Blueing the Caspian Sea: Building Capacities for Pollution Monitoring and Biodiversity Planning

pipeline

About the GEF FinanceThe Global Environment Facility (GEF) is providing US$ 11,743,120 in grant financing to the World Bank and UNEP as GEF Implementing Agencies. The finance will benefit Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The WB will seek Board approval for a US$ 8,243,120 project for which United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) will serve as the GEF Executing Agency. A GEF Project Preparation Grant (PPG) of US$183,489 will be awarded to UNOPS for the purposes of preparing the applicable ESF instruments, engagement of the three countries. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) will seek approval per their own procedures for GEF financing and will do internal execution of the grant with the Tehran Convention Interim Secretariat (TCIS).The WB has no fiduciary or supervision accountability for the UNEP-executed project. However, the WB is the implementing agency submitting the combined project to the GEF for CEO Endorsement. This co-implementation arrangement has been agreed between the World Bank and UNEP.The WB Project.The operation aims to assist countries in managing pollution and improve biodiversity conservation. This will be achieved by strengthening the capacity of the three participating countries, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. The project complements ongoing efforts of countries to meet the obligation of the Tehran Convention and the associated protocols.Component 1. Pollution management strengthened (US$ 3,900,000). This component will finance technical assistance, workshops, and other capacity building measures to improve policy harmonization and regional cooperation on pollution management in the Caspian Sea. It will also seek to sharing knowledge among the countries exchanges between practitioners on best practices. The component will support activities needed for countries meet the obligations under the Moscow Protocol engages countries to implement measures to prevent, control, and minimize pollution from land-based sources affecting the Caspian Sea and its coastal areas. The capacity of national institutions related to pollution may also be supported by provision of equipment. The component may also finance the development of National Programs of Action (NPAs) and investment plans for pollution mitigation.Component 2. Protected areas management strengthened (US$ 3,900,000).This component will finance technical assistance, workshops, and other capacity building measures to improve policy harmonization and regional cooperation on biodiversity management in the Caspian Sea. It will also seek to sharing knowledge among the countries exchanges between practitioners on best practices. The component will support activities needed for countries meet the obligations under the Ashgabat Protocol that engages countries to protect, preserve, and restore the health and integrity of the biological diversity and the ecosystem of the Caspian Sea. The component will support the improvement of specific protected areas in three participating countries, including expansion of the protected areas and management within the territorial waters of the three countries including enhancement of existing, and development of new PA management plans, workshops, training, and implementation of management plans. The component will also finance national public awareness programs on biodiversity loss in the Caspian Sea.Component 3. Project Management (US$ 443,120). This component will support the technical implementation of the project activities, including FM and procurement, overall monitoring of project results, production of progress reports, and Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) compliance, with the establishment of a culturally appropriate grievance redress mechanism. The UNOPS Blueing the Caspian Sea Project Implementation Unit (PIU) will be housed in appropriate facilities, preferable in the region and will be composed of professional, administrative, and support staff. The UNOPS BCS PIU will be responsible for the overall coordination of the WB project and will, among others, (a) oversee the preparation of annual operating plans and (b) prepare progress and other reports, as required by the GEF and the World Bank.