GEF Council Approves $166M UNDP Work Plan to Combat Environmental Challenges in 20 Countries

The Council approved a UNDP Work Plan amounting to over $166 million from the GEF Trust Fund and the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF).

In response to the economic disruption and environmental challenges facing many countries, crucial assistance has been pledged during the 67th meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council. The Council approved a UNDP Work Plan amounting to over $166 million from the GEF Trust Fund and the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF). This funding will support 23 projects across 20 countries, targeting issues such as nature and biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution control.

The UNDP programming, financed by the GEF, recognizes that environmental challenges are often intertwined with societal, health, and policy issues, including gender equality, violence, and social discord. Consequently, the approved projects account for both direct and indirect impacts of environmental changes.

“To address the massive challenges to life on Earth as we know it, we must collectively redouble our current efforts, map the way forward, and constantly improve upon our methods and processes,” stated Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support. “Addressing the intricate, demanding work ahead demands a synchronized strategy. Our work with the GEF helps promote the kind of unified, concerted effort that can help the world through this critical juncture.”

UNDP will apply lessons learned from previous projects to focus on technical and financial assistance aimed at curbing sea-level rise, transforming degraded land, and ramping up biodiversity and nature-based solutions, among other goals.

Nancy Bennet, UNDP Director and Executive Coordinator, A.I., of Environmental Finance, emphasized the importance of this investment: “Yielding results on the scale needed requires the level of investment pledged by the 67th GEF Council Meetings. We thank our partners for instilling in UNDP the confidence to deliver on projects that address intersectional and overlapping needs in countries that most need additional resources.”

The GEF Council investments also support UNDP initiatives under the Climate Promise and Nature Pledge, aiming to expand access to affordable, renewable energy to 500 million more people by 2025.

Representatives of the GEF Council’s 186-member governments met in Washington, DC, from June 17 to 20, 2024, approving $736.4 million in funding across the GEF funds. UNDP received support for 19 projects under the GEF Trust Fund and four under the LDCF to support international action on environmental issues, nature renewal, and pollution control.