GEF-6 Programming Directions

The GEF-6 Programming Directions document contains the details of the programs and activities for the four years for GEF-6 covering July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2018.

It has been prepared taking into account the findings of the Fifth Overall Performance of the GEF, the Strategic Positioning of the GEF, discussions at the replenishment negotiations and feedback received from the Participants. The various multilateral environmental conventions for which the GEF serves as financing mechanism have set ambitious targets aimed at addressing environmental degradation. Reflecting the guidance provided to the GEF by the various Conferences of Parties (COPs), the programing strategies developed for GEF-6 seeks to achieve impacts at scale while delivering global environmental benefits, consistent with GEF’s mandate.

Building on GEF’s accumulated experiences and achievements, GEF-6 projects and programs have a strong focus on the drivers to better be able to tackle the “root-causes” of environmental degradation, which is critical to slow and eventually reverse environmental trends.

It should also be noted that given the magnitude of the potential adverse impacts of climate change the GEF Council has encouraged the GEF to reflect resilience in its projects. As a measure to address this call, the GEF has increasingly sought synergies and efficiency gains by supporting multi-focal and multi-trust fund projects that combine funding from the Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Change Fund with that of various GEF focal areas, even though these voluntary funds are not a part of the replenishment process.

The objective of the GEF is to achieve an overall net benefit to the global environment.

In this endeavour and whenever relevant, projects in one focal area should avoid negative impacts on objectives of other focal areas.

The new GEF Programming Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, forms instead the basis for programming resources under the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2018.

While a long-term climate finance architecture takes shape, the GEF can contribute towards continuity in the support provided to vulnerable developing countries.

While seeking complementarity and coherence with relevant multi-lateral, bilateral and national climate change funds, the GEF is ideally placed to:

1) enable the most vulnerable developing countries, in an expedited manner, to address their most pressing adaptation needs, particularly those identified in LDC NAPAs;

2) support a transition towards a continuous, progressive and iterative national adaptation plan (NAP) process that identifies and addresses medium- and long-term adaptation needs;

3) harness synergies between trust funds, GEF focal areas and multi-lateral environmental agreements;

4) accelerate the demonstration and deployment of innovative adaptation technologies and associated business models;

5) generate and disseminate knowledge and lessons learned with a view to strengthening adaptation action under the UNFCCC. 10.

The above elements are further elaborated under the specific objectives and programming priorities introduced in the present Strategy.