GEF - Global Environmental Facility

Published purpose

This grant represents Canada’s long-term institutional support to Global Environment Facility (GEF). GEF uses these funds, along with other donors funding, to achieve its mandate. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the single biggest source of funding for the global environment. Canada is the sixth largest contributor to the GEF under its Fifth Replenishment (GEF5) covering the period of 2010-2014 (Canada’s contribution was recorded as $238.4 million as a result of the accelerated payment) Canada helps developing countries implement their environmental priorities and multilateral environmental agreements. This is done in areas such as climate change, biodiversity, land degradation, chemicals management, sustainable forestry and international waters. Under GEF5, the GEF and its partner agencies continue to provide financing for innovative technologies and policy development, and technical assistance and capacity development in developing countries. There are two priorities for GEF5: (1) to promote country ownership by better integrating GEF initiatives with national development planning processes, while increasing the participation of all stakeholders, including civil society; and (2) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the GEF by focusing on operational reforms to ensure that the GEF can meet the environmental and developmental challenges of the future. As a member of the 32-member GEF Council, Canada promotes programming and institutional reforms to: streamline the GEF project cycle; develop programmatic approaches; promote results-based management; and improve coordination between the GEF Secretariat and the ten institutions that implement GEF projects. During the Fifth Replenishment, Canada works toward strengthening the developmental impacts of GEF initiatives by further integrating gender and relevant social issues into all GEF activities.