UNDP as one of the three Implementing Agencies of the GEF (UNEP and the World Bank are the others) has been providing support to the region through the following processes;
Financial and administrative inputs from the GEF and technical back-stopping are managed through the UNDP GEF Unit with delegated responsibilities to the GEF Coordinators of the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (RBLAC) in New York. In the Caribbean, substantive and technical support has been provided by three professionals; two GEF Small Grant Programme Coordinators and the Caribbean SDA.
6.1 The GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP)
This programme provides support for strengthening the capacity of NGOs, community based and other grass roots organizations. Projects are supported which address developmental issues in the focal areas of the GEF related to biodiversity, international waters and climate change.
6.12 Barbados
The GEF/SGP administered out of the Barbados Office provides support to 10 SIDS of the Eastern Caribbean; Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Monsterrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The portfolio of projects since its inception in January 1994 and disbursed during the Pilot Phase total US$ 315,292 and is summarized in Table 4. Initiatives funded range from organic farming in Barbados, through strengthening the capacity of a national NGO to deliver environmental education and public awareness programmes in St Lucia, to developing mooring buoys for commercial dive operators. The status of disbursements on Operational Phase projects have not been finalized but a programme budget of US$400,000 has been approved for the period 1997- 1999.
Table 4 : UNDP GEF - Small Grants Programme : Barbados
(As at 12th August 1996)
| Project Number & Name | Recipient | Approval Date and Status | Total Grant (US$) |
| GEF-BAR-94-G01
Permanent Mooring Buoys (Rescue the Reef) |
Professional Association of Dive Operators (PADO) | 11 Nov 1994
Ongoing |
$ 10 000 |
| GEF -BVI-94-G02
Reforestation Programme & Supporting Education |
BVI National Parks Trust | 11 Nov 1994
Ongoing |
$ 9 750 |
| GEF -Mot-94-G03
Environmental Project for Women in Montserrat |
Social League of Women | 11 Nov 1994
Not yet started |
$ 20 000 |
| GEF -StL-94-G04
Popular Education for Communiity-Based and Marine Management |
Soufriere Foundation | 11 Nov 1994
Completed |
$ 9 900 |
| GEF -StL-94-G05
Building Capacity and Capability for Sustainable Action in the Communities of Praslin and Mamuiku while Meeting Specific Strategic Needs |
St. Lucia National Trust | 11 Nov 1994
Completed |
$ 11 148 |
| GEF -StV-94-G06
Anse Cayenne River Project- Clare Valley |
National Association of Mass Education (NAME) | 11 Nov 1994
Ongoing |
$ 12 500 |
| GEF -Bar-94-Go7
The Cornerstone |
Theocratic Government of His Majesty Haile Selassie I Churchial Order of The Nyahbinghi | 11 Nov 1994
Ongoing |
$ 39 452 |
| GEF -StV-94-G08
District Consultations and a National Consultation on the GEF in St. Vincent and the Grenadines |
JEMS Progressive Community Organisation | 11 Nov 1994
Completed |
$ 21 970 |
| GEF -Bar-94-G09
Development of a Natural Specimen Collection |
Barbados Museum and Historical Society | 15 Nov 1994
Ongoing |
$ 15 000 |
| GEF-Dom-94-G10
Ecological Agricultural Methods in Weed and Pest Control on Small Farms |
Association for Caribbean Transformation | 15 Nov 1994
Ongoing |
$ 25 000 |
| GEF -Grn-95-G11
National Consultation on the GEF/SGP in Grenada |
Inter-Agency Group of Development Organisations (IAGDO) | 16 August 1995
Completed |
$ 4 308 |
| GEF -St Lu-95-G12
Collaborative Planning Towards the Establishment of the Praslin Protected Landscape |
St. Lucia National Trust | 16 August 1995
Ongoing |
$ 20 600 |
| GEF-StV-95-G13
Community Management of Natural Resources in the Southern Grenadines |
Union Island Environmental Action Committees; Canouan Youth In Action; Union Island Basketball Association | 16 August 1995
Ongoing |
$ 7 445 |
| GEF -StV-95-G14
North Windward Integrated Community Land and River Management Project |
Council for the Development of the Carib Community; Dickson Educational, Sports and Cultural Organisation | 16 August 1995
Ongoing |
$ 34 100 |
| GEF -Grn-95-G15
Community Consultations and Case Studies on Coastal Management |
Grenada Community Development Agency (GRENCODA) | 16 August 1995
Ongoing |
$ 16 308 |
| GEF -StL-95-G16
Toilet Project Proposal |
Choiseul Women in Development Committee | 16 August 1995
Ongoing |
$ 3 592 |
| GEF -Dom-95-G17
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Project |
Dominica Youth Environmental Club | 16 August 1995
Not yet started |
$ 4 075 |
| GEF -Ang-95-G18
Protecting the Environment from Overgrazing by Livestock |
National Farmers Association | 16 August 1995
Not yet started |
$ 19 444 |
| GEF -Grn-95-G19
Restoration of Concord River and Aquatic Fauna |
Concord Community Development Organisation | 16 August 1995
Not yet started |
$ 30 700 |
| TOTAL | US $ 315,292 |
6.13 Trinidad and Tobago
The GEF/SGP administered out of the Trinidad and Tobagoand Tobago Office provides support to Trinidad and Tobago and has recently been expanded (October 1997 to include Suriname. Table 5 summarizes the portfolio of projects and expenditure from the inception of the project in January 1995 which total US$ 161,533 out of a total programme budget of US$ 400,000. Eleven projects have been funded to date ranging from the development of tyre gardens for small scale agriculture; waste recycling; marine turtle protection; coastal water quality monitoring and prevention and the development of a community radio and newspaper.
Table 5: UNDP GEF - Small Grants Programme : Trinidad And Tobago
| PROJECT NAME | RESPONSIBLE NGO/CBO | GRANT (TT$) | GRANT (US$) |
| Net for Turtle | Grande Riviere Environmental Awareness Trust (GREAT) | $ 14 242.50 | $ 2 434.62 |
| Tyre Garden | Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL) | $ 51 945.00 | $ 8 879.50 |
| Waste Recycling | People United to Save Our Heritage | $ 33 700.00 | $ 5 392.00 |
| Tour Guiding Workshop | Toco Foundation | $ 5 000.00 | $ 868.00 |
| Wetland World Environmental Education, Public Awareness and Aviculture | Pointe-A-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust | $ 92 000.00 | $15 181.52 |
| Marine Turtle Protection | Grand Riviere Environmental Awareness Trust (GREAT) | $ 98 939.34 | $15 830.29 |
| Toco Talk Publication and Community Radio | Toco Foundation | $ 48 000.00 | $ 7 920.79 |
| Ecotourist Project | Toco Foundation | $ 287 873.20 | $46 059.71 |
| TOTAL | $ 581 700.04 | $ 94 566.49 |
The GEF/SGP addresses SIDS priorities in the areas of management of wastes, coastal and marine resources, freshwater resources, energy resources, tourism resources, biodiversity resources, national institutions and administrative capacity and human resources development.
6.2 The GEF Programme: Regional Level
6.21 Level Capacity Building Project Development Initiatives:
In order to improve the capacity of Caribbean countries of the region to take advantage of GEF resources through the development of projects, a Project Development Workshop was convened by UNDP in April 1995 in Barbados. Participation was drawn from a range of regional and national institutions such as OECS and CARICOM governments, representatives of intergovernmental institutions such as the secretariats of CARICOM, ECLAC/CDCC, UNEP Regional Coordinating Unit, Caribbean Tourism Organization and CARICAD; regional NGOs such as the Caribbean Conservation Association and the Caribbean Policy Development Centre; and national NGOs such as the St Lucia National Trust, GRENCODA and the Dominica Conservation Association. The Caribbean Representative on the GEF Council Dr John Ashe was also invited to participate. During the workshop participants were provided with the tools and documentation necessary for conceptualizing and developing GEF project proposals and were given opportunities for drafting proposals for discussion at the meeting.
Although initially promising, the results of this workshop were not as effective as expected since there was still too much reliance on UNDP’s limited expertise to assist with project development both at the level of small grants projects as well as for larger GEF proposals. Other strategies are being examined by UNDP to address this situation.
Not withstanding this, a portfolio of national and regional proposals have been prepared which require considerable reworking to make them "GEFable". The latter is essential since GEF procedures for submission and approval are onerous and constantly changing rules and guidelines are almost major impediments to successful completion of any project proposal under two to three years. Table 6 lists proposals in different stages of formulation submitted through UNDP Trinidad or Barbados Country Offices.
Table 6 (a): GEF Projects In The Regional Pipeline
Submitted by UNDP Caribbean Offices as at Oct 31 1997 but not yet approved
| Project title | PROJECT PROPONENT
(and date of submission) |
GEF FOCAL AREA | GEF Funds Requested |
| Protection of the Caribbean Sea through the Strengthening of Tourism Management in the Insular Small Island Developing States | UNDP Barbados and Trinidad
(September 1995) |
Biodiversity And International Waters | US$ 344,000
(Project Development Phase) US$5 Million (Full Project) |
| Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building for Regional Marine Oil Spill Response | Government of Trinidad and Tobago
(September 1995) |
Biodiversity And International Waters | Not available |
Protection of Biodiversity in the OECS through the development of Parks and Protected Areas.
|
OECS Secretariat
(June 1995) |
Biodiversity | Not available |
Table 6 (b): GEF Medium Sized Projects In The Regional Pipeline
"Concept Papers" received by UNDP Trinidad as at Oct 31 1997 for Possible GEF Support
| Project title | PROJECT PROPONENT | GEF focal area | GEF Funding |
| UNESCO Associated Schools Sea Caribbean Project Proposal | Trinidad and Tobago National Commission for UNESCO | International Waters | $US 900,000 |
| Wind Energy Proposal for the Commonwealth of Dominica | C-Breeze Limited | Climate Change | US$ 50 000 |
| Strengthening of Biosystematic Services in support of Environment and Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture Development and Forestry through the Rehabilitation of Records and Collections | CARINET The Caribbean LOOP of BioNET INTERNATIONAL | Biodiversity
|
US$ 1 000 000 (approx.) |
| The Caribbean First Green Globe Destination Project | Green Globe | Biodiversity | not yet defined |
| Biodiversity Conservation in the Commonwealth of Dominica through the development of eco-tourism enterprises | Government of Dominica, Sustainable Development Council | Biodiversity | US$ 970 000 |
| The Waitikubuli Trail Project (Dominica) | Waitikubuli (Dominica) Ecological Foundation | Biodiversity | not yet defined |
| Strengthening Biodiversity Information Management in the Caribbean | Commonwealth Secretariat and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre | Biodiversity | not yet defined |
| Scotland District Renewable Energy and Environment Park | Scotland District Renewable Energy Park Group | Climate Change | not yet defined |
| Capacity Building For Hazardous Waste Management | Centre For Environmental Studies
Engineering Institute University Of The West Indies |
Ozone Depleting Substances | US$ 809 740 (approx.) |
| Rehabilitation in Management of Rivers in Roseau, Dominica | Ministry of Finance | International Waters | US$ 300 000 (approx.) |
| Development of the Marine and Coastal Information
Infrastructure for Trinidad and Tobago within a Regional Framework
|
Nautical Data International Inc., with Min. of Works and Transport- Marine Services, Min. of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources- Hydrographic Division and Fisheries Division, Min. of Planning and Development, Environmental Management Authority | International Waters | US$ 225 000 |
| Preparation of Environmental Education Materials for Children in Dominica | Ananse Productions Ltd. | Biodiversity | not yet defined |
| TOTAL | US$ 4,254,740 (estimated) |
6.22: GEF as an Instrument for Regional Collaboration
Sustainable Human Development in the context of the Caribbean cannot be realized without a strong commitment for collaborative action by regional states on the management of the Caribbean Sea. This shared international resource represents a tremendous opportunity for the region to achieve economic and social development through the use of its considerable assets in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Unfortunately, although the economic potential of these common resources has been recognized within various developmental sectors in the Caribbean, for example, in sectors concerned with land-based and nautical tourism, transportation, and fishing, it is now very evident that such economic use is proceeding in exponential terms, without adequate safeguards for the protection of the environment.
Because of this, UNDP sought to focus its support at the regional level on accessing GEF funds to protect the resources of the Caribbean Sea. This major international water body possesses regionally and globally significant environmental assets, and through its strategic location, is a major transportation route and asset base for tourism, in particular, eco- and nautical tourism. Project proposals have been developed to promote the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources in a manner which not only provides tangible benefits but which also contributes to an improved quality of life for citizens of the region (see Tables 6(a) and 6(b).
6.23 Use of GEF Resources for Sustainable Tourism management
A major regional consultation convened by UNDP in Barbados in April 1995, recommended the development of a proposal entitled, Protection of the Caribbean Sea through the Strengthening of Tourism Management. Sixty-one participants and resource persons were drawn from across the Wider Caribbean including Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Guyana and included representatives from government, academic institutions, NGOs, the private sector, the donor community, and intergovernmental organizations.
6.24 Difficulties of GEF Submission and Approval Process
The initial draft tourism proposal prepared by UNDP in consultation with governments, the CARICOM Secretariat, the ECLAC/CDCC Secretariat, the OECS Secretariat, UWICED, CTO, CHA and governments was submitted for approval in September 1995 and appeared to have been given very low priority despite the best efforts of the RBLAC GEF Coordinator on Biodiversity and International Waters. Proposed activities became outdated when several other regional initiatives utilizing elements of the proposal were developed and are at various stages of implementation in the region. Included among those which adopted a number of the activities proposed were the UNEP/USAID Caribbean Environment Network tourism proposal; the OAS Caribbean Adaptation for Climate Change Project; ECLAC/UNEP/IDRC Environmental Information Management in the Caribbean.
Considerable effort was also undertaken by the Caribbean SDA to reformulate the proposal for resubmission in late 1996, and later in early in 1997 but for reasons above, this did not happen. Additionally, because of the constantly changing rules of the GEF ("sliding rule" principle) elements of the proposal which were acceptable under GEF rules in earlier versions of the proposal became obsolete (and apparently) following almost every GEF Council Meeting. Addressing changes due to new rules required further expenditure of scarce financial and human resources available for this purpose. Any evaluation of resources expended on this project formulation exercise would reveal significant wastage by UNDP. A firm commitment for submission and approval in time for announcement at the SIDS Ministerial Meeting was also a significant casualty of the "GEF sliding rule principle" and submission and approval is yet to take place. Noble efforts are being made by the RBLAC GEF Coordinator on Biodiversity and International Waters to submit for approval on 2 December 1997.
Despite these setbacks, results of the wide consultative process during project development were positive and resulted in formal endorsements by several relevant regional and international organizations and governments of Caribbean SIDS. In addition the OAS agreed to cost-share in the execution and implementation of the project and have earmarked US$259,000 for the PDF phase and an amount to be determined for the project phase. The UNDP/GEF Unit had already earmarked US$ 5 Million for this proposal in its 1997 Work plan and also received endorsement of support from the other two implementing agencies for the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank and UNEP. Table 2 shows that several of the priority areas of the SIDS POA are expected to be addressed by this project. The Requesting Agency for this project is UNDP on behalf of CARICOM, OAS, and ECLAC/CDCC .
6.25 Use of GEF Resources for Marine Oil Spill Response
The GEF Project Proposal, Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building for Regional Marine Oil Spill Response, has been prepared in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization’s Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Centre for the Wider Caribbean (REMPEITC-Carib) based in Curacao. The Requesting Agencies for this project are IMO, UNDP and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. This project is intended to address the SIDS priorities in the areas of natural and environmental disasters, management of wastes, coastal and marine resources, energy resources , tourism resources, biodiversity resources and national institutions and administrative capacity.
As indicated for the tourism proposal, this regional draft project has unfortunately had an unnecessary long gestation period. A commitment has also been given by UNDP Headquarters to correct this and to work with the World Bank for finalization, submission and approval early in 1997. Once again, this has not materialized.
6.26 Use of GEF Resources for Biodiversity Conservation in the OECS
The GEF Proposal Protection of Biodiversity in the OECS through the development of Parks and Protected Areas was developed by OECS governments and the St Lucia National Trust in collaboration with the Natural Resources Management Unit of the OECS Secretariat (OECS/NRMU). Although the project has been submitted by the OECS/NRMU for GEF approval through the OAS, it is being included in this review because UNDP was responsible for initiating its development. Indeed, the project formulation was initiated by participants at the April 1995 GEF Project Development Workshop and received technical advice from UNDP.
Other GEF Regional projects
Other regional GEF projects exist which precede the SIDS Conference. These include the Amazonian Biodiversity Project which covers the Amazonian continental "SIDS" of Guyana and Suriname. Table 7 summarizes GEF projects that are already operational in the Caribbean up to the first quarter of 1997.
Table 7: GEF PROJECTS IN THE CARIBBEAN
(in millions of US Dollars) as at March 1997
| COUNTRY | PROJECT NAME | FOCAL AREA | GEF FUNDS | Co - Financing | TOTAL |
| Global | Programme for Measuring Incremental Costs for the Environment (PRINCE) | Multilple Focal Areas | $ 2.60 | $ 0.80 | $ 3.40 |
| Global | Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Programme | Multiple Focal Areas | $ 4.30 | $15.20 | $ 19.50 |
| Global | Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Programme (replenishment) | Multiple Focal Areas | $ 15.50 | $ 36.00 | $ 51.50 |
| Global | Small Grants Programme | Multiple Focal Areas | $ 1.94 | $ 0.00 | $ 1.94 |
| Global | Small Grants Programme | Multiple Focal Areas | $ 24.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 24.00 |
| Global | Small Grants Programme | Multiple Focal Areas | $ 14.94 | $ 3.50 | $ 18.44 |
| Global | Country Case Studies on Climate Change Impacts and Adaptations Assessment- Phase I | Climate Change | $ 2.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 2.00 |
| Global | Country Case Studies on Sources and Sinks of Greenhouse Gases | Climate Change | $ 4.50 | $ 0.09 | $ 4.59 |
| Costa Rica | Costa Rica: National Biodiversity, Action Plan and Report to the Conference of the parties of the | Biodiversity | $ 0.20 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.20 |
| Costa Rica | Building National Technical Capacity to Develop Options for Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Climate Change | $ 0.47 | $ 0.13 | $ 0.60 |
| Costa Rica | Tejona Wind Power | Climate Change | $ 3.30 | $ 24.10 | $ 31.30 |
| Cuba | Protecting Biodiversity and Establishing Sustainable Development in the Sabana | Biodiversity | $ 2.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 2.00 |
| Dominican Republic | Conservation and Management in the Coastal Zone of the Dominican Republic | Biodiversity | $ 3.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 3.00 |
| Guatemala | Integrated Biodiversity Protection in the Sarstun-Motagua Region | Biodiversity | $ 4.00 | $ 3.70 | $ 7.70 |
| Guyana | Programme for Sustainable Forestry ( Iwokrama Rain Forest ) | Biodiversity | $ 3.00 | $ 0.40 | $ 3.040 |
| Jamaica | Demand Side Management Demonstration | Climate Change | $ 3.80 | $ 4.39 | $ 12.50 |
| Mexico | Protected Areas Programme | Biodiversity | $ 25.00 | $ 7.2 unconfirmed | $ 32.20 |
| TOTAL | $114.55 | $88.31 | $218.27 |
6.28 The GEF Programme: National Level support at the national level
Two national level GEF projects are currently being developed with UNDP assistance, one under the GEF focal area of biodiversity for Dominica and the other under the GEF focal areas of biodiversity and international waters for Trinidad and Tobago. One other GEF project entitled Communities in Park Rehabilitation and Management developed with UNDP support is already being implemented in Suriname.
Other national level GEF initiatives with some UNDP involvement which preceded the SIDS conference are the IWROKRAMA Rainforest project in Guyana, biodiversity projects in Belize, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
6.29 Dominica
The policy focus of the Government of Dominica on promoting the country as the "Nature Isle" of the Caribbean, and its intention to sustainably exploit the use of the island’s considerable biodiversity through eco-tourism, forms the basis of support requested for UNDP assistance in project formulation. A draft GEF project proposal, Sustainable Use of Biodiversity through the Development of Eco-tourism in Dominica, has been developed by UNDP in collaboration with a cross section of Dominica public and private sector organizations and was expected to be ready for submission and approval by early 1997 under the new GEF medium sized project facility for projects up to US$1 million. This also did not materialize and was presented in November 1997 GEF for approval. This proposal is intended to address the SIDS priorities in the areas of tourism resources, biodiversity resources and national institutions and administrative capacity.
6.30 Trinidad and Tobago
The second national level proposal for which UNDP assistance has been sought is an international waters and biodiversity proposal that is still at the concept stage of project development. The project entitled, Protection of the resources of the Gulf of Paria, Trinidad and Tobago, is intended to address SIDS priorities in the areas of management of wastes, coastal and marine resources, freshwater resources, land resources, biodiversity resources and national institutions and administrative capacity. Initially the proposal was to be developed as a joint initiative between the governments of Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, but because of undue delays over sensitive fishing agreements, activity at the national level has been recommended. The proposal is still at an embryonic stage and is scheduled for expansion during 1998.
6.31 Guyana
Although approval of the IWROKRAMA Rainforest project, in Guyana preceded the SIDS Conference, UNDP’s support for this project from the levels of both the Country Office and from Headquarters is very significant in addressing several SIDS Priority areas, including fresh water resources, land resources, tourism resources, biodiversity resources, national institutions and administrative capacity, regional institutions and technical cooperation, science and technology and human resources development.
6.32 Suriname
A project entitled, Communities in Park Rehabilitation and Management, was developed by UNDP in 1995 and is envisaged to strengthen the capacity of national agencies in managing biodiversity.
6.33 Jamaica
benefits from a regional GEF Project on contaminated bays in the Caribbean.
6.34 GEF Enabling Activities) GEF Enabling Activities
Several Caribbean SIDS governments took advantage of the GEF project facility approved in 1996 for the development of projects known as Enabling Activities. These are intended to assist countries in strengthening their capacities for implementing the so called GEF conventions, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on Climate Change. UNDP support for assistance in the development of these proposals was formally requested by the governments of Antigua Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts /Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname. UNDP undertook to guide the process of project formulation in collaboration with organizations at the national level in all of these countries resulting in the development of National Biodiversity Strategies with a total portfolio budget of US$ 1,359,000.
Table 8: UNDP Supported Enabling Activities In The Caribbean
NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGIES
COUNTRY |
PROJECT TITLE |
GEF FINANCING |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan and Report to the CBD | US $ 117 000 |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan and Report to the CBD | US $ 104 000 |
| Guyana | Formulation of a National Biodiversity Action Plan for the Implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy | US $ 82 000 |
| Grenada | Development of a National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan and Report to the CBD | US $ 133 000 |
| Dominica | National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and Report to the CBD | US $ 96 000 |
| Belize |
|
US $ 184 500 US $ 284 500 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and Report to the CoP | US $ 139 000 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and First Report to the CBD | US $ 127 000 |
| Republic of Suriname | Formulation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan for the Implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy | US $ 92 000 |
| TOTAL | US$ 1,359,000 |
A similar situation exists with respect to the preparation of Enabling Activities under the Convention on Climate Change and most governments have again requested technical assistance because of limited national capacity for project development in this SIDS priority area. UNDP is expected to convene an regional workshop on Communications Strategies for Climate Change in Trinidad and Tobago on 20 - 21 November 1997 to further strengthen regional capacity for implementation of the convention..
Enabling Activities under the Convention on Biodiversity are expected to address SIDS priorities in the areas of freshwater resources, land resources, tourism resources, biodiversity resources and national institutions and administrative capacity.
Enabling Activities under the Convention on Climate Change are expected to address SIDS priorities in the areas of climate change and sea level rise, natural and environmental disasters ,management of wastes, coastal and marine resources, freshwater resources, land resources, biodiversity resources and national institutions and administrative capacity.