On the third and final day of the 49th meeting of the GEF Council, Council members met in Executive Session to consider the Report of the Selection and Review Committee. The Council then agreed that the 52nd Council meeting will be held the week of 22 May 2017. Naoko Ishii was reappointed, by unanimous decision, as CEO and Chairperson of the GEF for a second four-year term; this was followed by many congratulations and affirmations of support.
Specific expressions of support were also heard, for, inter alia: the GEF’s current strategic direction; expansion of the GEF partnership; further innovative reforms of the GEF to meet developing countries’ needs, particularly given competition from other institutions; innovations and reforms introduced during GEF-6, such as RBM and NGIs; and greater focus on Africa, particularly West Africa and the southern African environmental agenda.
Delegates then convened as the 18th meeting of the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) Council. In her opening statement, CEO Ishii emphasized the importance of adaptation to the prospective Paris climate agreement and the positive role the LDCF and SCCF have played in implementing adaptation. She stated that the limited number of projects presented to the Council was due to lack of resources and called for further support for the Funds in order to: not lose momentum; close the funding gap; and send a clear signal to the Parties to the UNFCCC ahead of COP 21.
Pledges were made by Switzerland and Finland, amounting to US$2.6 million for the LDCF and US$2.3 million for the SCCF on top of a US transfer of US$26.75 million, received in September 2015, for the LDCF. The Council approved the Work Program comprising two project.
Council Members reviewed and approved Joint Summaries of the Chairs for both the GEF Council meeting and the LDCF/SCCF Council meeting, and CEO Ishii closed the meeting at 1:39 pm. |
» GEF-C49
