Highlights and images for 11 December 2020

Slide from the presentation by Gustavo Fonseca, GEF Secretariat, on the Work Program of the Least Developed Countries Fund

On Friday, Council Members approved the Work Program for the GEF Trust Fund, and concluded the 59th meeting of the GEF Council.

Council members then convened as the 29th meeting of the Council of the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) – two GEF-administered funds focused on helping the world’s poorest countries to increase their resilience and adapt to climate change.

Council members approved a USD 64 million LDCF work program comprising nine projects, including three multi-trust fund projects that combine resources with the GEF.

Council Members considered the LDCF program evaluation comprising in-depth analysis of approved and completed projects on relevance, effectiveness, gender performance, private sector engagement, and sustainability, among other issues.

Kordula Mehlhart, Germany

Giovanni Reyes, GEF CSO Network

During a pledging session for the LDCF, Dirk Wouters, Ambassador of Belgium to the US, announced his country’s pledge of EUR 20 million to be disbursed over four years. Switzerland pledged CHF 700,000. Finland pledged EUR 5 million. Qatar pledged USD 500,000.

Following approval of the Joint Summary of the Chairs for both the GEF Council and the LDCF/SCCF Council meetings, GEF CEO and Chairperson, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, led the Council in bidding farewell to longstanding Council Member Stefan Schwager, Switzerland.