48th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council Meeting

On the second day of the 48th meeting of the GEF Council, discussions focused on the report of the Chairperson of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel, a Knowledge Management Approach Paper, the Work Program, Relations with the Conventions and Other International Institutions, and the new GEF Agencies joining under the pilot accreditation program, among other agenda items.

Rosina Bierbaum, Chair, Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), presented the Report of the STAP Chairperson and said future STAP plans include considering the science of integrated approaches and addressing topics that cross focal areas, such as green chemistry, climate resilience and sustainable intensification of agriculture. On the Knowledge Management (KM) Approach Paper, Council Members welcomed the focus on improving KM, reiterated its importance for the GEF, and inquired about the KM approach’s budget, among other issues.

On the Work Program, the Council considered the largest proposed Work Program in the history of GEF financing, involving a total of US$709 million of GEF trust fund resources, plus an indicative amount of US$4.81 billion in co-financing. The Work Program encompasses: integrated Approach Programs (IAPs) on sustainable cities, food security in sub-Saharan Africa, and taking deforestation out of commodity supply chains; two global programs, one on illegal wildlife trade and poaching and the other on biodiversity; three projects in the Non-Grant Instrument Pilot (NGI) that expand the opportunities for GEF strategic engagement with private sector initiatives seeking to deliver global environmental benefits, namely the Equity Fund for Independent Power Producers in Southern Africa, the Moringa Agro-Forestry Fund for Africa, and Impact Investment in Support of the Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing; and 32 other project concepts.

At the end of the day, GEF Council Members engaged in an informal discussion with the new GEF Agencies. Representatives from Foreign Economic Cooperation Office – China (FECO), Brazilian Fund for Biodiversity – Brazil (FUNBIO), Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and West African Development Bank (BOAD) made short presentations about their respective institutions’ experience and areas of focus, following which the representatives and Council Members continued their discussion during a reception.