Grant Approval Process

As part of the Nation’s Grant Review Process, the NEPC must review and either endorse or recommend revisions before any Multi-Sector grant is approved by the Office of Public Management (OPM). Starting in 2018, the OPM will not approve any Multi-sector grant (such as GEF and GCF grants) without the approval of the NEPC. Any Member may introduce a grant for consideration by the two NEPC Grants Working Groups. The NEPC shall produce a final Policy Statement (on signed NEPC Letterhead) approving the final grant application, which is then forwarded to the OPM.

When a grant is introduced into a Working Group or full NEPC, the NEPC then has a one-month timeline to produce a Policy Statement either endorsing the project or recommending revisions (unless an emergency deadline is present). This cycle may be repeated until final approval is reached.

Process for reviewing EAs, EISs, and other National Documents

The Secretariat or any Member may introduce a document for review. Documents should go to the appropriate Working Groups first (e.g. legal and mainstreaming). Working Groups should allow for a month to review and discuss documents. Within one month of being introduced, the Working Group should make a recommendation as to the NEPC’s Policy Statement regarding the document.

• If the Working Group reaches a clear decision by consensus about the document, the Working Group may draft a Policy Statement and forward to the Secretariat and Officers for signing and release as an official Policy Statement (on NEPC Letterhead and requiring two signatures).
• If necessary, the Working Group may defer a decision about the document to a Full NEPC Meeting. At that Full NEPC Meeting, the Working Group should present its recommendations to the Full NEPC, resulting in a consensus decision and Policy Statement.
• If a Full NEPC Meeting is needed to review the document, and a Full NEPC Meeting is not forthcoming, the Working Group may recommend to the Officers and Secretariat that a Special Meeting be called. The Full NEPC should be given a one-month timeline to review the document before the Special Meeting, unless emergencies or deadlines require a shorter preparation time. In that case, the Working Group should prepare a clear summary of the document and the issues to be resolved.