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October 25, Nagoya, Japan

 

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L-R: Gustavo Fonseca, GEF; Monique Barbut, CEO and Chairperson, GEF; and Shinji Taniguchi, Japan Ministry of Finance.

 

The event provided an update on the GEF-5 replenishment, which saw a historical increase by donors. The event also outlined various reforms aimed at strengthening the GEF’s effectiveness and efficiency.

Monique Barbut, GEF CEO and Chairperson, applauded the GEF-5 replenishment, which totals US$4.35 billion for 2010-2014. Barbut described a number of reforms that have already taken place, including decreasing the project cycle to 18 months and ramping up transparency by allowing focal points to access project cycle data. She said reforms underway include fully integrating results-based management into the GEF and improving allocations through the System for Transparent Allocation of Resources (STAR).

Warren Evans, World Bank, emphasized that the number of reforms that the GEF has undertaken over the last few years, particularly related to its project cycle, demonstrate that reforms are possible and operationally and fiscally beneficial.

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Emphasizing the vital role of the GEF for biodiversity conservation, Shinji Taniguchi, Japan’s Ministry of Finance, noted the need for continued and improved cooperation between the GEF Secretariat, partner countries and coordinating agencies for the benefit of recipient countries. He underscored his country’s commitment of US$505 million to GEF-5.

Hem Pande, Ministry of Environment and Forests, India, highlighted the flexibility scheme introduced in GEF-5 for small island developing states and least developed countries, saying it will benefit countries such as Bhutan and the Maldives. He discussed a number of future challenges for the GEF.

Jozef Buys, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Co-operation, Belgium, said his country had increased its commitment from 42 million Euros to 87 million Euros for GEF-5. He stated that this increase was due to the Facility’s ability to evolve, but added that Belgium will be scrutinizing it closely especially in response to CBD COP 10’s guidance.

Faizal Parish, GEF NGO Network, discussed the views of civil society, noting that GEF-5 is the first time his network has been a formal partner in the replenishment process. He urged for more work to be done on indigenous peoples.

Participants discussed, inter alia: the benefits of the STAR replenishment reforms; the addition of land degradation to GEF’s areas of work; the flexibility that the 60 countries with the smallest allocations now have to cluster funds as needed; and whether funds would be allocated for ABS.
 

 

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Monique Barbut, GEF CEO and Chairperson, celebrated the GEF’s fifth replenishment, noting that it has shown a 55% increase from the GEF-4 level. She said the increase is in part due to Japan, the host country of COP 10, and the US.
 
   Gustavo Fonseca, GEF
 

 


Text and Pictures provided by  IISD Reporting Service

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