Global Environment Facility (GEF)

    Logo: Global Environment Facility (GEF)

    The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is one of the main multilateral funds for protecting the environment worldwide. Since 1991, it has served as a financing instrument for six United Nations environmental conventions and agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention to Combat Desertification.

    The GEF pursues an integrated approach. Its support for projects in developing countries is not limited to activities on climate change; it also covers areas such as biodiversity loss, land degradation, water and chemicals. In this way, the GEF contributes to halting global environmental change and fostering sustainable development.

    The GEF works with a network of 18 GEF Agencies, which includes long-standing partners such as the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme. Civil society and national implementing entities are also involved in project implementation.

    In the current 9th replenishment period (July 2026 to June 2030), the GEF has available funding of 4.3 billion US dollars for new projects and programmes (as at October 2026). Further contributions to the Fund can still be made over the course of GEF-9. With a contribution of 630 million euros, Germany is an important donor in this period. Other major contributors include Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and also emerging economies like China and India.

    Impact

    The GEF is achieving tangible impact worldwide.

    • Over the last ten years, GEF-funded projects have helped to avoid or reduce greenhouse gas emissions amounting to about 1.1 billion tonnes of CO2.
    • GEF support has also facilitated the sustainable management of 66 million hectares of ecosystems – an area about the size of Ukraine and Switzerland combined.

    Within the German government, the BMZ has the lead responsibility for the GEF and represents Germany on the GEF Council.

    Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)

    The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) are managed under the umbrella of the GEF.

    The purpose of the LDCF is to support projects undertaken by least developed countries (LDCs) to implement their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).

    The SCCF focuses its support on the adaptation efforts of small island developing states (SIDS), with special attention being given to innovative technologies.

    So far, the LDCF and the SCCF have supported more than 500 projects with a total of over 2 billion US dollars. Over their lifetime, the projects run by the two funds are intended to help improve the climate resilience of more than 20.6 million hectares of land – an area more than half the size of Germany. This will benefit over 101 million people who are particularly vulnerable to climate change.

    As at: 15/10/2026