The First Ten Years – Growing
Pains or Inherent Flaws?
a report by environmental
defence and halifax initiative - August 2002
Governance and Operational
Arrangements
However, the fact that the Bank is the
trustee of GEF funds, is in charge of all GEF investment
projects and houses the Secretariat office, makes it
unclear what “functionally” independent really
means. The pervasive influence of the World Bank in
the GEF remains.
The three Implementing Agencies, as mentioned above,
prepare programmes and implement projects. Excecuting
agencies were added in 1999, after criticism that the
monopoly held by the three agencies contributed to widespread
dissatisfaction with project performance. GEF executing
agencies include: UN agencies (FAO, UNIDO, IFAD ) and
development banks (Asian, African, InterAmerican and
European Development Banks).
GEF projects must be endorsed by recipient
country governments, as a means to ensure projects are
“country-driven and based on national priorities”
. Grants are provided in three categories – Small
Grants (under US $50,000), Medium Grants (up to US $1
million) and Full Project Grants (over US $1million).
Project types vary widely, but include “enabling
activities” which help countries meet reporting
requirements under the Climate Change and Biodiversity
conventions, provide basic information, and to undertake
national planning to identify priority activities.
Results
Once the restructuring deal was struck
in 1994, the GEF received a fresh infusion of US $2
billion for a period of four years.
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