing Agency:Environment Protection Council

GEF Operational Focal Point:Mr. Mohsin El-Hamdani

CBD Operational Focal Point:Mr. Hussein Al-Gunaid

CHM Focal Point:Mr. Hussein Al-Gunaid

Estimated Starting Date:October 2000

Duration:10 months

Status of Yemen Enabling Activity Project

Yemen has completed its final draft of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and its first national biodiversity report to be submitted to the CoP/CBD. An Arabic version of the NBSAP has been drafted and has been submitted to the Environmental Protection Council (EPC) to process it for official Government endorsement. A Clearing-House Mechanism in the amount of $14,000 was approved in 1998 and was utilized to complement the Environmental Protection Council (EPC) capacity to use electronic e-mails and Internet and to have access to biodiversity information not otherwise available in Yemen.

The main achievements of the NBSAP included the establishment of an active multi-sectoral national steering committee, an operational project implementation unit (NBSAP Secretariat within EPC), stocktaking and biodiversity assessment reports covering terrestrial biodiversity, marine and freshwater biodiversity, agro-biodiversity, socio-economics, institutional setup and legal framework analysis.

A National Biodiversity Unit within EPC was established in 1998 to coordinate undertaking of biodiversity programs and projects and to be the center of excellence in Yemen for gathering and disseminating biodiversity information. A national legislation for biodiversity prospecting, conservation and sustainable development was formulated in cooperation with the IUCN legal office in Bonn, and was endorsed by EPC in 1999. In addition, individual terrestrial and marine biodiversity and socio-economic assessment reports were developed to demonstrate Yemen priorities and recommendations aiming at the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. An active participatory and consultative process was followed and several informal local meetings, four provincial workshops, two national meetings and series of consultative gatherings at the level of the BSAP formulation team (NPC, Steering Committee, EPC, national consultants and international consultants) was conducted. Finally, the biodiversity strategy and action plan and the first national report to the CoP/CBD have both been completed in line with Convention guidelines and sustainable development needs of the Republic.

Project objectives

The main objective of the add-on request is to assist the Government of Yemen in further evaluating its capacity building needs, defining country specific priorities, analyzing functional capabilities and determining mechanisms necessary to protect national biodiversity in accordance with the NBSAP recommendations, and the GEF and CoP/CBD guidelines.

Priorities for Assessing Capacity Building Needs

The priorities mentioned below have been selected from within the national BSAP priorities by EPC in consultation with the national biodiversity Steering Committee, which is comprised of EPC, Ministries of Agriculture, Education, Fisheries and Tourism, Universities of San’a and Eden, Friends of the Environment (NGO) and UNDP. A consultative meeting at the level of EPC, UNDP and the Steering Committee was held in Sana’a in March 2000 where by several BSAP options and priorities have been explored. In April 2000, Yemen presented its priorities requiring additional assessment at the Regional BSAP-BPSP (Biodiversity Planning Support Program, GEF-UNDP global project) Forum held in Tunisia by IUCN in coordination with UNDP.

1.Implementation of general measures for in-situ and ex-situ conservation and sustainable use , including national plans, strategies and legislation

Despite its rich and globally significant biological heritage, the republic of Yemen until present times has no systems of protected areas and/or national parks. Protected area management in Yemen is a new concept and may still be regarded as a western approach. The national professional capacity to manage protected areas at the institutions and individual levels is at ad hoc nature and is very modest if measured by international standards. There are no effective legislation, bylaws, or legal frameworks regulating conservation and management of biodiversity. In terms of number of protected areas, the Socotra Archipelago is the only nature reserve designated for protection by the Government of Yemen in 1996.

The NBSAP clearly identified management of protected area as one of key options recommended for further assessment and support. The current add-on will complement the NBSAP recommendation by providing an opportunity for a working group of national and international experts to undertake participatory and consultative evaluation of national capacities related to protected areas. Roles of stakeholder agencies in Yemen will be identified, organizational structure of biodiversity units within EPC, MoA, etc. will be clarified, and overall professional capacity of individuals will be assessed. The WG will depend on the results of BSAP assessment reports, which compiled necessary baseline data on priority areas, species and ecosystems. As part of the institutional analysis, critical capacity constraints will be identified and the kinds of capacity development strategies, human resources and training needed to effectively manage and monitor protected areas will be suggested.

The main output of this activity will be an assessment report demonstrating roles of various institutions and stakeholders concerned in protected area management, the human resources and professional capabilities and training programs needed for management. The report also will provide a list of biodiversity important areas, designated for protection, for which capacity building needs are identified.

2.Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity important to agriculture

Yemen is a dryland agricultural country. Its traditional agricultural systems are notably valued for the numerous agricultural species and crop wild relatives (fruit trees, cereals, vegetable stocks, and legume pulses) capturing high proportion of the national biological diversity. In recent years, modern agriculture became one of causes of pollution generated by chemical wastes and/or by the use of pesticides, which all together are deleterious to native and traditional agro-ecosystems.

In terms of professional capacity at the level of EPC, agricultural institutions, agricultural societies, NGOs and private sector, the NBSAP placed a special priority recommendation calling for additional support to assess capacity building needs required for conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity. Incorporating local agricultural agendas into the national agricultural sector also is a national NBSAP priority.

The add-on proposal will capitalize on the above, and will allow a team of national and/or international experts to undertake informal multi-stakeholder discussions to assess capacity building needs in agrobiodiversity at the levels of EPC, Ministry of Agriculture, Farmer based communities, NGOs and private sector. Special consideration will be given to assess human resource development needs, responsibility sharing by stakeholders, means and methodologies to appropriate financial mechanisms and management, etc. The working group will organize a national workshop to underline national priorities and to determine actions for support. The major output will be an assessment report on capacity building needs covering kinds of training and human resource development programs, necessary financial mechanisms, responsibility sharing by stakeholders and fund management needed for the conservation and sustainable use of agro-biodiversity.

3. Preservation and maintenance of biodiversity related knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles

In coherence with the CBD objectives and CoP guidelines and in line with the NBSAP strategic option of preserving and documenting biodiversity traditional knowledge, the add on request aims to recruite a team of national experts to assess and where possible document traditional and community based knowledge. This assessment will entail the organization of informal consultative meetings and a national workshop involving socio-ecological experts from various universities in Yemen, NGOs and indigenous people and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles. The main outputs from these meetings include: a synthesised assessment report demonstrating current situation of traditional biodiversity related knowledge, sources of excellence of this knowledge, themes and areas for further documentation and preservation, and certain guidelines, frameworks and priority needs to be submitted to the Government for legalisation/approval.

Project Implementation/ Institutional Framework

The add-on request will follow national execution arrangements whereby EPC will be entrusted with project execution and implementation on behalf of UNDP. The Project also will be overseen by the national steering committee that was established during phase I of the biodiversity-enabling project. The PIU, which is still operational within EPC, will continue to serve project implementation and daily operations. UNDP will provide overall technical backstopping, and will monitor project implementation as per UNDP rules and procedures including convening a tripartite co-ordination meeting.

The Project Coordinator and the working groups under the supervision of the Steering Committee, and in co-ordination with EPC and UNDP will be responsible for the organization of project informal meetings and national workshops including the final national workshop aiming to review/endorse working groups final reports. The Project Coordinator also will be responsible for the formulation of an overview report summarizing capacity building needs and priorities in biodiversity and will ensure submission of report (and other reports, documents and action plans) to the Government for endorsement. Finally, the project Coordinator will ensure incorporation of add-on results/outcomes into Yemen national report on biodiversity and submission of report through the government to the CoP/CBD.

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Table 1.Priorities for capacity building needs

Priority

/

Reasons for Priority

/

Work to be done

/

Product expected

/

Notes

Assessment of capacity for in situ conservation of biodiversity and protected-area management system / Ad hoc nature of capacity and sporadic activities for in situ conservation and PA management systems / A working group will be established to determine categories and selection criteria and an assessment of important areas to be undertaken. WG will prepare recommendations for capacity building needs / An assessment report demonstrating roles of various related institutions and stakeholders, human resources and training programs needed for PA management. This report also will document capacity needs in biodiversity important areas to be submitted to the Government for endorsement / EPC will provide in kind co-funding for this activity in the amount of $20,000
Assessment of specific capacity building needs required for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity important to agriculture / Perceived need to evaluate and raise capacity at national, and community based levels / Working group undertakes participatory evaluation of capacity, reach consensus to appropriate financing mechanism, responsibility sharing, fund management, etc. / Assessment report on capacity building needs within national and local relevant stakeholders covering types of training and human resource development needs, financial mechanisms, responsibility sharing and fund management / Working Group should consult earlier agricultural reports and policies available within the MoA. GoY will co-fund this activity by $10,000
An assessment of capacity building needs related to traditional and indigenous knowledge on biodiversity and practices of local communities embodying traditional lifestyles / Urgent needs to document and preserve traditional biodiversity-related knowledge and practices / Working group recruited to assess existing capacity and prepare detailed outline of national needs on indigenous biodiversity knowledge. Working group will organize several informal meetings and a national workshop for this purpose / A synthesized assessment report highlighting sources of traditional biodiversity knowledge, guidelines and priority needs and detailed financing to meet needs / Opportunities for Link with the Socotra project through EPC. In kind contribution from EPC for this activity is expected in the amount of 10,000

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Table 2.Timetable of activity sequencing per month

Activity/Month

/ 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
Contract National Project Coordinator
Finalization of TORs for Consultants
Finalize add-on working plan and convene meeting of national steering committee
Establish working groups and contracts for national and international consultants
Informal consultations of working groups with national and local stakeholders
National Consultation Workshops on
-Assessment of capacity for Protected Area Management System
-assessment of capacity to mitigate specific threats facing agro-ecosystems
-Assessment of traditional biodiversity related knowledge
Working groups prepare and finalize assessment reports on capacity building needs
A national workshop to review/endorse recommendation reports
An overview report summarizing capacity building needs/priorities in biodiversity in Yemen
Submission of report and group reports and products to national implementing agency and other ministries for action
Incorporation of capacity building needs into Country’s report to the CoP/CBD

Cost estimates for additional enabling activities (US$)[1]

Activity / Product / Process / TOTAL
APPROVED EARLIER
  • Original EA, less costs of CHM activities
/ 282,000
  • CHM support (provided through add-on module or project itself)
/ (no entry / required) / 14,000

Total Approved Support

/ 296,000 2
ADDITIONAL REQUEST
Assessment of Capacity-building needs for:
  • Implementation of general measures for in-situ and ex-situ conservation and sustainable use
  • Methodologies to evaluate and mitigate specific threats to biodiversity components
  • Initial assessment and monitoring programs, including taxonomy
  • Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity important for agriculture
  • Incentive measures
  • Access to genetic resources, benefit-sharing and formulation of mechanisms for these purposes
  • Preservation/maintenance of biodiversity related knowledge of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles
/ 15,000
10,000
6,000 / 35,000
20,000
14,000 / 50,000
30,000
20,000

Total new request

/ 31,000 / 69,000 / 100,000 3
Grand Total (2+3) / 396,000

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[1] Government will provide in kind contribution to the add-on request in the amount of $40,000