6th South Asia Constituency Meeting of GEF conducted in Maldives

Thursday, May 17th, 2012

The 6th South Asia Constituency Meeting of Global Environmental Facility (GEF) was conducted in Maldives. The meeting was inaugurated by Dr. Mohamed Ali, Chief of staff of president’s office in a ceremony held in Nasandhura Palace Hotel on 15 May 2012.. Abdullahi Majeed, Deputy Minister for Housing and Environment welcomed the participants to the meeting and wished them a pleasant stay in Maldives. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony Dr. Mohamed Ali highlighted the vulnerability of Maldives to climate change and reflected on the various challenges the country face environmentally and economically. He talked about the reefs of Maldives having still not been recovered fully from the effects of 1998 El Nino and the cost involved in transportation and providing basic needs like schooling and health facilities to each of the 200 inhabited islands in the country. In his speech he also focused on the issues of scarcity of freshwater, due to extension of dry period.

The meeting was introduced by Mr. Manoj Pant, advisor to the council member for the GEF South Asia Constituency. He emphasized on the pressing need for broadening the role of GEF due to the present financial turmoil and called South Asia Constituency to seek for further opportunities from GEF. Additionally he expressed the significance of having regular constituency meetings and assured that essential support will be provided by GEF to its member countries.

In this meeting the documents for June 2012 council meeting was discussed and constituency perspective on important issues was developed. Presentations on recommendations for GEF council were delivered by representing countries and GEF agencies (WB, UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO and FAO) presented on the opportunities and challenges faced by them and their vision of GEF’s engagement in the region.

Day 2 of the meeting (16 May 2012), involved a field trip to Baa Atoll to inspect the Atoll Ecosystem-Based Conservation project site and a tour of Hanifaru Biosphere Reserve.

GEF South Asia Constituency comprises of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The council member representing this constituency is Mr. M.N. Prasad. GEF participants have been grouped into 32 constituencies with 18 constituencies composed of recipient countries. Approximately 15 representatives from Constituency member states, GEF, World Bank and international organizations attended this meeting.

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