The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has released its first updates on three 'integrated approach' programmes focused on: sustainable cities; taking deforestation out of commodity supply chains; and food security in sub-Saharan Africa.
The updates provide an overview of the history, background and aims of each programme as well as their next steps.
Each of the three programmes is expected to submit a Programmatic Framework Document to the 48th GEF Council Meeting in June 2015.
5 January 2015: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has released its first updates on three ‘integrated approach’ programmes focused on: sustainable cities; taking deforestation out of commodity supply chains; and food security in sub-Saharan Africa. The updates provide an overview of the history, background and aims of each programme as well as their next steps. Each of the three programmes is expected to submit a Programmatic Framework Document to the 48th GEF Council Meeting in June 2015.
The ‘sustainable cities’ programme will provide governance and policy support to facilitate integrated urban design, planning and management, with the aim of contributing to sustainable, resilient development and sound ecosystem management. The US$100 million project will focus on two elements: a sustainability plan for assessing challenges and opportunities in cities and urban areas; and tools and metrics to underpin sustainability plan development and implementation.
The ‘Taking deforestation out of commodity supply chains’ programme aims to expand the supply of sustainably managed commodities by providing a common platform to tackle deforestation related to commodity production. The programme will focus on the beef, palm oil and soy industries, which, according to the GEF, are responsible for nearly 80% of global deforestation and 12% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as for biodiversity loss. The US$45 million pilot will include activities focused on three themes: enabling activities for production; enabling activities for demand; and supporting transaction connectivity. The UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), Conservation International (CI) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are designing the programme.
The ‘Food security in sub-Saharan Africa’ programme promotes the sustainable management of biodiversity, forests, land and water and their ecosystem services as a means to address food insecurity. The programme will promote multi-stakeholder platforms for identifying and pursuing actions to ensure food security and sustainable livelihoods, as well as to safeguard the environment, with a focus on dryland regions. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) serves as the lead agency for the programme, which is expected to include 12 pilot countries. [GEF Press Release] [Sustainable Cities Update Report] [Commodity Chain Update Report] [Food Security Update Report]