PR China and RO Korea Seek GEF Grant to Implement YSLME SAP

 

Beijing, PR China — In the Regional Experts Workshop on the Preparation of the Program Framework Document (PFD) and Eighth Meeting of the Project Steering Committee of the UNDP/GEF Regional Project on Reducing Environmental Stress in the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem, held on September 18-19 and September 20 respectively, PR China and RO Korea agreed to a plan to seek GEF support in implementing the Strategic Action Plan (SAP) of the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (YSLME).

 

The proposed Implementation of the YSLME SAP for Adaptive Management Project, an integral component of the programmatic approach to Reducing Pollution and Rebuilding Degraded Marine Resources in the East Asian Seas through Implementation of Intergovernmental Agreements and Catalyzed investment, will be implemented by UNDP with support service from UNOPS. As partners of the YSLME Project, PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) and NOWPAP representatives also attended the meetings.

 

Apart from the approval the time-bound work plan, the Project Steering Committee meeting also approved the report of the secretariat of the YSLME Project on the major progress in preparation of the Project Information Form (PIF) and Project Document. Both PR China and RO Korea committed to mobilize resources to support the finalization of the PIF and Project Document under the guidance of UNDP/GEF and UNOPS, the implementing agencies of the ongoing GEF YSLME project to develop the SAP. The meeting also agreed to a jointly accepted solution to the location of the project management office of the new project.

 

While expressing the willingness of the PRF to enhance cooperation between with YSLME, Mr. Guo Yinfeng, Programme Officer for Partnership Programmes, also highlighted the need to enhance coordination and synergy to maximize impact of the programmatic approach, in particular in the area of knowledge management.

 

The two countries planned to seek endorsement of the project by the GEF CEO before July 2013.