Scaling-up Multi-Hazard Early Warning System and the Use of Climate Information in Georgia

19 Pages·2017·1.16 MB·English

by  Bonjung Goo

Scaling-up Multi-Hazard Early Warning System and the Use of Climate
Information in Georgia
|
Georgia United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

23 November 2016
Scaling-up Multi-Hazard Early Warning System and the Use of
Project/Programme Title:
Climate Information in Georgia
Country/Region: Georgia
Accredited Entity: UNDP
Mr. Teimuraz Murgulia, First Deputy Minister of Environment and
National Designated Authority:
Natural Resources Protection of Georgia
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE
GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 1 OF 18
Please submit the completed form to [email protected]
I. Project / Programme Information
1.1. Project / Programme Scaling-up Multi-Hazard Early Warning System and the Use of Climate
Name Information in Georgia
1.2. Project or Programme Project
1.3. Country (ies) / Region Georgia
1.4. National Designated Mr. Teimuraz Murgulia, First Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources
Authority(ies) Protection of Georgia, E mail: [email protected]
1.5. Accredited Entity UNDP
‐
Executing Entity: Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia
(MOE) through the National Environmental Agency of Georgia (NEA)
1.6. Executing entity /
Beneficiary
Beneficiaries: up to 1.7 Million people at risk of climate-induced extreme events and
hazards
1.7. Access modality Direct ☐ International ☒
1.8. Project size category
(total investment, million Micro (≤10) ☐ Small (10<x≤50) ☒ Medium (50<x≤250) ☐ Large (>250) ☐
USD)
1.9. Mitigation / Adaptation
Mitigation ☐ Adaptation ☒ Cross-cutting ☐
focus
Which of the following targeted results areas does the proposed project/programme
address?
Reduced emissions from:
☐ Energy access and power generation
(E.g. on-grid, micro-grid or off-grid solar, wind, geothermal, etc.)
☐ Low emission transport
(E.g. high-speed rail, rapid bus system, etc.)
☐ Buildings, cities, industries and appliances
(E.g. new and retrofitted energy-efficient buildings, energy-efficient equipment for companies and
supply chain management, etc.)
☐ Forestry and land use
1.10. Results areas
(E.g. forest conservation and management, agroforestry, agricultural irrigation, water treatment and
(mark all that apply) management, etc.)
Increased resilience of:
☒ Most vulnerable people and communities
(E.g. mitigation of operational risk associated with climate change – diversification of supply sources
and supply chain management, relocation of manufacturing facilities and warehouses, etc.)
☐ Health and well-being, and food and water security
(E.g. climate-resilient crops, efficient irrigation systems, etc.)
☒ Infrastructure and built environment
(E.g. sea walls, resilient road networks, etc.)
☐ Ecosystems and ecosystem services
(E.g. ecosystem conservation and management, ecotourism, etc.)
1.11. Project / programme life
6 years
span
1.12. Estimated
Start: January 2017
implementation start and end
End: December 2022
Date
1 Please use the following naming convention for the file name: “[CN]-[Agency short name]-[Date]-[Serial number]” (e.g. CN-
ABC-20150101-1).
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE
GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 2 OF 18

II. Project/Programme Details
The Fund requires the following preliminary information in order to promptly assess the eligibility of
project/programme investment. These requirements may vary depending on the nature of the
project/programme.
Context and Problem Setting
Georgia is a transcontinental country situated between the Black Sea to the west and the
Caucasus mountains to the north, with an area of 69,700 km2 and a population of 3.7 million. 80%
of the territory of Georgia is mountainous, with highest and lowest elevations of 5,201 metres
(Mount Shkhara) and below the mean sea level (Black Sea, Kolkheti lowlands). A complex
mountainous topography makes the country more prone to climatic extremes and hazards. There
are four main climate-induced hazards experienced in Georgia, all of which have been
observed to be intensifying and increasing in frequency over time. They are floods (due to
heavy rainfall and snowmelt), hydrologically-induced geological hazards (including landslides,
mudflow, debris flows), droughts and severe winds and hailstorms. Coupled with significant levels
of exposure and vulnerability, these events have a substantial negative impact on the national
economy and people. According to the government, over the last 40 years economic losses from
natural hazards of hydro-meteorological and geological origin exceeded USD 14 billion2. More
than 80% of the victims, economic damage caused by disasters, and eco-migrants come from
highland areas resulting in abandonment of villages. The most recent devastating flooding and
landslide disaster occurred in June of 2015 affecting Georgia’s capital Tbilisi (population over 1
million) and had significant socio-economic consequences for the Georgia’s capital: 19 people
killed, 3 people missing, 67 families displaced, and around 700 people directly affected overall.
The economic impact was equally high: USD 24.3 million in physical damage and USD 4.37
million in financial losses mainly within the housing, transportation, water management sectors.

Georgia’s Third National Communication to the UNFCCC (TNC) provides an evidence of the
increasing impact of climate change on the frequency and severity of hydrological and
meteorological disasters. In the recent past, the drought cycle of Georgia has changed from 15-
2.1. 20 years to 6 years; in 2007-2009 the frequency of strong winds increased to 6-12 times per year
compared to 1 to 4 times per year in the previous decade; there was double the total number of
Project/programme
recorded floods during the period 1992-2013 compared to 1960-1991; there was 4 times the total
description
number of recorded landslides during the period 1992-2013 compared to 1960-1991. The TNC
(including
also forecasts future warming and changes in seasonality and intensity of rainfall across the
objectives)
country that will result in further increased flood and rainfall-induced landslide risks, frequency
and severity of winds and hail storms, and droughts. The TNC long term climate change scenarios
indicate more extremes as prolonged rainfall events, concentrated in a short period of time with
the potential to generate more runoff during these short periods, thereby increasing the potential
for flash flooding (due to high peak river flows), mudflows and landslides. The detailed climate
change profile of Georgia will be presented in the full project proposal and the feasibility study.
Georgia’s INDC (2015) clearly identifies the problem of intensifying climate-induced extreme
events as a priority for the adaptation action. The INDC specifically states that the “establishment
of Early Warning Systems for climate related extreme events is considered as priority measure
by the Government of Georgia” in the area of adaptation to climate change.

In the baseline scenario Georgian population and economy will be facing increasing pressures
from more frequent and severe hydrometeorological disasters due to climate change. Losses of
lives and economic losses due to climate-induced disasters and associated impact on GDP and
sovereignty rating3 will be growing. Scaling-up of tested EWS and risk transfer solutions (see
below) will not be possible due to inadequate hazard and risk knowledge for most basins in
Georgia, as well as a lack of monitoring stations on which such risk knowledge relies. Engagement
of private sector into the delivery of climate information products and services and risk reduction
activities will remain at nascent stage due to insufficient enabling environment and lack of reliable
climate and hazard information.

This GCF project is aimed at supporting the commitment of the Georgian government to
avoid losses of lives and to reduce economic and infrastructure losses caused by climate-
induced hydrometeorological disasters. The project will achieve this by nation-wide scaling-
up of the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) and setting up capacities for climate

2 Official Statement of the Government of Georgia at the Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, 19-23 May 2013,
Geneva, available at: http://www.preventionweb.net/globalplatform/2013/programme/statements
3 S&P Analysis showed that climate change will exacerbate the negative sovereign rating impact arising from 1-in-
250-year natural catastrophes by 20% on average. http://www.iccwbo.org/News/Articles/2015/The-impact-of-
climate-change-on-sovereign-ratings/
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE
GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 3 OF 18

information services, accompanied with the reduction of exposure of the most vulnerable local
communities to climate-induced hazards through community-based risk reduction measures.

The GCF project will provide critical climate risk information that would enable the
Government of Georgia implementing a number of nation-wide transformative policies for
reducing exposure and vulnerability of population to climate-induced hazards, introducing cost-
effective risk-transfer instruments and private sector engagement. The project will thus catalyze
a paradigm shift in the climate-informed national disaster risk reduction and early warning
approaches. The project innovation and transformative change will also include (a) participatory
“Last Mile” communication solutions tailored to the needs of local communities; (b) a combination
of structural and non-structural protection measures aimed at reducing exposure and increasing
effectiveness of the early warning; (c) combining best available science and local knowledge for
vulnerability assessment, hazard and risk mapping, disaster modelling and forecasting; (d) paving
the way for private sector to deliver new climate information products and services.

The project objective is to reduce exposure of Georgia’s communities, livelihoods and
infrastructure to climate-induced natural hazards through a well-functioning nation-wide multi-
hazard early warning system and risk-informed local action.

The project contributes to the achievement of GCF strategic-level impacts through increased
resilience and enhanced livelihoods of the most vulnerable people, communities and regions; and
increased resilience of infrastructure and the built environment to climate change threats. The
project will contribute to the achievement of GCF indicator of the reduction in the number of people
affected by climate-related disasters for Georgia’s population overall and with the focus on
different vulnerable groups (through the application of social vulnerability approach). The project
will deliver sustainable development benefits through:
1) Improving resilience of up to 1.71 Million people (which is based on socio-economics
vulnerability assessment and equals to 40% of the population) including in the most
vulnerable communities in mountainous rural areas as well as densely populated urban
areas4;
2) Reducing economic losses;
3) Reduce the risks of flooding from extreme flood events to at least 102,000 people
annually5
4) Safeguarding development investments in the poorest mountainous regions of
Georgia.
The project directly contributes to three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provide
indirect contribution to another four SDGs (see section 4.3).

The earlier UNDP-led assessments6 and pilot projects examined the existing barriers to an
effective early warning and climate information services in Georgia:

Number of hydro-meteorological monitoring
1. Risk knowledge: Lack of
stations (1900-2015) (source: NEA)
financial, technical and
human capacities within the
government to establish
nation-wide hydro-
meteorological monitoring,
modelling, forecasting and
warning

2. Climate information products:
Lack of tailored climate
information and warning
products relevant and
accessible by the public and
private sector.
3. Dissemination and communication: limited access to and awareness of the use of warnings
and climate information by the local communities for decision making and resilience
building.

4 It is estimated that between $30 Million and $250 Million USD in annual average flood damages will occur in urban areas alone, by 2030 under
Scenario A: IPCC 5th Ammendment report with RCP 4.5 (moderate climate change) and SSP2 (continued current socio-economic development
trends) with 100 year Standard of Protection (SoP) ($30 Million) to no SoP ($250 Million) defences in place respectively.
5 Average annual population at risk of flooding from an extreme flood event. Source: World Resource Institute Aqueduct Global flood analyser –
Flood Risk for Georgia – Scenario A: IPCC 5th Ammendment report with RCP 4.5 (moderate climate change) and SSP2 (continued current
socio-economic development trends).
6 Towards a Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Georgia
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE
GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 4 OF 18

4. Response capability: lack of knowledge and capacities among the most vulnerable
communities for reducing their exposure to residual risks and hazards.

The full description of the barriers will be provided in the full proposal. The GCF project will
address these barriers building on and scaling-up the earlier successful pilots and prototypes.

The project objective will be achieved through the following three interrelated Outputs:

Output 1: Expanded hydro-meteorological observation network and modelling capacities
secure reliable information on climate-induced hazards, vulnerability and risks
The project will apply a unified methodology and tools for multi-hazard risk and vulnerability
assessment, mapping and monitoring based on the prototype developed through the UNDP/AF
project in the Rioni basin. The project will support establishment of a centralized multi-hazard
disaster risk information and knowledge system, consisting of national e-Library, databases,
information systems and knowledge portal. Local-level detailed hazard mapping and risk and
vulnerability assessment will be developed.

This output will be achieved through the following activities:

1) Activity 1.1: Rehabilitation of the hydrometric network (automatic level measuring
system; mobile discharge meters; automatic meteo-stations; meteo-posts (rain
gauges); radar; sets of mini radars; upper air sounding equipment ;
agrometeorological stations, lightening detectors, super computer for strengthening
early warning system; telecommunication system equipment). [$10,420,000 USD,
partly co-financed by the Government of Georgia and donor funds]
2) Activity 1.2: Floodplain zoning based on hazard and risk maps for all major basins in
Georgia and for key climate-induced hazards, using the most appropriate modern
technologies and methods and aligned with international and regional standards. In
particular, flood hazard and risk maps will be developed in line with EU Floods
Directive requirements. Landslide and mudflow hazard and risk maps will build on the
approach used for Rioni basin. Accurate digital elevation models such as LIDAR7 for all
floodplains of Georgia for hazard modelling and mapping will be utilized. A
comprehensive topographic survey of rivers through high risk areas will be undertaken.
Historical hydrometeorological data for all Georgia required for all hazard and risk
assessments will be digitised and systematised. Based on the national flood maps the
project will implement the floodplain zoning policy developed by Rioni project.
[$2,000,000 USD]
3) Activity 1.3: Introduction and implementation of methods and tools for the systematic
gender-sensitive socio-economic vulnerability assessment, which will form the basis of
strategic hazard management (cost-benefit analysis) for decision making and for
prioritisation of resilience investments [$400,000 USD]
4) Activity 1.4: A centralized multi-hazard disaster risk information and knowledge
system, based on the output of DRR project MHRA methodology currently being
developed. It will consist of national e-Library, databases, information systems and
knowledge portal (web knowledge portal to increase awareness, provide interactive
hazard maps, with integration with social media and possible mobile app to increase
community engagement and allow two-way flow of information) [$400,000].

Component 1 Total = $13.22 Million (including $11.03 mln from GCF and $2.19 mln co-
financing)

Output 2: Multi-hazard early warning system and new climate information products
supported with effective national regulations, coordination mechanism and institutional
capacities.
The project will address gaps in national coordination and institutional set up for effective EWS
resulting in a functioning coordination mechanism and communication protocols for early
warning. Capacities of decision-makers and national institutions involved in generating,
processing, communicating and using the warnings will be enhanced. National and local
integrated Early Warning Systems by hazard and sectors will be developed and operationalized.

7 Accurate Digital Elevation data is needed for modelling hazards such as flooding and landslides. LiDAR is the
most accurate dataset available for modelling of this kind and such data has only been acquired for Tbilisi (for
modelling undertaken following the 2014 floods). DEM of a lower accuracy was acquired for Rioni floodplains. The
data availability section of the feasibility report discusses all data needs and associated costs and shows that DEM
data will cost between 0.5 and 1 Million USD for all floodplains of Georgia.
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE
GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 5 OF 18

1) Activity 2.1: Institutional and legal frameworks, public-private partnerships and
associated institutional capacity building for the MHEWS and for the enhanced use of
climate information by the public and private sector. Improved coordination and
communication protocols for early warning. ($200,000USD)
2) Activity 2.2: Development and implementation of the MHEWS covering all basins in
Georgia, building on the Rioni basin prototype and on the rehabilitated hydrometric
network to be achieved through activity 1.2. This activity includes development of the
telecommunications system to support the new EWS, and integration of telemetry
system for near real time dissemination and use of EWS. The activity also includes
training and capacity building for NEA’s hydrometeorological service on the data
analysis, forecasting and packaging of the EW products. ($2,000,000USD)
3) Activity 2.3 Development of sector-tailored weather/climate based advisories for the
main hydrometeorological hazards and dissemination through ICT/mobile, print, and
radio channels. Private sector partnerships will be leveraged. ($250,000 USD)
4) Activity 2.4: Climate-informed planning platforms: Development of Multi-hazard risk
Management plans ($500,000 USD); Municipal-level flood response and preparedness
plans ($300,000 USD); and sector resilience and contingency plans for critical
infrastructure within all sectors in Georgia ($500,000 USD)

Component 2 Total = $3.75 Million

Output 3: Improved community resilience through the implementation of the MHEWS and
priority risk reduction measures.
Through this output the project will secure delivery and use of the early warnings and climate
advisories with end-users. Communities’ capacity to effectively utilize the EWS information and
products and respond to climate-related disasters will be enhanced. In addition, the project will
implement structural and non-structural intervention measures in high risk areas addressing most
vulnerable communities (based on sound cost-benefit analysis using the socio-economic risk
model) to reduce the risks that the EWS will be designed to address.
1) Activity 3.1: Implementation of community-based early warning schemes and
community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM). Community based EWS will be
implemented where appropriate to complement the fully integrated national EWS. Local
communities (particularly women and vulnerable groups) will be trained to implement
and maintain flood resilient non-structural intervention measures. Participatory
community-based adaptation technologies and practices will be implemented in priority
risk areas (e.g. establishing locally controlled and managed flood zones; erection of
visual flood zone demarcation posts at strategic locations; watershed rehabilitation
works such as construction of natural small scale defences with community
involvement (through employment guarantee scheme) ($1,250,000 USD)
2) Activity 3.2: State public awareness and capacity building programme effectively deliver
climate risk information and training to communities and local first-responders ($400,000
USD)
3) Activity 3.3: Based on Multi-hazard risk management plans developed in 2.4, design
and implementation of non-structural (e.g. community agro-forestry and afforestation
schemes on the flood plains), and where possible, structural intervention measures that
would significantly reduce the risks against which the MHEWS will operate (i.e. identify
any interventions that will potentially address several different hazards in a single
solution, which will minimise the risks to population, e.g. provide protection against more
frequently occurring and wide-spread risks or so-called extensive risks) ($8,500,000
USD, including $6 million for structural measures and $2.5 million for non-structural
measures including agroforestry)

Component 3 Total = $10.15 Million

National commitment of the Government of Georgia: Given the history and dynamics of natural
hazards outlined above, and the observed increased frequency and intensification of such events,
the Government of Georgia has long been committed to addressing natural hazard management
and disaster risk reduction throughout its territory. This is reflected in the Georgia’s INDC and in
a number of initiatives and projects dealing with the strengthening of capacity to address climate-
induced hazards, strengthening of the legislative and policy framework for natural hazards and
DRR, rehabilitation of observation networks and awareness raising programmes. While earlier
projects have provided some improvements, due to their limited budgets and scope (e.g.
geographic coverage), progress has not been comprehensive, which leaves Georgia, as a whole,
sill exposed to these natural hazards and their devastating effects. The Government of Georgia
is applying to GCF for support in consolidating and scaling-up earlier studies and projects to
secure a comprehensive nation-wide system addressing climate-induced disaster risks faced by
the population and economy.
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE
GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 6 OF 18

Baseline projects:
The proposed GCF project will build upon and contribute to the implementation of the National
Plan of Action for Capacity Development in DRR (2015-2019) and will scale-up pilot activities
and achievements of the UNDP project “Developing Climate Resilient Flood and Flash Flood
Management Practices to Protect Vulnerable Communities of Georgia” (Rioni project)
financed by the Adaptation Fund (2012-2016) as well as another UNDP project “Strengthening
National Disaster Risk Reduction System in Georgia”. In addition the GCF project will
implement recommendations arising from the 2015 Tbilisi Disaster Needs Assessment Report
prepared by the World Bank, UNDP and USAID experts and 2015 Tbilisi Disaster Recovery
Vulnerability Reduction Plan supported by UNDP. These projects constitute the baseline for the
GCF project. They are briefly outlined below and will be more fully described in the feasibility study
to the full GCF proposal.

In 2015 the Government of Georgia developed and approved the National Plan of Action for
Capacity Development for Disaster Risk Reduction on the basis of the Disaster Risk
Reduction Capacity Assessment supported by UNDP in 2014. The Plan clearly reflects climate
vulnerability and climate change as underlying risk factors and the needs for climate change
adaptation actions. The proposed GCF project directly supports prioritized national actions
under two of the five result areas of the national plan targeting improved information and
knowledge on climate related disaster risks, enhanced early warning and innovation. As
envisaged in the National Plan, capacity development activities under the monitoring and early
warning pillar target development of:
(i) Unified methodology and tools for multi-hazard risk assessment, mapping and monitoring;
(ii) Centralized multi-hazard disaster risk information and knowledge system, consisting of
national e-Library, databases, information systems and knowledge portal;
(iii) Local-level detailed hazard mapping and risk assessment; and
(iv) Early Warning Systems, national and local, by hazard and sectors; and end-to-end multi-
hazard nation-wide integrated early warning system.

2015 Tbilisi Disasters Needs Assessment delivered findings on damage, losses and needs
along with a series of recommendations for immediate, medium and long-term recovery.
Recommendations included above all development of a multi-hazard early warning system
(MHEWS) for Tbilisi, enhancing capacities for hazard monitoring and forecasting, raising risk
awareness and performing community preparedness trainings and drills on a regular basis,
developing a multi-hazard risk assessment for Tbilisi and other related measures. The medium
and long-term recommendations above all highlighted the need for a detailed understanding of
the hazard and risks posed by the combination of hydrometeorological and geological hazards
and for adopting a comprehensive multi-hazard early warning system as one action in protecting
the public and minimising the loss of life and minimisation of losses.

The project “Developing Climate Resilient Flood and Flash Flood Management Practices to
Protect Vulnerable Communities of Georgia” – Rioni Project (2012-2016; US$ 5mln) funded
through the Adaptation Fund and UNDP supports the government and the communities of the
target Rioni basin region to pilot an integrated approach to flood risk management. The approach
involved enhancement of the flood risk management legislative and policy framework, technology
transfer through the rehabilitation and upgrading of 25 hydrometric stations and introduction of
modern hazard and risk modelling and mapping, and the introduction of an Early Warning System
focusing on flood risks in the pilot Rioni basin. The study “Towards a Multi-Hazard Early
Warning System for Georgia” (UNDP, November 2015) outlines recommendations for national-
scale EWS. In addition the project has designed and built flood defences in 12 high risk areas
and piloted agro-forestry and other direct adaptation and resilience measures.

Based on the damage and loss assessment undertaken under this project approximately 290,000
(30%) of the population of the Rioni basin (one of 10 major river basins in Georgia) is at risk from
flooding from the extreme flood event (equivalent of the 1 in 100 year flood with climate change
considerations) which would result in £21 Million USD in agricultural damages and $100 Million in
property damages. The analysis showed that property damages due to flooding from the 1 in
100 year flood will double under climate change, while agricultural damages due to flooding from
the 1 in 100 year flood will increase by 25% under climate change in the Rioni basin. The project
has made great strides in addressing these risks through its activities and has identified long-term
strategic options for flood risk management, but there will need to be longer-term intervention in
the Rioni to reduce these risks further8. It is clear that the results achieved to date, provide a good

8 A key project deliverable which is being prepared in 2016 is a long-term strategy for flood risk management for
Rioni based on strategic intervention measures already identified through cost-benefit analysis using the socio-
economic risk model developed by the project.
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE
GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 7 OF 18

foundation on which to achieve risk reduction here and for all other high risk areas of Georgia
through scaling up.

It should be noted that the Rioni project was specifically designed with upscaling in mind, hence
many project activities and outputs have been undertaken at the local/regional level with the
expectation that they will be implemented nationally. The GCF project will scale up the prototypes
piloted by the Rioni project (including the hazard mapping, floodplain modelling and EWS) to
include the other river basins and regions of Georgia and to encompass a broader range of key
climate-induced hazards.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia (MENRP) has a
broad mandate in the field of environment and natural resources monitoring, management and
protection that includes above all the monitoring and forecasting of natural and anthropogenic
disasters, coordination of planning and implementation of preventive activities. The National
Environmental Agency (NEA), under the MENRP, is mandated to monitor ongoing hydro-
meteorological, geodynamic and geological events, as well as to provide monitoring of
environmental pollution, to issue license permits for the exploitation of natural resources, and to
ensure the sound functioning of monitoring systems. NEA is the keystone among the agencies of
the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Protection. Comprising 343 staff members
nationwide, NEA is responsible for the preparation of normative and informational documents,
forecasts and warning regarding existing and expected hydro-meteorological and geodynamic
processes, geoecological conditions of the geological environment and the conditions of
2.2. environmental pollution; permanent mapping of the territory, risk zoning and forecasting of
Background coastline developments; the management of coast forming processes using engineering activities;
information on the creation of environmental databases, metadata and ensuring its organisational management.
project/programme NEA is divided into the departments of Hydrometeorology, Geology, Environment Pollution
sponsor Monitoring and Licensing:

The Climate Change Division of MENRP provides assessments of climate change impacts on
the sectors of economy and ecosystems and prepares relevant predictions, develops the
national plan for adaptation to climate change, coordinates the national communications to the
UNFCCC and provides an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). MENRP established
the Natural and Technological Hazards Management Service. This Service is in charge of
the coordination and implementation oversight of environmental strategies and policies, planning
of disaster risk reduction activities, setup of a database of DRR activities, and capacity
development related to the Early Warning System. The Service hosts an informal forum for DRR
stakeholders called the DRR Think-Tank of Georgia that unites representatives from 60
governmental, non-governmental and international organizations, as well as academia.

2.3. Market Not applicable. The public goods nature of the proposed project entails no revenue-generation
Overview or cost-recovery.
For activities related to procurement of services, including training, through UNDP, according to
the SBAA signed with the GOG, taxes are not applicable. Section 7 of the Convention on the
Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations provides, inter alia, that the United Nations,
including its subsidiary organs, is exempt from all direct taxes, except charges for utilities
2.4. Regulation,
services, and is exempt from customs duties and charges of a similar nature in respect of
taxation and
articles imported or exported for its official use. Capital assets to be delivered in the framework
insurance of the project will be insured as applicable. Equipment maintenance plans will be developed as
part of the full project proposal.
Further details on the regulations and insurance will be provided in the full proposal.

The project will be nationally implemented in line with the Standard Basic Assistance Agreement
(SBAA, 1993), the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) agreed between the UN
and the Government of Georgia, and with the UNDP’s Country Programme Document (CPD)
approved by UNDP’s Executive Board and Government of Georgia.

UNDP is the Multilateral Implementing Entity for the Project. The Ministry of Environment and
Natural resources Protection (MENRP) is the government institution that will act as the
Implementing Partner/Executing Agency. The project will be implemented through MENRP’s
2.5.
National Environment Agency (NEA). NEA will be responsible for overall project
Implementation
implementation and will be the project executing entity. The project will engage with the other
Arrangements
government agencies with relevant mandates including the Ministry of Regional Development
and Infrastructure (MRDI), the Ministry of economy, Emergency management agency and
others. NEA’s role in the framework of the project is fully in line with its leading institutional role
in climate resilient natural disaster management. The MENRP/NEA will assume responsibility
for the project implementation, and the timely and verifiable attainment of project objectives and
outcomes. The NEA was the main implementing partner for the baseline projects discussed and
have been the main recipient of extensive capacity building. They are therefore well placed to
implement this proposed GCF project. The MENRP will nominate a high level official who will
PROJECT / PROGRAMME CONCEPT NOTE
GREEN CLIMATE FUND | PAGE 8 OF 18

serve as the National Project Director for the project implementation. For the purpose of
directing the project, the Project Executive Board (PEB) will be established and serve as
ultimate decision-maker and ensure that the project remains on course to deliver the desired
outcomes of the required quality. The Project Manager that will be recruited to ensure day-to-
day management of the project, will submit quarterly progress reports for the previous period
and a work plan for the next one.
Further details will be provided in the full proposal.

III. Financing / Cost Information
Funds are being requested by the Government of Georgia in the form of grants, given the “public
good” nature of the proposed climate-induced disaster risks reduction investments. It is unlikely that
revenue streams will occur from these investments and hence loans or non-grant instruments will not
be feasible. The GCF grant resources will be directed towards three key interconnected outcomes
each of which have been requested by the Government of Georgia to enable a transformative nation-
wide climate risk management policy and action. Direct risk reduction investments will be targeted at
the most vulnerable communities to reduce their exposure to climate-induced hazards in combination
with the early-warnings. Tentative breakdown of costs per component:

Component/Outcome 1: Reliable information on climate-induced hazards, vulnerability and
risks is available and effectively utilized for the early warning.
Total GCF grant: US$ 11,030,000

Component/Outcome 2: Multi-hazard early warning system supported with an effective
national regulations, coordination mechanism and communication protocols.
Total GCF grant: US$ 3,750,000
3.1. Description of financial
elements of the project / Component/Outcome 3: Improved community resilience through the implementation of the
programme MHEWS and priority vulnerability reduction measures at local level
Total GCF grant: US$ 10,150,000

M&E: US& 400,000
PMC: US$ 1,240,000

Total GCF grant request: US$ 26,570,000

Co-financing: The Government of Georgia identified several sources of co-financing and partner
initiatives to align with GCF financing. The project is fully aligned with the national government plans
for strengthening the hydro-meteorological monitoring network and will leverage co-financing from
bilateral and international donors. Further details on other co-financing will be provided in the full
proposal.
Co-financing for Output 1: US$ 2.19 mln for the rehabilitation and expansion of hydro-meteorological
observatio n network
Co-Financing for Output 3: US$ 15.1 Million for infrastructure projects which are related to river bank
protection (based on an annual budget of US $2.5 Million over 6 years)
Co-financing for Outputs 2: to be confirmed in the full proposal
3.2. Indicative
Financial Instrument Amount Currency Tenor
Project Pricing
Financing
Total Project
Information million
Financing 43.860
USD ($)
(a) = (b) + (c)