Final Report on the Framework Agreement for 2008–2009

1. Introduction The Framework Agreement between the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and GA, dated 12 March 2008 is cross-referenced with a Framework Agreement the Ministry signed with UNEP. It thereby ensures that activities implemented under these agreements complement each other and are aligned with UNEP’s Programme of Work (PoW). It is the core mission of GA to support UNEP. The Framework Agreement provided additional opportunities for strategic development with an increased focus on the three main fields for which UNEP wants to use the specific competences of GA. In order to provide a complete and transparent picture as to the development of GA and its contribution to UNEP’s Programme of Work, this biennium report includes all the activities of GA as requested under point five of the Framework Agreement and covers year 2008 and 2009. A separate section on financial reporting is included in section 4. This biennium report covers the earlier submitted annual report for 2008 and the reporting for 2009 with supplementary sections for assessment of effectiveness (section 10), impact (section 11) and a summary of lessons learned (section 12). The scope and objectives of the work undertaken by GA in implementing the Framework Agreement are outlined in the Work Programme 2008-2009. This biennium report is structured similarly as the earlier submitted annual report for 2008, in accordance to the three programmatic areas of GA and subdivided into to the agreed upon fields of activities. The overall goal of the three programmes is to ensure that ecosystems are valued and conserved through increased emphasis on sustainability, ecosystem approaches to resource management, and on mitigation and adaptation to climate change impacts. The purpose is to provide support and services to UNEP in developing, delivering, and reporting results from programmes related to marine and coastal environments, regional initiatives and polar and cryosphere regions to influence decision-making. The work programme under this Framework Agreement relates to UNEP’s Medium Term Strategy (MTS) and its six priority areas (sub-programmes). It also makes reference to the expected accomplishments and indicators of the UNEP Work Plans for 2008-2009. It should be noted that the UNEP Shelf Programme began in 2007 (before this Framework Agreement). The budget, activities and indicators are specified in detail in the UNEP Shelf Programme project document, which was provided to the Ministry in March 2007. The activities carried out under the Polar and Cryosphere Programme are funded externally to the Framework Agreement but have been incorporated into this annual report to ensure transparency and to provide a comprehensive overview of all activities undertaken by GA. 1.1 Marine Programme The Marine Programme provides support and services to UNEP through three components: • Marine Programme A: The UNEP Shelf Programme is a component of the Marine Programme. UN General Assembly Resolution 57/141 (paragraph 38) calls for UNEP through its expertise in the GRID network to support developing states in completing the activities required to establish the outer limits of their continental shelf according to Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In response to this UNEP has, with the assistance of the Norwegian Government, established the UNEP Shelf Programme based at GA; • Marine Programme B: Marine and Coastal Sustainable Development – activities under this component will ensure an increased focus on ecosystem-based management and sustainable development. With a focus on emerging marine issues such as the effects of climate change and human activtiies, and with the understanding that the world’s coastal, marine and deep sea environments are valued and need to be protected, the programme seeks to ensure that measures are taken to reduce environmental and socio-economic impacts on marine systems. • Marine Programme C: Capacity Building in Oceans and Coastal Management - activities under this component identify opportunities for capacity development leading to the integration of the marine environment into national development planning and in supporting collaborating national 4