Minutes from Internal Grant Committee Meeting on 25 November 2014

Transcription

1 Minutes from Internal Grant Committee Meeting on 25 November 2014 Present: Members: Martin Bille Hermann, State Secretary for Development Policy Michael Starbæk Christensen, Under-Secretary for Global Politics and Security Ole Egberg Mikkelsen, Under-Secretary for Consular Services and Public Diplomacy MFA: Mette Brink Madsen, Department for Quality Assurance Item no. 1: Deputy Head of Department Ulla Næsby Tawiah and administrative Officer Harika Dölek, Department for Humanitarian Action, Civil Society and Personnel Assistance Item no. 2 and 3: Head of Department Uffe Balslev, Special Adviser Fin Poulsen and Head of Section Charlotte Sørensen, Department for European Neighbourhood Item no. 4: Head of Department Morten Elkjær and Special Adviser Ulla Porsbøl Jacobsen, Department for Green Growth Item no. 5: Head of Department Morten Elkjær and Special Adviser Jakob Rogild Jakobsen, Department for Green Growth Agenda Item 1: Birdlife Denmark - Integrating Livelihoods and Conservation People Partner with Nature for Sustainability 15.7 million DKK (Department for Humanitarian Action, Civil Society and Personnel Assistance HCP) The present programme will be financed by the Civil Society Fund administered by Civil Society in Development (CISU) and has been approved by the CISU Appropriations Committee. It was presented to the Danida Grant Committee for final approval as the programme budget exceeds 5 million DKK. The programme is going to be implemented in three countries covering Kenya, Uganda and Nepal all countries struggling with poverty and unsustainable management of forests and natural resources. It focuses on high biodiversity forested areas identified by BirdLife International. The programme aims to reduce the destruction of forested Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas and contribute to the realisation of best participatory forest management practices for the benefit of poor communities. The three immediate objectives are to 1) increase the capacity of partner organisations to work strategically with the integration of poverty reduction and nature protection; 2) improve livelihoods of poor communities by participatory forest management, and reduce pressure on ecosystems and biodiversity; and 3) empower local civil society groups to engage in rights based advocacy and political processes. The following cross-cutting issues are integrated in the programme: gender equality, indigenous people, biodiversity, environment and climate. The Committee noted that though Birdlife Denmark (DOF) is not a traditional actor within the development field, it has worked with Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas with focus on

2 the involvement of local communities in the sustainable management of natural resources in Africa and Asia for many years. Furthermore, it was noted that the pool schemes enabled nontraditional development actors to engage in development cooperation. The Committee emphasised the importance of making the poverty reduction and the income generating activities more concrete and noted that the indicators for poverty reduction and the target group definition would be further developed during the programme s inception phase. Furthermore, the Committee emphasised the need for ensuring local ownership of the programme. Finally, the Committee noted that CISU found the cost-effectiveness of the programme appropriate. Agenda Item 2: Support to political and civil society organisations in the EU Neighbourhood region 13.4 million DKK (Department for European Neighbourhood - EUN) The thematic programme aims to support the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) that is a new European organisation working with a flexible and simple approach to give minor grants to local democracy actors in the eastern and southern partnership countries with a special focus on journalists, young people and women who are working for democratisation in transition societies under difficult circumstances. The EED aim is to support the unsupported and to respond swiftly to unmet needs of local democracy actors who do have limited administrative infrastructure and capacity to manage funds available within existing structures of EU as well as bilateral donor funding. Within the first year of operation of EED the organisation has received more than 1000 request for funding and supported 118 initiatives in 15 countries in the Neighbourhood region (East and South). The Committee found that the newly established foundation was relevant with a clear aim and the Committee positively underlined the foundation s ability to respond quickly and flexible in order to accommodate the acute needs of local democracy actors in Europe s Southern and Eastern neighbourhood. The Committee noted that a mid-term review would be conducted in 2015 with a focus on monitoring and documenting results and impact as well as a more comprehensive review of the foundation and its impact in The Committee acknowledged that the foundation s activities where underpinning and supportive to activities facilitated under the Danish Neighbourhood Programme in areas like civil society and free media, among others, which could contribute to a more long-term and strategic support. 2

3 Finally, the Committee noted that the Department for the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) and the Department for European Neighbourhood (EUN) both contribute to the foundation and stated that for future reference, one collective grant approval would be sufficient. Agenda Item 3: Support to the operation of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine 2.0 million DKK (Department for European Neighbourhood - EUN) The thematic programme aims to support the existing OSCE s Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in contributing and reducing tensions and fostering peace, stability and security in Ukraine as a result of the tensions and unrest that have existed in the country since November SMM has since March 2014 monitored and reported on the often very tense episodes happing in especially the Eastern parts of Ukraine. Their reporting helps the OSCE member states to take informed decisions. The SMM also helps to monitor and support the implementation of all OSCE principles and commitments to which both Russia and Ukraine are parties. The programme s focus is therefore on conflict resolution as in line with the principles of the Neighbourhood Programme. The Committee acknowledged SMM s high profile and the strong political support and priority given to the mission, and therefore found it relevant that Denmark should contribute financially to the mission. The Committee underlined the importance given to monitors security and to the mission s changing nature and tasks as a result of the Minsk Agreement and the subsequent Minsk Memorandum. The Committee took note of the long list of other donors that also contribute to the mission. Finally, the Committee acknowledged that Denmark is an active supporter of the SMM in other aspects too (the number of secondments to the mission and the contribution to other OSCE activities in Ukraine). Agenda Item 4: Change of scope in Vi Thanh Wastewater and Sanitation Project, Vietnam For information (Department for Green Growth) Summary Danida Business Finance targets key infrastructure sectors by increasing access to long-term financing for investments in important infrastructure, which will lay the groundwork for economic growth. The Vi Thanh Wastewater and Sanitation project supports improvement of living conditions and sustainable growth in Vietnam. The project will support and develop the sanitary situation in the city and in particular improve the 3

4 water quality of nearby rivers and canals in the city. The project includes sewerage, pumping stations and construction of a wastewater treatment plant. The first presentation to the Internal Grant Committee of the original scope of the project was in May The Internal Grant Committee took note of the change of scope in the revised project and recommended it for the Minister s approval. The Committee noted that while the scope of the project was reduced, the objective remained unchanged. The Committee found that the reduction of scope was based on several considerations and took note of the fact that the re-appraisal conducted based on a revised feasibility study assessed that the project was still eligible for support. The Committee discussed the estimated cost of the sanitation project compared to other similar projects and found that the revised budget showed slightly higher construction costs per household due to the complexity of the project. However, it was also noted that the project allowed for future expansion and additional household connections. The Committee further noted that the loan would be covered by the government and allocated to the province as a grant and that funding to cover operation and maintenance costs would be allocated until the project generated sufficient income. Agenda Item 5: Sustainable energy for all, core contribution, million DKK (Department for Green Growth) The Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) was launched by the UN Secretary General in The initiative aims to achieve three goals by 2030: 1) Universal access to modern energy services for all, 2) a doubling of the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix, and 3) doubling of the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. The initiative has succeeded to create both political momentum and broad support from civil society and engagement from private business. Denmark has supported SE4ALL since its inception, mainly though support through the World Bank s ESMAP Programme the SE4ALL Energy Efficiency Hub managed by the UNs Environment Programme (UNEP). Denmark has supported establishing the SE4ALL organisational structure with 10.0 million. DKK in A Global Facilitation Team (GFT) is now located in Vienna with a sub-office in the UN Secretariat in New York. The GTF is supported by several donors, including Germany, France, UK, Norway, Austria and the European Commission. The Danish grant will support activities in The Internal Grant Committee recommended the support for approval by the Minister. The Committee noted the clear Danish political priority for the development of sustainable energy. The Committee underlined that SE4ALL has succeeded bringing energy on the global development agenda with its strong and relevant focus on advocacy and outreach. Sustainable energy had been included as one of the proposals for a new sustainable development goal to be decided in 2015, and some of the credit could be attributed to SE4ALL. SE4ALLs 4

5 enhancement of public-private partnerships was underlined as a rationale for the continued Danish support. The Committee noted that SE4ALL has a relatively loose governance structure. There was a need for consolidating this Governance structure in the coming period and to convert advocacy to action on the ground, and to document results as well as impact at the country level. However, it was understood that most of the concrete country efforts were undertaken by e.g. the World Bank, the regional development banks and other actors, and SE4ALLs GFT should continue to be a global facilitator and not an implementing actor. The Committee underlined the need to expand the current donor base to ensure the long-term viability of SE4ALL as well as the initiative s significant risks. It was furthermore noted that SE4ALL has a working relationship with 3GF to make the most efficient use of both partnership platform. 5