Greater Mekong Subregion Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project (RRP REG 40253)

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Greater Mekong Subregion Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project (RRP REG 40253) Greater Mekong Subregion Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project (RRP REG 40253) DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION A. Major Development Partners: Strategic Foci and Key Activities 1. In Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), and Viet Nam, multiple development partners are involved in natural resource management (NRM) and forestry, with an increasing focus on climate change adaptation and mitigation. Project and program landscapes are changing rapidly with new initiatives and funding constantly emerging. Country management of sector information is somewhat fragmented, with responsibility for climate change, forestry, environment, and biodiversity often being separated. This context complicates listing and tracking of development partner initiatives and coordination. While recent climate change initiatives typically provide a common platform for inter-institutional cooperation, fragmented monitoring and reporting remain the norm. 2. Regional. The United States Agency for International Development is supporting investments of more than $90 million from 2010 to 2014 for climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, including a 5-year sustainable landscape program in Cambodia, the Lao PDR, and Viet Nam. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) through its Swedish Environmental Secretariat for Asia jointly supports the Regional Climate Change Knowledge Platform with the United Nations Environment Programme and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Swedish Environmental Secretariat for Asia also works within a multipartner initiative, Mangroves for the Future, to strengthen coastal ecosystems in the Greater Mekong Subregion. The Government of Finland supports the Sustainable Forestry and Rural Development Project in the Lao PDR and the Tonle Sap Livelihoods Program (in collaboration with ADB) in Cambodia. Sida and the Government of Finland also cofinance the Greater Mekong Subregion Core Environment Program-Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (CEP-BCI) Phase I. The European Union plays a catalytic role as part of the Cambodia Climate Change Alliance and is involved in NRM and climate change in Viet Nam. The Japan International Cooperation Agency is supporting Cambodia on forest preservation and improvement of capabilities to cope with natural disasters caused by climate change, and is involved in the Participatory Land and Forest Management Project for Reducing Deforestation in the Lao PDR. The World Bank is supporting agriculture and rural development in Cambodia and the Lao PDR, and community forestry in Viet Nam. The Australian Agency for International Development provides support for reforestation, sustainable forest management in Viet Nam, and livestock management in the Lao PDR. 3. Civil society plays an important role in supporting NRM and climate change responses. World Wildlife Fund activities include participation in the CEP-BCI Phase I in Viet Nam, the Lao PDR and Cambodia, expansion of tiger conservation, and implementation of a regional program on wetlands. The Wildlife Conservation Society works closely with the Cambodian Forestry Administration on forest protection and CEP-BCI implementation and is assisting with Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD)-based avoided deforestation carbon sales to the international voluntary carbon market. Pact Cambodia is implementing a community-forest REDD project involving community mobilization around REDD; revenue- sharing between government, Forestry Administration, and communities; and establishment of community rights and tenure. B. Institutional Arrangements and Processes for Development Coordination 4. In Cambodia, since 2005, support has focused on strengthening capacity and effectiveness in managing aid. A recent declaration on enhancing aid effectiveness established an action plan on harmonization and alignment, and provided results for 2006–2010. Action plan implementation subsequently strengthened coordination and partnerships between 2 development partners and the government. ADB has actively sought agreements with development partners especially relating to intensifying agricultural productivity and diversifying livelihoods, and coordinated sector interventions for sustainable rural development and NRM. In the Lao PDR, development partner technical coordination mainly occurs under the auspices of the Joint Working Group on Agriculture and Natural Resources, and its constituent working groups. For example, the forest working group is coordinating government, development partners, nongovernment organizations, and private sector stakeholders. In Viet Nam, consultative group meetings remain the main platform for the government and development partners to review progress and issues related to socioeconomic development and official development assistance, with occasional specific-sector and partnership meetings. ADB actively participates in the “Six-Banks Harmonization Initiative” to help improve the institutional framework for official development assistance management and resolve implementation issues. C. Achievements, Issues, and Discussions 5. During processing, the project design was discussed with development partners and relevant working groups to ensure consistency with country priorities in NRM and forestry, and development partner programs. With short-term development and income needs in the GMS, investment and disbursement priorities may override long-term sustainable development concerns. The landscape approach taken by the Project provides a necessary platform to address issues arising from sectoral development pressures such as road and hydropower development and resulting ecosystem fragmentation. Strengthening of capacities for cross- sectoral coordination, in particular, through the GMS sectoral working group mechanisms is a priority area. The subnational focus of project interventions will allow adjustment to national circumstances and targeted capacity strengthening of provincial and district implementation units. Establishment of subnational baselines and monitoring systems within the project sites will enable application of REDD methods to the provinces. D. Summary and Recommendations 6. ADB will remain engaged with the governments and other development partners through REDD working groups to maximize the potential complementary impact from this assistance. ADB will also improve sub-regional environmental coordination through the CEP-BCI by strengthening the GMS Working Group on Environment’s (WGE’s) capacity to engage/ collaborate with other GMS sector working groups, including the GMS Working Group on Agriculture (WGA), the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee (RPTCC), the GMS Transport Forum other subregional working groups. Selected Development Partner Support Development Amount Project Name Duration Partner ($ million) Cambodia UNDP, Danida, Cambodia Climate Change Alliance 2010–2012 8.90 European Union, Sida World Bank Pilot Program on Climate Resilience 2010–2011 1.50 with ADB 2011–2012 20.00–30.00 World Bank Capacity Building for Sustainable Forest and Land 2010 0.28 Management USAID Sustainable Livelihoods; Climate Adaptation and Mitigation 2010–2014 84.00 Strategies; Biodiversity Conservation GEF, UNDP Promoting Climate Resilience in Agricultural Practices and 2009–2013 3.10 Water Resource Management in Rural Cambodia GEF, UNDP Sustainable Forest Management 2011–2015 4.80 3 Development Amount Project Name Duration Partner ($ million) Danida, DFID, NRMLP support to Community Forestry through NGOs; 2010–2014 2.30 NZAid forest inventory; upscale national community forestry program to improving livelihoods of rural communities; forest demarcation AFD Support Project for Agricultural Development of Cambodia 2008–13 2.50 Foundation Community Forestry for Conservation and Livelihoods in 2010–14 0.08 Ensemble, Pact Cambodia DAI, Pact Community-Based Nontimber Products Enterprise 2010 0.11 CI, CSP, Community incentive agreement and livelihood improvement 2010–2014 0.22 USFWS JICA Forest Preservation Programme 2010 900.00 JICA Programme for Improvement of Capabilities to Cope with 2010 1,000.00 Natural Disasters Caused by Climate Change DFID World Bank-managed Climate Investment Funds 800.00 European Community Environment and Livelihood Improvement 2010–2014 0.50 Union/EC Project Lao PDR ADB Nam Ngum River Basin Sector Project 2004–2011 15.00 Alternative Livelihoods for Upland Ethnic Groups in 2008–2011 1.80 Houaphanh Province Forest Plantation Sector Project 2006–2012 3.00 ADB, NDF Capacity Enhancement for Coping with Climate Change 2010–2012 3.10 ADB, IFAD Sustainable Natural Resources and Productivity 2010–2017 35.00 Enhancement Project USAID Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies; biodiversity 2010–2014 34.00 conservation IFAD Rural Livelihoods Improvement 2006–2014 26.00 Programme in Attapeu and Sayabouri SDC Agro-biodiversity Initiative 2009–2011 7.00 SIDA Forestry Strategy 2020 Implementation Promotion Project 2006–2010 … JICA and SIDA Project for Reducing Deforestation System Development 2009–2014 1.60 through Participatory Land and Forest Management AFD Program for National Strategy 2007–2010 1.62 in Conservation Agriculture Viet Nam ADB Forests for Livelihood Improvement in the Central Highlands 2006–2014 45.00 Agriculture Science and Technology 2007–2010 30.00 ADB, AFD Integrated Rural Development Sector Project in the Central 2008–2014 53.30 Provinces ADB, JFPR Livelihood Improvement of Vulnerable Ethnic Minority 2008–2012 2.00 Communities Affected
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