1. GEF and the Conventions
GEF Expanded Constituency Workshop
GEF and the Conventions
GEF Expanded Constituency Workshop
25 – 27 October 2011
Nairobi, Kenya

2. GEF and the conventions
The GEF provides funding to assist developing countries in meeting the objectives of international environmental conventions.
The GEF serves as "financial mechanism" for four conventions:
The Convention on Biological Diversity
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

3. Biodiversity Focal Area Strategy and CBD COP Guidance
COP Programme Priorities
GEF-5 Strategy Objectives
Programme priority area 1:
Promote conservation of biological diversity, including through catalyzing sustainability of protected area systems
Programme priority area 2:
Promote sustainable use of biodiversity
Objective One:
Improve Sustainability of Protected Area Systems
Programme priority area 3:
Mainstream biological diversity into various national sectoral policies development strategies programs
Objective Two: Mainstream Biodiversity Conservation Sustainable Use into Production Landscapes/Seascapes Sectors
Programme priority area 4:
Improve national capacity to implement the Convention and
the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Objectives One and Two as above, Objective Four: Build Capacity on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing
Objective Five: Integrate CBD Obligations into National Planning Processes through Enabling Activities.
 Objective Three: Build Capacity for the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

4. Biodiversity Focal Area Strategy and CBD COP Guidance
COP Programme Priorities
GEF-5 Strategy Objectives
Programme priority area 5:
Promote the implementation of the Convention’s third objective support the implementation of the international regime on access to genetic resources benefit‑sharing 
Objective Four:
Build Capacity on Access to Genetic Resources Benefit Sharing
Programme priority area 6:
Safeguard biodiversity
Objective Two: Mainstream Biodiversity Sustainable Use into Production Landscapes Seascapes Sectors
Objective One: Improve Sustainability of Protected Area Systems: c) Improve management effectiveness of existing protected areas
Objective Three: Build Capacity for the Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

5. Climate Change Focal Area Strategy and UNFCCC COP Guidance
In response to Convention guidance, the GEF has provided financial and technical support to more than 150 non-Annex I Parties to prepare their initial, second, and, in some cases, third national communications to the Convention.
During GEF-3, the GEF funded a global program to support the second national communications of most eligible countries.
During GEF-5, the GEF will continue to provide finance for national communications
In response to COP decision 2/CP.12, the GEF launched a strategic program during GEF-4 to promote the reduction of GHG emissions from Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) within the climate change focal area.
In GEF-5, the GEF has established the cross-cutting initiative of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM).
At COP13, the GEF was requested to elaborate a strategic program to scale up the level of investment in technology transfer to help developing countries address their needs for environmentally sound technologies – GEF established the Poznan Strategic Program on Technology Transfer

6. Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and UNFCCC COP Guidance
At COP7 in 2001, the UNFCCC asked the GEF to finance adaptation pilot and demonstration projects.
The GEF establish the Strategic Priority on Adaptation (SPA) during GEF-3/GEF-4 under the GEF trust fund in response to guidance from the COP. (e.g. decision 5/CP.7)
COP7 asked the GEF to manage two voluntary adaptation-focused funds, the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF);
The GEF is continuing to fundraise and replenish the LDCF and SCCF in response to Convention guidance and conclusions of the subsidiary bodies of the UNFCCC, (e.g. at the 26th session of the SBI)
The conclusions at SBI 31 have recognized the steps the GEF has taken to enhance the support of the implementation of NAPAs

7. Land Degradation Focal Area Strategy and UNCCD COP Guidance
As a new UNCCD financial mechanism, the GEF is currently clarifying how its land degradation focal area strategy will directly contribute to implementation of the UNCCD, including its ten-year (2008–2018) Strategic Plan and Framework adopted by the eighth COP.
When developing the latest strategy for the land degradation focal area, the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) included a representative of the UNCCD, who provided guidance as the TAG explicitly sought to accept the COP’s invitation to the GEF to take into account this ten year strategic plan and to align its operations accordingly in order to facilitate effective implementation of the Convention

8. POPS Focal Area Strategy and Stockholm Convention Guidance
The GEF POPs strategy responds to guidance adopted by the COP to the Stockholm Convention at its first four meetings.
The latest guidance adopted by the COP at its fourth meeting in May 2009 reaffirms the central guiding principle that the GEF should “take into account the priorities identified by Parties in their implementation plans transmitted to the Conference of the Parties”, and further highlights the preparation and update of NIPs, alternatives to DDT for disease vector control, and information exchange.
The GEF’s mandate as financial mechanism of the Stockholm Convention will require addressing the newly listed chemicals under the Convention.

9. Funding Options for Reports to the Conventions
Focal Area
Grant Amounts
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Option 4
Biodiversity - Biosafety Report
$20,000
Direct Access (Template on GEF website)
3 UNEP Umbrella Programs - Regional
Enabling Activity Proposal through GEF Agency
Biodiversity – NBSAP and 5th National Report on Biodiversity
NBSAP - $220,000 suggested amount
National Report - $20,000
UNEP umbrella program
MSP or FSP if over $500,00 – using resources from STAR
Climate Change
Up to $500,000
Land Degradation
Up to $150,000
Chemicals
Up to $250,000

10. Direct Access Grants for Convention Reports: Activity Implementation Process
Completed Convention Reports submitted to Conventions with copy to the GEF Secretariat + activity completion report (including financial and disbursement requirements)
Country prepares report to the Convention
Country submits withdrawal application to the GEF Secretariat
Grant Agreement including milestones, installment disbursement, and deliverables, signed between recipient country and GEF CEO
GEF Secretariat reviews proposal and CEO approves
Recipient country prepares proposal for Convention Reports and budget and submits them to GEF Secretariat for review.

11. Thank you