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A wide-ranging Global Environment Facility work program approved on Monday will support a new “Lemur bond” for biodiversity and resilience in Madagascar; scale up efforts to remove mercury from skin creams and the production of non-ferrous metals and cement; strengthen cooperation across four international waterways; and connect microfinance with environmentally-focused ventures in developing countries.
The $195 million allocated by the GEF Council will generate $2.6 billion from outside sources. That is equal to $13 mobilized for every GEF dollar.
In total, the latest GEF Trust Fund work program includes 14 initiatives that will take place in 35 countries, nearly half of which are Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.
The work program will advance the goals of the six conventions the GEF is mandated to support – the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Minamata Convention on Mercury, Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Following is an overview of the approved projects and programs:
GLOBAL
Global elimination of mercury in non-ferrous metals initiative - GEMINI (GEF ID 11892)
This initiative is designed to eliminate mercury pollution in the production and supply of non-ferrous metals including copper, industrial gold, zinc, and lead, across six countries. The transition to mercury-free safe alternatives and responsible practices will be pursued through policy reform, financial support, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing. GEMINI will seek the active participation of the private sector to support the adoption of best environmental practices, use of sustainable technologies, and development of environmentally sound, mercury-free business models. Non-ferrous metals are commonly used in the automotive, construction, electronic, and medical industries.
Countries: Chile, India, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Zambia
Implementing agencies: UNIDO, UNDP, UNEP
GEF financing: $58.8 million, Co-financing: $383.2 million
SGP Global Microfinance Initiative for locally led action (GEF ID 11901)
This Small Grants Program initiative is designed to strengthen the ecosystem for microfinance in seven countries, aiming to offer tailored funding solutions for locally-led work to address strains on nature and community resilience. The Global Microfinance Initiative is designed to improve access to finance for small businesses and entrepreneurs working to address environmental challenges. It will support microfinance institutions operating in the target countries, providing training on best practices for the design and roll-out of innovative financial products.
Countries: Brazil, Colombia, Madagascar, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Türkiye
Implementing agency: World Bank
GEF financing: $9.2 million, Co-financing: $1.5 billion
Climate Transparency Global Support Programme III (GEF ID 11880)
This project will provide technical support and capacity-building to help developing countries transparently report their progress on climate goals, in line with the UNFCCC’s Enhanced Transparency Framework, which specifies how parties to the Paris Agreement should report their progress in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Building on learnings from previous phases, this project will use online and in-person meetings and activities to build capacities around climate reporting and the development of transparency frameworks.
Countries: Global
Implementing agencies: UNDP, UNEP
GEF financing: $9 million, Co-financing: $1.1 million
AFRICA
Elimination of mercury-added skin lightening products in Africa (GEF ID 11877)
This project aims to eliminate skin lightening products containing mercury from both physical and online sale channels across Africa, replicating best practices of prior projects and with a focus on both manufacturing and non-manufacturing countries. The initiative is aligned with commitments under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Countries: Burkina Faso, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Uganda
Implementing agency: UNEP
GEF financing: $15 million, Co-financing: $76.6 million
Rural electrification for community well-being in Burundi (GEF ID 11888)
This project aims to support access to clean energy in rural communities in Burundi by increasing viability and promoting scaled-up commercial investment in decentralized mini grids, with a focus on derisking to incentivize investments. It also includes cost-reduction levers as well as innovative business models.
Country: Burundi
Implementing agency: UNDP
GEF financing: $4.9 million, Co-financing: $23.3 million
Regional program for integrated water resources management in the transboundary basin of the Ubangi River between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo (GEF ID 11906)
This project aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo in the Ubangi River basin, and to strengthen the technical and institutional capacities of the regional river basin institution CICOS in order to improve climate change resilience and support sustainable livelihoods.
Countries: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo
Implementing agencies: AfDB, IUCN
GEF financing: $8 million, Co-financing: $67.4 million
Science-based management of biodiversity and natural resources for economic development project (GEF ID 11694)
This blended finance project, with support from both the GEF Trust Fund and LDCF, will support resilient landscape and seascape management in Madagascar, including through the launch of an innovative outcome-based bond leveraging capital markets to protect endangered species and boost community livelihoods and climate resilience in and around protected areas. The Lemur bond stems from engagement with international finance institutions, development partners, and the private sector regarding a new Country Platform, co-convened by the IMF and World Bank and hosted by Madagascar in October 2024.
Country: Madagascar
Implementing agency: World Bank
GEF financing: $20 million ($18.2 million from GEF Trust Fund and $1.8 million from LDCF), Co-financing: $162.3 million
ASIA & THE PACIFIC
Spatial-based natural forest planning and governance for robust ecosystems - SPARE (GEF ID 11714)
This project supports integrated forestry spatial planning for better governance and protection of natural forests outside of protected areas. Working in three Indonesian provinces – Bengkulu, North Kalimantan and West Nusa – it aims to strengthen spatial-based forest governance mechanisms, forest management, and restoration, and will help advance forest and ecosystem investments.
Country: Indonesia
Implementing agency: UNDP
GEF financing: $6.2 million, Co-financing: $40 million
Excelling protected area management effectiveness for biodiversity conservation through landscape based approach (GEF ID 11861)
This project seeks to enhance biodiversity conservation in Indonesia’s protected areas by introducing and scaling up innovative landscape-based management models. These models aim to foster ecosystem resilience, sustainable resource use, and equitable benefit-sharing across landscapes.
Country: Indonesia
Implementing agency: UNDP
GEF financing: $6.7 million, Co-financing: $48 million
Sulu-Sulawesi seascape approach to coral reef livelihoods (GEF ID 11528)
The project aims to improve the sustainability of coral reef resources, fisheries, and the blue economy in the Sulu-Celebes large marine ecosystem. It will support efforts to improve the management of coral reefs, fisheries, and resources, and will seek to improve the effectiveness of biodiversity management in cooperation with the local tourism sector.
Countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines
Implementing agency: CI
GEF financing: $6 million, Co-financing: $49.2 million
Greening of the Philippines cement and construction industry (GEF ID 11707)
This project aims to reduce mercury and greenhouse gas emissions in the Philippines’ cement and construction sectors by promoting sustainable policies and innovative technologies. It will support adoption of a circular economy model utilizing alternative raw materials and recycling construction waste.
Country: Philippines
Implementing agency: UNIDO
GEF financing: $6.2 million, Co-financing: $43.8 million
EUROPE & CENTRAL ASIA
Supporting the ratification and phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons in production: a regional initiatie for enhanced action in Central Asia and Eastern Europe (GEF ID 11881)
This project aims to support efforts by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, a dangerous source of greenhouse gas emissions. The project will help the four countries develop legal and regulatory frameworks to move away from HFC use in refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump equipment. This will include piloting alternative technologies, setting up national innovation centers, and upgrading facilities for HFC destruction.
Countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan
Implementing agency: UNIDO
GEF financing: $6.4 million, Co-financing: $50 million
LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN
Foster transboundary cooperation and capacities for the management of the marine biodiversity of the Southwest Atlantic large marine ecosystems through regional and national actions (GEF ID 11476)
This project aims to support cooperation for the long-term management and conservation of the South Brazil Shelf large marine ecosystem and the northern area of the Patagonia Shelf large marine ecosystem.
Countries: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay
Implementing agency: CAF
GEF financing: $9.1 million, Co-financing: $111.6 million
Dominica Geothermal Risk Mitigation II project: additional financing and guarantee (GEF ID 11865)
This blended finance project provides additional financing and support to an existing World Bank project which is helping Dominica develop a 10 MW domestic geothermal power plant. The GEF will provide additional financing for the development of energy transmission infrastructure through the Trust Fund’s STAR allocation, and will provide concessional payment guarantees through the Non-Grant Instrument.
Country: Dominica
Implementing agency: World Bank
GEF financing: $11.4 million, Co-financing: $112.5 million