In a global effort to allocate critical funds to tackle the root causes of the climate and nature crisis, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has just approved US$204.3 million for UNDP's support of 121 countries in project focused efforts, leveraging an additional $1.9 billion in co-financing to safeguard people and the planet. The total funding approved during the GEF Council Meeting (16-20 December) amounts to over $668.3 million in grants to 14 GEF Agencies from the GEF Trust Fund, the Least Developed Countries Fund (LCDF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF).
Together, these activities will jointly benefit more than 9.4 million people, including 4.8 million women. The funding aims to scale up efforts to drive a nature-positive and climate resilient future, restoring thousands of hectares of land with a further three million hectares - roughly the size of Belgium - set to benefit through improved stewardship.
"Our role as UNDP is to support change from the ground up. We are delighted that the Indigenous groups, women and marginalized communities will continue to receive the required support through the additional funds received. We must double-down on this approach: to take what works to transform systems, delivering rich dividends to bring changes at the local level", stated Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP's Bureau for Policy and Programme Support.
In a major boost for community-driven initiatives, $71.3 million will be allocated to the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by UNDP, targeting 119 countries with a strong focus on innovation, scaling up and social inclusion. This adds to the $137.5 million already approved for the first tranche of the SGP programme. Building on three decades of experience, SGP will continue to provide direct financial support to Indigenous Peoples and local communities to tackle global environmental challenges while improving local livelihoods. It will support the restoration of 150,000 hectares of land and 60,000 hectares of marine protected areas, as well as improve the management of 2.5 million hectares of landscapes and 160,000 hectares of marine ecosystems.
Other UNDP initiatives will result in millions of tonnes of avoided or reduced harmful greenhouse gas emissions; and the removal or disposed of millions of tonnes of toxic chemicals from the atmosphere. These include programs to tackle harmful plastic waste in China and develop alternatives; and to eliminate a class of harmful chemicals in Eswatini called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) -primarily found in electrical transformers around the world.
The iCOAST programme will tackle sustainability challenges in the tourism sector in 14 countries. Tourism, a key driver of global prosperity, accounts for about 10% of the global economy and creates one in four new jobs worldwide. The funding will support sustainable tourism practices, the removal of harmful chemicals and waste from tourism supply chains and services, the protection and restoration of overused natural resources, the development of circular tourism practices, and the mobilization of private sector finance to support the transition to sustainable businesses.
The second phase of the FARM programme (FARM+) was also approved for an additional eight countries to bring UNDP's financial and insurance expertise to provide farmers with tools against risks of yield loses from pests and the overuse of agrochemicals, facilitating reforms of subsidies and promoting sustainable and climate resilient agriculture practices.
Xiaofang Zhou, Director of the UNDP Chemicals and Waste Hub, noted: "The strong support for these initiatives is critical to scale up the integrated solutions that the world needs, to fight challenges on multiple fronts. Communities on the frontlines of the crises we face have already shown that they can drive change and find innovative solutions to a myriad of challenges. Together, and through the commitment of our partners around the world, we can build a stronger future."
