The 61st meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council considered a proposed Work Program comprising 25 projects and one program. Once approved, the Work Program allocated USD 190.7 million. Additional discussions during the 6-10 December meeting took place online, included consideration of the organization of the GEF seventh Assembly. The seventh Assembly is scheduled to take place in 2022, and will coincide with the conclusion of negotiations on the eighth replenishment (GEF-8) of the GEF Trust Fund.

Also during the 61st GEF Council meeting, Members considered a report from the Chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), including a review of STAP reports regarding: Understanding South-South Cooperation for Knowledge Exchange; Enabling Elements for Good Project Design; and How to Design Circular Economy Projects.

Council Members received an update on GEF activities in support of the following multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs): the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD); the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (Stockholm Convention); the Minamata Convention on Mercury; and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol).

The 31st meeting of the Least Developed Countries Fund/Special Climate Change Fund (LDCF/SCCF) Council took place on 9 December.

At the close of the 61st meeting of the GEF Council, Council Members took time to celebrate the GEF’s 30th Anniversary.