Global Environment Facility (GEF)
1. Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, has the governing body of your organization taken (or will it take) any decisions or new strategies to guide the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? If any, please provide a brief summary below, including the overarching vision of your organization.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) serves as the financial mechanism for several multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), and provides support to over 140 countries for scalable and innovative solutions to achieve global environmental benefits across a broad range of domains, including climate change, forestry, biodiversity, chemicals and waste, and more. Given the interlinkages between environment and development, the GEF is a relevant and valuable actor in the broader sustainable development framework, and may be witnessing greater integration and synergy across the MEAs and SDGs in future years. The GEF has been receiving and responding to decisions and guidance related to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs from recent Conference of Parties (COPs) to the MEAs for which it serves as financial mechanism, especially the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Stockholm Convention, and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
2.1 SDG-specific strategies, plans or work programmes
The GEF's mission is closely aligned with the SDGs, and therefore can play a key role in supporting countries with their implementation. This alignment has been articulated in a briefing note entitled "The GEF and the Sustainable Development Goals." It is also reflected in programming directions for the GEF focal areas through which financing is provided to countries for investment in global environmental benefits. Goals 13, 14, and 15—on climate action, life below water, and life on land—capture to a large extent the GEF's core mission. Because the SDGs are highly inter-related, GEF's investments aimed at transforming key economic systems also contribute toward achievement of several other goals. For example, GEF financing for sustainable intensification of agriculture can contribute to achieving Goal 2 on ending hunger; financing energy transformation contributes to Goal 7 on access to energy; financing for sustainable cities contributes to Goal 11 on human settlements; and investing in sustainable commodity supply chains and circular economy could contribute to Goal 8 on sustainable production and consumption. In addition to the thematic areas for programming, the GEF has a new Gender Mainstreaming policy that aligns with SDG 5 in its efforts to promote gender equality.
2.2 Aligning the structure of the organization with the transformative features of the 2030 Agenda, including any challenges and lessons learned in doing so
Please see above response.
2.4 Action to enhance support to the principle of "leaving no one behind" and to integrated policy approaches:
Please see above response.
3.1 Mainstreaming the SDGs in development plans and policies or through national sustainable development plans/strategies:
As part of its Programming Directions for the 7th replenishment phase (GEF-7, 2018-22), the GEF has proposed to support countries on ‘Integrated National Planning' to enhance coordinated planning and coordination of the five Rio Conventions and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By facilitating convergence of national SDG plans with MEA priorities and objectives, decision-makers will be able to design and implement policies and actions in a smarter way, taking into account SDGs in unison with MEAs rather than in a fragmented fashion. Potential areas of support for countries include coordinated and synergistic MEA planning and reporting support as well as tracking of progress of country driven MEA-related SDG targets on the ground; support to establish and utilize a coordinated planning and implementation framework for the MEAs and relevant SDGs at the national level; and support for countries to further the enhancement of transparency of action and support at the national level in GEF-relevant areas.
3.3 Data and statistical capacity building:
Please see above response.
4.2 Contributing to policy/background briefs for the HLPF:
While the GEF has not directly participated in work of the HLPF, many GEF-supported activities have been reported on as part of the national reports for the HLPF. The GEF supports activities crucial to achieving the 2030 Agenda as well as improving the data collection and monitoring systems, as appropriate and within our mandate, needed to report to the HLPF.
5. How has your organization cooperated with other UN system organizations to achieve coherence and synergies in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? In this regard, has your organization launched or intend to launch any joint programmes or projects in collaboration with other UN entities? Are there any results or lessons you would like to highlight that might help improve the design and impact of such efforts? Has your organization participated in any of the following coordination systemwide mechanisms or any other relevant platform - CEB, UNDG, EC-ESA Plus, RCMs, UN-Energy, UN-Water, UN-Ocean, IAEG, IATT? Please specify which and indicate any suggestions you may have about improving collaborations within and across these mechanisms/platforms:
The GEF is a regular participant in UN-Energy meetings and events, and a strong supporter of the Secretary General's Sustainable Energy for All initiative (SEforAll) which is leading the implementation of SDG 7. The GEF has been a key funding sponsor for recent SEforAll events and has provided more than $20 million in funding for innovative projects to support the Energy Efficiency Accelerators of SEforAll focused on vehicle fuel economy, buildings, appliances and equipment, lighting, district energy, and industrial energy efficiency. Many additional GEF country projects focused on climate change mitigation are also delivering on the SDG 7 goals. GEF regularly consults with SEforAll staff and partners on design of future projects and priorities. The proposed GEF-7 climate change mitigation focal area includes strong investment for sustainable energy informed by these consultations and will help deliver on SDG 7 goals as well as commitments under the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC. GEF implementing agencies are also regular participants in the UN-Energy and SEforAll meetings and events which brings even greater cohesion and alignment of GEF investments. Going forward, the GEF looks to continue these strong partnerships, with an eye for efficiency and economy of efforts to avoid duplication. It would be valuable for the UN-Energy and SEforAll leadership to share priorities and progress in areas of common interest, while also ensuring that developing countries know of the availability of funding, from GEF and other institutions, to help implement SDG 7.
The GEF is also actively engaged on discourse related to oceans and international waters, with several UN organizations and International Financing Institutions (IFIs). The GEF works to ensure coherency between approaches and investments for delivering quantifiable results towards the 2030 Agenda and multiple SDGs, with a focus on SDG 6 and 14. Most GEF investments in this regard contribute directly or indirectly to these two SDGs and their sub targets. Although the GEF is not a formal member of the UN Water or UN Oceans, it works with these entities through diverse projects and working relationships with agencies that are custodians of the different sub-targets. On SDG 14, the GEF is actively part taking in several Communities of Ocean Action and sharing the role as Focal Point for COA on "Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology" with UNESCO IOC. Finally, the GEF is actively using the different platforms of cooperation among GEF agencies, NGOs, private sector and academia that GEF IWLEARN is providing, not only as a forum for sharing lessons learned, peer to peer learning etc., but especially to catalyze delivery of results that will assist countries to meet the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda.
6. How has your organization engaged with stakeholder groups, both in supporting implementation at the country, regional and global levels, and within your own organization? If yes, please provide main highlights, including any lessons learned:
In 1995, the GEF established a network of civil society organizations (GEF CSO network), to foster formal dialogue and partnership between NGOs worldwide and the GEF Secretariat and its partners. The network has contributed to policy formulation by the GEF and been a conduit of feedback on implementation of GEF projects and programs at the country and local level. Please see more information at: https://www.thegef.org/partners/csos
Indigenous peoples also have dedicated spots as part of the GEF CSO Network. The GEF has an Indigenous Peoples' Advisory Group (IPAG; see https://www.thegef.org/content/indigenous-peoples-advisory-group) which has been meeting since 2013, that provides indigenous peoples' representatives opportunities to meet with GEF staff to shape policies and strategies and inform program development. IPAG members have also participated in working groups to update the GEF's Gender Policy and Public Involvement Policy.
7. Has your organization organized any conferences, forums or events designed to facilitate exchange of experience, peer and mutual learning? If yes, please provide a brief summary below and include lessons learned and gaps identified based on the outcomes of these events. Please also include any events you plan to organize in the coming years.
The GEF occasionally joins forces with its agencies to organize events and workshops, mainly on the margins of major global or regional fora such as Conferences of Parties to Conventions. The events are primarily focused on knowledge sharing and learning on emerging issues or policies related to GEF mandate and areas of expertise. The GEF has co-organized events around the issues of energy, oceans, forests, commodity supply chains, wildlife conservation, sustainable cities, and sustainable land management. The beneficiaries of these events are primarily representatives of GEF recipient countries, who harness the knowledge gained to develop innovative projects and programs for future financing.
8. Is there any other information you would like to share, including annual reports of your organization and any impact assessment or evaluation reports? If yes, please use the space below and attach the document(s). Please also use this space to provide any other information, comments or remarks you deem necessary:
The following resources provide a general overview of how the GEF is aligning its work with the SDGs:
- The GEF and the Sustainable Development Goals:
https://www.thegef.org/publications/gef-and-sustainable-development-goals
- GEF 2020 Strategy:
https://www.thegef.org/publications/gef-2020-strategy-gef
- The Opportunity of the Commons:
https://www.thegef.org/publications/opportunity-commons-0
9. In your view, what should a strategic plan for the UN system in support of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs look like? What key elements should it include and major challenges address in such a road map?
The cross-cutting nature of the SDGs requires that countries pursue an integrated planning and implementation approach that transcends multiple MEAs. This will help countries to harness synergies and manage tradeoffs in achieving national level targets. The UN could play a major role in helping to advance such integrated approach, including institutional frameworks for effective coordination.