WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 16, 2012 – The Global Environment Facility Council strongly supported CEO Naoko Ishii’s initiative to conduct a “GEF 2020” strategic exercise. It will help position the organization to catalyze international efforts for transformational change in responding to growing global environmental threats.

The 43^rd meeting of the GEF Council, a representative body of nations that meets twice a year to make key decisions on GEF programs, covered a range of issues this week, from the upcoming work program to innovative ideas for streamlining the GEF project cycle. Dr. Ishii, in her first Council meeting since being named CEO and chairperson last summer, kicked off this week’s meeting with a discussion of the GEF 2020 exercise.

Among other decisions and topics of discussion at GEF Council meeting:

♦ Council directed the GEF Secretariat and the Trustee to initiate donor negotiations toward the Sixth Replenishment Cycle of the GEF, a funding period that will run from 2014 to 2018

♦ Council received the report of a working group on streamlining the GEF project cycle.

♦ GEF Secretariat updated the Council on the accreditation process for GEF Project Agencies. The work continues and an initial review of applications from the 11 organizations is expected to be ready in June 2013.

♦ Council directed the Secretariat, as a contingency against a potential shortfall in donor countries not fulfilling financial pledges, to undertake programing maintaining the balance among the original allocations in the GEF-5 replenishment decision, assist least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS) in accessing resources, and continue to support core obligations to conventions.

Please read more in the full article at the official Website of GEF

About the Global Environment Facility

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) unites 182 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Today the GEF is the largest public funder of projects to improve the global environment. An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.

Since 1991, GEF has achieved a strong track record with developing countries and countries with economies in transition, providing $10.5 billion in grants and leveraging $51 billion in co-financing for over 2,700 projects in over 168 countries. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP), the GEF has also made more than 14,000 small grants directly to civil society and community based organizations, totaling $634 million. For more information, visit www.thegef.org.

Images credits:  http://www.thegef.org/gef/node/8901