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Project Concept Development

 

 

The following guidelines discussed in three stages, aim to provide a road map for possible GEF project development.

 

 

1. Scrutiny and Recommendation of the Project Concept

 

Preliminary Screening

 

-        GEF concept papers should be forwarded to the IC division. Upon receipt of the GEF project concept paper (2-3 pages in length) in the IC division, its entry must be registered and a new file initiated.

 

-        The concept paper is forwarded to the Global Environment Cell (GEC) for preliminary screening.

 

-        The concept is examined in the GEC in light of its possible GEF eligibility and suitable comments are prepared. Revisions to the concept note may be sought by the GEC if required.

 

-        If ruled non-eligible under GEF the project concept is rejected and the proponents suitably informed by the IC division.

 

Final Screening

 

-        If ruled eligible, the concept note is sent to the various concerned divisions within the MoEF and, other subject matter ministries if need be, for obtaining views on the project's relevance to the national priorities.

 

-        Views of the various concerned divisions and/or subject matter ministries are forwarded to the project proponents alongwith the details of the PDF/MSP application (subscribed format and GEF operational programs) procedure. The concept paper may then be further modified. Application formats for PDF's and MSP concept paper are enclosed.

 

2. Project Preparation and Recommendation of Project Brief for Work Program

 

-        The eligible, revised GEF project concept paper must be received in the IC division in the appropriate PDF format (PDF A, B or C).

 

-        The PDF application is re-screened in the GEC. Following which the IC division formally endorses it to the appropriate GEF Implementing Agency (IA) -UNDP, UNEP and World Bank -for further development.

 

-        The project application in the PDF format is suitably modified by the IAs in line with their mandate to address all considerations, in consultation with the project proponents.

 

-        The PDF application is sent to the GEF Bilateral meetings, New York for inclusion in the 'Pipeline Work program'. There it is circulated among the Council members for their comments and approval. Approval in the Bilaterals ensures that funds are made available to the proponents for the preparatory phase. Following the approval, at the IA end the PDF application is converted into a 'PDF-B project Document'. Implementation arrangements and budgetary details are provided at this stage.

 

 

3. Project Approval in GEF Council: Final Project Document:

 

 

-        The resultant "PDF-B project Document" is received in the MoEF from the IAs for endorsement/signing. A Steering Committee is constituted in the MoEF with representatives from the concerned divisions. Following endorsement PDF funds are released for the PDF activities. At the conclusion of the preparatory phase, a 'Project Brief' is prepared with PDF funds.

 

-        The Project Brief is received in the MoEF for endorsement. The Brief through the GEC, IC division is forwarded to the concerned divisions/ ministries for comments, if need be. Required revisions to the Project Brief need to be carried out accordingly.

 

-        Formal endorsement of MoEF conveyed to the DEA and the concerned IA, for submission to the GEF Council for inclusion in the Council Work Program.

 

-        The Project Brief is circulated among the Council members for their comments, giving a statutory time of 4 weeks.

 

-        Approval of the project in the Council Work Program ensures commitment of funds for the full project. Following the approval of the project document, the concerned Ministries/NGOs take responsibility of the implementation process (Phase 4 of the GEF project cycle).

 

 

 

CHECKLIST AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE GEF PROJECT CYCLE

 

Clarity in objectives and content at each of the GEF project cycle stages are crucial to the development of a GEF project and would ensure the project to go through the cycle on schedule. Detailed parameters for such scrutiny at each stage of the GEF cycle are discussed below.

 

 

1st Stage:

 

Scrutiny of the Project Concept or Application for PDF A, B and C

 

Good project idea is an essential pre-requisite for quality project. Certain basic questions pertaining to the project, therefore, need to be answered carefully at this stage itself:

 

▪         Is the PDF application as per the laid down GEF format

 

▪         Does the concept relate directly to an Operational Programme of GEF? If it does not, there should be a justification as to how it could be eligible to GEF funding.

 

▪         Has the country ratified the relevant treaty (CBD and UNFCCC) -since only those developing countries are eligible to propose biodiversity and climate change projects.

 

▪         Is the project idea in accordance with the policies, national priorities, strategies and action plans of the Govt. of India.

 

▪         Evidence of country ownership needs to be demonstrated e.g. is the project being implemented in partnership with government departments.

 

▪         Is a similar project under implementation or in the pipeline, which overlaps or from which linkages can be drawn for lessons and further synergy? For example, do any linkages exist with?

 

a) Country/sector programs, national strategies/ action plans

b) Country programme framework/strategies of the implementing agencies

e.g. Country Assistance Strategy (World Bank) and the CCF of UNDP.

c) Any on-going GEF project in other focal areas

d) Other programs and action plans at regional sub-regional levels

 

▪         Does the project directly address the problems that have been considered? Has the approach and methodology been carefully considered from the angles of feasibility and cost-effectiveness?

 

▪         Suggestions for a particular Implementing Agency viz UNDP/World Bank/UNEP, with justification. A likely IA maybe decided on the basis of possible size of the proposal and their respective expertise.

 

▪         Proposals in the area of Biodiversity should take a holistic ecosystem-based conservation approach, since a component-by-component preservation approach at the within-species, species and ecosystem levels will not be approved by GEF.

 

▪         Linkages among co-financing institutions both multilateral and bilateral, multilateral or regional development banks, specialized agencies of the United Nations, bilateral development agencies, national institutions, non-governmental organizations, private sector, civil societies and academic institutions should be clearly laid down. A comparative study taking into account their relative advantages in efficient and cost- effective project execution should have been conducted.

 

▪         Potential resource institution/s with relative advantage should be identified to lend insights in to innovative approaches. The possibility of engaging more than one institute in innovative approaches in order to strengthen their collaboration and effectiveness, in particular at the country level, and an efficient division of labor that maximizes the synergy among them should be considered.

 

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