Highlights and images for 1 June 2026

“The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is best placed to create synergies between multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and conventions. These are needed now more than ever to achieve our objectives: the challenges are interconnected and the global financial landscape does not allow a siloed approach.”

These words, spoken by Asad Naqvi, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), were echoed by all in a high-level panel on cooperation with MEAs, and reflected a critical issue under deliberation on the second day of the 71st meeting of the GEF Council. Cooperation and synergies, alongside issues around evaluation, had the lion’s share of the day’s discussions.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

Deliberations on GEF relations with conventions and international institutions brought together the Executive Secretaries of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, as well as high-level representatives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the CBD, and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). They highlighted collaboration and integration, underscoring the value of the latter at the scientific, functional, finance, and implementation levels.

They also called for a systemic shift in economic and finance systems, and for simplified processes and accessible funds to drive implementation. They highlighted ongoing synergistic efforts among the Rio Conventions with GEF support and, looking ahead, underscored the need to scale up partnerships with the private sector, including through non-grant instruments.

Many Council members requested strengthening the GEF’s unique role in promoting synergies among conventions, toward producing concrete results.

On evaluation, discussions focused on the Work Program and budget of the GEF Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) for 2027 as well as the new, refined GEF Evaluation Policy 2026. Council members approved the IEO Work Program and budget, emphasizing the value of the IEO’s work and role in strengthening the GEF’s credibility. They also welcomed the timely development of the refined Evaluation Policy, reflecting the evolution of the GEF Partnership and broader changes in international evaluation practices.

In the afternoon, Council members focused on IEO evaluations of: the GEF Sustainable Cities Program; GEF support to marginalized groups; and GEF support for policy coherence, as well as related management responses. The Council took note of the evaluation recommendations and endorsed the management responses.

Council members also tackled a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the GEF Council and the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). Members could not reach consensus. Some suggested endorsing the draft MoU to avoid derailing the delicate balance achieved in BBNJ negotiations, while others preferred inviting comments with a view to developing a revised MoU for further consideration. Discussions will continue in an informal group.

Concluding the day’s deliberations, members resumed discussions on the agency expansion procedure and adopted a revised draft decision.