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United Nations DP/CPO/SEY/ 1
Executive Board of the Distr.: General
United Nations Development 9 April 2002
Programme and of the Original: Eng lish
United Nations Population Fund
Annual session, 2002
17-18 June 2002, Geneva
Item 13 o f the provisional agenda
Country programming and related matters
Country programme outline for Seychelles (2003-2006)*
Contents
Paragraphs Page
I. Situation analysis 1-4 2
II. Past cooperation and lessons learned 5-8 2
III. Proposed programme 9-21 3
IV. Programme management, mon itoring and evaluation 22-25 4
Annex
Results and resources framework 6
I. Situation analysis 1. Since independence, Seychelles has managed its
economy in a pragmatic way, evolving its development
strategies in the light of emerging problems and
opportunities. This strategy has brought about significant
*
T he collection and analysis of current data required to present the Executive Board with the most up -to-date information has delayed
submission of the present document.
DP/CPO/S EY/1
changes and has transformed the country fro m a quasi of SIDS, i.e., to its small land area and population,
mono-crop agricultural economy (cinnamon and copra) to a remoteness from major markets, limited natural resources
dual economy heavily dependent on tourism and fishing and environmental vulnerability. The major assets are truly
and highly vulnerable to external factors. Generous foreign the rare beauty of the island’s environment and the long -
aid during the cold war era allowed for heavy investments term strategic importance of its natural resources and
in social infrastructure and, progressively since 1984, to a unique biodiversity. The major environmental issues
more d iversified economy, a policy essential for export include increased urbanization of the main gran itic islands,
growth, import substitution, emp loyment generation and threats from invasive species, natural resources pressures,
greater self-reliance. In the early 1990s, Seychelles adopted low storage and retention capacity of freshwater resources,
a more market-o riented approach as the Government wastewater problems, and the environmental impacts of
embarked on a privatizat ion programme. This pragmat ic tourism, climate change and sea-level rise. The
approach allowed Seychelles to achieve impressive conservation and sustainable use of the natural and
progress through a generous welfare system, as shown by biological resources are of vital importance for the
the country’s socio-economic indicators. The Human country’s sustainable development. Given that the main
Develop ment Report 2001 classified Seychelles among the engine of growth rests on only tourism and fishing and the
list of countries having achieved med iu m hu man limited success from diversification efforts, future
development, with a gross domestic product per capita of economic growth will come fro m further expansion of
$7,500, a human development index of 0.786 and ranking these two industries, both of which are inextricably linked
of 53, life expectancy of 71 years, enrolment ratio of 76 per to the quality of the natural and physical environ ment.
cent literacy rate of 84 per cent and population growth of 1
per cent. Seychelles tops the list of sub-Saharan African 4. The main challenge will be to translate and
countries on the HDI. Ho wever, since the beginning of the integrate at the policy level, and in practice, the quality of
1990s, Official Develop ment Assistance flows to the physical and natural environ ment. The full integration
Seychelles have fallen by over 75 per cent and this is of those environmental, social and economic dimensions
placing an undue financial burden on the Govern ment’s into a long-term perspective is of paramount importance in
budget as it has to borrow increasingly at commercial and order to address future challenges for sustainable human
market rates to finance its development effo rts. This new development in Seychelles.
development corresponds to a slowdown of the real
economy resulting fro m the foreign exchange shortage. II. Past coope ration and lessons learned
2. Seychelles is party to many international 5. The first country cooperation framework (CCF)
conventions, including the Convention on Biological (1999-2000), wh ich focused on (a) the National long term
Diversity, the Convention on International Trade in perspective study; (b) private sector development; (c)
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the United management of technical cooperation; and (d) reform of
Nations Framework Convention on climate Change, the social security was approved when the country graduated to
United Nations Law of the Sea Convention, the the net contributor country (NCC) status. Given the
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution precarious foreign exchange situation and the obligation to
fro m Ships (MARPOL 73/78), the Basle Convention, the reimburse any target for resource assignment from the core
Rotterdam Convention, the Convention on Desertification (TRA C) funding utilized, the first CCF has not been fully
and the Montreal Protocol. Seychelles hosts the Regional implemented.
Coordinating Un it for the imp lementation of the Nairobi
Convention and adopted, in 1994, the Barbados Declaration 6. The most successful project to have been fully
and Programme of Action at the United Nations global implemented is Assistance to the Imp lementation of the
conference on the sustainable development of small island Environment Management Plan for Seychelles (EM PS-
developing states. In 1997, Seychelles prepared it national 2000), wh ich strengthened the capacity of the Govern ment
biodiversity action programme and in 2000 it submitted its in environ mental mon itoring and established national
first national communicat ion to the Conference of the standards for air, water, and noise quality. The project had a
Parties of the UNFCCC and is preparing its national high impact and collaborative programming with other
assessment to the World Summit on Sustainable donors (France, European Union, the Agence de
Develop ment, to be held in Johannesburg from 26 August cooperation culturelle et technique and Indian Ocean
to 4 September 2002. Co mmission).” UNDP has also assisted the government to
prepare its first national commun ication to the UNFCCC.
3. As a small island developing State (SIDS),
Seychelles is characterized by the inherent vulnerabilities
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7. The country programme review of June 2000
recommended that future UNDP cooperation be targeted at 13. Gender, environment and poverty. A diagnostic study
capacity-building in upstream policy/strategy and dialogue and specific strategy for mainstreaming gender issues in
in key areas such as environment, the advancement of environment and poverty alleviation among women will
wo men, governance issues, tertiary education, national have been prepared and implemented in consultation with
administration and tourism. all stakeholders. The strategy will be used as leverage to
build partnerships with other interested donors.
8. UNDP agreed with the Government request to
formulate a country programme based on non-core 14. Development of a coordinated framework for resource
resources to support the new environmental management mobilization. UNDP will assist the Government in
plan. mobilizing support for capacity-building fro m United
Nations organizations and from regional organizations for
III. Proposed programme EMPS II. In particu lar, such support for capacity-building
will be provided in the following sub areas of the EMPS II:
9. Given the limited presence of resident United (a) population environmental resources and information
Nations organizations (only the World Health Organization programme; (b) regional and international cooperation in
has a liaison office) and programme operations in coordination with existing regional initiat ives; (c)
Seychelles, the country review meet ing of June 2000 sustainable agriculture; and (d) toxic waste management.
agreed that it would be more effective to carry out joint The use of South-South cooperation and technical expertise
initiat ives and monitoring missions instead of preparing a will be enhanced through the utilization of SIDS experts,
United Nations Develop ment Assistance Framework technical cooperation among developing countries (TCDC)
(UNDAF) for Seychelles. modalities and technical cooperation. UNDP will enhance
networking with other United Nat ions organizations,
10. The country programme for Seychelles for 2003- regional organizations and sub-regional organizations.
2006 has been guided by the consultations between key
national stakeholders, (the Government, non-governmental Integrated water management
organizations (NGOs), civil society organizat ion (CSOs),
the private sector) and the United Nations system. Given 15. Promote sustainable measures to increase potable
the modest level of available resources, the new country water supply to the population in granitic islands with an
programme focuses on upstream support for the integrated river-basin approach. Cooperation will focus
implementation of the second environment management on the improvement of safe yield of water resources for
plan for Seychelles (EMPS-II). This strategy has been integrated river-basin management, aimed at increasing
guided by the national development priorities, the water supply in a selected area of Mahe through innovative
comparative advantage of UNDP in the area of approaches.
environmental governance and a realistic assessment of
available funds as well as the potential for resource 16. Promote sustainability of wastewater management.
mobilization fro m the Global Environ ment Facility (GEF), Cooperation will focus on the improvement of wastewater
other environment trusts funds and other donors. systems and on their sustainable management. Institutional
and human-resource capacity will be strengthened through
11. The proposed activities complement ongoing enhanced community and private-sector participation.
activities being imp lemented under the Convention on
Biodiversity and the UNFCCC at the national level. Based Bio-di versity conservation, includi ng community
on this strategy, the country programme will focus partici pati on
specifically on the following four programme areas.
17. Improve the institutional capacity for the conservation
Instituti onal and human capacity-buil ding for EMPS II and management of terrestrial ecosystems of the granitic
islands. Cooperation will focus on key forest ecosystems
12. Strengthened capacities and partnerships with and identified priority threats. In view of the very small
environmental NGOs. Th is init iative will build on the area of the islands and the fact that many socio-economic
recommendations of the NGO partnership meeting, held in activities occur in the proximity of the habitat of vulnerable
Seychelles in August 2001. At the end of the country biodiversity, cooperation will involve local co mmun ities in
programme, it is expected that a functioning mechanism for decision-making and in management of the biodiversity
environmental NGO participation in the imp lementation of resources. It is expected that biodiversity conservation will
EMPS II will have been established. be improved through better management of natural habitats,
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improved techniques for controlling invasive species and 23. Monitoring, review and reporting. The country
bush fires. programme will be reviewed annually. The strategic results
framework and the results -oriented annual report will be
18. Enhance the role of NGOs and communities through the key instruments for the management and monitoring of
the adoption of participatory approaches to biodiversity the performance of the country programme. Programme
conservation in selected areas. A new mechanis m for and projects will be subject to UNDP mon itoring and
community and local group dialogue with the Gov ern ment evaluation mechanis ms. These activities will be
on environmental conservation will be developed. synchronized with the general review of EM PS -II
implementation and with new opportunities for financing.
Climate change and energy efficiency
24. Partnership and resource mobilization strategy.
19. Establishment of key adaptive technologies for climate The resource mobilizat ion and partnership strategy for the
change. Being party to UNFCCC, Seychelles submitted its country programme will hinge on regular policy dialogue
first national communicat ion to the Conference of the with strategic partners. In this context, UNDP is working
Parties in 2001, cooperation will focus on establishing key jointly with the World Ban k to prepare PDF B proposals
technology needs for the mit igation of the impact of for imp lementation of s Full Size GEF project in Integrated
climate-change and for capacity-building in this area. It is Ecosystem Management for presentation to the GEF for
expected that, at the end of the country programme, implementation by 2003. Firm co mmit ment has already
sufficient national capacity will exist in Seychelles to been received fro m the Govern ment on cost-sharing of
implement the action plan on climate change. GEF-funded projects. Part of the UNDP TRAC carry-over
fro m the first CCF will be used as seed money to prepare
20. Development of a pilot project in renewable energy. project documents of targeted EMPS sub-programmes and
Through appropriate mechanis ms and technical to mobilize additional resources from partners.
cooperation, the government will init iate the
implementation of various demonstration projects based on 25. Beyond GEF and government cost-sharing, UNDP
key technologies to promote and enhance the use of will assist the Govern ment in further exp loring areas of
renewable and alternative energy sources. collaboration with the private sector and partnership to
promote eco-touris m. UNDP can help by facilitating TCDC
21. Enhancement of regional and international cooperation approaches, exposing its partners to examp les from other
in land use and coastal management. Land use and coastal countries, e.g., Barbados and Costa Rica.
management are key management opportunities for the
reduction of vulnerability to sea-level rise in s mall island
states, especially when more than 90 per cent of all
infrastructure and socio-economic act ivities occur on the
coastal zone. UNDP will assist the Government in
developing regional and international networks with a view
to enhancing opportunities for technology and skill transfer
within th is key area.
IV. Programme manage ment, monitoring
and evaluation
22. National execution and programme approach. As
far as management modalit ies are concerned, it was agreed
that the programme approach and National execution
modalities are still considered relevant in the Seychelles
context. These modalit ies therefore will be used in the new
country programme. National execution will not exclude
the use of the expert ise, experience and international
contacts of United Nations specialized agencies, funds and
programme when appropriate, in order to provide technical
organization and advice to the Govern ment, EMPS
coordination unit, and UNDP.
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Annex: Results and resources framework for Seychelles
S trategic areas of Intended outcomes Indicators of outcome or purpose Outputs, including key output indicators, Resources by
support where needed strategic areas of
support, outcome
or programme
area (in US
dollars)
Institutional framework Improved capacity of local Pilot programmes in operation to assess the replicability of Output: Adoption of energy efficiency Regular Resources:
for sustainable authorities, community multi-stakeholder approaches to environmental technology in the transport sector $0
environment management based groups and private management and provision of sustainable energy services.
and energy development sector in environmental Indicator: Implementation of pilot project on Other resources:
management and Baseline: Renewable energy policy prepared in 1999. renewable energy through demonstration Government cost-
(Programme Area A1 and sustainable energy project in the transport sector. sharing:
D2) development. Target: Implementation of renewable energy policy through $80 000
the replication of renewable energy projects on M ahe GEF: $200 000
Island, Praslin and La Digue (3 main islands) and on the
outer islands.
Baseline: No legal framework for NGO/Government Output: Capacity-building of environmental
partnership NGOs in environmental management
Target: Establishment of NGO/Government partnership Indicator: NGO institutional framework
framework and 25 per cent of Environment M anagement established and memorandum of agreement
Plan (EM P II) implemented by NGOs by end 2006. signed with the Government and
environmental NGOs.
M onitoring and Improved national Key aggregate indicators for assessing environmental Output: Set of monitoring and assessment Regular Resources:
assessment of capacity to monitor sustainability are adopted and regularly updated by the indicators developed and environmental $0
environmental environmental conditions Government. institutions trained in the use of EIS.
sustainability and trends and to assess Other resources:
policy performance in Baseline: No integrated environmental information system. Indicators: Establishment of and increase use Government cost-
(Programme area A1, A2) promoting environmental of integrated environmental information sharing: $520 000
sustainability. Target: 50 per cent increase in the amount of disaggregated system for monitoring and assessing
data on environmental sustainability environmental sustainability and the number
of environmental institutions trained
Improved awareness and M edia Coverage of environmentally sustainable Output: Awareness raising and capacity Regular Resources:
understanding among development issues. building of environmental educators, media $0
decision-makers and the and local communities in environmental
public of linkages between Baseline: Regular media coverage of national and local management and sustainable development
environmentally environmental issues. issues through participatory approaches to
sustainability and human environmental protection. One workshop
poverty and well-being organized per district.
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S trategic areas of Intended outcomes Indicators of outcome or purpose Outputs, including key output indicators, Resources by
support where needed strategic areas of
support, outcome
or programme
area (in US
dollars)
Target- 50 per cent increase in media coverage of Indicator: Number of workshops/seminars, Other resources:
environmental programmes and issues focusing on public debates and media coverage of these Government cost-
sustainable development, poverty and well-being, involving events on a regular basis targeting local sharing: $200 000
community participation. community participation organized per
district. Number of environmental
educators/media people trained in
environmental sustainability issues.
3.2.2 National capacity for Global environmental Adoption by the Government of a national Output: Implementation of the top -up Regular Resources:
participation in global concerns and strategy/plan/programme as required by the Biodiversity, proposal for capacity-building in climate $0
conventions, regulatory commitments integrated in Climate Change and/or Desertification Conventions, with change to assess technology needs and
regimes and funding national development national implementation targets. adaptation options. Implementation of the Other resources:
mechanisms for planning and policy joint GEF project on integrated ecosystem Government cost-
environmentally Baseline: National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan and management. sharing:
sustainable development National Communications prepared by the Government in $4 200 000
1997 and 2000 respectively. GEF:
(Programme Area C1, C2, $3 300 000
D2) Target: Implementation of 40 per cent of the targets set out
in the National Communications and the NBSAP
Regular resources $0
Other resources: government cost-sharing $5 000 000
GEF $3 500 000
Grand Total $8 500 000
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