Webinar: GEF Support for Biennial Transparency Reports Financing and Access Modalities

This webinar was aimed at informing developing countries on the access modalities and procedures of the Global Environment Facility and its implementing agencies to apply for funding for the biennial transparency reports (BTRs). The webinar included speakers from UNFCCC, the GEF, UNEP, UNDP, and FAO.

The modalities, procedures, and guidelines for the transparency framework for action and support referred to in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement were adopted in December 2018 at the twenty-fourth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP24). The GEF, as an operating entity of the Financial Mechanism, was requested to support developing country Parties in preparing their first and subsequent BTRs.

The first Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA.1) decided that Parties shall submit their first BTR and national inventory report, if submitted as a stand-alone report, in accordance with these modalities, procedures and guidelines, at the latest by December 31, 2024, and that the least developed country (LDC) Parties and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) may submit this information at their discretion.

For most developing countries, this presents a significant challenge due to stronger transparency requirements, increased scope of categories and gases to be reported on a mandatory basis, and an increase of data and information associated with different components of measurement, reporting, and verification that need to be collected and processed.

In 2020, the GEF organized two informal consultations to discuss support needs, possible modalities, and timing for BTRs with partners. Following the informal consultations, the information note on the Financing of Biennial Transparency Reports for Developing Country Parties to the Paris Agreement was submitted to the 59th GEF Council, which met in December 2020. The GEF CEO then made the support modalities for the first BTR available and communicated them to all countries in February 2021. The early rollout of the BTR support was done to ensure sufficient lead time for countries to prepare and submit their first BTR by the deadline of December 31, 2024. In response to CMA.3 guidance, the GEF updated the cost structure for BTR in 2022 as per the information note on the Update of the Cost Structure for the Financing of BTRs for the Developing Country Parties to the Paris Agreement.

As of March 31, 2023, the GEF has provided support to 65 Parties to prepare their first and subsequent BTRs. With limited time left for the submission deadline for the first BTR, approximately 80 developing countries have yet to request support and are encouraged to apply for funding to prepare their BTRs to be able to report them by December 2024.

This webinar series is aimed at informing developing countries on the access modalities and procedures of the GEF and its implementing agencies to apply for funding for the BTRs.