Photo credit: Curioso.Photography/Adobe Stock
The Global Environment Facility’s Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) are moving forward with new efforts to strengthen climate resilience in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries.
The work program approved today by the LDCF and SCCF Council includes approximately $52 million in GEF support and is expected to leverage more than $116 million in co-financing, scaling up country-driven adaptation solutions across Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.
The initiatives emphasize integrated land–water management, coastal protection, sustainable fisheries, and climate-resilient livelihoods, reflecting the GEF-managed adaptation funds’ focus on community-driven solutions, gender-responsive action, and ecosystem-based approaches tailored to national priorities.
Together, the five projects demonstrate how targeted, grant-based adaptation finance can deliver concrete results – even in fragile and high-risk contexts – while laying the foundations for long-term resilience.
Sustaining momentum for climate resilience
Outgoing Chair of the Least Developed Countries Group, Evans Njewa, encouraged ongoing donor support for the LDCF and SCCF, saying that the GEF-managed adaptation funds continued to inspire hope and action in the face of immense challenges.
“Across diverse geographies and challenging contexts, LDCF and SCCF projects are delivering tangible results – reflecting both the resilience of the countries involved and the strength of the partnerships supporting implementation,” Njewa said.
At the close of the Council meeting, contributors also announced nearly $39 million in new pledges to the LDCF and SCCF, reinforcing confidence in the GEF-managed adaptation funds and providing a timely boost to support delivery of approved projects on the ground. New commitments from Belgium, Germany, Ireland, and Sweden will support the scaling up of adaptation solutions across Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, enabling approved projects to move more quickly from decision to implementation.
Protecting coastal ecosystems and livelihoods in Africa
In Eritrea, LDCF support will back community-based marine and coastal ecosystem restoration, linking mangrove rehabilitation with improved water management, food security, and strengthened fisheries value chains. The project is expected to benefit more than 21,000 households, restore 3,500 hectares of degraded mangroves, and significantly enhance climate resilience in coastal communities.
In Senegal, a new initiative will strengthen the adaptive capacity of coastal communities and marine ecosystems through climate-resilient fisheries governance, sustainable aquaculture, and ecosystem restoration. By restoring mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs – and promoting alternative livelihoods – the project is expected to benefit nearly 49,000 people, with women accounting for more than half of direct beneficiaries.
Strengthening resilience in fragile contexts
In Haiti, LDCF support will help strengthen resilience in communities facing compounding climate, environmental, and socioeconomic pressures. With a focus on supporting smallholder livelihoods and strengthening the resilience of agri-food systems, the project is expected to benefit more than 45,000 people, bring 3,700 hectares under climate-resilient management, and strengthen policy frameworks and partnerships that support long-term adaptation in fragile settings.
Supporting adaptation across Pacific islands
In the Pacific, LDCF and SCCF resources will support countries confronting acute climate risks linked to sea-level rise, drought, coastal erosion, and saltwater intrusion.
In Kiribati, an integrated program will scale up climate-resilient land-use planning, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable livelihoods across vulnerable atolls. By combining traditional knowledge, gender-responsive approaches, and strengthened governance, the project will enhance resilience across water, agriculture, energy, and coastal systems – linking healthy ecosystems with long-term development outcomes.
In the Republic of the Marshall Islands, SCCF and GEF Trust Fund support will address worsening groundwater salinization, land degradation, and coastal erosion. The project will restore agricultural land and mangroves, improve land management across more than 5,000 hectares, and strengthen resilience in communities where freshwater security and food systems are under growing pressure from climate change.
About the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF)
The LDCF is the only global fund dedicated to helping Least Developed Countries adapt to climate change. It supports locally-led solutions across agriculture, water, health, infrastructure, and more – strengthening systems, scaling finance, and building resilience where it’s needed most. The LDCF has delivered more than $2.39 billion in grants to date – supporting the transition from incremental to transformational adaptation across 51 countries.
About the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)
The SCCF drives innovation in climate adaptation across the developing world, with a focus on Small Island Developing States. From nature-based solutions to climate-smart agriculture and innovative financial mechanisms, the SCCF helps test new ideas, engage the private sector, and scale impact. To date, it has supported projects in more than 60 countries, benefiting over 10.7 million people.
