UNDP-GEF Small Grants Program National Steering Committee Meeting SGP Phase 6

Meeting Room Ministry of Climate Change,

12 September 2018

Participants

1. Khizer Hayat Khan, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change, GEF OFP (The Chair) (KHK) 2. Amanullah Khan ACD, ECC, UNDP (AK) 3. Feryal Ali Gauher (FG) 4. Fiza Farhan (FF) 5. Amna Waheed Khalid (AWK) 6. Ashiq Ahmad Khan (AA)

SGP Team

7. Masood Ahmed Lohar, NPM SGP (ML) 8. Chatro Khatri (CK)

Observers

9. Ahsanullah Khan, Program Officer, (AuK) 10. Muhammad Sohail, Program Officer, ECCU, UNDP (MS)

AGENDA

• Introduction and meeting with the new Chair • SGP Projects’ status and update • Project Implementation Reporting (PIR) • Schedule setting for the inauguration of the mature project sites in Marri, Islamabad, , Koat Mithan, Soon Valley , Quetta, , Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Sujawal and Thatta • GEF Star Allocation in Phase-7 • Resource mobilization and visibility

SGP NSC Meeting Minutes Sep 2018

The meeting started at 1130 a.m with introductory remarks by the chair followed by an introduction of all members. KHK asked ML to follow the agenda and start the presentation to save time. ML presented the current project status update and gave a brief on the first Project Implementation Reporting (PIR) report of SGP. ML started by recapping the thematic and geographic allocation as decided by previous NSC meetings and endorsed in the inception workshop:

Thematic Allocation

Climate Change $ 1 million Land Degradation $ 1.8 million Biodiversity $ 0.2 million

Geographic Allocation

40 percent in the Indus Delta $ 592,000 40 percent in other parts of Pakistan $ 592,000 20 percent on innovations $ 296,000 Total: USD 1,480,000/-

ML further explained the grant making process. He said that the call for proposals was published on 12 October 2017 in all the editions of the Daily Dawn and the Daily Jang newspapers ensuring nationwide outreach. In addition to this the call for proposals was also announced on the SGP web site. He said the proponents were given fifteen days for submitting the proposals since the publishing of the advertisement and the cutoff date was 27th October. He said by the 27th October, 186 proposals were received whereas 31 proposals were received after the deadline. He said out of 186 proposals 12 proposals were not considered because of their failure to meet the selection criteria; 174 proposals were considered and evaluated. He said out of 174 proposals, 52 were shortlisted for onwards submission to the NSC. On 3rd Nov 2017 NSC approved 38 projects to start working from 1st December 2017 which would be completed by 30th November 2018 except the one project of Pakistan Hoslamand Khawateen Network, KPK, that would be completed on March 31, 2019.

ML told the NSC about the successful innovations in housing and cooking technologies. He explained and provided updates about the current projects including the Compressed Earth Blocks (CEBs), EE metallic stoves, Mangroves, ecotourism, solar energy equipment, Moringa plantation, solid waste management, crab farming, indigenous communities and other SGP Projects. He stated that SGP had designed the Hydraulic Compressed Earth Blocks making machine which is installed at three different SGP sights including one in Islamabad. He said the subject machine could produce 19000 blocks per day with the strength of 2000 psi. ML said that the price of conventional cement block in Islamabad is Rs 50 per block whereas the price of SGP designed CEB is Rs 36 per block. He further briefed that there was an enormous response from local manufacturers on CEBs and if that machine were considered for replication and upscaling in Pakistan the PM call for five million houses could be answered with low carbon housing. He said SGP constructed 400 housing units in 2009 with the co-financing of USD 2.3 million from the Sindh government. ML asked NSC members to visit one CEB manufacturing project site in Islamabad. KHK said he would not be able to go but other members may visit. FG said she would try and inform SGP the next day accordingly. FG said that the community based initiative could be upscaled

SGP NSC Meeting Minutes Sep 2018 and replicated on commercial basis by the government. FG said ML should meet with the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on social development to upscale this technology. KHK said SGP should educate the people in the field to use CEBs as replacement of ordinary cement blocks. All the NSC members said that SGP should market these blocks for commercial purposes also.

ML explained projects focused on Energy Efficient Cook Stoves. He said that during the floods of 2010- 11 the biggest problem for the displaced people was how to cook food because the traditional mud stoves had gotten destroyed in the floods and there was no dry land in the immediate vicinities. He said they commissioned the development of a stove which would be energy efficient, portable and smokeless. The first prototype was, therefore, developed in 2013 followed by SGP introducing it through projects. On the basis of the feedback received from users two new improved versions of EE stoves (2.0) were introduced in 2017; one for colder areas and the other for warm regions. He said that the previous model of stove was anticipated to have a life of 3 years, but it lasted only for two years. Now, this new improved version is expected to stretch beyond three years. He said that more than 700 stoves had so far been made and distributed in the communities by the SGP partners in the current phase.

He requested KHK to ask other GEF and other partner organizations to replicate these stoves in other areas of Pakistan. He also said that one of the project was on the training of artisans on “How to manufacture SGP stove?” The trained artisans would go back and start making the stoves locally. ML said a training manual on Energy Efficient Stoves has also been developed by SGP. AWK emphasized that there should be a case study on the use of these stoves. The SGP mud stoves model was also discussed in the meeting. FG said that previous SGP mud stove was very low cost and made by the communities themselves. ML said that SGP has sponsored making of over 30,000 of such mud stoves during the last 25 years. Now it was time to add value keeping in view the floods of 2010-11.

ML gave an update on projects on Moringa Oleifera. He said that SGP has two nurseries with more than 450,000 saplings of Moringa in Lahore and Badin and has also established a value-chain centre in Lahore for Moringa products. The properties of Moringa trees were discussed at the meeting. FG said Moringa is a highly nutritious plant and has 16 micro-nutritients. KHK said that Prime Minister has announced 10 Billion Trees Tsumani program and he wanted to introduce Moringa through this program. KHK said that there was a need for small conference/workshop on Moringa in Islamabad in the near future. He said they would like to purchase Moringa saplings from SGP through the Green Pakistan Program. He said there was also a need of planting Moringa in all capital cities; FG said that she would give a small concept note on this. It was decided that Moringa products would be sent to SGP NSC members. FF said she wanted to visit SGP outlet in Lahore and ML said SGP would connect her with them.

ML discussed SGP’s four eco-tourism projects that are under implementation phase; he said that two projects are completed, one each in the Soon Valley, district Khushab and Keenjhar Lake, district Thatta. He said these resorts are to be inaugurated shortly. KHK suggested that FG be taken for the events wherever convenient to her.

ML said that all the five projects on the mangroves plantations have completed their work. Regarding the solar projects, ML explained that the activities of three projects on solar energy so far include distribution of 700 lanterns and 50 HH modules, installation of 10 solar streetlights and four solar water pumps in two places one each in Sindh and Baluchistan. ML said that SGP is working on the high value rare livestock breed “Achhi Tapri goat” in Tando Muhammad Khan, “Kashmir Markhor”, “Cheer Pheasant”, “Himalayan Musk Deer”, “Griffon Vulture”, “ Urrial” in AJK, “White Headed Duck” in

SGP NSC Meeting Minutes Sep 2018

Uchali Lake and “Blue bull” in Nangarparkar. ML said that SGP has successfully rehabilitated the lake Suleman Khan in Sujawal. The lake was degraded in the cyclone of 1999 and has been rehabilitated for the first time. ML also said that two projects on crab farming have been successfully implemented. ML said SGP is also implementing one project on the indigenous communities in Lahore, and one project on renewable energy relief station in Karachi for rape victims implemented by the women based organization WAR. ML said that SGP is also implementing two projects on water replenishment in Shigar valley in GB. ML also said that SGP is implementing one project on biochar near Lahore. He said it has successfully attracted farmers to use biochar for increasing the yield. ML also said that SGP is working on solid waste management project in Sakrand with the municipal committee.

Project Implementation Reporting (PIR)

ML said that we have already submitted the PIR to the headquarters. He said the project has received a satisfactory rating. The cumulative GL delivery against expected delivery as of this year is 77.84 % which is reasonably good. MS said normal GEF projects are about five years and this SGP project is about three years and the objectives have been met in almost two years and that it is recommended in the PIR that it would be wiser to conduct a terminal evaluation (TE) rather than pursuing an MTR. AK said that since the targets of the SGP have been mostly met, we should recommend pursuing the Terminal Evaluation. All NSC members reached a consensus to pursue the Terminal Evaluation rather than the MTR.

ML said that there was not a single strategic project in the current phase money wise i.e. providing grant more than $ 50,000. However, he said, there are certain projects which are considered strategic as they are designed in a way to have results of a high value. The three projects are being implemented by SR, TRUCE and RDHR.

KHK asked ML to participate in the MoCC meeting the next day which was about the tree plantation drive of the prime minister. He encouraged ML to bring Moringa plants and seeds and discuss possible technical support of SGP in this initiative.

Schedule setting for the inauguration of the mature project sites in Marri, Islamabad, Lahore, Koat Mithan, Soon Valley Khushab, Quetta, Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Sujawal and Thatta.

ML said that most of the projects have completed their activities and SGP needs to plan for the inauguration of these completed projects. KHK said that since FG is a known public personality, she be taken for inauguration of the projects. KHK said he would also try to get time from the Minister for the inauguration of completed SGP project in Soon valley, Islamabad, Murree and Lahore.

GEF Star Allocation in Phase-7/ Resource Mobilization and visibility

ML requested that the office of the OFP should issue a letter of intent for the allocation in Phase 7. AK said it would be too early to get such a letter. He said he would discuss with the UNDP regional offices by the end of November 2018 and would then confirm the allocation. AuK said that as per procedures a call for proposal would be initiated by the GEF Cell and accredited agencies would submit FSPs to GEF OFP office. The approved projects get the allocation.

KHK asked ML and NSC members that SGP office should move to Islamabad from Hyderabad. AK said that the geographic focus of SGP has been Indus Delta since 2007 and the office is MOSS compliant.

SGP NSC Meeting Minutes Sep 2018

Relocating office would cost a lot of money for MOSS compliance and other related heads. FG said SGP is working directly with the local small communities at grass-root level and we should not change the concept or focus. KHK said the mandate of the SGP would remain the same but if SGP office were shifted to Islamabad it would benefit from more opportunities. FF said by shifting the office they might have more funding opportunities than in Hyderabad. ML said that in that case the geographic focus from Indus Delta would also be need to be shifted to another deserving area near Islamabad as otherwise the program would not be cost effective. AA said that in that case the best place to consider would be Soon Valley, Khushab. The chair also recommended that the NSC should meet more frequently rather than once a year. KHK asked AK about budget position for NSC meetings. ML said he would share the expenditure report with the NSC members.

The meeting ended with a word of thanks from and to the chair.

SGP NSC Meeting Minutes Sep 2018