CSO Consultation Summary: Faizal Parish, GEF NGO Network Central Focal Point, opened the GEF Council Consultation Meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on Monday, 4 November 2013, noting it’s strategic timing, coming at the end of GEF 5 and the middle of GEF 6 replenishment discussions.

Session 1: CSO Dialogue with the GEF CEO and Chairperson: Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO and Chairperson, discussed the GEF 2020 strategy and emphasized that it is important to have a long-term strategy encompassing an environmental degradation driver-focused approach. She welcomed Conservation International and WWF-US as two new GEF Project Agencies. Responding to questions, Ishii acknowledged that, inter alia: a driver-focused approach could be implemented with limited financial resources; and on SDGs, the GEF is following the discussion and subscribes to the concept even though the SDGs are not mentioned explicitly in the GEF 2020 strategy. CSOs asked what the GEF is doing to address the issues that some implementing agencies are having with meeting standards on Indigenous Peoples and noted that protected areas efforts need to take into account the full informed consent of Indigenous Peoples, among other questions.

One CSO urged retaining transportation as a specific funding area. CEO Ishii replied that a driver-focused approach ensures that effective entry points are taken to address urban programming, including transportation.

Session 2: Enhancing CSO engagement in GEF: Policy and Guidelines in Practice. Andrew Velthaus, GEF, reviewed a study of compliance with the Environmental and Social Safeguards and Gender Mainstreaming policies by GEF Agencies. He noted that many Agencies met all or most of the standards. Recommendations presented in a discussion of a Review of the GEF Policy on Public Involvement (PIP) included calling for the GEF to set clear minimum standards for public involvement that will be mandatory for all projects, and for clear stakeholder engagement plans and formal mechanisms for documenting and exchanging good practice. Robert van den Berg, GEF Evaluation Office, reflected on the future of CSO engagement in the GEF and outputs from the fifth Overall Performance Study (GEF/OPS 5). He highlighted that, on full size projects, a sufficient number of CSOs are involved in execution and implementation, but for medium sized projects engagement is declining. He also highlighted difficulties in keeping track of CSO engagement due to a lack of clear definition of CSOs. Lucy Mulenkei, GEF Indigenous Peoples (IPs) Advisory Group, presented on progress in implementing guidelines on IPs, noting that approximately 160 medium and full size projects involve IPs, while 15% Small Grants Programme (SGP) involve IPs.

Responding to a question on whether CSO engagement is adding value, van den Berg observed that projects involving CSOs in real engagement are considerably more successful, especially in achieving long-term impacts. He said that PIP had relevance and value and hoped that the review process would enhance this.

Session 3: Interactive dialogue on the future strategic role of GEF: Andrew Steer, President, World Resources Institute, offered the opening remarks, noting that there have been many great GEF projects, but the problem is that they have not been transformative. He suggested asking tougher questions regarding impact and whether the GEF is getting the leverage that it should, and spending “so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Claus Pram Astrup, GEF Secretariat, provided an overview of the GEF2020 Strategy, feedback to date and the next steps. He said comments on the GEF2020 Strategy have included: are we moving too fast towards dealing with root causes?; are we moving away from our key obligations under the conventions?; how does GEF2020 fit with GEF 6?; can we really make a difference on drivers?; and what about specific GEF focus areas, like gender, adaptation, and others?

A panel of GEF Council members followed by a panel of GEF Agency representatives then offered their impressions of the GEF2020 strategy. Panelists noted a continuing role for the GEF in climate finance, despite the creation of other climate funds. One speaker suggested that the GEF could focus on biodiversity and ecosystems in the next four years, given that climate change is on the radar screen of policy makers and the private sector. Another speaker suggested investing in knowledge creation, documenting knowledge and using it in projects. Another panelist said it was worth asking if GEF is transformative enough and the need for a precise analysis of CSO engagement. Other issues raised included: the need for GEF funds to match ambitions and for modalities to enable GEF to “find its feet” and “revitalize itself”; GEF’s comparative advantage in having well established capacities to do multi-focal work; and the need to address hidden drivers including market and institutional failures. A CSO panel member emphasized specific CSO concerns on the Strategy, highlighting the need for a realistic balance of drivers and a focus on global demand, among other elements.

In summary, Parish highlighted panelists’ comments, including its discussion of the GEF’s comparative advantage, experience in introducing innovation, and ability to create synergies and a “linked-up” approach.