Project

Sixth Operational Phase of the GEF SGP in Costa Rica

Lead country

Costa Rica

Participating countries

Costa Rica

Project status

Closure

Implementing period

From July 21, 2016 to January 12, 2021

SDGs addressed by this project

SDG targets

  1. 2.5 Maintain genetic diversity for agriculture, traditional knowledge
  2. 15.1 Conserve, restore, sustainably use terrestrial, freshwater ecosystems
  3. 15.3 Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil

Project ID: 5625

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Technical team

  • Climate Strategies and Policy Programme

Cross-cutting programme(s)

  • Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme
  • Energy Programme

Technical area(s)

  • Ecosystem management and restoration
  • Mainstreaming integrated policy and planning for climate-resilient & sustainable development
  • Cross-sectoral climate resilient livelihoods
  • Fostering Food Security and resilient agricultural systems

Sub-area(s)

  • AgrobiodiversityCarbon sequestration
  • Type: Off-grid, mini-grids
  • Resource: Solar
  • Resource: Biomass

Landscape(s)

  • Conserved areas
  • FreshWaters
  • Wetlands

Sub-landscape(s)

  • Terrestrial protected areas
  • Rivers and river basins
  • Mangroves
  • General

Transformed sector(s)

  • Forestry and other land use

UNDP role(s)

  • Capacity development / Technical assistance
  • Innovative approaches

Strategy

  • Governance
  • Management operation
  • Capacity building

Sub-strategy

  • Participatory governance models
  • Sustainable land management
  • Ecosystem and ecosystem services conservation/restoration
  • Transition to safer alternatives
  • Alternative energy sources
  • Improved soil and water management techniques

Social inclusion

  • Local community/CSOs
  • Youth/Children
  • Women

Gender equality

  • Women decision making
  • Livelihoods for women

Gender result effectiveness scale

N/A

Pathway(s)

  • People pathway
  • Sci-tech pathway

Risk reduction target(s)

  • Improve resilience

SDG target(s)

  • 2.5 Maintain genetic diversity for agriculture, traditional knowledge
  • 15.1 Conserve, restore, sustainably use terrestrial, freshwater ecosystems
  • 15.3 Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil

Conventions and protocols

  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
  • National Action Plan

Private sector(s)

  • Financial intermediaries and market facilitators

Hot topic

  • Multi-stakeholder collaboration

About this project

Description

The main objective of the project is to enable community organizations in Costa Rica to enhance livelihoods by restoring degraded forest and production landscapes for socio-ecological resilience. This will be achieved through six project outcomes: 1.1. Multi Stakeholder landscape governance platforms in place (including CSO representation, local governments, subnational and national institutions' representatives) to support resiliency of the Jesus Maria and Barranca river basins, 1.2. Restored ecosystem services and enhanced biodiversity conservation through community-based interventions in the Jesus Maria and Barranca river basins, 1.3. Improved sustainability and productivity of agroecosystems in the Jesus Maria and Barranca river basins through community-based interventions, 1.4 Alternative livelihoods developed or enhanced in the Jesus Maria and Barranca river basins through the development of innovative products and market access, 1.5. Renewable energy and fuel-efficient technologies adopted by communities in the Jesus Maria and Barranca river basin, 2.1. Community and local civil society organizations increase their organizational and financial skills through training and access to microcredit. During a three-year period, the Project is supporting 31 community initiatives, including five strategic projects involving communities from the Barranca and Jesus María River Basins, in the Central Pacific Region of Costa Rica. These initiatives are improving conservation measures in the buffer zones of protected areas and in the Biological Corridor Montes del Aguacate. The target communities were selected in collaboration with the Advisory Commission on Land Degradation (CADETI), the UNDP CO, the academia, donor organizations and the SGP National Steering Committee. The project is being implemented by UNDP and executed by UNOPS with the GEF existing mechanism of the Small Grants Program in Costa Rica, including the approval of each grant by the National Steering Committee and day-to-day management by the Country Programme Team under the leadership of the National Coordinator (Country Programme Manager).

Objectives

To enable community organizations in Costa Rica to enhance livelihoods by restoring degraded forest and production landscapes for socio-ecological resilience. Component 1: Resilient landscapes for sustainable development and global environmental protection.Component 2: Capacity building, knowledge sharing and financial sustainability.

USD $4,737,574

Grant amount

USD $5,117,840

Leveraged amount (co-financing)

1

Source(s) of fund

Sources of fund

 

  • Global Environment Facility – Trust Fund ($4,737,574)

Implementing partner(s)

  • UN Office for Project Services

Project metrics

Outcome 1:

Multi Stakeholder landscape governance platforms in place (including CSO representation, local governments, subnational and national institutions representatives) to support resiliency of the Jesus Maria and Barranca river basins.

 Indicators:

Increased area of sustainably managed production landscapes that integrate biodiversity conservation in two river basins: Jesus Maria and Barranca.
Reduced degraded areas in the Jesus Maria and Barranca through increased vegetation cover
Increased number of multistakeholder governance platforms established and strenghtened to support development of infrestructure to halt erosion rates, design and implementation of waste management plans, as well as other plans and policies that augment resilience of the landscape.
Increased number of multistakeholder governance platforms established and strengthened to support improvement of water management.
Increased number of actions for forest fire prevention in the JMRB and BRB
Increased number of forest fire brigades organized in the communities of the two river basins
Reduced GHG emissions through forest fire prevention actions carried out by voluntary community groups Increased number of BC and PA management plans
Increased number of waste management plans for the communities of the two river basins
Increased reforestation rate of riparian areas and in priority connectivity routes in the target landscape
Increased number of private property owners and producers participating in reforestation of riparian forest cover and in priority connectivity routes within the two river basins Increased number of farms implementing agro ecological systems and new technologies to improve resilience of the landscape
Increased number of publications documenting traditional knowledge about local and native crops and genetic resources of animals and plants from the target area
Increased number of soil conservation measures implemented in coffee plantations within the two river basins
Reduced vulnerability to drought and water scarcity in the communities of the JMRB and the BRB
Increased use of water and irrigation technologies like water catchment, rain water reservoirs, solar irrigation systems, among others Augment market options for certified agro ecological and organic products like organic fairs, fair trade markets and organic certification
Increased alternative livelihoods and innovative products developed through support of services like micro mills and processing factories, cattle auctions and rural community tourism, apiculture, acquaculture, waste management projects, among others, with special attention to women and youth groupsIncreased use of renewable energy technologies at a community scale implemented in the target landscape
Increased access to hybrid grant/ micro-lending schemes with credit coops and banks and pilot revolving funds to support replication, upscaling and sustainability of CSO activities
Increased number of best practices for adaptive management for landscape resilience identified, systematized and shared at farm, watershed, regional and/or national level.
Outcome 2:

Restored ecosystem services and enhanced biodiversity conservation through community-based interventions in the Jesus Maria and Barranca river basins
Outcome 3:

Improved sustainability and productivity of agroecosystems in the Jesus Maria and Barranca river basins through community-based interventions.
Outcome 4:

Alternative livelihoods developed or enhanced in the Jesus Maria and Barranca river basins through the development of innovative products and market access.

Outcome 5:

Renewable energy and fuel efficient technologies adopted by communities in the Jesus Maria and Barranca river basin.
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Project reports and documentation

 

Project Document (ProDoc)