The Workshop was attended by some 60 stakeholders representing government and civil society institutions, donor institutions and the media, and took place at Yaounde's Botanical Gardens.
During the two day Dialogue designed to improve communications among national stakeholders on GEF related issues, participants:
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assessed the lessons learnt and outcomes and impact of GEF activities, drawing upon the ongoing GEF Country Portfolio Evaluation prepared by the GEF Evaluation Office;
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reached consensus on recommendations for strengthening Cameroon’s GEF national coordination mechanism; and
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reached consensus on the framework and broad priorities for future GEF support based upon lessons learnt and national sustainable development priorities.
The latter was facilitated by multi-stakeholder working group sessions to discuss national priority issues in biodiversity, climate change, land degradation and POPs/water/waste, each chaired by Cameroon’s respective convention focal point with assistance provided by a substantive expert from the team of GEF resource persons representing the GEF Secretariat and GEF Agencies.
Two other events GEF sponsored by the Country Support Programme (CSP) took place in Africa immediately following Cameroon’s Dialogue: (1) the Sub-regional Workshop for GEF Focal Points from West and Central Africa took place in Douala, Cameroon from 19-21 June for 45 GEF Focal Points from 24 countries and observer representatives from the GEF-NGO Network and international NGOs, and (2) Sub-regional Workshop for GEF Focal Points from East and Southern Africa took place in Windhoek, Namibia from 25-27 June for 40 GEF Focal Points from 22 countries and observers from the GEF-NGO Network.
Both Sub-regional Workshops:
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introduced Focal Points to the latest changes in the revised GEF Focal Area strategies, cross cutting initiatives, and funds available for adaptation;
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provided a forum for countries to exchange their good practices in integrating GEF in national environment and development plans and policies, including coordination and priority setting for GEF co-funding;
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provided a forum for Focal Points to formally provide feedback during closed door sessions to the Midterm Review of the Resource Allocation Framework being undertaken by the independent GEF Evaluation Office; and
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reviewed the many tools available to support the work of the Focal Points in GEF4.
For more information on the Sub-regional Workshops including agendas, lists of participants, presentations in English and French and photos, please visit the GEF CSP website (West and Central Africa) and (East and Southern Africa).
Article prepared by Stephen Gold, Global Manager
GEF National Dialogue Initiative and Country Support Programme.
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