News

The United Nations Development Programme in Amman (UNDP) organized today a National Forum towards the Endorsement of the Global Environment Facility/ Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) Biennial Review. The forum was under the patronage of HE Dr. Alia Bouran, Minister of the Environment, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities. Mrs. Christine McNab, UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative in Jordan participated 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 second SGP Biennial Review was presented during the forum and discussed by all partners before final endorsement. The first Biennial Programme Review was concluded in March 2002.

The GEF/SGP has been conducting this self-assessment exercise over the past two months analyzing the Programme mechanisms and procedures as well as supported projects’ achievements for the purpose of optimizing performance to insure achieving the Programme objectives to better serve the target local communities and the global environment. The Review included visits to project sites, 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 was presented today in the forum.

In her key-note speech, Mrs. McNab reviewed the role of the Small Grants Programme and the results it has achieved through supporting local community projects that improved their livelihoods and quality of life at the same time that they achieved global environmental benefits.

HE the Minister highlighted the partnership between the Ministry and the non-government organizations and the efforts to achieve sustainable development.

Mr. Munir Adgham, the Small Grants Programme National Coordinator and the Review team gave a presentation on the mechanism and procedures taken to conduct the biennial review. Participants discussed the results reached in cooperation with all participants in the above mentioned activities which included the National Steering Committee, NGOs, UNDP and other partners. The necessary modifications were 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.