The Global Environment Facility (GEF)

HISTORY AND PRESENT STATUS

On 28 November 1990, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) was formally established in Paris as a three-year pilot programme by a group of developing and industrialised countries. It is an independent and substantive body with its own structure of rules. In 1994 the GEF was restructured to provide for the permanent establishment of the GEF as a global environmental funding mechanism.

The aims of the GEF are to assist recipient (developing) countries in their efforts to solve global environmental problems occurring in their particular countries or regions. The GEF is a financial mechanism providing funding for projects submitted by countries or regions in the four focal areas defined in the GEF Instrument: climate change; biological diversity; international waters and the ozone layer. Project proposals are developed by countries in cooperation with one of the three GEF Implementing Agencies, namely the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, or the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Project proposals are submitted for approval to the GEF Council. Implementation is then undertaken through partnership between the relevant country or region and the GEF Implementing Agency.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND COOPERATING ORGANISATIONS

Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (Operational Focal Point)

GENERAL COMMENTS

South Africa submitted its instrument of participation in the GEF in 1994, and participates in the GEF Council as a member of the Southern African constituency.

South Africa's first GEF project, the Table Mountain conservation project, was approved in 1997 and provides for GEF funding of over US $ 12 million. Several project proposals from South Africa are under development for submission to the GEF Council for approval.
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