Seychelles: Ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change in Seychelles (UNDP) (SYC/MIE/EBA/2011/1, US$6,455,750)

Having considered the comments and recommendations of the Projects and Programme Review Committee, the Adaptation Fund Board decided to:

(a) Endorse the project concept, as supplemented by the clarification response provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to the request made by the technical review;

(b) Request the secretariat to transmit to UNDP the following observations:

(i) The proponent should review the budget for the planned activities, to reflect the estimation of the costs associated with an increase in the size of the target areas;

(ii) Unless clear evidence of the cost effectiveness of restoration as an adaptation option is demonstrated, the proponent should look into the rehabilitation of the targeted ecosystems, which has been demonstrated to provide tangible results in a more reasonable timescale;

(iii) The proponent should describe more clearly, and translate it into relevant outputs, the way the functional connectivity of the targeted ecosystems will be ensured;

(iv) Provided the proponent decides to go further with the output related to establishing a payment for ecosystem services (PES) scheme through the project, much more detail is needed on: the basis of such a scheme, the seller-buyer model, the stakeholders and the existing policy framework, and enabling environment in general, to implement it.

(c) Request UNDP to transmit the observations under item (b) to the Government of the Seychelles; and

(d) Encourage the Government of the Seychelles to submit through UNDP a fully-developed project proposal that would address the observations under item (b).