Global Environment Facility
Although the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an independent international financial entity, it is implemented by three United Nations bodies: UNEP. the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Bank.
The GEF was established in 1991 by the World Bank with UNEP and UNDP to help developing countries fund projects and programmes that protect the global environment. GEF grants support projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. GEF has played an integral role in funding many projects within the Regional Seas programmes.
The Black Sea Ecosystem Recovery Project, with the overall aim of the new, six-year (2000-2006) project is to improve ecosystem health of the Black Sea by reducing inputs of nutrients and hazardous substances from land-based activities; the Caspian Environment Programme; and the Strategic Action Programme for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are just a small selection of GEF Regional Seas programmes expanding across the world.
Currently within the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) both the SAP-MED (Strategic Action Programme to Address Pollution from Land-Based Activities in the Mediterranean Region) and the SAP-BIO ( Strategic Action Programme for Biodiversity in the Mediterranean Region) are ready for implementation. In addition a three year project; addressing Land-based Activities in the Western Indian Ocean region (WIO-LAB), funded by the GEF and the Government of Norway has been approved and implementation will commence this year. |
