Environmental policy and administrative management

Following the advice and notification of the grant allocation from the GEF/SGP Central Programme Management Team and the key action plan set forth in the Country Programme Strategy, the Thailand-GEF/SGP set to launch the implementation of the fifth year of the operational phase. The GEF/SGP information has been disseminated to target communities throughout the country. In addition, upon requests, the National Coordinator and some members of NSC travelled to meet and discuss face-to-face with groups of NGOs/CBOs who required further clarification. From August 2002 to the July 2003, the programme has received 61 concept papers/proposals from target NGOs/CBOs. Perusing these papers , 29 papers, in essence, conform to the basic criteria of GEF/SGP. They generally articulate the problem at hand and identify opportunity for generating global benefits and so deserve further modification and development. Being both orientation meeting and a capacity-building process, the stakeholder workshop has been useful mechanism for the modification and development of concept papers. The workshop provides existing and new guidelines to ensure the success of GEF/ SGP project implementation since it includes all past experiences, lessons learnt and state-of-the-art approach.Besides, the workshop will serve as an open forum for sectors undertaking environment projects. An academic institute, the Rajabhat Institute has established throughout the country 41 centres for the development of capacity-building for grass root communities. Each centre provides important mechanism for collaboration with all concerned sectors and mobilizes resources essential for rural development work. Besides, the institute has respective experience with UNDP country office as it was an executing agency of the Community Empowerment for Response to Crisis Action Plan (CERCAP) under the support of United Nation Development Programme. Project goals or objectives (including GEF problem-area addressed by projects): 1.To generate clarity about GEF / Small-Grants Programme: its implementation and mechanism 2.To reduce the number of non-responsive concept papers 3. To improve the quality of the submitted concept papers 4. To encourage the sharing of experiences and learning processes on integration of environment and development 5. To initiate collaboration / networking among participants and with a wider networking Activities to be carried out under project: 1. Devising the workshop modules that best suit the Thai context by perusing the Workshop Guidelines/materials provided earlier by GEF/SGP and the results of the previous workshops convened at country-level in 1997-2001.The devised modules will be employed in the workshop process. 2. Conducting the workshop by arranging appropriate venue and schedule. 3. Identifying and recruit resources persons as required by workshop process 4. Facilitating the entire processes of the workshop Project participants and/or beneficiaries: 1. Representatives from NGOs and CBOs who submitted concept papers to GEF / SGP 2. Members of National Steering Committee 3. UNDP staff members 5. Relevant government agencies and interested private sector 6. Other donors ,academics and reporters Anticipated results of project: After the workshop, the participants will have an insight about GEF / SGP . Given time to reflect on the lessons learnt and experience, every proponent will be able to prepare proposals which are most responsive to GEF / SGP. Moreover, the GEF / SGP will become widely known among other stakeholders as an effective financial mechanism and partner in addressing global environment.

Thailand