3 December 2014: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has presented a report to the 20th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 20) to the UNFCCC in Lima, Peru, on its response to guidance received at COP 19 in 2013. As an operating entity of the UNFCCC’s financial mechanism, the GEF functions under the guidance of and is accountable to the COP, which decides on UNFCCC-related policies, programme priorities and eligibility criteria.

In 1996, the COP and the GEF Council signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to operationalize the financial mechanism. Since the MOU’s adoption, the COP has regularly provided guidance to the GEF, which has incorporated this guidance into its mitigation and adaptation strategies through the approval of projects and programmes and by adapting its policies and procedures. The GEF has focused on: its own institutional and procedural reform, promoting transparency and improved access to GEF funds; country engagement and empowerment; national communications; and technology transfer support.

To complement its report to the COP, the GEF prepared a booklet that summarizes 20 years of GEF responses to guidance from the COP. The publication is intended to fully document the evolution of GEF activities and policies as informed by COP guidance and summarizes guidance from the COP 1 to COP 19, as well as all corresponding GEF responses. The booklet’s annexes include the MOU between the COP and the GEF Council, guidelines for the financial mechanism’s review and GEF project terms. As of 2013, the number of COP decisions and paragraphs including GEF guidance totaled 73 and 241, respectively.

COP 19 in Warsaw, Poland, provided the most recent guidance to the GEF, which relates to, inter alia: intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs); biennial update reports; REDD+; national adaptation plans (NAPs); the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); clarifying the concept of co-financing and its application; implementation of country-driven projects identified in technology needs assessments (TNAs); finalizing the accreditation of new project agencies; streamlining the project cycle; and strengthening collaborative efforts with the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF). [GEF Press Release] [Booklet Website] [Publication: Guidance from the COP and Responses by the GEF: 20 Years] [IISD RS Coverage of the Lima Climate Change Conference]