GEF issues Statement of Commitments Stemming From Rio+20 Earth Summit

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GEF commits to sound management of world's largest public fund for environment; swift action to implement Rio directives; increased recipient country access to funds and involvement of women, indigenous peoples

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 20, 2012 – The Global Environment Facility today issued a 12-point "Statement of Commitments" for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNSCD), pledging to swiftly implement the guidance of the conference and to widen global access to GEF funds.

The statement, available here on the GEF web site, lays out 12 commitments relating to the GEF's core mission as reflected in the decisions emerging from the UNCSD summit, better known as Rio+20. The commitments cover a range of issues, from sound management of donations from the GEF's 182 member nations to continued streamlining of the project cycle and steps to expand access to GEF funds by regional, national and international institutions.

"While we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the historic Earth Summit, our real purpose here in Rio is forward-looking," said Monique Barbut, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF. "With these twelve commitments, we are setting a clear course going forward as to our goals and aspirations to protect the global environment and to further strengthen the GEF, a great institution and a product of Rio."

The GEF was a new pilot program at the time of the first Earth Summit in Rio 20 years ago and got its core mission as a result of that conference. Specifically, the 1992 Earth Summit determined that the GEF would act as a financial mechanism of the three major environmental conventions to emerge from that gathering: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

Since then the GEF's portfolio has broadened, to include issues ranging from forest protection and preservation of the ozone layer to persistent organic pollutants and international waters. But always the GEF has drawn strong guidance from the Rio Convention process

Though not legally binding, the commitments provide the GEF, its partner institutions and its member nations with a clear road map to the organization's priorities and goals. 

Contact:

Mr. John Diamond
Senior Communication Officer | Spokesperson
Phone +1 202 458 7953
E-mail: jdiamond@thegef.org 

Press Release No:06202012a

Statement of Commitments of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

The Global Environment Facility, with its mandate initiated at the 1992 Earth Summit to act as a financial mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and as a major source of funding for other areas, including the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, International Waters, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and the strategy for Sustainable Forest Management/Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, together as the manager of the Least Developed Countries Fund, the Special Climate Change Fund, and the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund, commits to undertake the following:

1. Reinforce the GEF’s dedication to being a results-oriented organization, committed to working with its
vast network of partners in helping countries achieve their sustainable development goals.

2. Seek to expand opportunities for joint implementation of the Rio Conventions through GEF-funded
projects and programs by promoting synergies in the generation of global environmental benefits.

3. Commit to promptly act on guidance from the conferences of the parties of the Rio Conventions to
promote joint reporting, particularly of Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.

4. Continue to streamline the project cycle, with the support of GEF Agencies, so as to enhance the access of countries to GEF resources in a more expedient manner.

5. Continue to support capacity development in recipient countries as well as addressing their needs
through funding of enabling activities and the GEF Country Support Program, together with other
national and regional consultation processes.

6. Further expand access to GEF funds through the accreditation of additional national, regional, and
international institutions.

7. Reaffirm the GEF’s commitment to the principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, in
particular enhancing country ownership and improving coordination among funding institutions.

8. Enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples in GEF policies, processes, programs, and projects
through timely implementation of the recently approved Principles and Guidelines for Engagement with
Indigenous Peoples.

9. Enhance the engagement of Civil Society Organizations in GEF operations, including GEF -funded
projects and programs on the ground.

10. Commit to attain and promote the goal of gender equality, equal treatment of women and men, including
equal access to resources and services through its operations under the GEF Policy on Gender Mainstreaming.

11. Ensure that Agencies receiving GEF resources meet and are able to apply minimum standards on
environmental and social safeguards to GEF projects in a timely manner as required by the GEF Policy on Agency Minimum Standards on Environmental and Social Safeguards.

12. To continue to provide the greatest possible public access to information and to become a global model of dissemination of information and learning with regard GEF priorities, programs, and projects.

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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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