Assessing Technology Needs

Project Identifiers
1.   Project name: Assessing Technology Needs 	2.   GEF Implementing Agency: UNDP
3.   Country or countries in which the project is being implemented: Global
	4.   Country eligibility: All countries that have ratified the UNFCCC and been approved for GEF funding to implement “top-up” activities
5.   GEF focal area(s): Climate Change	6.   Operational program/Short-term measure: Targeted Research for Climate Change Enabling Activities
Project linkage to national priorities, action plans, and programs: All countries involved in this project are carrying out “top-up” enabling activities, including activities on technology transfer. One of the objectives of the project is to facilitate the integration of climate change technology issues into national priorities. This project will enhance national awareness on climate change issues, which will in turn create a favourable environment for political support of relevant initiatives, raising commitment at the national level for the continuation of activities beyond the project lifetime.
GEF national operational focal point and date of country endorsement: 52 countries carrying out “top-ups” with a technology transfer component in their activities.

Project Objectives and Activities
9. Project rationale and objectives: The project will develop a practical methodology to provide input to non-Annex I Parties for assessing technology needs in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The lack of such a methodology has been consistently reported by non-Annex I Parties as a critical constraint for national technology assessments. Currently, 52 non-Annex I Parties with enabling activities are facing this constraint, and the numbers are expected to increase. 
The project objectives are to assist countries in analysing priority technology needs, as a basis for developing a portfolio of Environmentally Sound Technology (EST) projects, and programmes to facilitate the transfer of, and access to, the EST and know-how. Although the methodology will focus on  technologies for  mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, the project will also draw lessons that could be applied to assessing technology needs for adaptation to climate change. The project will emphasise how technology transfer can be implemented.
	Indicators:
Practical methodology disseminated to  countries carrying out “top-ups”

10. Project outcomes and activities:
a) Issues in technology needs assessments identified
Compilation and assessment of technology transfer activities under “top-ups” 
Review of initial National Communications to identify national priorities and to ensure technology needs assessments are linked to national strategies for climate change
Issues paper prepared on technology needs assessments
Practical methodology for assessing technology needs developed
Identification of best practices from countries
Development of case studies to provide examples of methodologies adopted by countries in their studies
Testing of draft methodology in countries
Consistent national reports on technology needs under “top-up” activities submitted
	Indicators:
Survey responses compiled and assessed by March 2002
52 initial National Communications reviewed by March 2002
Draft issues paper prepared by April  2002
Best practices and case studies compiled by September 2002
Workshop held in April and September 2002
Draft methodology tested by September 2002
Reports submitted
12. Estimated budget (in US$ or local currency):
GEF:                 US$ 200,000
Co-financing:   US$   30,000
TOTAL:            US$ 230,000

Information on institution submitting project brief
13.  Information on project proposer:  UNDP

14.  Information on proposed executing agency (if different from above): UNOPS

15.  Date of initial submission of project concept:  N/A
Information to be completed by Implementing Agency:
16.  Project identification number: To be assigned

Implementing Agency contact person: Bo Lim (bo.lim@undp.org); Richard Hosier (richard.hosier@undp.org) 

18.  Project linkage to Implementing Agency program(s): The GEF implementing agency, UNDP, has identified enabling activities as being of high priority. To date, 52 of the 105 countries carrying out climate change enabling activities with the UNDP have had “top-ups” approved. The practical guidance developed under this project will potentially benefit all countries wishing to engage in technology needs assessments. Close co-ordination with all relevant international stakeholders will be implemented to ensure that GEF initiatives are fully complementary. These include UNFCCC, IPCC, UNEP, and WB, among others.