Global Environment Facility (GEF)

• It was established in October 1991 as a $1 billion pilot program in the World Bank to assist in the protection of the global environment and to promote environmentally sustainable development.
• Headquarter: Washington, United States of America
• It unites 183 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organisations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives.
• The GEF is jointly managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• The GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.
• The GEF also serves as a financial mechanism for the following conventions:  Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• UN Convention to Combat Desertification cation (UNCCD)
• Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
• Inamorata Convention on Mercury.