The Bahamas GEF Country Support Programme

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The Bahamas GEF Country Support Programme

• By Ms. Rochelle Newbold
• BEST Commission
• 11 October 2007

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Bahamas GEF Coordination Unit

• The BEST Commission serves as the Operational
  Focal Point for the GEF in the Bahamas.
• Coordination Unit formed within BEST utilizing
  technical officers responsible for managing and
  implementing GEF supported Projects
• Operational Focal Point heads the Coordination
  Unit in the person of Dr. Donald Cooper

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Workshop on GEF Policies and Procedures

• Initial 1 day workshop held on 7th November 2006
  included some 20 stakeholders from both the
  public and private sector
• Topics covered included
• Introduction to the GEF
• GEF Project Pipelines
• The Resource Allocation Framework
• GEF in The Bahamas
• Workshop was very effective and feedback was
  positive from all stakeholders in attendance

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Bahamas GEF Stakeholders

• Ministry responsible for the Environment
• Ministry of Finance
• Ministry of Works and Transport
• Ministry of Tourism Aviation
• Bahamas National GIS Centre
• Bahamas Information Services
• Data Processing Unit
• Ministry of Health and Social Development

• Government Corporations for Utilities and
  Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corp.
• Non Government Organizations including TNC, BNT,
  BREEF, ANCAT, FOE, College of the Bahamas
• National Committees on Wetlands, Biodiversity,
  Climate Change, Science Technology

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National Information Packages

• Information packages compiled at the National
  Coordinating Unit was supplied to stakeholders at
  the initial workshop
• Additional packages have been made available at
  the NCU (offices of the BEST Commission) for the
  general public
• Package includes background information on GEF
  and its activities in supporting projects under
  the 5 key focal areas

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The GEF Information Database

• Creation of this has been initiated through the
  provision of a GEF in the Bahamas Webpage at the
  National Coordination Unit Website
• www.best.bs/bahamas_gef.html
• This site will keep track of information on the
  GEF and its projects and activities within The
  Bahamas

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CSP Knowledge Facility Bahamas country page

• The Bahamas has launched its GEF CSP website
  country page http//www.gefcountrysupport.org/cou
  ntry.cfm?countryId25
• Information made available on National Focal
  Points, Projects supported by the GEF, In-
  country activities, National Reports, etc.
• Bahamas country page updated by the NCU

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Linking GEF Activities with Development and
Policy Strategy

• Second stakeholder workshop held in April 2007
• Stakeholders provided presentation on internal
  policies of organizations which could then be
  linked to GEF Operational Strategies for
  implementation in country
• BAIC, Department of Agriculture, TNC, BEST
  Commission, BNT all provided input

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Finalizing Component 1

• Meetings to foster in country coordination
  planned for 4th Quarter 2007 with all
  stakeholders
• NCU will make visits to stakeholder to fulfill a
  request made at second workshop on policies and
  strategies
• Creation of a reference library of GEF
  information publications to be hosted at the
  NCU

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Lessons Learnt Component 1

• Ensure involvement of broad spectrum of
  stakeholders from beginning
• Where possible stakeholders recommend that NCU
  make call on institutions to make presentations
• Ensure availability of hard copy of materials as
  not all persons have internet access
• Getting information out through the media
  assisted greatly

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Next Steps

• Implementing Component 2 during 2007-2008
• Maintaining GEF project databases on projects and
  activities at the national and regional levels

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Thank You

• Email bestnbs_at_hotmail.com
• For further information