Global Environment Facility - GEF

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was created in 1991 to address financing needs in response to mounting concerns over global environmental problems. The GEF was set up to provide new and additional grants and concessional funding to cover the “incremental” or additional costs associated with transforming a project with national benefits into one with global environmental benefits. The GEF’s work focuses on six main areas, including biodiversity, climate change (mitigation and adaptation), chemicals, international waters, land degradation, sustainable forest management.

The GEF also serves as a financial mechanism for the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The GEF is funded by donor countries and GEF support is provided to government agencies, civil society organizations, private sector companies, and research institutions to implement projects and programs in recipient countries.

Events

Showing 1 - 10 of 43 results

Eighth GEF Assembly and 71st Meeting of the GEF Council

The successful end of 18 months of negotiations for the ninth replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund “represents a renewed vote of confidence in multilateralism, in the GEF partnership, and in the importance of the global environment.” Many also urged prioritizing the private sector’s involvement and participants pointed to the vast finance gap all MEAs face.
Event 31 May 2026 - 5 June 2026

70th Meeting of the GEF Council

At their December 2025 meetings, the Councils of the family of funds managed by the GEF approved approximately USD 372 million in funding to support climate action, biodiversity conservation, pollution prevention and reduction, and integrated environmental action across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Event 15 December 2025 - 19 December 2025

69th Meeting of the GEF Council

Through the “family” of GEF trust funds, Council Members approved over USD 250 million in funding for projects and programs targeting biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, chemicals and waste, and shared marine and freshwater ecosystems issues. Talks occurred in the shadow of recently commenced negotiations for the GEF’s ninth replenishment period, which many expect will be challenging due to shifting geopolitics and donor priorities.
Event 2 June 2025 - 6 June 2025

GEF Consultation with Civil Society - Operationalizing the GEF Whole of Society Approach: Enhancing engagement and support to Civil Society in GEF-9

Ahead of the 69th Meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council, over 200 participants gathered online for the GEF Secretariat and Council Members’ consultation with civil society organizations (CSOs) on the theme, “Operationalizing the GEF Whole of Society Approach: Enhancing engagement and support to Civil Society in GEF-9.”
Event 29 May 2025

68th Meeting of the GEF Council

The nearly USD 700 million Work Program approved focuses heavily on chemicals and waste at a time when the GEF hopes to prove to the multilateral community it has the capacity to serve as the financial mechanism for a global plastics treaty and that it could play a significant role in realizing the vision of the Global Framework on Chemicals.
Event 16 December 2024 - 20 December 2024

67th Meeting of the GEF Council

Council concluded deliberations on a heavy agenda, confirming key decisions taken throughout the four days of meetings including the first ever work program for the newly established GBFF, and the largest ever LDCF work program.
Event 17 June 2024 - 20 June 2024

66th Meeting of the GEF Council

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).
Event 5 February 2024 - 9 February 2024

65th Meeting of the GEF Council

The 65th meeting of the Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) took place in a virtual setting, focusing on the GEF Strategy for Knowledge Management and Learning; enhancing policy coherence; and relations with Conventions and international institutions. Council Members further decided on the dates for the 66th to 68th Council meetings in 2024.
Event 10 October 2023