Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Established in 1991, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the largest funder of projects to improve the global environment.

The GEF became a financial mechanism of the UNCCD in 2010, when the GEF instrument was amended by its Fourth Assembly. Since then, the GEF directly contributes to implementation of the Convention, including its UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework adopted at UNCCD COP13 in Ordos, China, within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between the COP and the GEF. Through its Land Degradation Focal Area, the GEF provides incremental financing for countries to invest in sustainable land management activities that generate multiple environmental and development benefits.

The UNCCD Secretariat and Global Mechanism provide technical advice and capacity building support in this process through a GEF funded and UNEP implemented Global Support Programme. GEF has recently approved two million USD funding to help the countries complete the next reporting cycle in 2021-2022. A new reporting platform planned for the project would ensure that a higher level of accurate assessment and analysis of land degradation trends at national and regional levels is achieved and that policy makers can make informed land management decisions.