PROJECT DEVELOPMENT FACILITY
REQUEST FOR CONCEPT PIPELINE ENTRY AND PDF B APPROVAL
AGENCY’S PROJECT ID: 3225
GEFSEC PROJECT ID: 2697
COUNTRY: Niger
COUNTRY ELIGIBILITY: Niger ratified the United
Nations Convention for Desertification Control in 1996
PROJECT TITLE: Control of the Sand Invasion of the
Oasis MicroBasins of the Regions of Gouré and Maïne
(PLECO).
GEF AGENCY: UNDP
OTHER EXECUTING AGENCY(IES): Department of
Environment and Desertification Control
DURATION: PDF B : 15 months; FSP : 5 years (subject
to confirmation by PDF B)
GEF FOCAL AREA(S): Land Degradation
GEF OPERATIONAL PROGRAM(S): OP 15 Sustainable
Land Management
GEF
STRATEGIC
PRIORITY(IES):
SLM
2;
Implementation of Innovative and Indigenous
Sustainable Land Management Practices
ESTIMATED WORK PROGRAM DATE: November 2006
ESTIMATED STARTING DATE: PDF B: March 2005
FINANCING PLAN (US$)
GEF PROJECT
Project (estimated)
PDF B (estimated)
PDF A
2,000,000
350,000
0
SUB-TOTAL GEF
2,350,000
PROJECT CO-FINANCING
GEF Agency (estimated)
50,000
Government (estimated)
500,000
Cash
Kind
Others (estimated)
4,000,000
Co-financing Sub-Total:
4,550,000
PDF B Co-financing
GEF Agency
8,000
Government
47,000
Gum Arabic Project
10 000
PDF B Co-financing Sub65,000
total
GRAND TOTAL
(estimated)
6,965,000
RECORD OF ENDORSEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT:
Mr Yakoubou Mahaman Sani, Ministry of Date: December 15, 2003
Economy
and
Finance,
Development
Comissioner, GEF Operation Focal Point
Mr Hassane Saley, CNEDD Executive Secretary, Date : February 26, 2004
CCD Focal Point
This proposal has been prepared in accordance with GEF policies and procedures and meets the
standards of the GEF Project Review Criteria for PDF Block A approval.
Frank Pinto
UNDP-GEF Executive Coordinator
Date: 10 March 2005
Project Contact Person
Abdoulaye NDIAYE, Regional Coordinator
UNDP-GEF for West and Central Africa
19 rue Parchappe Dakar Sénégal
Tel. +221 849 17 78
Fax. +221 849 17 94
Email: abdoulaye.ndiaye@undp.org
PART I: PROJECT CONCEPT
A-
SUMMARY
1. The Project on the Control of the Sand Invasion of the Oasis MicroBasins of the Regions of Gouré
and Maïne (PLECO), the operational programme of the National Action Program for
Desertification Control and Natural Resource Management (PAN/LCD/GRN) is in line with the
country’s basic strategic orientations including the improvement of agro-sylvo-pastoral practices.
The overall development objective assigned to the project is to “contribute to the regeneration,
integrity and stability of the oasis basin ecosystem and thus contribute to guaranteeing the
sustainability of agro-sylvo-pastoral production systems”. The project will build on the baseline
by bringing the population to fully assume management of oasis basins. Accordingly, previously
neglected project components such as capacity building, organization and training of rural
producers in sustainable actions will now be considered as a major component in programme
design and implementation for future actions. Project implementation will help achieve the
following major global benefits : (i) restoration and regeneration of degraded lands; (ii) control
and prevention of desertification ; (iii) conservation of specific ecosystems; (iv) conservation of
biodiversity.
2. At the national and local levels, the project will help achieve the following benefits: (i)
contributing to desertification control and poverty reduction; (ii) improving food security; (iii)
increasing cultivable land potential and ending rural migration and natural resource-related
conflicts, harmonizing and integrating different intervention methods aimed at ecosystem
conservation.
3. The GEF Alternative will help develop synergies among different intervention programmes and
projects in the area while taking into consideration all the social, economic and ecological
dimensions of development through the promotion of an eco-systemic, landscape approach to
sustainable land management.
B-
COUNTRY OWNERSHIP
COUNTRY ELIGIBILITY
4. Niger ratified the United Nations Convention for Desertification Control in 1996, and is eligible to
receive assistance from UNDP and the World Bank. Niger has also ratified all important
international conventions: African Convention for the conservation of nature and natural resources
(1970), Ramsar (1987); CITES (1973); Migratory Species (1980); World Heritage (1974), and
Biological Diversity (1995).
COUNTRY DRIVENESS AND PROJECT LINKAGE TO NATIONAL PRIORITIES, ACTION PLANS AND
PROGRAMS
5. Niger is now equipped with an arsenal of institutions, strategies and laws pertaining to the
environment. In fact, 1998 was a year of enhanced planning both for the environment and natural
resources. This is demonstrated by the adoption of: (i) a National Plan for Environmentally
Sustainable Development (July, 98), (ii) an Action Plan for the Fight against Desertification and
Conservation of Natural Resources (October, 98), (iii) a Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
(validation workshop in October, 98); and (vi) a Code de l’Environnement (November, 98).
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These strategies and action plans all include among their first priorities the preservation of
ecosystems and sustainable management of land (natural) resources.
6. The Government of Niger has adopted its Poverty Reduction Strategy, in which it is expected that
by 2015, the number of poor will be reduced from the current 66% to 50%, through (i) the
creation of a stable macro-economic framework ; (ii) development of productive sectors ; (iii)
improvement of access by the poor to social and basic services ; and (iv) promotion of good
governance and capacity building. This project specifically addresses the strategic priority of
“ensuring the increased contribution of productive sectors to economic growth and food security”.
7. The project falls under the UNDAF Cooperation Outcome N°1 on Food Security and Natural
Resource Management, and addresses its main priority of ensuring sustainability in environmental
and economic factors.
8. The project is also in line with the National Action Plan (NAP) orientations and priorities
including production capital conservation. The control of sand invasion, which is one of the main
project targets, is one of the NAP’s major sub-programs. The oases of Gouré and Maïne areas are
considered as high priorities for desertification control by the NAP. The UNCCD Focal Point has
been closely involved in preparation of this concept paper (see letter in Annex), and has been
endorsed by the GEF OFP.
9. Three ministries monitor the environment and natural resources: Planning; Water, Environment
and Desertification; and Agriculture. Within the Ministry of Planning, the Conseil National de
l’Environnement pour un Developpement Durable (CNEDD) is responsible to define politics,
strategies and action plans; it is also responsible for the monitoring of implementation of its action
plans. Within the Ministry of Water, Environment and Desertification, the Direction Nationale de
la Faune, de la Pêche et de la Pisciculture (DFPP) is responsible for implementation of
conservation activities concerning protected areas and wildlife over the entire territory, and the
Department of Environment is in charge of implementing the national policy on desertification
control.
10. The mandate of the Department of Environment and Desertification Control is to implement the
National Action Plan for Desertification Control and Natural Resource Management (PAN/LCDGRN). Its role is to design and implement policies, strategies, plans, programmes and national
projects on desertification control, reforestation, land regeneration, forest management, land
management, environment conservation and upgrading of the living environment. It produces
draft legislative and regulatory texts on desertification control, natural and forest resource
management, land regeneration, environment conservation and upgrading of the living
environment. It designs and implements anti-pollution and anti-nuisance programmes; conceives
and carries out technical studies and statistical surveys in its skill areas; and coordinates and
promotes programme and project activities on desertification control, reforestation, forest
management, land regeneration, environment conservation and upgrading of the living
environment while being responsible for their technical supervision. (for more detailed
information, please see Appendix 2).
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C- PROGRAMME AND POLICY CONFORMITY
PROGRAMME DESIGNATION AND CONFORMITY
11. PLECO fully complies with the basic principles of NAP and meets the criteria for eligibility to
GEF OP-15, on Land Degradation. In fact, PLECO falls under Strategic Priority 2 (SP2) in that it
allows experimentation and demonstration of innovative, indigenous field approaches to
controlling sand invasion of the basins. In addition, the capacity building elements intended for
technical and local actors under this project will also contribute to Strategic Priority 1 (SP1) of
OP-15.
12. The project is an important addition to the portfolio of GEF projects in the Sahel, as it focuses on
a clear area of priority (sand dune invasion into oases) for governments across the Sahel. No other
GEF project to date in Africa is addressing this issue, and therefore the project offers the
opportunity for GEF to develop its policy and strategy on how to respond to this growing threat.
Furthermore, the GEF value added is in terms of working with agro-pastoral communities within
the oases (primarily) while also not neglecting the needs and access rights of migratory peoples in
the wider landscape. The GEF portfolio in Niger consists of two other OP 15 projects (Air Tenere,
under preparation; and Transboundary Niger-Nigeria) and several BD and IW projects. The GEF
OFP and the CCD Focal Point are satisfied that the Oasis MicroBasin project (PLECO) is not
duplicative of these other projects and will enhance the impact of the GEF portfolio in Niger (see
section on Institutional Coordination, and maps in appendices).
13. The geographical location of the project is strategic for securing and reinforcing the protection of
Lake Chad and River Niger Basins thus contributing to the benefits of the IW Focal Area. The
protection of these microbasins will significantly contribute to the protection and conservation of
globally significant biodiversity (fauna and flora) in these fragile ecosystems thus contributing in
the benefits of the Biodiversity Focal Area.
14. The expected global impacts of the project are :
 restoration of and regeneration of high priority (oasis) degraded lands (total area to be
determined, but expected to be catalytic);
 control and prevention of desertification maintenance of ecosystem integrity, health, functions
and services on a landscape level; (total area to be determined but expected to be substantial due
to replication effect);
 indirect contribution to conservation of biodiversity
 providing sustainable land management models that could be replicated through the Lake Chad
and River Niger basins, as the project area is a transition zone between the two basins;
 ameliorating the general climatic condition as the project will help to improve ecosystem
integrity on the surface, and sustain underground water resources in these humid micro-basins by
reducing lost through the stabilization of dunes;
 conserve biodiversity of global significance in the micro-basins.
15. The expected national and local impacts are :

Communities manage natural resources in a sustainable manner (productivity and health of
ecosystems improved);
4

Women and men further empowered to lead variable productive activities (sources of income
and average income increased in the rural area);

Institutions manage the environment more efficiently
PROJECT DESIGN
Description of project pilot area
16. Like in many parts of the world, Niger’s ecosystems are exposed to strong pressures from human
activities and climate variability including overexploitation of vegetal formations and extensive
land clearing for agricultural and herding purposes, destruction of biomass by fire leading to the
impoverishment of biodiversity, soil and water degradation, and unpredictable droughts.
17. Niger is a poor country (ranked next to last by the UNDP 2002 HDI); it is a large and landlocked
country extending over a surface area of 1,267,000 sq. km the 3/4 of which are found in arid and
semi-arid zones. Niger is one of the Sahelian countries most exposed to the land degradation
phenomenon. Eastern Niger is more hard-hit by the sand invasion phenomenon especially in the
regions of Gouré and Maïne. The districts of Gouré and Maïne are part of the administrative
Regions of Zinder and Diffa. The Project pilot area focuses on this priority region as identified by
the NAP, which is located between the River Niger Basin and the Lake Chad Basin (see map).
Oasis basins are predominant in this area and form a special feature of the regional ecosystem,
some of which drain into the two major basins, and some of which do not – especially those as are
cut off due to sand invasion.
18. The project area consists of a wide sandy plateau culminating at an altitude of 300 to 400 meters.
The upper parts are made up of large dunes, the peaks of which are often made of vivid (mobile)
sand peaks. This plateau is spotted with fairly deep and more or less circular depressions - the
microbasins - with stretched shallow waters and substantial ground water resources.
19. This region is characterized by a Sahel-specific climate with an annual rainfall of 200 to 400 mm
on average. Long dry seasons (lasting 9 to 10 months annually) alternate with rainy seasons
characterized by short but pelting rains (resulting in land erosion by water) which are generally
unevenly distributed over time.
20. Socio-economic activities in the project area are dominated by agriculture and cattle breeding,
which already bear the markings of environment degradation. In this zone, current agricultural
practices combine rainfed agriculture (millet, sorghum, cowpea) with microbasin agriculture
where many agricultural products (cassava, maize, sweet potato, onions, sugar canes, dates,
wheat) can be produced thanks to the central presence of a shallow or even near-surface water
table. These products generate significant income and have been adopted by the local
communities to diversify their incomes as a risk strategy when face with climatic hazards.
21. Cattle breeding is the second largest economic activity in the area and is characterized by
migratory (transhumant) herding particularly by nomadic herdsmen, and sedentary cattle breeding
which plays an important role through its relations with agricultural activity including supply of
animal traction (carts, ploughs) and transport (saddle) as well as manure production. Resorting to
animal traction in the context of an already weakened ecosystem unfortunately speeds up the
degradation effect.
5
22. Transhumance herding involves major seasonal movements north to south. However, the time
spent by herds in the northern part is increasingly shorter due to the effect of lowering
productivity of grasslands from recurrent droughts. As a result, herds quickly return to the
neighbourhood of the microbasins so that they can benefit from livestock watering facilities and
pastureland. This is unfortunately very quickly exhausted due to massive animal concentrations,
thus leading to long term overgrazing and degradation. Competition between nomad users not
only accelerates the degradation of microbasin ecosystems but it also regularly gives rise to
conflicts with settled agro-pastoralists, with dramatic consequences in some cases. This is the
reason why the Government of Niger is in the process of launching a “Programme to Secure
Pastoral Ecosystems in the Region of Zinder ” with the financial assistance of AFD (French
Development Agency). This program is one of the main baseline activities upon which the GEF
increment will be negotiated during the preparation of the project.
23. Furthermore, the country’s fodder potential from its rangelands is affected by bushfires every year
thereby seriously jeopardizing this activity’s development potential and possibilities as well as the
survival of certain vegetal species. In fact, repeated bushfires not only disturb production but they
also destroy both the flora and fauna including biodiversity by causing the disappearance of many
species while impeding the growth of several others. They contribute directly to the erosion of
species diversity, especially that of endangered species. Although certain species have developed
evolutionary coping mechanisms to fires, these are often not sufficient to withstand recurrent and
very frequent fires.
24. The expansion of cultivated lands by 11.8% on average into rangelands is also having serious
consequences. This rate is smaller in the remote and rather sparsely populated region of Gouré
and Maïne, but it is a growing phenomenon especially in and around the oases microbasins, and
therefore is likely to threaten animal production in the long run. Conflicts between herdsmen and
farmers have become frequent.
25. At this point, all socio-economic activities depend on the resources of the various basins. In his
early 1990s survey, Jahiel (1998) reported that total income from agriculture amounted to 51.3%
from microbasin water agriculture compared to only 15.3% from rainfed agriculture, with the
balance accounting for activities such as cattle breeding (25.3%) and sale of natrons (salt) and
handicrafts (8.1%). As a result of deteriorating weather conditions, MicroBasin irrigated
agriculture initially considered an accessory has now become the main source of income for the
farmers living in that region.
26. As a result, the number of farmers using oases is increasing, including a gradual shift of some
herdsmen to agriculture due to economic problems. For the past few years, the ecological
environment of some of the basins and shallow waters has been deteriorating due to extensive and
illegal logging, bushfires and slash burning around the basins by farmers who are seeking better
lands for winter crops. All these traditional and modern land practices are now obsolete due to
growing climate aridity and pressure from users.
27. Considered an excellent zone of biodiversity concentration, oases microbasins have also come to
be viewed as areas for the production of service wood, plant testing for medical purposes, etc…
From an environmental and socio-economic viewpoint, these ecosystems obviously provide
strategic sites (broad range of biological diversity, habitats for many species of water birds,
existence of rare species of flora…). Therefore, these ecosystems offer multiple functions and
services to local populations, other populations in the wider landscape, and to humanity, thus
justifying GEF involvement.
6
Threats and Root Causes
28. From the foregoing, it appears that while the basin ecosystems are very productive, they are today
seriously threatened by the sand invasion phenomenon which is likely to end their existence in the
long run if conservation measures are not taken urgently. Traditional systems should be assisted to
evolve into a sustainable use of the microbasin resources.
29. Data on actual land degradation in this region are not available (except for two districts – see
below). It is known that sand dune migration is a serious manifestation of land degradation, but
the exact levels of soil erosion, loss in soil productivity and ecosystem health, and percentage of
oases microbasins affected, have not been adequately measured. The preparatory phase of the
project will conduct preliminary data collection to ascertain the baseline of land degradation in the
area. Data of key concern are the following : gradual exhaustion of the water table and increased
salinization; mineral exhaustion and compaction of rainfed agricultural lands (requiring some
form of soil and water conservation ( zai, half-moons, etc.);
30. Beyond these particular ecosystems (the oases and their surrounding landscapes), it is the whole
region that is threatened by land degradation and sand invasion. The phenomenon also affects
water points (ponds, drills, wells, etc.) and various infrastructures including the National Unity
Road (RN1), villages, schools and health centres.
31. Sand dune formations in this part of Niger date back to many decades; their formation has been
favoured by the accumulation of deflated sand carried away by the wind of the old (fossil) erg that
was formed by river sediments. The fossil dunes and dune ridges surrounding the microbasins are
said to have been stabilized by vegetal colonization. However, in the successive arid periods, the
peaks of dune ridges and isolated dunes appear to have been destabilized by the action of the wind
following the destruction of the vegetation by traditional cultivation techniques and climate
aridity. Subsequently, the dunes became active setting off fresh sand movement. The absence of
vegetation appear to have aggravated the action of the wind often blowing at a maximum speed
of over 5m/s on the dunes that had been strongly destabilized and intensely eroded by the wind.
32. The traditional cultivation practices which are characterized by the massive use of shifting
cultivation and fallows and the more recent adoption of modern techniques such as animaldraught cultivation in an already arid ecosystem, have entailed almost the total disappearance of
the vegetation thus striping bare the dune peaks.
33. The scope of the sand invasion phenomenon has also been highlighted by the findings of the
mapping study on the status of sand invasions in the districts of Gouré and Mainé-soroa, carried
out by the Project on the Control of the Sand Invasion of Cultivable Lands in the Regions of
Zinder and Diffa (Project NER/89/004) between 1993-1994. The study identified the number of
existing oases microbasins and the scope of their invasion by sand. Over 2,300 microbasins have
been identified with more than one-third of which are considered “wet” meaning that they can
retain water for 4 to 6 months a year. The study also revealed that 1,300 of these microbasins
(i.e. over half) are threatened by sand invasion some of which are today totally dry. The total
hectare of this microbasins is estimated at 18,329 ha out of which 10,360 ha are considered
degraded. If we consider the agriculture lands at a whole, almost 43 % (12, 425 ha) of cultivated
dunes situated around the villages have been invaded by sand from 1986 to 2003. This situation
has further exacerbated deforestation and natural vegetation degradation, as a result of pressures
to acquire new agricultural land (see appendix 7 for details on land degradation).
7
34. These losses of agricultural lands due to sand invasion are all the more harmful as their yield was
higher compared to cultivation in other surrounding soils. The losses of production have resulted
in lower agricultural income. Poverty continues to spread, leading unavoidably to both more
agricultural expansion (extensification) and rural migration. There are more frequent conflicts
linked to the use of dwindling resources. The zone is on the verge of an environmental disaster
while its populations are growing poorer and poorer. Sand dune invasion has deep repercussions
on local development as it aggravates local aridity, degrades the rather high agro-sylvo-pastoral
production potential, reduces vegetative biomass, degrades habitats of endangered species, and
ultimately leads to food insecurity and poverty.
35. Traditional land tenure systems continue to be operative, and the government’s decentralization
efforts and creation of Land Committees has helped to bring some rationalization to the process of
land use and land allocation. At the local level, the justice system is strong and capable of
addressing land conflict issues, however, the incidence of such conflicts has increased, and the
complexity and sensitive character of these conflicts has also increased in recent years. As a
result, local courts are only able to address emerging issues, rather than dispense judgements that
take long-term sustainability into account. Furthermore, local institutions do not have the capacity
to conduct land use planning, let alone integrated land use planning for long term sustainability.
There is a need for strengthening local institutions (community based and government) for better
addressing both prevention and rehabilitation of land degradation.
36. While the preparatory phase will fine tune the threats/root causes and barriers analysis, indications
are that the main threats to the stability and integrity of the ecosystem are :





unsustainable agricultural practices, such as deep ploughing with animal traction
unsustainable use of timber and wood for fuel
inappropriate placement of rainfed agriculture (e.g. on slopes of dunes)
over-cultivation in oasis micro-basins
over-use of ground water resources
37. The root causes of land degradation are as follows :




lack of awareness of sustainable agricultural techniques
increasing conflicts and mismanagement of land
increasing rural population
increasing poverty due to both increasing population and land degradation
38. The barriers to catalysing sustainable land management are as follows :
 breakdown of traditional systems, resulting in inability to cope with increasingly scarce natural
resources (over-use, drought)
 lack of up-to-date knowledge and information systems constraining both government and local
action
 sectoral approach to technological solutions for mitigating sand dunes
 lack of incentives for soil conservation (incentives to farmers, herders, local government)
Baseline Scenario
8
39. Aware of the advanced degradation of these basins, the local and national authorities have
imposed strict measures to regulate wood cutting/logging and have also launched a wide-scale
reforestation operation in an effort to rebuild the forest stock of the various oasis microbasins.
40. Several ministries and other government and private structures including the Ministry of Water
Resources, Environment and Desertification Control, the Ministry in charge of Animal Resources,
the Ministry in charge of Agriculture, the National Council on Environment and Sustainable
Development (CNEDD) placed under the authority of the Prime Minister’s Office, projects
operating the project focal zone, bilateral and multilateral partners, the Rural Code Permanent
Secretariat, land committees, decentralised local authorities and local communities are involved.
41. Since the 1980s, several actions to protect the environment and control desertification and sand
invasion have been initiated in the area by projects, NGOs and communities. These actions have
focused on the fixation of sand dunes, reforestation for conservation purposes, the green belts
surrounding the cities, street tree-planting etc… (e.g. Project on the Control of the Sand Invasion
of Cultivable Lands in the Regions of Zinder and Diffa, MEVCO and P/GRN Mainé soroa). So
far, the projects have enabled us to fix a few thousand hectares of sand dunes without specifically
addressing wider microbasin protection or the root causes of land degradation. These projects
have demonstrated to the populations that the control of sand invasion was technically and
economically feasible; they have enabled the country to develop technical expertise on the matter
and especially to experiment on a participatory approach that can mobilize the populations. The
achievements of these previous projects represent major assets and a valuable baseline for the
GEF project.
42. The baseline also consists of other projects, such as the AFD funded “Programme to Secure
Pastoral Ecosystems in the Region of Zinder ”, the Private Irrigation Promotion Project (PIP),
financed by the World Bank that will focus on ensuring entrepreneurialship among small scale
farmers; the Maine Natural Resource Management Project, financed by the Danish Cooperation,
which is focusing on one of the districts of the project zone and will be highly complementary to
the project, and the “Project on the Invasion of the Oasis by Wind-powered Sediments in the
District of Gouré: process analysis, impact studies, means of action, remediation”, financed by
the Belgian Cooperation that will provide important information to assist in design of the GEF
Alternative.
43. However, despite their declared objectives, many projects have operated on a sectoral basis. The
activities leave little room for management and development of agro-pastoral productions, nor do
they encourage integration of activities at the local base. The GEF increment is expected to be
catalytic in moving the substantial baseline towards a coordinated and cross-sectoral approach to
integrated natural resource management in the pilot zone.
44. Many lessons could be drawn from these various interventions and used as the basis for a new
intervention based on the sustainable management of these fragile ecosystems. They consist
particularly of the experiences accumulated by the Project on the Control of the Sand Invasion of
Cultivable Lands in the Regions of Zinder and Diffa. The PDF B process will conduct a more
detailed baseline analysis, including lessons learnt, but the following are preliminary lessons that
can be immediately applied:
At the methodological level:
 it is very important to have a good knowledge of the environmental characteristics as well
as the agro-economic and social potentials of target zones and groups in order to be in a
9
position to effectively assist the population in regenerating natural environment and improving
their living conditions (land management and higher production and incomes). Such
knowledge should be based on operational, participatory and iterative village diagnoses;
 integration of the “women” component in dune fixation activities: women organized into
socio-economic interests groupings have demonstrated that they can play a very important
role in all activities aimed at biological dune fixation.
At the technical level:
 control over the choice of biological fixation species: (i) on the protected peaks and slopes of
moving dunes, adapted species such as Prosopis juliflora, Parkinsonia aculeata, and Acacia
holosericea grow easily, even if they get buried in the absence of appropriate slat-shade while it
is much harder to grow these same species on the slopes of windward dunes. The growing of
local species (Acacia senegal, Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Acacia nilotica, etc) appears to be most
adapted to inter-dune benches and semi-stabilised zones;
 the importance of mulching in dunes fixation by the spray of manure on very erosive windy
veils;
 the importance of conserving and protecting planted trees, and assessing survival rates for
adaptive management.
GEF Alternatives
45. The means of control of sand invasion in the basins have been, until now, based on mechanical
and biological dune fixation techniques. Despite the successful technical feasibility of dune
fixation in PLECO’s pilot area, the results achieved by the various project interventions are mixed
given the scope of the sand invasion phenomenon and due to the lack of coordination and synergy
during their implementation. In fact, project achievements are very often characterized by
occasional and sporadic operations with limited impacts because of the unsustainable approaches
used in some cases.
46. It is clear therefore that a sustainable solution to the sand invasion problem in this oasis
microbasin zone will necessarily require far-reaching measures to be implemented in a
participatory, global and effective integration context aimed at a sound land management so as to
conserve ecosystems integrity.
47. The ultimate objective of this project is to bring the populations to assume management of oasis
microbasins by themselves. Thus, the component on capacity building, organization and training
of rural producers in sustainable actions overlooked in previous development project design and
implementation must now be considered as a central component for future actions. Yet, because
of the negative impacts observed on the environment as a result of the current mode of
agricultural land utilization, a special attention will also be paid to the demonstration of
appropriate approaches and actions that will ensure sustainable land management while also
restoring degraded dunes, as part of an effort to protect the integrity of the specific ecosystems of
oasis basins.
48. Convinced by this fact, the populations living in the oasis neighbourhood, strongly concerned by
this situation, have expressed the strong wish that, within the framework of the participatory
10
process of NAP design, a project to combat the land degradation “evil” should be developed. The
idea of this project is in direct response to the constant requests made by the rural communities.
PROJECT GOAL, OBJECTIVE AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES
49. The development objective/goal of the project is to “contribute to the regeneration and
preservation of the integrity and stability of basin ecosystems and thereby secure sustainable agrosylvo-pastoral productions”.
Specifically, the PLECO/GEF project is expected to contribute to the achievement of the
following objective:
Objective : To demonstrate innovative and sustainable regeneration and stabilization of oasis
microbasin ecosystems in the Regions of Gouré and Maïne while also contributing to poverty
reduction by protecting and developing the production systems of microbasins.
50. To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the landscape management approach will be adopted
with the following expected outcomes: (i) enhanced participatory knowledge of the resource base
for sustainable land management; (ii) sustainable community-based activities demonstrated; and
(iii) capacities enhanced for an adaptive monitoring and evaluation system. The following
indicative outputs and activities are presented at this time, while considering that the preparatory
phase will provide more detail and justification, including incremental cost analysis to negotiate
the allocation of the GEF increment.
i. Outcome 1 : Enhanced Participatory Resource knowledge
-
-
Capitalizing and analyzing lessons learnt from all experiences in the control of sand invasion;
Mapping out the zones exposed to sand invasion, and translating these products as diagnoses for
local farmers and herders
Undertaking complementary diagnosis studies with a view to deepening the knowledge of land
degradation processes in the project zone and making it available to both local government and
local communities;
Identifying and promoting good local and innovative farming practices that will ensure a
sustainable ecosystem
ii. Outcome 2 : Sustainable community-based activities demonstrated
-
Identifying, planning and implementing selected community-based sustainable oasis microbasin
management activities;
Upgrading the sustainability of existing afforestation with ecological restoration techniques;
Restoration of priority selected degraded oases microbasins through lessons learnt from
participatory mechanical and biological fixation;
Protection of the natural resources and socio-economic infrastructures (schools, dispensaries,
villages, water points, etc.) that are most exposed to sand invasion;
Promotion of sustainable irrigated and rainfed agricultural.
Promotion of sustainable ground water management;
Design and implementation of a training program on proven techniques;
Establishment of local institutional structures for microbasin protection and sustainable
management with due consideration being given to the needs of migratory herders
11
-
Training of members of local institutions in participatory and sustainable resource management
system; including integrated land use planning that follows land suitability/functionality analyses
for optimizing land use according to both environmental and economic criteria
iii. Outcome 3 : Adaptive, participatory, management
-
Establishment of an adequate Information, Education and Communication System (IEC) for
sustainable resource management at the local level;
Identification and implementation of incentives at the local level for sustainable land
management, including financial incentives for replication of best practices.
iv. Outcome 4 : A well established monitoring and evaluation system
-
Creation of a land degradation observatory at the national level, in collaboration with the regional
OSS ROSELT project, including establishment of a wind and sand dune dynamics monitoring
capacity that could replicate results of the project to the Sahelian region
51. The incremental cost analysis will be negotiated during the preparatory phase, however, in
keeping with guidance from the GEF (ref. Operational Programme 15), it is expected that the GEF
increment will focus on lifting barriers to sustainable land management to generate global benefits
(capacity, innovation, incentives, catalyze inter-sectoral coordination, etc.), while the co-financing
increment and baseline will focus on addressing local and national economic and environmental
needs.
SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICABILITY
52. The sustainability of the project is expected in four areas : a) social sustainability is expected
because the project will be working directly with local community institutions and local
governments, and building their capacities for integrated sustainable land management. The strong
request and involvement of local communities as a result of the baseline of projects and activities
has already set the stage for ensuring stakeholder involvement and commitment (see below); b)
environmental sustainability is expected because the project will be enhancing both traditional
production systems and the tested dune fixation techniques with environmental considerations.
The project will build an awareness of long term environmental sustainability using the landscape
approach, thus taking local people’s concerns away from a purely local-concern, to a landscapewide maximization of benefits to all land users. c) institutional sustainability will be assured by
minimizing the need to create new institutions by the project, and by building on existing
institutions, such as local community structures, local government, and sub-regional facilities such
as ROSELT. The project will establish a program for Information, Education and Communication
(IEC) for sustainable resource management at the local level, and will hand over the capabilities
for continuing this program to the local government extension services and suitable NGOs/CBOs.
d) financial sustainability will be expected as a result of identifying and promoting incentives
for soil conservation and ecosystem restoration. Sand dune invasion is a highly visible form of
land degradation, and farmers very clearly see the impacts of this form of degradation on their
production and incomes; therefore, development of incentives for farmers to apply sustainable
techniques and approaches to land use and agriculture will ensure that farmers continue to practice
the changes after the project is completed. Furthermore, the lessons learnt in the sub-region (e.g.
revolving funds, cooperatives) will be matched to those from outside the region (e.g. trust funds,
payments for services) and presented to local communities for their appreciation and adoption.
12
53. Replicability of the project is expected through several means. The creation of an observatory on
sand dunes that is linked to the ROSELT will provide an opportunity to dissemination results of
the project to a wider audience. Furthermore, the project will join the UNDP “World Initiative for
Sustainable Pastoralism” through active participation in the regional network and dissemination of
results (and also absorption of lessons from elsewhere). The project will disseminate its results
through the Small Grants Programme network both nationally and globally, so as to allow up
scaling of results through such small grants. Finally, the project will work closely with the Air
Tenere GEF/UNDP project, the Liptako-Gourma GEF/UNEP/UNDP project, and the
Transboundary Niger-Nigeria GEF/UNEP project in order to compare lessons learnt in regards to
transhumant herders (see below for more detail).
54. The PDF B process will especially focus on developing the detailed mechanisms for sustainability
and replicability of the project, including a monitoring and evaluation plan.
STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT
55. Within the framework of project development and implementation, the various stakeholders have
been identified as follows:
-
Local communities: special attention will be paid to identifying in a participatory manner the
needs of the local populations and their expectations regarding microbasin sustainable
management so that an approach guaranteeing the end users’ full ownership and continuation
of project activities can be adopted;
-
Government-level partners: these consist of the technical departments directly or indirectly
involved with natural resource management. These actors (environment, agriculture,
livestock, community development, land committees, local administration etc.) will provide
available technical support but their capacities will also be assessed in order to determine their
training needs for the implementation and ownership of project outputs (see below).
-
Civil society partners: these consist of private local or national groups who are contributing
significantly to the implementation of national strategies and policies on natural resource
management and environment conservation. Being actors who generally work directly with
the local populations, they will benefit from capacity building support, and will assist in
project implementation;
-
Partners who intervene in project focal zone: these consist of development projects or
bilateral or multilateral partners that intervene in project focal zones and with which synergy
is necessary to ensure complementarity and to intervene within an harmonised framework
-
GEF Executing Agency: With its capitalised experience in development strategy management
and GEF projects follow up, UNDP will provide the necessary support to facilitate project
implementation and ensure synergy with GEF projects and Agencies at the national and
global levels.
56. A national project Steering Committee will be set up by decree of the Minister of State in charge
of land degradation. This committee will include several ministries and other state and private
bodies among which the Ministry in charge of Animal Resources, the Ministry in charge of
Agriculture, the Ministry in charge of community development, The Ministry of Finance and
Economy through GEF Operational Focal Point, the National Council on Environment and
13
Sustainable Development (UNCCD Focal Point) placed under the authority of the Prime
Minister’s Office, projects operating in the zone, bilateral and multilateral partners, the Rural
Code Permanent Secretariat, Land Committees, Decentralised Local Authorities and Local
Communities. This comity will be meet regularly to assess the project implementation and
provide orientations if necessary. The activities of the committee will be fully financed by the
project and the UNDP contribution will participate to this effort. The committee will also validate
all important documents or results as to be capitalized by the project. The project coordination
bodies is fully member of the Niger National GEF committee, therefore they will participate to the
periodic GEF projects review meetings.
D- FINANCIAL MODALITY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS
57. The overall financial envelope of the project is estimated as US$6,965,000, with the GEF
requested funding to be approximately US$2,350,000 (subject to confirmation during the PDF B
phase). The majority of the funding will be committed to Outcome 2 (community-based activities
in the Gouré and Maïne zones). The project design will ensure cost effectiveness by requiring
most of the funding to be directly allocated to demonstration and capacity building at the local
level, and keeping the percentage of project management costs to a minimum (below 25%).
Furthermore, the PDF B phase will ascertain the capacities of the various actors (government,
NGO) for managing the project and allocate roles and responsibilities according to this analysis.
58. It is expected that the full sized project will have a duration of 5 years. But this is subject to
confirmation by the PDF B as it will consider the cost effectiveness as well as duration required to
see impact/results from project activities. If the duration is extended, then the cost of the project
will also likely increase.
59. Co-financing for the full sized project is expected from the following sources :
 Private Irrigation Promotion Project (PIP), financed by the World Bank;
 Maine Natural Resource Management Project, financed by the Danish Cooperation;
 Project on the Invasion of the Oasis by Wind-powered Sediments in the District of Gouré:
process analysis, impact studies, means of action, remediation, financed by the Belgian
Cooperation;
 Project on Agro-Pastoral Development Support in the Region of Diffa, financed by the
African Development Bank (ADB);
 Programme to Secure Pastoral Systems in the Region of Zinder;
 Local population for their contribution in kind;
 Niger Human and Material Status programme;
 UNDP Niger;
 Gum Arabic project;
 IEEPF (International Institute for Energy and Environment for the Francophone
Countries).
E- INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION AND SUPPORT
Core Commitments and Linkages
60. This project document falls under the 2004-2007 Country Framework Programme signed by the
Government of Niger and UNDP on December 23, 2003. UNDP has committed to support the
preparatory phase of the project, and will also consider additional support to be integrated into the
14
2008-2010 Country Framework Programme. The UNDP Country Programme, based on the
UNDAF and PRSP, involves three major axes, all of which are addressed by this project. These
are: (i) Poverty Alleviation Programme (Cadre de Lutte Contre la Pauvreté - PCLCP), (ii)
Support to the National environment Plan for sustainable development; and (iii) Capacity building
for economic management, promotion of private sector, and good governance. Of particular
relevance are programmes that focus on promoting food security and micro-enterprise
development; improvement of decentralized services and civil society; sustainable management of
decentralized water and natural resources; and combating desertification. The project will
contribute to achieving the following specific Strategic Results in the Framework:
 natural resources managed in a sustainable way by the communities (level of productivity
of biodiversity of ecosystems improved).
 women and men’s capacity to lead reinforced and diversified productive activities
(income sources diversified and average income increased in the rural world).
 efficiency of environment management institutions increased.
61. This project document conforms with the instrument referred to under article 1 of the Agreement
concluded between the Government of Niger and the United Nations Development Programme.
Subject to the provisions of the Basic Assistance Standard Agreement, the Executing Agency of
the host country must refer to the cooperating governmental agencies described in the Agreement.
All the activities specified in the project document must be carried out accordingly. However,
should the agreed activities need to be changed/modified, approval should be obtained from all
parties to the project document.
62. The Executing Agency designated in the project document cover page has been duly mandated by
UNDP and the governmental coordination authority to implement this project and will therefore
comply with current accounting, financial reporting and auditing procedures.
Consultations, coordination and collaboration
63. Recent activities /programmes, particularly those of interest to GEF in Niger are the following :
 Assessment of capacity building needs for the implementation of the National Strategy and
action plan for biodiversity conservation;
 Community-based conservation of biodiversity in the cross-border neighbourhood parks of
W, Arly and Pendjari;
 Design of the National Strategy for the Implementation of the Framework Convention on
Climate Changes (UNDP 1999);
 River Niger Basin Project (UNDP, WB, ABN);
 Trans-border analysis of shared ecosystems between Niger and Nigeria – OP 12 (Niger –
Nigeria – UNEP Project);
 Reversing trends in land and water degradation in the Lake Chad basin ecosystems;
 Aïr and Ténéré Reserve Joint Management Project;
 National Adaptation Programme (under preparation);
 National Self-Assessment of Capacity Building Needs for global environment management
(document being finalised);
 Coping with Drought and Climate Change (DDC-UNDP) (under preparation)
 Desert Margin Programme (UNEP/UNDP, ICRISAT)
 Liptako Gourma project (under preparation, UNEP and UNEP)
15
64. The synopsis above of the Niger GEF portfolio shows that apart from enabling activities for
biodiversity and climate change, the GEF projects in Niger focus on land degradation and
international waters. This in fact signifies this arid and semi-arid country’s primary
preoccupations with land and water issues. However, a gap analysis conducted by the GEF OFP
and the recently established National GEF Committee1 shows that the MicroBasins Oasis
(PLECO) project fills a gap in the overall portfolio both in terms of geographical location and in
terms of thematic strategy. In terms of geographical location, none of the other projects are
operating or have planned interventions in the PLECO area (Appendix 4 Geographical Location
of some GEF projects in Niger). Furthermore, none of the other projects have sites in areas
affected by sand dune mobility. Thematically, none of the other projects focus specifically on the
problem of sand dune invasion and sustainable oasis management. Lake Chad project will have a
sub-project on the shorelines of Lake Chad which will include training local fishermen and
farmers to control the sand build-up around their infrastructures, however, this will not address
larger landscape issues of devegetation and agricultural expansion, or experiment with sustainable
techniques for soil and water conservation. In fact, the active mobility of the sand dunes in the
project site may affect the success of the other projects (especially Lake Chad and Niger-Nigeria
OP12); therefore the PLECO could possibly act as a buffer zone for these projects (See Appendix
5), while also demonstrating sustainable sand dune rehabilitation approaches that could be
replicated to these (and other) projects.
65. PLECO address the issue of land degradation and traditional agricultural practice in an ecosystem
affected by a specific threat (sand dune) therefore the outcomes of this project, together with those
of the above mentioned projects and Air Tenere, will give an opportunity for the GEF portfolio in
Niger to be diverse with a variety of different intervention in the area of land degradation which is
particularly important for developing the Niger GEF Portfolio in GEF-4. Finally, the project will
extend its system boundary in areas that are relevant and fill a gap for the GEF portfolio in Niger;
one of the areas already identified is the development of a sand dune monitoring capacity at the
national level (linked to ROSELTs regional capacity). Other areas may be identified during the
PDF B.
66. The PLECO/GEF value added is in terms of working primarily with selected agro-pastoral
communities within the oases to develop sustainable land management regimes and restoring sand
dunes, while also not neglecting the needs and access rights of migratory peoples in the wider
landscape. This project is distinct and different from the Air Tenere project (which is managed by
an NGO and addresses the issues of land degradation in another specific desert protected
environment), and the Niger River Basin and Lake Chad projects (as it is a complementary LD
project to the two IW projects but also due to its geographical location reinforce the durability of
the interventions of these projects as the degradation in the PLECO area will have in long run an
negative impact on the these two above mentioned projects). Furthermore, it does not overlap
geographically with the field sites of the various projects mentioned above. However, the various
projects do add up to a very coherent picture of GEF involvement in Niger, and the OFP and
UNDP have undertaken to ensure coordination and collaboration between the projects and this is
carried out through the National GEF Committee which conducts review of GEF portfolio on
regular basis. The PDF B process will negotiate with these projects and determine the exact
mechanisms for such coordination (e.g. project manager meetings; exchanges between local
people; OFP supervisory missions, National GEF Committee oversight, etc.). Already successful
discussions have been held with the project team of the Niger-Nigeria Transboundary project
Proceedings of the First Meeting of the National GEF Committee, “Atelier National d’Information sur les Activites
du Fond pour l’Environment Mondiale: Principal conclusions et recommendations”, Niamey, Niger, June 2004
1
16
(minutes of meeting on file), and the beginnings of a collaborative mechanism have been sketched
out.
Project Management Arrangements
67. The Department of Environment and Desertification Control through its Statistical and Forest
Mapping Division of the Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Desertification Control
is the designated national executing agency. The project will be managed under “national
execution” arrangements. Several ministries and other state and private bodies will also be
involved, as this is a cross-sectoral project, including the Ministry in charge of Animal Resources,
the Ministry in charge of Agriculture, the National Council on Environment and Sustainable
Development (CNEDD) placed under the authority of the Prime Minister’s Office, projects
operating in the zone, bilateral and multilateral partners, the Rural Code Permanent Secretariat,
Land Committees, Decentralised Local Authorities and Local Communities.
68. Further details are provided in the PDF B section, and will be confirmed by the time of the full
sized project submission.
Monitoring and Evaluation
69. The overall project monitoring and evaluation system will be based on the guidelines of the
UNDP’s monitoring and evaluation system. A quarterly planning process of all activities will
ensure adaptive management of the project. Meetings and field missions at different levels
(national and project focal zone) will help find solutions to field constraints as they emerge. Halfyearly and activity-specific reports will also be used to inform on project progress on the ground.
70. Within the framework of project monitoring, a project validation meeting, consultative meetings
with partners and main actors will be provided for during PDF-B. These meetings will consider,
inter-alia, verifiable indicators for project impact and performance, implementation time-tables
and schedules of reports. These types of meetings may also be convened to decide, as the case
may arise, on major or sensitive issues affecting the project. The steering committee meetings will
be chaired by the Director responsible for desertification control in Niger. He/She will then report
to his/her supervisory ministry on project operations.
71. At the end of the implementation period, the project will be assessed and its finance and accounts
audited.
17
PART II : PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PREPARATION
A.DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PDF B OUTCOMES, OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES
72. The preparation of this full sized project will involve the following activities, outputs and
outcomes:
Outcome 1: Detailed diagnosis (environmental and socio-economic) of project sites, land
degradation baseline, and root causes/barriers analysis available through participatory
processes
73. With this outcome, the project team will determine the detailed situation analysis (environmental,
social, economic, institutional), root causes and barriers for sustainable land management in
Gouré and Maïne. This will be done through a participatory process and a partnership between
government and local NGOs. Through this diagnosis, the baseline for land degradation in the
project sites will be established, and specific communities will be selected for piloting
demonstration of sustainable land management (planning, technologies, monitoring). This
outcome will build on the strong project baseline situation.
Outcome 2: Lessons learnt from sand dune fixation and incentives for soil and water
conservation in Niger and elsewhere and analyzed for applicability to the project sites
74. With this outcome, the project team will analyze applicable lessons learnt
elsewhere on sand dune management, as well as analyze incentives
conservation. These will be discussed with local stakeholders and the
solutions will be retained. This exercise will be crucial for designing
solutions for the full sized project.
from both Niger and
for soil and water
best and applicable
innovative technical
Outcome 3: Capacity building needs at local level identified
75. One of the main barriers to sustainable sand dune management has been the lack of strong
institutions to manage and maintain processes. The PDF B will analyze the local institutional
setting and develop a strategy for capacity development during the full sized project.
Outcome 4: Logical framework of full sized project established through stakeholder
consultation
76. As a result of the three outcomes above, the project team will be able to develop the logical
framework of the full sized project, through a participatory process, and full ownership of local
stakeholders. This will include mobilization of local beneficiary commitments to implementation
of the project.
Outcome 5: Partnerships with local government, national government, ROSELT and other
projects negotiated and implementation arrangements identified/planned.
18
77. Although most of the activities of the full sized project will be in the Gouré and Maïne pilot zone,
the project will also extend the system boundary in areas that are relevant and fill a gap for the
GEF portfolio in Niger. The PDF B will explore with relevant partners at the national and subregional level to identify what gaps there may be. One of the gaps already identified (sand dune
monitoring) will be identified and designed in consultation with ROSELT.
Outcome 6: A project document for a Full Sized project prepared that meets all GEF and
UNDP requirements and co-financing identified/secured.
78. This outcome will result in a full sized project proposal meeting all GEF and UNDP requirements,
including incremental cost analysis, monitoring and evaluation, and stakeholder participation plan.
Co-financing will be identified early on so as to ensure that co-financiers are involved in project
design and their ownership of the process is secured.
B. JUSTIFICATION
79. The full sized project will require a preparatory phase of about 15 months so as to allow full
consultation with local stakeholders. Communication with and travel to the project site are not
easy and therefore ample time is needed to ensure a fully participatory process. Furthermore, the
project team will have to consult and negotiate with several types of partners: co-financiers and
other contributing partners; executing agencies and executing partners such as ROSELT and
NGOS; and other relevant GEF projects in Niger (to define a cooperative mechanism and
portfolio wide lessons learnt).
C. PROJECT PREPARATION PDF B BUDGET
80. The total cost of the PDF B is estimated as $415,000, with GEF contributing $350,000 and the
remainder as co-financing from the Government of Niger (6,000 in cash and $41,000 in kind),
from the Gum Arabic Project ($10,000 in cash) and UNDP-Niger ($8,000 in cash). Government is
fully committed to the project, and identified additional co-funding (cash and in-kind). Partners in
the projects areas have reiterated their commitments to actively participate either in co-financing
or in parallel funding. This has been signified by additional cash co-funding for the PDF B. More
co-funding for the PDF B process is expected to be leveraged during implementation as new
partners, such as IEPF and PADL, are identified and brought fully on board.
19
PDF B
BUDGET
Award: tbd
Award Title: PIMS 3325 LD: Sand Dune Mitigation
Project Objective/Atlas Output = PDF B : Control of the Sand Invasion of the Oasis MicroBasins of the Regions of Gouré and Maïne
(PLECO)
Project ID : tbd
Project Objective/Atlas
Activity
A Full sized project
document
Project Outcome
Q1
Q2
Outcome 1 : Detailed diagnosis
(environmental and socioeconomic) of project sites, land
degradation baseline, and root
causes/barriers analysis available
through participatory processes
x
x
Outcome 2 : Lessons learnt from
sand dune fixation in Niger and
elsewhere and analyzed for
applicability to the project sites
x
x
Outcome 3 : Capacity building
needs at local level identified
Outcome 4 : Logical framework of
full sized project established
through stakeholder consultation
Period
Q3 Q4
x
x
x
Q5
Respo
nsible
party
DE
Programmed budget
Fund Budget description
source
GEF
National Experts, international experts,
expendable office equipment, travel,
communication, administrative fees,
miscellaneous, vehicle, project offices.
DE
GEF
International and National Consultants
45 000
DE
GEF
National Consultants
30 500
DE
GEF
National
Consultants,
workshops, 50 000
international consultant, local meetings
Amount
$US
204,500
Project Objective/Atlas
Activity
Project Outcome
x
Respo
nsible
party
DE
Programmed budget
Fund Budget description
source
GEF
Meetings, national consultant
Outcome 6 : A project document for
a Full Sized project prepared that
meets all GEF and UNDP
requirements
x
DE
GEF
National Consultants/Experts
48 500
International Consultant/Expert writing,
validation, finalization and translation)
Co-financing
identified/secured.
International Conference on fund
mobilization with funds donors and
the project partners
Project feasibility assessment
Project Audit
GEF transmission Processus
x
DE
GEF
Door conference
x
x
x
UNDP UNDP National workshop
DE
Govt
Audit costs
Q1
A Full sized project
document
Outcome 5 : Partnerships with
local government, national
government, ROSELT and other
projects negotiated and
implementation arrangements
identified/planned.
Q2
Period
Q3 Q4
x
x
Q5
12 500
8 000
6 000
-
Sub-total UNDP
Sub-total Gum Arabic project
Sub-total govt
Sub total GEF
TOTAL
21
Amount
$US
10 000
8 000
10 000
47 000
350 000
415 000
Name of Co-financier (source)
Co-financing Sources
Classification
Type
Amount (US$)
Government of Niger Republic
Through the National Directorate
of Environment
Government of Niger Republic
Through the National Directorate
of Environment
UNDP Niger CO
Contribution
Cash
6000
Status
Confirmed
Contribution
In kind
41 000
Confirmed
Contribution
Cash
8000
Confirmed
Projet Aménagement des Forêts
Naturelles (Gum Arabic Project)
Sub-Total Co-financing
Contribution
Cash
10 000
Confirmed
65000
22
D. PDF B IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS
81. The Department of Environment and Desertification Control through its Statistical and Forest
Mapping Division of the Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Desertification Control is
the designated national executing agency. The project will be managed under “national execution”
arrangements. Several ministries and other state and private bodies will also be involved, as this is
a cross-sectoral project, including the Ministry in charge of Animal Resources, the Ministry in
charge of Agriculture, the National Council on Environment and Sustainable Development
(CNEDD) placed under the authority of the Prime Minister’s Office, projects operating in the
zone, bilateral and multilateral partners, the Rural Code Permanent Secretariat, Land Committees,
Decentralised Local Authorities and Local Communities.
82. As the Implementing Agency of GEF, UNDP will be involved through its Niamey Office. In
addition to project implementation supervision, UNDP will provide necessary support in the form
of experience-sharing with the other GEF projects and will create the required synergy with the
GEF portfolio and other projects.
83. The project will be supervised by a Steering Committee (SC) to be established by decree of the
Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Desertification Control. The SC will be made up
of all structures involved and other strategic partners.
84. A project coordinator will be identified by DE and UNDP and will be appointed by the Minister of
Water Resources, Environment and Desertification Control. The coordinator will be responsible
for all activities in PLECO preparatory phase and stationed in Niamey. Consultants will be
recruited on the basis of the procedures in force at UNDP to conduct the various studies.
85. UNDP/GEF is accountable to the GEF Council on project implementation and delivery of
results/impacts. UNDP/GEF will be responsible for technical supervision. This includes the
approval of all Terms of Reference (TOR) yet to be annexed to project document; participation in
the various meetings; participation in all other supervisory mission if necessary; approval of
identified PDF-B coordinator; approval of budgetary revisions and audit organisation.
86. All monitoring and evaluation requirements of UNDP will be respected during the PDF B phase,
including audit.
.
APPENDICES
List of Appendices:
Appendix 1: Map showing location of project (in the Regions of Gouré and
Mainé) and isohyets ( SIGNER and IGNN).
Appendix 2: Additional Information on Project linkage to national priorities, action plans
and programmes
Appendix 3: Endorsement letter of OFP and CCD Focal Points.
Appendix 4: The complementary location of PLECO versus Transboundary NigerNigeria project.
Appendix 5: Geographical Location of some GEF projects in Niger
Appendix 6 : Status and trends in natural resources and sand invasion in the project area
Appendix 1 : Map showing location of microbasins (in the Regions of Gouré and Mainé), and
rainfall isohyets - ( SIGNER and IGNN).
MicroBasins
Zone
26
Appendix 2: Additional Information on Project linkage to the priorities and national action plans
and programmes
Since the early 1990s, Niger has embarked on the design of environmental plans, programmes and
strategies. The country currently has an institutional mechanism, strategies and legal package relating to
environment management.
The Government of Niger also adopted a Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) which aims at reducing by
2015, the percentage of people living below the poverty line from 66% to 50% by (i) creating a stable
macroeconomic framework; (ii) developing productive sectors; (iii) facilitating poor people’s access to
basic social services; and (iv) promoting good governance and ensuring capacity building.
Concerning the “development of productive sectors”, the Government has adopted a Rural Development
Strategy (SDR) as an integral part of PRS and giving due consideration to aspects relating to land
degradation and sustainable natural resource management.
In the same vein, Niger has drawn up a National Environmental Plan for Sustainable Development
(PNEDD) through a participatory process. An integral part of SDR, this plan constitutes the National
Agenda 21 which should enable Niger to preserve its urban and rural environment against pollution and
various nuisances, on the one hand, and to rationally and sustainably utilise renewable natural resources
for the benefit of the populations and the national economy, on the other. PNEDD is to provide a
reference and orientation framework for planning environmental actions, an instrument for implementing
the various international conventions and other commitments to which Niger subscribed, and lastly, a
strategic poverty reduction tool.
PNEDD is based on, six (6) major programmes viz.:






National Action Programme for Desertification Control and Natural Resource
Management (PAN/LCD/GRN);
Water and Sustainable Development Programme;
Energy and Sustainable Development Programme;
Urban Environment and Life Environment;
Biodiversity Management Programme;
Climate Changes and Variability Programme.
Within the framework of the implementation of these different programmes as national policy instruments,
the associated strategies and/or action plans have been drawn up. Regarding the desertification control and
natural resource management programme, an action plan entitled PAN/LCD/GRN has been drawn up in
accordance with the provisions of CDD and adopted by the Government in 2001. The CDD Focal Point
has also been directly involved in the preparation of this PDF-A through some direct consultations,
participation in the national training workshop on OP 15, organised in Niamey in November 2003 by IEPF
and UNDP. The support of this project focal point has been materialised by its appended project
endorsement letter.
The Project on the Control of the Sand Invasion of the Oasis MicroBasins in the Regions of Gouré and
Maïne (PLECO) which is the purported operational programme of PAN/LCD/GRN is quite in keeping
with these substantive strategic orientations including the improvement of agro-sylvo-pastoral practices.
These strategic orientations include:

adoption of a participatory approach to land management;
27

transfer of decision making power to the grassroots communities and effectively empower them to
the spirit of the decentralisation process;
 regeneration and preservation of the productive capital;
 improvement of agro-sylvo-pastoral practices;
 building capacities to serve the development of agriculture in the areas of information, education and
communication (IEC), counselling, lending, procurement, marketing, etc.
PLECO will also contribute to the materialisation of the objectives of national strategies for managing
biodiversity, climate changes, means of implementation of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity
and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes.
28
Appendix 3: Endorsement letters (Separate file)
29
Appendix 4 : Map showing location of PLECO versus Transboundary Niger-Nigeria project
30
Appendix 5 : Map showing location of all GEF projects in Niger (location of PLECO is in between
#3 and #4)
31
Appendix 6: Status and trends in natural resources and sand invasion in the project area
Land cover data
Statistical data confirm that the year 1975 as a reference year is an ideal choice because sand dune
formation had been stationary before that irrespective of the climatic instability. In 1975 there are almost
no active sand dunes apart of the 70 ha detected around the area of Kasoulwa. However, scattered in the
zone degraded steppes have been identified over around 8%. The steppes constituted mainly of
Leptadenia represent 55%.
In 1986, the areas subjected to sand dunes have started to show up and cover least than 5% (26.197 ha)
and occupied 50% of the total area invaded by sand. This extension of area cover by sand dune has been
operating against the development of steppes composed of Leptadania which has lost 5% (29.186) of its
traditional zones in 1986. The most degrades steppes areas are mainly situated round Chéri, and in Yawali
– Melékondoram – Kil triangle. The most important sand dunes of the Gouré and Maïne areas are situated:
-
In the west from Kadjara to Girsilik, west and north western of Isou Bouri ;
In the north around Dirgya, Abounoram, Fane Moulouram, Matawaram, Paye Paye and between
Gabalam and Barmaouliram ;
In the middle along the Faya – Wanganga ax through Kouloram extending to Kayetawa ;
In the south around and in the western area of Tchagamari.
The other land use categories have conserved there initial land cover in general with the exception of the
degraded Shrubby which has been restricted to about 3% and woody steppes which has been expended to
4%.
In 2003, the areas subjected to sand dune formation represented 32% (186.049 ha) of the mapped area,
while the shrubby steppes covered by Leptadenia had lost 158.824 ha equivalent to 55% of the total area
in 1986. The sand dunes formation has been generalized from North toward the South and from the East
toward the West. Also the cultivated dunes areas which had remained unchanged until 1986, went from
28.700 ha to around 45.550 ha by 2003, an increase of 16.800 ha.
The core areas of active sand dune formation in 2003, represent 3.7% of the study area and 11.5% of the
land area covered by sandy soils. Data also show that the most vulnerable areas consist of watersheds and
micro-basins, representing more than 6% of the project intervention zone (that is 35.497 ha.)
Effects of wind speed on dune formation
Two contrasting wind situations prevail in the project site :
-
Harmatan : very dry continental northeasterly winds in October to March with strong speed
and intensity ranging from 2,7 to 3,1 m/s average and sometimes reaching a speed of 4,7 m/s ;
-
the African rainy season : southwesterly humid wind from April to May with speed average
2.7 m/s and the maximum reaching 3 to 4.4 m/s.
These winds are particularly devastating particularly in the dry season when the top soil are bare thus more
vulnerable to wind erosion. The wind speed figures from1974-2003 (below) show that the winds are
relatively more intense on the drier years (1976 – 1989) than in humid years.
32
Average Annual Weed Speed at 10 M above ground In Maïné-Soroa.
4
3,5
Vitesse (m/s)
3
2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
2
20
0
0
An
98
20
0
An
An
96
An
94
An
92
An
90
An
88
An
86
An
84
An
82
An
80
An
78
An
76
An
An
74
0
Année
Source : National Directorate Of Meteorology.
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Niger Sand Dune Concept PDF B revised.doc
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