The United Nations Development Programme in Amman (UNDP) organizes a National Forum towards the Endorsement of the Global Environment Facility/ Small Grants Programme Biennial Review. The forum will be chaired by HE Dr. Abdel Razzaq Tbeishat, Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and the Environment. Mr. Ove Bjerregaard, Resident Representative a.i. will be participating in the forum in addition to members of the Programme's National Steering Committee, representatives of non-governmental organizations, Programme partners and media. The findings of the first SGP Biennial Review will be presented during the forum and discussed by all partners before final endorsement.
The GEF/SGP has been conducting this self-assessment exercise over the past two months analyzing Programme mechanisms and procedures as well as supported projects' achievements for the purpose of optimizing performance to insure achieving Programme objectives to better serve the target local communities and the global environment. The Review included site visits to project sites, several regional community meetings, a stakeholder workshop and an analysis of available programme and project documents. A summary report documenting the results of the Biennial Review has been prepared and will be presented in the forum.
In his key-note speech, Mr. Ove Bjerregaard will review the role of the Small Grants Programme and the results it has achieved through supporting local community projects that improve their livelihoods and quality of life at the same time that they achieve global environmental benefits. Mr. Bjerregaard will highlight the linkages between the Small Grants Programme and other initiatives supported by the United Nations Development Programme in the country.
These initiatives include, among others, the Jordan Information Technology Community Centers (JITCC) and other electronic networking initiatives that aim at connecting government and non-governmental organizations concerned with the national sustainable development efforts in addition to initiatives dealing with poverty alleviation.
HE the Minister will highlight the role of the municipalities in supporting non-governmental organizations in their efforts to serve their local communities through implementing projects that contribute to sustainable management of natural resources and improve the level of environmental awareness of these communities.
Mr. Munir Adgham, the Small Grants Programme National Coordinator will give a presentation in which he will explain the mechanism and procedures taken to conduct the biennial review. Participants will discuss the results reached in cooperation will all participants in the above mentioned activities which included the National Steering Committee, NGOs, UNDP and other partners. The necessary modifications will be introduced according to participant recommendations leading to the endorsement of the final BPR report that sets the general guidelines for Programme progress in the coming phase.