A shoal of Striped Mackerel filter feeding amongst loads of plastic waste

66th Meeting of the GEF Council

5–9 February 2024 | Washington, DC, United States of America

Global Environment Facility - GEF

About

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council Members will consider a new work program of the GEF Trust Fund under GEF’s eighth replenishment cycle, how to streamline the GEF project cycle, and possible actions to support the new agreement on conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).

Final report

All coverage

As the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution increasingly poses a threat of existential magnitude for humanity and the planet, adequate, catalytic financing to promote transformation change for sustainable development is considered more important than ever before. The role of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a large multilateral environmental fund that acts as the financial mechanism of several critical environmental conventions, is more important than ever. GEF seeks to achieve its catalytic function by supporting country-driven sustainable development initiatives around the world, with the primary objective being to generate significant global environmental benefits.

The 66th meeting of the GEF’s chief governing body, the Council, had a packed agenda. It considered and approved a new work program of the GEF Trust Fund under GEF’s eighth replenishment cycle (GEF-8) - the second largest in GEF history. The work program, covering climate, biodiversity, land degradation, international waters, and chemicals and waste focal areas, totals USD 916.1 million, and is expected to generate USD 7.53 billion in co-financing. It also brings GEF-8 programming to almost 50% at the 38% timeline of the 8th cycle.

The Council also discussed initial guidelines for funding enabling and ratification support projects for the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). The BBNJ Agreement, opened for signature on 20 September 2023, identifies the GEF Trust Fund as part of its financial mechanism.

The Council also discussed, among others:

  • streamlining the GEF project cycle;
  • tracking and measuring socioeconomic co-benefits from GEF investments;
  • identifying a risk appetite for GEF investments;
  • evaluating GEF support to climate information and early warning systems and management response;
  • evaluating community-based approaches at the GEF; and
  • gap analyses, requested as part of the GEF-8 Policy Recommendations, of (a) GEF funded activity and engagement in fragility, conflict, and violence-affected states (FCS); and (b) GEF policies and key social inclusion issues.

The Council, the GEF’s main governing body, comprises 32 members appointed by constituencies of GEF member countries (14 from developed countries, 16 from developing countries, and two from economies in transition). Council members rotate at different intervals determined by each constituency. It meets twice annually to develop, adopt, and evaluate the operational policies and programs of the multilateral fund and the activities it finances around the world. It also reviews and approves the work program (projects submitted for approval), making decisions by consensus.

The 66th meeting of the Council was held on 5-9 February 2024 in Washington, D.C. A consultation with civil society organizations (CSOs) was held virtually on Friday, 2 February 2024, on the theme “building sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities” to discuss opportunities to improve the engagement of CSOs in GEF urban sustainability investments.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin writers for this meeting were Keith Ripley; Dina Hestad, Ph.D.; and María Ovalle. The Digital Editor was Diego Noguera. Video production by Tasha Goldberg and Felipe Ruiz. The Editor was Suzi Malan, Ph.D.

View past and future events

Past event

1st GEF Assembly

Past event

2nd GEF Assembly

Past event

3rd GEF Assembly

Past event

4th GEF Assembly

Past event

40th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

41st Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

42nd Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

43rd Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

44th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

45th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

46th Meeting of the GEF Council and 5th GEF Assembly

Past event

47th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

48th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

49th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

50th Meeting of the GEF Council Meeting

Past event

51st Meeting of the GEF Council Meeting

Past event

52nd Meeting of the GEF Council Meeting

Past event

53rd Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

54th GEF Council Meeting and 6th GEF Assembly

Past event

55th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

56th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

57th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

58th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

59th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

GEF Consultations with Civil Society

Past event

60th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

GEF CSO Consultations on Youth-led Advocacy and Solutions

Past event

61st Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

GEF Consultation with Civil Society on Inclusive Microfinance

Past event

62nd Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

63rd Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

64th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

7th GEF Assembly

Past event

65th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

GEF Consultation with Civil Society on the Role of CSOs in Building Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive Cities

Past event

66th Meeting of the GEF Council

Past event

GEF Consultation with Civil Society - Conversation on GEF initiatives and approaches to Civil Society

Past event

67th Meeting of the GEF Council

To receive free coverage of global environmental events delivered to your inbox, subscribe to the ENB Update newsletter.

Event organised by

Participants

Negotiating blocs
Least Developed Countries

Tags