Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Established in October 1991 as a US$ 1 billion pilot programme in the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) of today is an independent financial organization that unites 180 member governments—in partnership with international institutions, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector—to address global environmental issues. GEF provides grants to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer and persistent organic pollutants.

Established in October 1991 as a US$ 1 billion pilot programme in the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) of today is an independent financial organization that unites 180 member governments—in partnership with international institutions, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector—to address global environmental issues. GEF provides grants to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer and persistent organic pollutants. These projects benefit the global environment, linking local, national, and global environmental challenges and promoting sustainable livelihoods. As the largest funder of projects to improve the global environment, the GEF has allocated US$ 8.8 billion, supplemented by more than US$ 38.7 billion in co-financing, for more than 2,400 projects in more than 165 developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP), the GEF has also made more than 10,000 small grants directly to non-governmental and community organizations. The GEF partnership includes 10 agencies: the UNDP; the UNEP; the World Bank; the FAO; UNIDO; African Development Bank (AfDB); Asian Development Bank (ADB); European Bank for Research and Development (EBRD); Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); and IFAD. Additionally, GEF currently serves as the financial mechanism for the following four Conventions: United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), UNFCCC, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).