GEF Council Advances New Global Environmental Financing Priorities at Landmark Samarkand Meeting

Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 31 May – 5 June 2026 — Global environmental leaders, government representatives, development institutions, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples’ representatives, and financial partners gathered in Samarkand for the 71st Meeting of the Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), a critical milestone in shaping the future of international environmental financing and governance.

Convened alongside the Eighth GEF Assembly, the meeting focused on some of the most significant decisions facing the international environmental community, including the ninth replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund (GEF-9), the approval of a new work programme, reforms to resource allocation mechanisms, partnership expansion, and the role of science in driving environmental action.

The discussions took place against a backdrop of escalating climate change impacts, accelerating biodiversity loss, growing pollution challenges, and increasing pressure on ecosystems worldwide. Council members emphasized that effective environmental governance and financing have never been more important.

A Renewed Commitment to Global Environmental Action

Opening the meeting, Claude Gascon, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the GEF, highlighted the achievements delivered under the current GEF-8 cycle.

He noted that the Facility has continued to strengthen its focus on high-impact investments, blended finance mechanisms, integrated environmental solutions, and inclusive approaches involving developing countries, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities.

Gascon reported that 98 countries are currently participating in GEF-8 initiatives, including 31 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). He also highlighted progress in advancing gender equality, knowledge-sharing, learning, and stakeholder participation across the GEF portfolio.

The opening session also featured a significant announcement from the Rob Walton Foundation, which pledged to match up to USD 50 million in GEF funding through a new collaboration focused on priority conservation areas identified by the Africa Keystone Protected Area Partnership. The announcement was widely welcomed as an example of how philanthropic partnerships can leverage additional resources for biodiversity conservation and protected area management.

Council Co-Chair Richard Bontjer stressed the need for practical solutions capable of addressing increasingly complex environmental and geopolitical challenges. He pointed to the accelerating climate crisis, biodiversity decline, and growing environmental insecurity as reasons why international cooperation must remain strong and effective.

GEF-9 Negotiations Reach a Major Milestone

One of the most anticipated agenda items was the presentation of the outcome of negotiations on the ninth replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund, known as GEF-9.

Maitreyi Das of the World Bank reported that negotiations had been conducted in a spirit of openness, perseverance, and shared commitment. The replenishment process resulted in an initial agreed funding envelope of USD 3.9 billion, although additional pledges may still be announced before the World Bank formally adopts the replenishment resolution.

Presenting the final package, Gascon described the outcome as a “strong and ambitious package” that combines investment strategies, policy recommendations, and resource allocation mechanisms designed to maximize environmental impact.

He characterized the agreement as a renewed vote of confidence in multilateralism, the GEF partnership, and the international community’s collective commitment to protecting the global environment.

While many Council members welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations, some expressed disappointment that the replenishment amount was smaller than previous funding cycles. Nevertheless, members broadly supported the strategic priorities outlined in GEF-9, particularly its emphasis on vulnerable countries, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and nature-positive development pathways.

Several delegates underscored the importance of ensuring that implementation remains country-driven and responsive to national priorities. Others emphasized the need for more transboundary projects capable of addressing environmental challenges that cross national borders.

Council members also highlighted the importance of expanding support for LDCs and SIDS, accelerating donor pledges, and increasing private-sector engagement without reducing access to concessional financing. Many welcomed the aspirational target that seeks to direct 20 percent of GEF-9 programming toward actions involving Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Approval of a New USD 141 Million Work Programme

The Council subsequently approved the June 2026 Work Program, representing another major outcome of the meeting.

Presented by Fred Boltz and Mohamed Bakarr of the GEF Secretariat, the programme includes 16 projects across 19 countries with a total GEF contribution of USD 141.4 million. These investments are expected to leverage approximately USD 828.1 million in co-financing from governments, development banks, private investors, and other partners.

The Work Program reflects many of the priorities that have emerged under GEF-8, including support for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, land restoration, sustainable development, and innovative financing mechanisms.

Council members highlighted the Uzbekistan Risk Mitigation Facility as a particularly promising example of how blended finance can attract additional investment while reducing risks associated with environmental projects. The initiative was cited as a model that could potentially be replicated in other regions.

Participants also welcomed the fact that approximately 97 percent of GEF-8 resources have already been programmed, demonstrating strong demand and implementation capacity across the partnership.

The Civil Society Organization Network highlighted several successful initiatives, including the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and the Global Flyways Grant Mechanism, as examples of effective civil society engagement in environmental programming.

Reforming Resource Allocation Through STAR

Another important discussion focused on reforms to the GEF’s System for Transparent Allocation of Resources, known as STAR.

The STAR mechanism determines how resources are allocated among eligible countries, making it one of the most influential components of GEF financing.

GEF Secretariat representatives Naiying Peng and Sonja Sabita Teelucksingh presented proposed reforms designed to improve fairness, transparency, and effectiveness. These include updates to biodiversity, climate, and land degradation indicators, the introduction of new performance metrics, and increased weighting for GDP per capita considerations.

One of the most significant outcomes is that approximately 43 percent of GEF-9 STAR resources are expected to be directed toward LDCs and SIDS, significantly strengthening support for some of the countries most vulnerable to environmental and climate challenges.

Council members broadly welcomed the reforms while also raising concerns about ensuring that vulnerability indicators adequately capture climate risks, natural disasters, and economic shocks. Delegates stressed the need to maintain country ownership and ensure that innovative financing tools complement rather than replace traditional concessional funding.

Following consultations, the Council approved the revised STAR policy, which will govern resource allocations under GEF-9.

Expanding the GEF Partnership

The Council also examined proposals to expand the GEF Partnership through the accreditation of additional implementing agencies.

Jonathan Caldicott of the GEF Secretariat outlined a new four-stage procedure designed to identify organizations capable of filling programming gaps, particularly in support of LDCs, SIDS, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities.

The proposed framework would initially prioritize organizations already accredited by the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, while also maintaining rigorous standards related to fiduciary management, environmental safeguards, stakeholder engagement, and gender equality.

Delegates welcomed the proposed reforms but emphasized the importance of ensuring that any expansion remains evidence-based, responsive to country needs, and capable of delivering measurable environmental benefits. Several members also called for stronger criteria assessing experience working with Indigenous Peoples and civil society organizations.

The Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group advocated for the eventual accreditation of Indigenous Peoples’ networks as implementing agencies, arguing that Indigenous-led initiatives have consistently demonstrated strong conservation outcomes and community engagement.

Science at the Heart of Decision-Making

A recurring theme throughout the meeting was the growing importance of science in environmental governance.

Rosina Bierbaum, Chair of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP), presented an extensive review of emerging scientific findings relevant to the GEF’s future work.

Her report examined issues ranging from rising global temperatures and climate-related agricultural costs to marine ecosystem degradation, biodiversity finance, plastic pollution, and the environmental risks associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Bierbaum also highlighted recommendations aimed at strengthening GEF-9 implementation, including developing a comprehensive theory of change, advancing policy coherence across sectors, encouraging innovation, influencing market transformation, and improving monitoring systems capable of tracking genuine systems-level transformation.

Council members overwhelmingly welcomed STAP’s contributions and reaffirmed the importance of evidence-based decision-making in confronting global environmental challenges.

As the GEF prepares to enter its ninth replenishment cycle, the discussions in Samarkand demonstrated both the scale of the challenges facing the international community and the determination of governments, institutions, civil society organizations, and Indigenous Peoples to work collectively toward solutions.

The approval of the new Work Program, reforms to resource allocation mechanisms, progress on partnership expansion, and the endorsement of GEF-9 priorities collectively signal a new chapter for the world’s largest multilateral environmental fund.

At a time when climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and ecosystem degradation continue to threaten sustainable development worldwide, the outcomes of the 71st GEF Council Meeting underscore the critical role of international cooperation, innovative financing, and science-driven action in safeguarding the planet for future generations.