COUNTRY PROGRAMME STRATEGY ETHIOPIA 2006-2009

GEF/SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME (GEF/SGP) COUNTRY PROGRAMME STRATEGY (CPS), Ethiopia 1. History of GEF and SGP in Ethiopia The Global Environment Facility was established in 1991, one year before the Rio Earth Summit. It supports developing countries to fund projects and programs that protect the global environment. An Assembly, a Council and Secretariat govern the GEF. The Assembly made up of representatives of all UN member states meets in three-year intervals and reviews GEF polices and operations as reported by the Council. The 32 members Council meets twice a year to develop, adopt and evaluate operational policies and programs as well as work plans of the Secretariat and the Implementing Agencies. The GEF Secretariat is responsible for the implementation of the decision of the Assembly and the Council, while it is also charged with ensuring that the work programs of the Implementing Agencies are executed. UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank are the designated implementing agencies of the GEF activities. Developing countries that have ratified the relevant UN Conventions or treaties are eligible for GEF funding. Ethiopia has ratified all the necessary conventions and treaties and is therefore eligible for GEF funding. GEF Small Grants Programme was established in 1992, the year of the Rio Earth Summit. The SGP focuses on providing financial and technical support to community-led projects in developing countries that conserve and restore the natural world while enhancing the well-being and livelihoods of people. The SGP seeks to link global, national and local-level issues through a transparent, participatory and country-driven approach to project planning, design and implementation. Distinguished feature of the SGP, unlike other GEF support programmes, is that grants are made directly to non-governmental organizations (NGO) and community-based organizations (CBOs) in recognition of the key role they play in environment and development concerns around the world. GEF has so far financed projects within the focal areas of Biodiversity Conservation, Climate Change, Persistent Organic Pollutants and International Waters. Projects that have been completed or are currently being implemented include: • Dynamic Farmers/ farmer based in-situ conservation approach (Full Size Project completed November 2004, UNDP); • Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (Enabling, UNDP); • Conservation of the Rift Valley Lakes Biodiversity (PDF B, UNDP, Regional); • Protected Areas System Plan (PDF B, UNDP); • Important Bird Area Conservation (PDF B, UNDP, Regional); • Medicinal Plants Conservation (FSP, World Bank); • Framework regulation for Biosafety (PDF B, UNEP); • Invasive Species Management Africa (FSP, UNEP, Regional)download