Thank you to GEF for its approval of $204.3 million in funding for projects implemented by UNDP & partners across 121 countries.
The new funding will bolster community-led efforts to drive a nature-positive and climate-resilient future.
#GEFcouncil68
go.undp.org/Jef
At #GEFCouncil68, the Global Environment Facility announced $99.8 million in funding for @unep.org to address some of our most pressing environmental challenges.
This funding will not only help protect the environment, but also support communities around the world.
www.unep.org/gef/news-and...
Celebration of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund's achievements in its first year dominated the final day of #GEFCouncil68
Council also received pledges for the Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Change Fund
#biodiversity #GBFF
At #GEFCouncil68 closing, CEO Rodriguez asked participants to imagine what could be achieved if there were more funding and requested everyone’s input on what #GEF needs to do to collectively increase our ambition and better serve the world.
New Co-Chair of #GBFF Council's Advisory Group for Non-Sovereign Participants Andrea Cruz reports on 1st Group meeting on 10 Dec 2024; says Group stands ready to address any specific topic requested by Council. #GEFCouncil68 #GEF #CBD #biodiversity
#GEF Secretariat briefs #GBFF Council on proposed terms of reference (TOR) modifications for the Council's Advisory Group of Non-Sovereign Contributors, & progress made in setting up Council's Auxiliary Body. Council adopted the modified TOR. #GEFCouncil68 #biodiversity
#CBD Executive Secretary Schomaker hails #GEF for operationalizing #GBFF "super fast," getting projects out, acting like a innovation trailblazer, & quickly approaching portfolio targets. "It all bodes well for a mature, effective & efficient Fund." #GEFCouncil68
#GEF CEO Rodriguez tells #GBFF Council that the Fund has many achievements to celebrate - established & fully operationalized in record time, innovative projects already launched, 1st tranche already 90% used, many targets on their way to being met or exceeded. #GEFCouncil68 #biodiversity #KMGBF
4 donors announce pledges during #LDCF/#SCCF Council: GBP 10 mill. to the SCCF A window from the UK; ≈ EUR 2.27 mil. from #Wallonia, #Belgium to the LDCF; EUR 15 mil. to the LDCF & EUR 20 million to the SCCF from #Germany; SEK 130 mil. from #Sweden. #GEFCouncil68 #GEF
On Thursday at #GEFcouncil68, Global Environment Facility Council members approved decisions to improve Trust Fund delivery to recipient countries, on: streamlining the project cycle; possible addition of new Implementing Agencies.
#ClimateFinance #ForNature
#GEFCouncil68 adopts decision requesting the Secretariat to develop options for #GEFCouncil69 re adding more Agencies to the #GEF Partnership, on basis of analysis of agency regional coverage, particularly for #LDCs & #SIDS, & to strengthen engagement w/ civil society orgs & the private sector.
#LDCF/#SCCF Council approves Work Program with USD 92.05 million from the LDCF & USD 12.25 million from the SCCF, covering 9 #LDCs & 4 #SIDS. #GEFCouncil68 #GEF
#GEF CEO Rodriguez laments #LDCF/#SCCF remain undercapitalized, constraining GEF's ability to deliver to #LDCs & #SIDS on #climatechange when it's needed most. He urged donors to step up, since funds are needed today to avoid leaving any LDC or SIDS behind. #GEFCouncil68
#GEFCouncil68 analyzes concentration & thematic/geographic coverage among #GEF Agencies, but disagreement re whether decision on options should refer just to #LDCs & #SIDS or more broadly to "unserved regions" leads to postponement for further negotiation on decision wording
#GEFCouncil68 adopts decision on streamlining the #GEF project cycle, calling for work on measures outlined by the Secretariat & presenting any policy amendments needed at #GEFCouncil69, & presenting an implementation report at #GEFCouncil70.
The future role of @theGEF in addressing the triple planetary crisis was front of mind at #GEFcouncil68 Wednesday as they heard from the environmental leaders
Council agreed to start GEF-9 replenishment talks in January 2025
Read ➡️ enb.iisd.org/global-envir...
#ForNature #climate
#GEFCouncil68 requests #GEF Fund Trustee (#WorldBank) to launch #GEF9 replenishment negotiations in Jan 2025 in order to conclude before GEF-8 ends in June 2026, so no interruptions in GEF operations.
At #GEFCouncil68 Rosina Bierbaum, Chair #STAP, synthesized 7 possible areas of engagement for #GEF-9, incl. building on #GEF theory of change to drive portfolio-wide investment; investing in innovation & manage risk; supporting policy coherence; & enabling civil society.
At #GEFCouncil68 several Members caution vs continuing fragmentation of MEA financial architecture thru creation of new funds which bring about structural inefficiencies, & instead encourage addressing shortcomings of existing ones w/ great internal capacity & experience.
At #GEFCouncil68 Houtan Bassiri, #UNCCD, shared recent study finding that USD 355 bil. in annual investment 2025-2030 needed to achieve UNCCD targets, but a gap of about USD 278 bn that must be mobilized is projected.
At #GEFCouncil68 #MinamataConvention Executive Secretary Monika Stankiewicz expresses concern her convention's share of #GEF-8 funds is still under 25% used, & that #mercury projects are not going forward quickly enough for #GEF Council or CEO approval.
At #GEFCouncil68 #BRS Exec Sec Rolph Payet
says #StockholmConvention on #POPs estimates USD 18.3 bn needed to meet 2026-2030 implementation needs. Says
#GEF ideally suited to address synergies between #chemicals & other issues. Thanks Council for #PCBs elimination program.
At #GEFCouncil68 Stephen Mathias, #UN Office of Legal Affairs, notes that arrangements with #GEF will be addressed at April 2025 #BBNJ Agreement Preparatory Commission, compliments GEF help in promoting early implementation of BBNJ.
At #GEFCouncil68 #UNFCCC Deputy Exec Sec Noura Hamladji urges #GEF9 talks to bear in mind: need to simplify fund access (thus importance of #LDCF/#SCCF); need to unlock more private sector investment; need for more #adaptation funding; need for climate fund coherence/complementarity.
At #GEFCouncil68 #CBD Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker notes #COP16 debated creating a new dedicated fund or having #GEF continue its current role, & requested more GEF support for #biosafety. She said Feb 2025 resumed COP will focus on resource mobilization & financial mechanism.
#GEFCouncil68 debated proposals to streamline the GEF project cycle and considered evaluations and recommendations of the Independent Evaluations Office on:
• the GEF’s Results Based Management System
• GEF programs in Pacific #SIDS
• the GEF's #chemicals and #waste focal area
During #GEFCouncil68 discussion of #IEO report, #GEF CEO Rodriguez suggests GEF should serve as part of the financial mechanism for a #plastics treaty, & that lack of negotiator enthusiasm for a GEF role may reflect misunderstanding of all GEF already does on #waste.
#GEFCouncil68 endorses #GEF response to #IEO recommendations on Pacific #SIDS, which agrees w/ 2 IEO recs & partially agrees w/ a 3rd on institutional capacity building. Among agreed points was considering future accreditation of Pacific regional orgs as GEF Agencies.
#GEF agrees with & #GEFCouncil68 endorses #IEO's 4 recs to improve GEF's #chemicals & #waste focal area: strengthening policy reforms; enhancing private sector engagement; tailoring technologies to local contexts; integrating health co-benefits into monitoring.
At #GEFCouncil68 GEF #IEO Director Geeta Batra presents IEO's Semiannual Evaluation Report on upcoming reports, such as analyses of #naturebasedsolutions & of socioeconomic co-benefits of #GEF interventions, & the 8th Comprehensive Evaluation that will inform GEF-9 replenishment talks.
