The Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an international financial mechanism that operates in the field of environmental protection. It was established by the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1991. It aims to provide developing countries with grants and credits on attractive terms to finance the additional costs of implementing environmental protection programmes, projects and activities. The GEF is active in various areas of environmental protection, such as the protection of nature and biodiversity, sustainable forest management, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the sustainable management of water resources. The GEF is also the funding mechanism for several Multilateral Environmental Agreements, such as the Minamata Convention and the Convention on Biodiversity.