What is GEF

The Global Environment Facility was established to forge international cooperation and finance actions to address four critical threats to the global environment: biodiversity loss, climate change, degradation of international waters, and ozone depletion.  Related work in the areas of land degradation and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are also eligible for GEF funding.

Launched in 1991 as an experimental facility, GEF was restructured after the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to serve the environmental interests of people in all parts of the world. The facility that emerged after restructuring was more strategic, effective, transparent, and participatory. In 1994, 34 nations pledged $2 billion in support of GEF's mission; in 1998, 36 nations pledged another $2 billion to protect the global environment and promote sustainable development.

The GEF can succeed in its global environmental mission only as part of a worldwide movement toward sustainable development.  GEF brings together 173 member governments, leading development institutions, the scientific community, and a wide spectrum of private sector and non-governmental organizations on behalf of a common global environmental agenda.

The GEF governance structure is centered around a Council composed of 32 representatives from member states who meet biannually to review, comment up on, and accept or reject GEF projects, future business plans, work programmes and policies. The GEF assembly, composed of all 164 GEF member states meets every three years to review and approve general policies, operations and amendments to the founding GEF instrument. The international conventions provide guidance to the GEF, and the Science and Technology Advisory panel (STAP) reviews every project and provides advice regarding GEF policies.

GEF operations are carried out by a tripartite partnership composed of the United Nations Development programme, the World Bank, and the United Nations Environment Programme, which are referred to as the three Implementing Agencies. Projects and programmes that receive GEF co-financing are developed and implemented in partnership with one of these three institutions. Any governmental agency, nongovernmental organization, educational institution or private sector company in an eligible country may propose a project to one of the GEF implementing agencies at any time.

Countries eligible for GEF support have two focal points designated for liaison with the GEF. One is the political focal point, which is responsible for liaison with the GEF Council and Assembly, and the other is the operational focal point, which is responsible for liaison with individual GEF projects. Project proponents should identify these individuals and their agencies as early as possible in the development process to begin the dialogue that must lead to a written governmental endorsement of the project. These contacts can also be important sources of information since GEF projects must complement government programmes and policies, or where these are nonexistent or under development, they must respond to stated governmental priorities. Contact information for the governmental focal points can be obtained from UNDP country offices. In India, the Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance is the political focal point and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) is the Operational Focal Point. Within the MoEF, the GEF Cell in the International Cooperation (IC) division is responsible for handling the GEF projects. The Joint Secretary (IC), is the GEF Operational Focal Point for India.

Work Information