Delivering effective governance and financing solutions to tackle pressing environmental challenges is critical to addressing the triple crisis planetary crisis posed by climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has a central role in the financial architecture as the world’s largest multilateral fund dedicated to addressing global environmental challenges, operating as a financial mechanism for several multilateral environmental conventions. The GEF is mandated to provide financial resources and support developing countries and economies in transition so they can better protect the environment while advancing sustainable development.

The eighth GEF Assembly and the 71st meeting of the GEF Council will provide a high-level forum to discuss governance and financing solutions and to forge new partnerships fostering international cooperation focused on tackling the drivers of global environmental challenges. Among other things, discussions on the ninth replenishment cycle of the GEF (GEF-9) stand out, including strategic priorities and programming directions for global environmental action. GEF-9 will run from 2026-2030 with donor countries already having pledged an initial USD 3.9 billion.

The Assembly is the GEF’s highest governing body, consisting of representatives from all 186 member countries. Its role is to review policies, evaluate the performance of the GEF’s operations, and set strategic priorities for future action. The Assembly is also responsible for considering and approving proposed amendments to the Instrument for the Establishment of the Restructured GEF, the foundational legal document that defines how the GEF operates, and any other recommendations emanating from the GEF Council.

At the eighth GEF Assembly, heads of delegations will reflect on national priorities and share expectations for GEF-9 under the theme “Last sprint towards 2030.” Participants will engage in high-level roundtables, bringing together representatives of governments, multilateral environmental conventions, GEF agencies, partners, and civil society to discuss, among other things:

• science, integration, and systems transformation;
• blended finance and the private sector’s contribution to bridging the funding gap;
• leaving no one behind, focusing both on vulnerable countries and population groups;
• investing in whole-of government approaches and policy coherence;
• the GEF’s efforts toward delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals; and
• forging partnerships of land and water in Central Asia and beyond.

Alongside the GEF Assembly, the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Forum will offer a dedicated platform to representatives of civil society, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women’s groups, youth networks, and others to share experiences and ideas in relation to the GEF’s mission.

The 71st meeting of the GEF Council will precede the Assembly. GEF Council meetings consist of 32 Council members and set the strategic direction of the GEF, adopt and evaluate policies, and review and approve work programs and GEF-financed projects. The session will include meetings of the Councils of the family of funds managed by the GEF, comprising the GEF Trust Fund, Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF).

The 71st meeting of the GEF Council will take place from 31 May-3 June and the eighth GEF Assembly will convene from 4-5 June 2026, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting are Asterios Tsioumanis, Ph.D.; Mike Muzurakis; Keith Ripley; and Emma Vovk. The Digital Editor is Danny Skilton. The Editor is Leila Mead. Video production by Tasha Goldberg and Felipe Ruiz.