19 November 2004: The GEF Council, which met from 17-19 November in Washington DC, took decisions on: the process for monitoring and evaluation relations with Council and other entities; action plan to respond to recommendations of the project performance review; management response to the review of GEF’s engagement with the private sector; programme studies on biodiversity, climate change and international waters; the OPS3 inception report; the four year work plan; verification of replenishment targets; fourth replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund; work programme; institutional relations; resource allocation framework; business plan; amendments to the instrument; climate change funds; and recommendations of the working group on medium-sized projects.

The expected decision on the GEF’s resource allocation framework was deferred to the June 2005 Council meeting, where the three motions tabled by Council Members will be negotiated. In this regard, the Secretariat has been requested to facilitate further consultations on the framework in early March 2005. The Council also took a decision on the development of a private sector strategy, agreeing that such a strategy should be based on an analysis of the barriers to private sector participation in the GEF and means to overcome those barriers. The Council will consider the Strategy at its December 2005 meeting.

On the Small Grants Programme (SGP), the Council agreed to an increase in funding to US$47 million for the first year of GEF SGP OP3 (mid-February 2005 to mid-February 2006). Regarding desertification, the Council requested the Secretariat to circulate the draft memorandum of understanding describing arrangements to facilitate collaboration between the GEF and the UNCCD for further consideration at its June 2005 meeting. On the UNFCCC climate change funds, the Council endorsed its programming document as an operational basis for funding of activities under the Special Climate Change Fund. The Council deferred its consideration of agenda items on: land degradation; the process for selecting the CEO/Chairman of the Facility; and other business.[GEF November 2004 Council meeting documents]