In its 6th Operational Phase (OP6) which will be under implementation from 2015 to 2018, SGP has the following overarching objective: ?to support the creation of global environmental benefits and the safeguarding of the global environment through community and local solutions that complement and add value to national and global level action?. This broad objective is broken down into the following themes, community landscape/seascape conservation, climate smart innovative agro-ecology, low carbon energy access co-benefits, local to global chemical management coalitions, CSO-government policy and planning dialogue platforms, promoting social inclusion and global reach for citizen practice based knowledge programme. In preparation for grant making for this phase, SGP has been allocated a grant to cover 3 main areas that include the following:

1. Operational Phase 6 Country Programme Strategy consultations and Scoping exercise. The plan is to hold three consultative meetings with stakeholders to identify landscapes for support.
2. Baseline Assessments for the Selected Landscapes. This activity includes conducting baseline assessments for selected landscapes identified during the stakeholder consultations and scoping exercise.
3. Country Programme Strategy (CPS) Finalization. This activity involves the finalization of the CPS using information derived from the consultative meetings, baseline assessments, literature review and key informant interviews. The CPS will be presented to the N.C and NSC for review and approval.

1.1. Project Objectives and Expected Results

1.1.1. Overall project goal/primary objective
The aim of the project is to assist in the selection of landscapes to be supported by GEFSGP, generate baseline information for selected landscapes and develop Operational Phase 6 Country Programme Strategy.
1.1.2. Specific objectives
The specific objectives of this project include:
To organize the operational Phase 6 Country Programme Strategy consultations and scoping exercise
To carry out baseline survey assessments for the selected landscapes
To prepare and finalize The Country Programme Strategy for Operational Phase 6
1.2. Description of Project Activities
The specific activities of this project involve:
1) OP6 Country Programme Strategy consultations and Scoping exercise:
Under this first area, the activities to be covered include the following:

a) Communications, outreach and capacity development about OP6 and its strategic initiatives.
? This activity is a process of awareness that will help to explain what landscapes are and why there is need for SGP to focus on landscapes.
? Conduct an assessment and scoping exercise to take stock of the results and achievements of the SGP country programme
? Identify the priority directions for programming in OP6 in line with the SGP OP6 project document, the country?s national priorities and GEF 6 programming directions
? Literature review of National Level documents to come up with National priorities for support especially in the environmental sector
? Designing criteria for selecting the landscapes


c) Multi-stakeholder consultations
? The consultation process will be covered through conducting 3 workshops in Bulawayo, Harare and Mutare to identify target landscapes for GEFSGP support under the Operational Phase. Consultations will be held with the NSC, other relevant partners from government, civil society and UNDP in order to have broad consensus on the country programme approach in OP6.
? Selection of the landscape area(s) of focus
One of the major outputs will be selection of landscapes taking into consideration SGP?s niche, opportunities, challenges, and potential for synergies.

2) Selected Landscape Baseline Assessment
? Conducting scientific baseline assessments for Biodiversity, Climate change, Land degradation, Chemicals, International waters and community needs in the selected landscapes.
3) Country Programme Strategy Finalization
Writing the CPS, and presenting the CPS to the NC and NSC for review and approval. Dr E. Chigumira who is a social scientist will lead the drafting of the CPS document. The Department has experience in producing national level policy documents, some of which include Coping with Drought, Zimbabwe Second National Communication to UNFCC and Zimbabwe Strategy for Managing Water Quality and protecting water sources.