GEF Council Launches Accreditation of 11 Institutions, Including Civil Society Organizations, to Serve as GEF Project Agencies
Move significantly expands participation in Global Environment Facility initiatives at national, regional, local levels
WASHINGTON, June 8, 2012 – The governing Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has launched the accreditation process for 11 national, regional and civil society agencies. Upon completion of the process, these agencies will be eligible to implement GEF-financed environmental projects, marking a significant expansion of the GEF’s team of partner organizations working to improve the global environment.
The unanimous decision taken by the 32-member GEF Council, coming at the end of the 42nd Council meeting in Washington this week, means that for the first time in its 21-year history, the GEF will be able to work directly with national, regional and civil society partners on environmental projects. The Council is a representative body working on behalf of the GEF’s 182 member countries.
“This decision is a major step toward greater country ownership of global environmental projects, and it will increase the effectiveness of the GEF in addressing the linkages between global and local environmental challenges,” said GEF CEO and Chairperson Monique Barbut.
“We believe that these institutions are relevant to the GEF’s mission and will bring value added to the GEF partnership,” Ms. Barbut said. “Once the final steps of the accreditation process are completed, these new partners will strengthen the GEF by filling critical gaps, expanding the GEF’s network, diversifying its portfolio, leveraging its funds and ultimately multiplying its impact both locally and globally.”
Recognizing the need to widen its network of partner organizations, the Council accepted the GEF Secretariat’s recommendation to accredit 11 organizations, made up of national and regional agencies, and civil society organizations. These 11 agencies were selected through a rigorous review process conducted by the GEF. They are:
National Agencies (5):
- South Africa: The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)
- Brazil : Fundo Brasileiro para a Biodiversidade – The Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (FUNBIO)
- China: Ministry of Environment, Foreign Economic Cooperation Office (FECO)
- Peru: National Environment Fund (FONAM)
- Russian Federation: VTB Bank
Regional Agencies (2):
- Latin America: Banco de Desarrollo de America Latina – Development Bank of Latin America (CAF)
- West Africa: Banque Ouest Africaine de Dévelopment – West African Development Bank (BOAD)
Civil Society Organizations (4):
- World Wildlife Fund, Inc. (WWF- US)
- Conservation International (CI)
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC)
One final step remains to complete the accreditation process. An external and independent Accreditation Panel will analyze and review the 11 organizations to ensure that they comply with the fiduciary standards of the GEF as well as its social and environmental safeguards. Once that is done, the approved organizations will be cleared to work directly with the GEF and national governments on environmental projects.
Up to now, the GEF has worked with United Nations organizations, the World Bank, and regional multilateral development banks to implement the projects it finances. Those organizations, in turn, work with national governments, civil society organizations and regional entities in the execution of GEF-financed projects. With wider accreditation, the GEF has greatly expanded its flexibility in terms of partnerships in dealing with the full range of environmental challenges in its portfolio, from climate change to chemical pollution to deforestation and oceans issues.
Upon final accreditation, the GEF Project Agencies will be entitled to work directly with the GEF Secretariat and the Trustee to assist recipient countries in the preparation and implementation of GEF-financed projects. This will enable them to access resources from GEF-managed trust funds directly and to assist recipient countries in preparing and implementing GEF-financed projects.
Contact:
Mr. John Diamond
Senior Communication Officer | Spokesperson
Phone +1 202 458 7953
E-mail: jdiamond@thegef.org
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About the Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) unites 182 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Today the GEF is the largest public funder of projects to improve the global environment. An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.
Since 1991, GEF has achieved a strong track record with developing countries and countries with economies in transition, providing $10.5 billion in grants and leveraging $51 billion in co-financing for over 2,700 projects in over 168 countries. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP), the GEF has also made more than 14,000 small grants directly to civil society and community based organizations, totaling $634 million. For more information, visit www.thegef.org.
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Alexandre Pinheiro Rego
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arego@thegef.org