Arrangements for the third review of the effectiveness of the
financial mechanism
The Conference of the
Parties,
Recalling
Article 21 of the Convention on Biological
Diversity and decisions III/8 and VI/17,
Aware
of the preparation of the third
Overall Performance Study of the Global Environment Facility to be
completed by June 2005, and the need to ensure synergies between
the Study and the third review of the financial
mechanism,
1.
Decides to adopt the annex to the present decision,
containing the objectives, methodology and criteria as well as
procedures for the third review of the effectiveness of the
financial mechanism to be conducted in time for the eighth meeting
of the Conference of the Parties;
2.
Decides also that this third review should be conducted by
an independent evaluator and under the authority of the Conference
of the Parties and take fully into account reports of the Global
Environment Facility with respect to operations of the financial
mechanism;
3.
Decides further that, based on the results of the review,
the Conference of the Parties shall take appropriate action to
improve the effectiveness of the mechanism if necessary.
Annex
GUIDELINES FOR THE
THIRD REVIEW OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FINANCIAL
MECHANISM
A.
Objectives
1.
In accordance with Article 21, paragraph 3, the Conference of the
Parties will review the effectiveness of the mechanism, including
the criteria and guidelines referred to in Article 21,
paragraph 2, with a view to taking appropriate action to
improve the effectiveness of the mechanism if necessary. For this
purpose, effectiveness will include:
(a)
The effectiveness of the
financial mechanism in providing and delivering financial
resources, as well as in overseeing, monitoring and evaluating the
activities financed by its resources;
(b)
The conformity of the
activities of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), as the
institutional structure operating the financial mechanism, with the
guidance of the Conference of the Parties;
(c)
The efficiency and
effectiveness of the process of providing guidance to the financial
mechanism to promote the implementation of the Convention and the
achievement of its three objectives;
(d)
The efficiency, effectiveness
and sustainability of the GEF-funded activities on the
implementation of the Convention and in the achievement of its
three objectives, taking into account the guidance provided by the
Conference of the Parties.
B.
Methodology
2.
The review will cover all the activities of the financial mechanism
for the period from July 2001 to June 2005.
3.
The review shall draw upon, inter alia, the following
sources of information:
(a)
Information provided by both
developed and developing countries and Parties regarding the
financial mechanism, including national reports with respect
to the financial mechanism;
(b)
Reports prepared by the Global
Environment Facility, including its reports to the Conference of
the Parties;
(c)
Reports of the independent GEF
Monitoring and Evaluation Unit that relate to GEF biodiversity
activities within the framework of the financial
mechanism;
(d)
The Third Overall Performance
Study of the Global Environment Facility;
(e)
Information provided by other relevant stakeholders.
C.
Criteria
4.
The effectiveness of the
financial mechanism shall be assessed taking into account, inter
alia:
(a)
The steps and actions taken by
the financial mechanism in response to the actions requested by the
Conference of the Parties at its fourth meeting to improve the
effectiveness of the financial mechanism, as set out in the annex
to its decision IV/11 as well as in decision VI/17;
(b)
The actions taken by the
financial mechanism in response to the guidance of the Conference
of the Parties, as contained in decisions I/2, II/6, III/5, IV/13,
V/13 and VI/17;
(c)
Any other significant issue
raised by the Parties.
D.
Procedures
5.
Under the authority and with the support of the Conference of the
Parties, the Executive Secretary shall contract an experienced
independent evaluator to undertake the review, in accordance with
the above objectives, methodology and criteria.
6.
The evaluator shall design a questionnaire using the criteria
adopted in the present guidelines, to be sent to the Parties and
other stakeholders as soon as practicable after the seventh meeting
of the Conference of the Parties, and prepare a compilation and
synthesis of the information received.
7.
The evaluator will undertake such desk studies, interviews, field
visits and collaboration with the GEF Monitoring and Evaluation
Unit, as may be required, for the preparation of the review,
subject to the availability of resources.
8.
The draft compilation
and synthesis, and the recommendations of the evaluator, will be
made available to GEF for its review and comments. Such
comments shall be included in the documentation and identified by
source.
9.
Based on the synthesis
report and recommendations of the independent evaluator, the
Executive Secretary shall prepare, in consultation with the GEF, a
draft decision on the third review of the financial mechanism,
including specific suggestions for action to improve the
effectiveness of the mechanism if necessary, for consideration of
the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties.
10. The Executive
Secretary shall submit all the relevant documents to Parties at
least three months prior to the eighth meeting of the Conference of
the Parties.
