Global Environment Facility (GEF)
| Column | Details |
|---|---|
| Introduction | – Established: 1991. – Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA. – Mission: To address global environmental challenges through strategic investments and partnerships. – Scope: Provides financial assistance to projects in developing countries and economies in transition across areas like biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, chemicals, and waste. |
| Objectives | – Biodiversity Conservation: Protect and sustainably manage ecosystems and species. – Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate impacts. – International Waters: Promote cooperative management of transboundary water systems. – Land Degradation: Combat desertification and promote sustainable land management. – Chemicals and Waste: Reduce and eliminate harmful chemicals and waste. |
| Members (Dec 2024) | – Total Members: 186 countries. – India’s Status: India is a member and actively participates in GEF projects. |
| Reports/Indices | – GEF-8 Corporate Scorecard: Biannual report tracking the GEF’s performance during its eighth replenishment period, including progress toward targets and resource utilization. – GEF Monitoring Report: Summarizes the progress and performance of the active portfolio of GEF projects. – GEF Annual Performance Report: Evaluates the outcomes, processes, and factors affecting GEF project performance. – GEF Report to UNFCCC COP28: Details contributions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) objectives. |
| Instruments | – GEF Trust Fund: The primary funding mechanism for environmental projects. – Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF): Supports climate change adaptation projects for the Least Developed Countries. – Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF): Focuses on climate change adaptation and mitigation projects not covered by the LDCF. – Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF): Facilitates the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing. |
| Structure | – Assembly: Includes all member countries and meets every four years to review policies and evaluate operations. – Council: The main governing body with 32 members representing member constituencies. – Secretariat: Based in Washington, D.C., coordinates project formulation and ensures alignment with GEF strategies. – Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP): Provides independent scientific and technical advice. – Independent Evaluation Office (IEO): Conducts evaluations of GEF’s impact and effectiveness. |
| Subsidiary Organs | – GEF Agencies: Comprising 18 organizations, including UN agencies, multilateral development banks, and NGOs, they implement GEF projects on the ground. |
| Committees | – Council Committees: Address specific operational and policy issues, providing recommendations to the GEF Council. |
| Initiatives | – Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF): Supports the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by mobilizing resources for biodiversity conservation. – Innovation Window: Provides grants for innovative environmental solutions, with $12.3 million allocated to projects in December 2024. – UrbanShift: A program aimed at transforming cities into green and sustainable spaces, addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution through urban development projects. – Small Grants Programme (SGP): Provides financial and technical support to community-based projects in developing countries. – Integrated Approach Pilot (IAP) Programs: Addresses drivers of environmental degradation through cross-cutting, integrated projects targeting critical areas like food security, deforestation, and sustainable cities. – Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT): Assists countries in meeting transparency requirements under the Paris Agreement by providing capacity-building resources for tracking and reporting climate actions. |
