A Record Replenishment: $4.25 Billion for the GEF’s Fifth Cycle
The world’s largest public environmental fund, the Global Environment Facility , received a record boost from donor countries on May 12th, 2010 with more than 30 nations pledging $4.25 billion... More...
Fourth GEF Assembly: Highlights
The fourth Assembly of the GEF was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay, on 25-26 May 2010 and was preceded by a Civil Society Forum and a GEF Council meeting that took place in the same venue. The GEF Assembly gathered GEF stakeholders to review the policies and operations of the Facility. Over 1,000 participants attended the Assembly, representing member states, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, and the private sector. More...
UNCCD and the GEF: Links between Land Degradation and Sustainable Development
While in Uruguay, the GEF has decided to officially recognize in its charter that it will be the primary financing mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. The commitment signals to investors that the solutions the Convention offers to promote sustainable land management are not only well-intentioned, but indeed are financially feasible through new funding from the world’s largest environmental funding organization. More...
Assembly Celebrates the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity
In April, the United Nations declared to 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. On May 27, the GEF decided to use the fourth Assembly as a platform to commemorate IYB and to spread awareness about the importance of biodiversity. The event was held at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, Uruguay and was also co-hosted by the Uruguayan Council for International Relations (CURI). More...
Partnering with Community Advocates: Civil Society Forum
The Civil Society Forum was held on May 24, the day before the official start of the fourth Assembly meeting of the GEF. Several panels were held with key leaders of Uruguayan, Latin American, and international civil society organizations (CSOs), focusing on the role of CSOs, local and indigenous communities in protecting the environment, Latin American experiences with GEF projects, and specifics of improving CSO-GEF partnership in the next stage of GEF-5. More...
New Publications
Greening Opportunities at World Events - World events hosted by developing countries and transition economies—like the World Expo 2010, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the 2008 Summer and 2014 Winter Olympics, and the 2010 Commonwealth Games—present a unique opportunity to showcase environmentally sound technologies and practices.
Experiences from SGP: Protecting International Waters - This publication highlights the work of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) in the international waters focal area.
Sustainable Forest Management and REDD+ financing at the GEF - Since its inception in 1991, the GEF has financed over 300 projects and programs focusing on forest conservation and management in developing countries. The total GEF allocation to forest initiatives during this period amounts to more than $1.6 billion, leveraging $5 billion from other sources.
CREDITS
Editors: Patrizia Cocca, Melissa Bender, Talia Sarah Smith, Maureen Lorenzetti