Gef-iw5 etps mangroves

AG.Accountability and Grievance Compliance

Local communities and other stakeholders may raise a grievance at all times to the Executing Agency about any actions instigated by the project and the application of its safeguard frameworks. Affected communities should be informed about this possibility and contact information of the respective organizations at relevant levels should be made available. Unless project‐affected communities request an alternative process, the Accountability and Grievance Policy and Mechanism described in the Safeguard Policies and Processes section of the CI- ESMF shall apply.

The project Executing Agency (EA) will be the first point of contact in the accountability and grievance mechanism. CI will extend this facility together with the Executing Agency if different from CI-ETPS during the Full Project to help assist with any on-the-ground solutions given a central CI field role in the project.

In the first instance any grievance should be addressed and where possible resolved locally. CI and/or the EA will be responsible for informing project‐affected communities about the Grievance provisions, including the ESMF’s grievance mechanism. Contact information of the Executing Entity, CI, and the GEF will be made publicly available to all involved stakeholders. Complaints to the Executing Agency can be made through many different channels including, but not limited to face‐to‐face meetings, written complaints, telephone conversations, or e‐mail.

In the event that this process does not resolve the grievance, the grievant may file a claim with the CI Director of Compliance (DOC) who can be reached at:

Electronic email: [e-mail]

Mailing address: Direction of Compliance

Conservation International

2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500

Arlington, VA 22202, USA.

SECTION 6: IMPLEMENTATION AND EXECUTION ARRANGEMENTS FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT

1. Project Execution Arrangements and Partners

Conservation International (HQ-based team) will be the GEF Implementing (Project) Agency. The Comisión Permanente del Pacifico Sur (CPPS), UNESCO-Quito (cluster office representation for Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela) and Conservation International through the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape Program (CI-ETPS) are the Project Executing Partners and primary grant recipients directly from the CI-GEF Project Implementing Agency. In terms of project implementation and design CI-ETPS will be the Lead Executing Partner as the assigned operative division of Conservation International of relevance to the project region, and will internally coordinate project actions with the CI-Global Marine Program (GM) based in Washington DC, USA and the CI-country offices of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and mainland Ecuador. Hence the central operational basis for the project is a CI-CPPS-UNESCO (Quito) coalition.

The overall coordination of the project will be enabled by the Project Steering Committee (PSC) formed by representatives from UNESCO-Quito (Chair), CI-ETPS (Secretary), CPPS, and CI-Global Marine. The PSC will be responsible for providing input to project work planning, approving annual work plans and budgets, reviewing and approving any key project outputs (particularly political ones), and providing efforts to facilitate successful project execution. The PSC is distinct from the Regional Mangrove Open Initiative Steering Committee (CI-ETPS, CPPS, UNESCO-Quito, CI-GM) which is a coordination instrument for the CPPS regional strategy and has a broader membership including the PSC members, Ramsar, the OFP representatives from each ETPS country (including a representative for MINAE Costa Rica as a non-CPPS cooperating party) and support from the CI-country directors as required. The PSC will make collective decisions regarding the planning and development of actions during the project and ensure that it meets operational minimum standards and safeguard requirements as determined by the CI-GEF Project Agency.

CI will be responsible for and receive a direct grant from the CI-GEF Project Agency for general project management and oversight and will host the Project Coordinator (PC) and Project Management Unit (PMU). In terms of Operations it will play a central coordinating role between project partners CPPS and UNESCO-Quito, be a member and co-convener of the PSC and support implementation of project activities through coordinated actions with the marine divisions of the four ETPS country offices and the CI-Global Marine Program. CI-ETPS has a Regional Program Director, Senior Project Manager and Operations Manager supporting the mangrove initiative in the wider context of ETPS conservation projects and hosts the GEF Project Coordinator. Project actions in the CI-Country programs of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador will be coordinated and implemented through collaboration with the CI-ETPS program at the discretion of each CI Country Director following established CI internal conventions. CI will receive a direct grant which is internally apportioned between the six different CI-Cost Centers.

CPPS will be responsible and receive a direct grant from the CI-GEF Project Agency for implementation of regional C1 Outcomes 1.1 and 1.2 developing the technical fora and regional plan with ETPS countries as well as joint technical governance for the project being a member of the PSC. They will oversee the regional plan development, bring longevity and credibility to the process and help integrate the project results within the CPPS-UNESCO/IOC SPINCAM project. The latter is a regional initiative currently developing Integrated Coastal Management indicators at national and regional levels that includes mangrove information and GIS layers. CPPS will receive a direct grant from the Project Agency and be responsible for financial reporting of their grant. Inputs for regular technical reporting will be facilitated via CI-ETPS to the Project Agency.

UNESCO-Quito will be responsible for, and receive a direct grant for the C1 Outcome 1.3 concerning project communication and its role in joint governance as member of the PSC. UNESCO brings to the project the legitimacy of being a neutral, multi-governmental agency with a long-standing presence in the region. UNESCO’s in-region staff have strong governmental relations, a firm grasp of the regional and national policy frameworks with their regional science director in Quito. They also bring an in-house communications specialist to the project. UNESCO-Quito will receive a direct grant from the Project Agency and be responsible for financial reporting of their grant. Inputs for regular technical reporting will be facilitated via CI-ETPS to the Project Agency.

Operational focal points (OFPs) were determined for each country by the authorities during the PPG phase and will be updated if and as required during the Full Project. In Costa Rica the OFP is the MINAE Vice Ministry of MINAE assisted by GEF-SINAC and Ramsar-Costa Rica representation. In Panama the joint OFP are ANAM and ARAP agencies which will be reaffirmed during the creation of a new Environment Ministry for Panama tasked for 2015. In Colombia the OFP is MADS who have indicated that projects liaise with the Corporación Valle de Cauca (CVC) for local actions involving Afro-descendant and IPP communities across the Buenaventura District on the Pacific Coast. In Ecuador the OFP is the Sub-secretary for Marine-Coastal Resource Development (MAE-SGRMC).

The PMU will be embedded in the CI-ETPS program based in Ecuador and will host the Project Coordinator funded at 50% time by the GEF-IW5 mangrove project within that program and includes an estimated 10% time of an administration member in each of the CPPS, UNESCO-Quito, for the six CI cost centers (ETPS, GM, and four ETPS countries).

The CI-GEF Project Agency will provide project assurance, including supporting project implementation by maintaining oversight of all technical and financial management aspects, and providing other assistance upon request of the Executing Agency. The CI-GEF Project Agency will also monitor the project’s implementation and achievement of the project outputs, ensure the proper use of GEF funds, and review and approve any changes in budgets or work-plans. The CI-GEF Project Agency will arbitrate and ensure resolution of any conflicts during implementation.