Objectives

To safeguard globally significant biodiversity and core ecosystem services through mainstreaming environmental issues in key development sectors, facilitating more inclusive natural resource governance, and improving the management effectiveness of conservation areas.

Other

Note: Disbursement data provided is cumulative and covers disbursement made by the project Agency.

Target Groups

The project will generate a range of socio-economic benefits as it invests in mainstreaming biodiversity conservation and ecosystem safeguards across key development sectors in partnership with landowners, traditional leaders and local communities, and further improve management of the protected area system and priority catchments. Increased inclusion of landowners and local communities in biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management. Landowners and local communities will be proactively engaged in the governance and management of protected and managed areas and priority catchments, protecting and respecting traditional practices and knowledge. Engagement of Cook Island Maori communities will be ensured through obtaining free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). Gender mainstreaming and increased inclusion of youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. The project will facilitate advances in gender equality and women’s empowerment, through inclusion in decision-making processes on natural resource management, delivery of capacity building on improving financial management skills, and disseminating information on available financing options for local community organizations, helping to enhance small-scale entrepreneurship, with a particular emphasis on engaging women-led community-based organizations and local enterprises. Project activities will emphasise priority inclusion of women, youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. Strengthening wellbeing and income-generating measures. Livelihood benefits will be generated for local households through increased soil productivity, soil and water conservation, access to low-value grant assistance for interventions on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, and through access to capacity building on sustainable agricultural practices, best practices in ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, and alternative livelihoods. Strengthened resilience (adaptation benefits).Protection of scarce freshwater resources in Rarotonga is one of the main priorities with respect to climate change adaptation in the Cook Islands. The target catchments in the project cover a cumulative area of 2,513 ha, representing more than 35% of the total terrestrial area of the island. The catchment audits and management plans under Outputs 2.1 and 2.2 will provide scale-able frameworks for the other catchments in the country. Implementation of sustainable land management practices and reduction in the use of agrochemicals will generate substantive adaptation benefits. Moreover, improved and intersectoral management of priority catchments will contribute to the low carbon development priorities of the country, safeguarding important ecosystem services, increasing awareness, and increasing resilience and coping capacities of local communities. Relevance to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework: The project is relevant to a number of SDGs, most notably SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), as outlined below in Table 3 of the Project Document.Relevance to United Nations Pacific Strategy 2018-2022 and UNDP Strategy Plan 2022-2025:The project is aligned to the United Nations Pacific Strategy 2018-2022, specifically Outcome 1: “Climate change, disaster resilience, and environmental protection”; Output 1.5: “Number of PICTs coverage of terrestrial and marine areas that are protected.” The GEF-7 project aims to facilitate improved management effectiveness of four protected and managed areas and establishment of a new, community conserved area in the cloud forest in Rarotonga. The expected project results will also contribute towards achievement of the UNDP Strategic Plan (2022-2025), namely Output Signature Solution #4 (Environment); contributing to UNDP SP Result 4.1: “Natural resources protected and managed to enhance sustainable productivity and livelihoods”; and Result 4.2: “Public and private investment mechanismsmobilizedfor biodiversity, water, oceans, and climate solutions”. Under the Integrated results and resources framework (IRRF) of the UNDP Strategic Plan, the project will contribute towards Indicator IRRF 4.1.1 (“Number of people directly benefitting from initiatives to protect nature and promote sustainable use of resources”), and Indicator 4.2.1 (“Number of people directly benefitting from mechanisms for biodiversity, water, oceans, and climate solutions funded by public and/or private sector resources”): 9,588 estimated direct beneficiaries, of whom 4,892 are women; and Indicator IRRF 4.1.2: 15,831 ha of “area of terrestrial (1,378 ha) and marine protected areas (14,453 ha) created or under improved management practices”, and 3,130 ha of “areas of landscapes under improved practices, excluding protected areas”.

Objectives

Medair’s proposed response provides urgent identification and assistance for the most vulnerable HHs susceptible to harsh weather conditions within informal settlements and sub-standard buildings and to an increased risk of eviction in the Bekaa, Baalbek – El-Hermel and North Lebanon areas. More specifically, through this project Medair aims to: - Improve the living conditions and accessibility for 211 households via upgrading of residential shelter to meet minimum standards (prioritizing families with Child Protection (CP) needs in Bekaa and Baalbek – El Hermel - Increase tenure security for 200 vulnerable households via providing cash for rent (prioritizing families with CP needs) to prevent eviction in West and Central Bekaa - Improve accessibility and safety for families living in 30 informal settlements in Bekaa and Baalbek – El Hermel selected on the scoring from the site improvement assessment conducted across the region in coordination with the shelter sector with the intention of needs prioritization, and in 13 informal settlements in North Lebanon with the highest priority for site improvements activities identified and shared by North Lebanon Shelter Sector coordinator. Medair will distribute Non-Food Items (NFI) kits to 60% of the households (eligibility to be established via assessments) who will benefit from the rehabilitation of their sub-standard residential units in Bekaa and Baalbek – El Hermel to be able to cope better with the harsh winter conditions in the targeted area as recommended by Bekaa basic assistance sector. In addition, in line with shelter sector standards, Medair will address potential and identified fire risks by providing fire extinguishers in informal settlements (consisting off 4 to 9 tents) on a rate of ¼ as per sector guidelines and in sub-standard residential buildings that will benefit from rehabilitation, or refill the existing ones in informal settlements (consisting of 10 tents and above (provided by Medair as part of other interventions, or via another organization). For this project, Medair is in a strong position to be able to address the identified needs and gaps, combining existing expertise and experience of providing shelter support, with the ability to build on established relationships, knowledge of the geographic area, and good connections with local NGOs. Medair will extend the area of intervention for cash for rent assistance to west and central Bekaa to complement the ongoing Medair cash for rent project funded by LHF (LEB-22/DDA-3604/SA1/S/INGO/22023), as the existing assessment tools will be used to identify the eligible households. Also, Medair will report the shelter activities on RAIS and ActivityInfo, in addition to the close coordination with shelter sector and active shelter partners in Medair area of interventions to avoid any overlapping in providing shelter assistance. Medair will also leverage its experience as one of the largest Shelter actors in the Bekaa, and utilize the already established good working relationships with UNHCR, other local and international NGOs, and other stakeholders. As a Shelter Core Group member of the National Shelter Working Group, Medair will ensure complementarity with other interventions and avoid duplication.