On Wednesday, 29 November 2017, the GEF Council considered the proposed November 2017 Work Program, which includes: 83 full-sized projects; one programmatic approach; 101 recipient countries; 38 least developed countries (LDCs) and 28 Small Island Developing States (SIDS); and US$2.6 billion in co-financing. The GEF Secretariat reported that 76% of total original GEF-6 resources, 94% of revised GEF-6 resources, 92% of LDCs/SIDS allocations, and 82% of STAR Adjusted allocations for all other countries have been programmed.

During discussion, Council members supported elements of the Work Program and commended the Secretariat’s efforts in balancing geographical and focal area distribution of the projects. Noting that three of 18 entities, namely, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Bank, were allocated over 60% of programming, many Council members called for balanced inclusion of all Accredited Entities. Council members also discussed the level of private sector co-financing, enhancing cooperation with multilateral development banks (MDBs), and increasing investment in the work of the GEF. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Council approved the Work Program, subject to the comments made during the Council meeting and pending further submissions by Constituencies.

Additional agenda items discussed on the second day of the three-day Council meeting included: Rationale and Plan to Review GEF's Fiduciary Standards; Updated Policy on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Council Members, Alternates, and Advisers; Relations with the Conventions and Other International Institutions; Non-Grant Instruments: Experience of the GEF Partnership; Plan to Review GEF’s Social and Environmental Safeguards; and the CEO Report on the Status of GEF-7 Replenishment. The GEF Council also held a dialogue with the heads of the Secretariats of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and the Minamata Convention on Mercury.​

See the full web coverage for Wednesday, 29 November

On Tuesday, 28 November 2017, Naoko Ishii, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), opened the 53rd meeting of the GEF Council, asking members to focus this meeting on: lessons learned from integrated and more complex approaches; private sector engagement; policy work related to gender, stakeholder engagement, safeguards, fiduciary standards, and knowledge management; the institutional framework related to transparency and civil society; and the Work Program. Highlighting ecosystems and natural resources as solution providers, she cited successful project examples that change the narrative from “victim of climate change to stewardship of nature as a solution.”

Jane Chigiyal, Federated States of Micronesia (Council member for Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu) was elected Co-Chair for the 53rd meeting of the GEF Council.

The Council proceeded to adopt the Policy on Gender Equality, which will come into effect on 1 July 2018, and will be applied to all new GEF-financed activities submitted on or after the effective date. The Council also adopted a new Policy on Stakeholder Engagement, for which guidelines will be developed through a consultative process that will seek to harmonize existing best practices.

Following a brief update on the organization of the 6th GEF Assembly, the Council agreed that the Assembly would convene in Da Nang, Viet Nam, from 27-28 June 2018, with the 54th meeting of the GEF Council convening from 24-26 June, along with a CSO Forum on 26 June and side events.

Additional agenda items discussed on Tuesday were the Report of the Chairperson of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel, the Updated Vision to Enhance Civil Society Engagement with the GEF, and the Semi-Annual Evaluation Report November 2017 and Management Response + OPS6 Presentation.​

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Representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) and members of the GEF Council convened on Monday, 27 November 2017, at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC, for a dialogue on issues related to the 53rd meeting of the GEF Council. The consultation took place the day before the Council meeting opened. Victor Kawanga, GEF-CSO Network Chair, opened the Consultation and introduced Akhteruzzaman Sano, GEF-CSO Network Vice Chair, who provided an overview of Network activities, including a session on knowledge management, national and regional level engagement, and strengthening indigenous peoples’ contributions at the local level.

During a dialogue with the GEF CEO and Chairperson, Naoko Ishii highlighted engagement by the GEF at recent Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the UNCCD, Minamata Convention on Mercury, and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). She highlighted the launch of the Land Degradation Neutrality Fund (LDN Fund) at the UNCCD COP, noting that it provides an effective way forward for the GEF to integrate land, soil, and forests in its activities. On UNFCCC COP 23, she reflected on the increased effectiveness of coalitions at the subnational level among diverse stakeholders. On the way forward, she noted the need to strengthen: integration at all levels; private sector and multi-coalition platforms; gender policy; stakeholder engagement; and an updated CSO vision. CSO representatives then exchanged views on: strengthening the role and support for CSOs in the work of the GEF; the format of the upcoming GEF Assembly; elements for consideration in Operational Programme 7 (OP7); and guidance on engagement of the private sector.

A subsequent panel discussed the findings from the sixth comprehensive evaluation of the GEF (OPS6) and heard an update on the seventh replenishment process (GEF-7). Juha Uitto, GEF Independent Evaluation Office (IEO), presented findings from OPS6. Gustavo Fonseca, GEF Secretariat, noted that two GEF-7 meetings have taken place to receive input on proposals for programming during the next replenishment period. He said three impact programs are under consideration, namely: land use, food systems and restoration; sustainable cities; and sustainable forest management.

During a session on further GEF engagement with CSOs, Peter Wisner, Chair, Ad Hoc Council Working Group on GEF and Civil Society, presented the Updated Vision, emphasizing the need to strengthen CSO engagement at all stages of the GEF processes, from project design to implementation. He highlighted key recommendations, including: selection process and criteria for CSO representation at Council meetings, which may consider experience and continuity of representatives; structure of CSO meetings to be focused on topics that could be used to inform Council proceedings; and the inclusion of CSO interventions during Council meetings rather than at the end of each session.

Another panel discussed updated GEF policies, focusing on gender equality and stakeholder engagement in GEF projects and processes. Anna Viggh, GEF IEO, highlighted that the portion of gender-blind projects has decreased while gender-aware projects are increasing. She said the 2011 gender policy has improved gender considerations in GEF operations, but lacks a clear framework. Describing the updated gender policy, Gabriella Richardson Temm, GEF Secretariat, explained how the new framework will shift from “do no harm” to “do good,” establishing stronger gender analysis and reporting requirements, among others. Pilar Barrera, GEF Secretariat, presented an updated stakeholder engagement policy up for approval at this Council meeting, to take effect July 2018. Nguavese Tracy Ogbonna, GEF-CSO Network (Gender), recommended strengthening gender participation, through: including CSOs in all processes of the project and program cycle; integrating gender in monitoring, learning and capacity development; and enhancing agency policies, procedures and capabilities and compliance to reflect gender.

See the full web coverage for Monday, 27 November