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In addition, approximately 7% of IFAD’s lending programme is for activities to combat land degradation linked to National Action Programmes (NAPs). All IFAD projects are screened for potential adverse effects on the environment, natural resources and local populations.
To improve the effectiveness of its rural poverty reduction strategies, IFAD has recently adopted a new Operating Model which sharpens its operational focus at both corporate and regional levels, enabling it to better service developing member countries in designing, financing and implementing investment programmes and promoting policy change, to positively impact the livelihoods of the rural poor.
The new Operating Model reflects the importance of country development programming under country leadership, in the context of the Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRSs) and other overarching development frameworks, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In so doing it advocates a similar approach to that of the GM in its Consolidated Strategy and Enhanced Approach. This facilitates harmonization of the GM and its host institution at country level and offers a renewed opportunity for the GM to liaise with and contribute to IFAD’s operations.
The GM and IFAD have worked together on many occasions in mainstreaming NAPs into IFAD’s Country and Regional Strategy Opportunities Papers and linking new IFAD-supported projects to GM-initiatives and CCD objectives, with the aim of increasing resource flows for UNCCD implementation.
IFAD, is to date the GM’s largest financial contributor and IFAD resources have enabled the GM to support Action Programmes in 29 countries and 12 sub-regions, in addition to providing technical and financial support to other UNCCD-related initiatives.
In this context, IFAD is engaged in donor partnerships such as the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) for UNCCD Implementation in Central Asian Countries and the GEF-pilot Country Partnership Programme Central Asian Countries Initiative on Land Management (CACILM).
The GM at IFAD
IFAD as the GM’s host organization
The UNCCD negotiated text highlighted that the GM should be housed within an existing organization and draw upon the expertise and comparative advantage of this institution in its work. The First Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP.1) indicated that the mandate, objectives and capacity of the host organisation should substantially complement the work of the GM.
As the global agency at the forefront of tackling land degradation and reducing rural poverty in countries most affected by desertification, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) was selected to house the GM in 1997, by a ministerial-level assembly of over 113 country Parties to the Convention.
IFAD’s expertise and knowledge in financing projects and programmes and in mobilizing significant resources together with its broad base of collaboration agreements with other international financing institutions were considered important factors in the selection process.
While the GM works closely with IFAD and is supported by the Fund’s administrative structure, the GM maintains its separate identity and reports to the Conference of the Parties (COP) at each of its sessions and cooperates closely with its subsidiary bodies, in particular the UNCCD Secretariat.
IFAD’s mandate in the UNCCD context
IFAD’s mandate to enable the rural poor to overcome their poverty is inextricably linked with tackling land degradation. IFAD’s commitment to combating this global problem and its causes is reflected in its investment programmes, grants and policy initiatives.
Indeed, over the past 25 years, IFAD has committed over USD 3.5 billion to supporting dryland development and combating land degradation worldwide. Seventy percent of IFAD-supported projects are located in ecologically fragile, marginal environments.
Indeed, over the past 25 years, IFAD has committed over USD 3.5 billion to supporting dryland development and combating land degradation worldwide. Seventy percent of IFAD-supported projects are located in ecologically fragile, marginal environments.
In addition, approximately 7% of IFAD’s lending programme is for activities to combat land degradation linked to National Action Programmes (NAPs). All IFAD projects are screened for potential adverse effects on the environment, natural resources and local populations.
The IFAD-GM partnership
Like the GM, IFAD was not conceived as a stand-alone institution but was mandated to mobilize additional resources and maximize the impact of its own resources by partnering with others. For IFAD, partnership means multi-tier engagement, involving Member States, multilateral and bilateral development agencies, civil society organisations and with the rural poor.
To improve the effectiveness of its rural poverty reduction strategies, IFAD has recently adopted a new Operating Model which sharpens its operational focus at both corporate and regional levels, enabling it to better service developing member countries in designing, financing and implementing investment programmes and promoting policy change, to positively impact the livelihoods of the rural poor.
The new Operating Model reflects the importance of country development programming under country leadership, in the context of the Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRSs) and other overarching development frameworks, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In so doing it advocates a similar approach to that of the GM in its Consolidated Strategy and Enhanced Approach. This facilitates harmonization of the GM and its host institution at country level and offers a renewed opportunity for the GM to liaise with and contribute to IFAD’s operations.
The GM and IFAD have worked together on many occasions in mainstreaming NAPs into IFAD’s Country and Regional Strategy Opportunities Papers and linking new IFAD-supported projects to GM-initiatives and CCD objectives, with the aim of increasing resource flows for UNCCD implementation.
IFAD, is to date the GM’s largest financial contributor and IFAD resources have enabled the GM to support Action Programmes in 29 countries and 12 sub-regions, in addition to providing technical and financial support to other UNCCD-related initiatives.
IFAD is also a strategic partner of the GM in the wider context of its membership in the GM’s Facilitation Committee, which in light of the GM’s CESA will play a crucial role in providing strategic support for implementing the UNCCD in a more comprehensive and holistic way.
IFAD as a GEF executing agency
IFAD’s support for UNCCD implementation is further strengthened in its capacity as an GEF executing agency. The GEF’s Operational Programme on Sustainable Land Management (OP15) uniquely positions IFAD to link projects addressing land degradation to poverty reduction and development concerns.
In this context, IFAD is engaged in donor partnerships such as the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) for UNCCD Implementation in Central Asian Countries and the GEF-pilot Country Partnership Programme Central Asian Countries Initiative on Land Management (CACILM).
The GM has partnered with IFAD, collaborating on and/or co-financing GEF proposals in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Tunisia and Venezuela.
In Brazil, the GM-faciliatated Sustainable Land Management Project in the Semi-Arid Sertao has led to a GEF grant of USD 6.3 million, to complement an IFAD USD 57 million investment programme.
In Brazil, the GM-faciliatated Sustainable Land Management Project in the Semi-Arid Sertao has led to a GEF grant of USD 6.3 million, to complement an IFAD USD 57 million investment programme.
The total amount mobilized from GEF for these proposals is approximately USD 44.6 million with co-financing totalling USD 116.5 million from IFAD and USD 101.1 million from other co-financiers. These collaborative efforts illustrate the added value of the GM’s partnership with IFAD and GEF in exploiting opportunities to combat land degradation and increase the resource flows for dryland development.
The way ahead
While acknowledging the support extended by IFAD to the GM, the independent evaluation of the Global Mechanism (2002-3) requested byCOP.5, advocated further enhancing the partnership since “the organic relationship between the GM and IFAD is an essential feature and an important asset for the GM”. In response to these recommendations, IFAD has established an Advisory Group to the GM (2004) and is currently working in close collaboration with the GM on a new IFAD President’s Bulletin clarifying the relationship between and relative responsibilities of the GM and its host institution. One major development anticipated is the creation of a multi-donor facility for the GM, along the lines of PROFOR in the World Bank. Enhancing collaboration with IFAD will continue to be a central focus in GM’s strategic approach for the next biennium, with the aim of further mainstreaming the UNCCD into IFAD operations both at design and implementation phases.
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