Government of Ecuador

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 The project will rely on a wide range of key partners to mainstream climate change and adaptation concerns into the water sector in Ecuador. In this sense, participation will be the key to success of the project. Key stakeholders to be involved in the project, and who have been consulted during the preparatory phase of this project, are described below:

  • Comité Nacional del Clima (CNC)- the National Committee for Climate- is a collegiate body composed of representatives from several ministries (environment, energy and mines, foreign affairs, planning), as well as from the private sector, the NGO environmental sector and the academic sector.

  • Ministry of the Environment (MoE) is the GEF operational focal point. The technical focal for the UNFCCC is also located in the Under Secretary for Environmental Quality. The MoE presides over the National Climate Committee (CNC). The MoE will chair the National Steering Committee of this project (see section on implementation arrangements).

  • The Planning and Development National Secretary (SENPLADES), which is in charge of planning and management of strategies for the development of the country. SENPLADES has formulated general and sectoral risk management plans (health, transport, drinking water and sewage systems.

  • The National Council of Hydrologic Resources (CNRH) was created in 1994, to replace the INERHI, with responsibility for monitoring the state of water resources and managing the concession of water rights. Created in conjunction with Regional Development Corporations (CRD), such as CEDEGE, the regional water agencies of the CNRH are the prime agents of water governance, and a key actor in the attribution of water rights and the resolution of conflicts between end users.

  • The INAMHI is the National Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology of Ecuador. It has a key role in climate affairs in Ecuador, with a network of monitoring stations and overall supervision of official forecasting. INAMHI will have a lead role in climate data and observation, early warning system, along with the Navy’s Oceanographic Institute (INOCAR) and the International Centre for Research of El Niño phenomenon (CIIFEN). Coordination with the World Meteorological Organization, through its Global Climate Observation Systems Programme (GCOS) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will be established given the expertise and relevant initiatives of these organisations in climate data around the world.

  • The Water Resources Forum (FRH), a water users association, represents the views of the small consumers, peasants and NGOs. This Forum has become an important public arena for discussions on water policies.

  • The provincial and municipal authorities, regional development corporations and watershed- management authorities, all in charge of water-related infrastructure investments and/or of the care of key watersheds in the selected provinces (Manabí, Los Ríos, Azuay and Loja).

  • Other entities in charge of meteorological monitoring of water flow in watersheds, sea level, marine currents and related issues and ENSO events such as, CDRs, INOCAR, CIIFEN, amongst others.

  • Other institutions that group provincial/local governments such as the Consortium for Provincial Governments of Ecuador (CONCOPE). This Consortium comprises of all the provincial councils of Ecuador and the Association of Municipalities of Ecuador (AME). It also consolidates funds created to manage environmental and water management projects (i.e. FONAG, FAN). CONCOPE, supported by the Sweden Technical Cooperation, is currently executing a project that seeks to strengthen the watershed management in Provinces.

  • The technical teams and institutional structure in place for the Second National Communication (SCN). The SNC team reports to the UNFCCC on national efforts to address climate change, to formulate a national strategy, and to identify priorities for mitigation and adaptation, including potential projects for funding in these areas.

  • The technical teams and institutional structure for the GEF-World Bank Andean Region Adaptation Project, whose objective is to implement adaptation measures to meet the anticipated impacts from the catastrophic glacier retreat induced by climate change.

The following organizations played a pivotal role in the design of the project proposal:

  • Ministry of Environment: Lead the process of project formulation by providing a coordination role in the formulation of the project and the consultation process and bilateral discussions with experts and key institutions. MoE was responsible for the analysis of the information provided and the preparation of the project proposal for submission to the GEF Secretariat through UNDP.

  • National Council of Water Resources: It provided key information on the water baseline and water polices, and participated directly in the project formulation.

  • National Secretary of Planning and Development: Assisted in the definition of priorities for the project by providing key inputs to the project design. It also contributed with key information such as risk maps, policies for the national development plans, among others.

  • National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology: Provided information for the baseline and assisted in the identification of key issues to be improved at the provincial level (e.g. strengthening of climate information)

  • The Water Resources Forum: It contributed to the discussions from the perspective of small water users. Its participation confirmed the need to include the local communities in the design and implementation of adaptation measures on the ground. It reinforced the strategy to ensure adequate linkage between the policies to address climate risks in the water sector and the needs of the vulnerable community.

  • The Consortium for Provincial Governments of Ecuador: Assisted in the selection of the Provinces to be included in the project, through an analysis of vulnerable areas, including the identification of identify key actors in the vulnerable areas.

  • United Nations Development Programme: As the Implementing Agency for the project, UNDP facilitated the preparation of the

  • Other institutions: Other institutions included SG Paute, Hidro Paute, FONAG, Intercooperacion, among others.