Meeting of National Project Focal Points, 6 March 2006

The meeting of the WIO-LaB Project National Focal Points (which are also the Focal Points for the Nairobi Convention) held on 6 March 2006 aimed at briefing and discussing with the National Focal Points a number of key issues related to the design and implementation of a number of project activities to be implemented in 2006. The meeting was attended by the officials of UNEP/GPA, UNEP/GEF, Nairobi Convention Secretariat as well as National Focal Points and Chairs of the Municipal Wastewater Management (MWW) and Physical Alteration and Destruction of Habitats (PADH) Regional Task Forces.

The following issues were on the agenda of the meeting:

· Selection of demonstration projects

· Small Grants Programme

· Provision of Support to the Focal Point Institutions

In regard to the selection of demonstration projects, the Focal Points were briefed on the process that was followed in soliciting for demonstration projects in participating countries. The Focal Points were also briefed on the 10 demonstration project proposals that were selected during the 2^nd Joint meeting of the MWW and PADH Regional Task Forces held in the Comoros in the period 26-27^th October 2005. The Focal Points were subsequently given the opportunity to brief the meeting on the demonstration projects submitted by their countries and to expound on the regional significance of the projects and how they fits within the set national priorities in their countries. They also expounded on the technical and managerial innovativeness of the projects as well as the sustainability of project activities. The meeting identified priority demonstration projects, subject to the approval of the Steering Committee, that would enter the next stage of project development and implementation. There were also some deliberations on the mechanisms that would be explored in participating countries in order to ensure sustainability and replicability of selected demonstration projects.

In regard to the Provision of Support to the Focal Point Institutions, the Focal Points were briefed on the concept prepared by the WIO-LaB Project Management Unit. The aim of providing support to the Focal Points by the WIO-LaB Project is basically to facilitate certain WIO-LaB Project activities related to stakeholder involvement at country level. This initiative was proposed in light of the limited capacity of the Focal Points Institutions which in certain instances constrained the extent to which they could coordinate the implementation of activities in their countries.

In regard to the Small Grants Programme, the Focal Points were briefed on the concept on the Small Grants Programme prepared by the WIO-LaB PMU. During the discussions, it clearly emerged that the role of the Focal Point Institutions in identifying potential projects should be central in the process. This would ensure that selected projects are relevant not only to the objectives of the WIO-LaB Project, but also to the specific context of the participating countries.