GEF-9 PROGRAMMING

DIRECTIONS

First Replenishment Meeting

May 20, 2025

Fred Boltz, PhD

Manager, Programming Division
THE ROAD TO 2030
2030
GEF-9
GEF-8
Global Environmental and
GEF-7 Sustainable Development Goals
2030 target date

GEF’s 2030-focused, adaptive

strategy over 3 cycles addresses
these pivotal goals
 GEF-9 Goal & Outcome pathways

Lasting GEBs
Healthy Planet
for Healthy People
synergies

Adequate &
Value of Nature Value of Nature Value of Nature
Effective Funding
Integrated in Internalized in the Realized by
for the
National Economy All Stakeholders
Global
Development
Environment
 Cross-cutting Themes framing GEF-9
Whole of Government
GEF Family of Funds Whole of Society
and Policy Coherence

 GEF Family of Funds offer  Mainstream policy coherence  10% of GEF-9 resources to
flexible, synergistic financing into Programming and country support CSOs, Indigenous
for country needs portfolio planning Peoples, women and youth

Blended Finance and Private

Innovation and Risk Knowledge and
Knowledge and Learning
Learning
Sector engagement

 Operationalize innovative  Raise ambitions for increased  Generation and application of

solutions through GEF-9 high- used of non-grant instruments, knowledge from GEF projects
risk appetite for impact and particularly with MDBs and the and programs in adaptive
leverage Private Sector management
 GEF Trust Fund Programming Pathways
Focal
Areas
Conserve, Manage, and
Restore Natural
Ecosystems and their
MEA Guidance Services
+
National
Mitigate and Manage Global
Environmental and Integrated
GHG Emissions and
Development Plans Programs
Pollution Environmental
+ Benefits
GEF-9 Programming
Directions Transform Global
Systems Driving
Planetary Change

Strategic
Initiatives
Integrated Programs
GEF-9 Integrated Programs
FOCAL AREAS INTEGRATED PROGRAMS TARGET
SYSTEMS

Biodiversity
Forest Biomes Natural

Global Wildlife
International Waters Food
Blue and Green Islands

Food Systems
Land Degradation Urban
Drylands and Drought
Management

Sustainable Cities
Climate Change Energy

Plastics

Pollution-Free Supply Chains Health

Chemicals & Waste
 Global Wildlife for
Critical Forest Biomes
Development
Conserve globally critical tropical forest Conserve wildlife and wildlife landscapes
biomes and their environmental services and foster human-wildlife coexistence.

• Continuity in Amazon, Congo, • Policy coherence - wildlife

Guinean Forests, positive incentives
MesoAmerica, Southeast Asia
• Application and scaling of
• Mainstream GEF-8 IP priorities technology and innovation
for ecosystem restoration and
infrastructure • Transboundary and multi-
country collaboration on
• Increased IPLC engagement trade, conflict, and ecological
and support connectivity
Blue and Green
Islands Sustainable Cities
Improve terrestrial and marine ecosystem Promote nature positive urban development
health through a source-to-sea approach

• Source-to-sea integrated • Integrate GEF-8

land, fresh water and ocean infrastructure and net zero
management nature positive
IP priorities
• Increased marine
ecosystems emphasis • Support beyond city limits
through a regional approach
• Domestic financing
(public and private) • Policy coherence and
domestic financing
 Food Systems Drylands and Drought
Management
Scale-up transformational changes
Manage drought and build drylands resilience
towards nature-positive food systems

• Regenerative agriculture • Effective drought

resilience policies
• Integrated crop and
livestock/ aquaculture • Drought-smart land
systems management
• Private sector • Sustainable water and
partnership and leveraged groundwater management
financing
 Circular Solutions to Pollution-Free Supply
Plastic Pollution Chains
Accelerate the circular economy of plastics Prevent pollution in global supply chains
and prevent plastic pollution and domestic manufacturing
• Beyond food and beverage • Phase out hazardous chemicals
to all major plastic categories (POPs, heavy metals, and PFAS)
• Circular economy approach to • Green chemistry and advanced
address all aspects of the technologies
plastics supply chain
• Private sector and blended finance
• Private sector partnership
Focal Areas
Biodiversity
• Landscape & seascape approaches,
integrating BD with GBFF, MFA, MTF
investments
• Innovative biodiversity finance and
domestic resources for biodiversity
• Support implementation of the Cartagena and
Nagoya protocols.
Climate Change
• Resource efficiency: energy and materials
• Decarbonized power systems and energy
access
• Scale up zero-emission mobility
of people and goods.
• Nature-based solutions for climate
mitigation
• Capacity-building for transparency under the
Paris Agreement
• Support relevant Convention obligations
and enabling activities
Land Degradation
• Restore degraded ecosystems and lands
• Strengthen drought management
• Advance sustainable landscape
management across land uses
• Promote inclusive governance of land
and water resources
• Support relevant Convention obligations
International Waters
• Protection and management of
transboundary marine ecosystems,
notably: LMEs, sustainable fisheries,
ocean threats in ABNJ

• Support to the BBNJ Agreement

• Protection and management of
transboundary freshwater
ecosystems
increased emphasis on groundwater
Chemicals & Waste
• Mobilize private sector and blended
financing
• Drive innovation and technology scaling
• Transform supply chains and markets
• Strengthen policy and regulatory
frameworks
• Ensure a just transition
Strategic Initiatives
Blended Finance (NGI)

• Increase the Blended Finance Global

Program funding window

• Expand Blended Finance through the

GEF family of funds

• Increase relevant and timely technical

support to countries through Focal Areas
and CES
Country Engagement Strategy
Country Ownership Whole-of-Government
• Empower OFPs with training, • National Steering Committees and align
financial resources, recognition National Dialogues for integrated planning
• Enhance Upstream Technical • Expand Country Platforms and
Dialogues for portfolio planning MDB leverage

Whole of Society Communications and Learning

• Engage key stakeholders in Expanded • Empower OFPs with Knowledge
Constituency Workshops, mobilize CSOs Management tools and networks
• Expand the Fonseca Leadership Program • Amplify the voices of a global network
for young environmental leaders of GEF Project Communicators
Small Grants Programme (SGP)

• Enhance the scale and scope of

SGP core program

• Establish a SGP global learning

program

• Increase CSO participation in

GEF-9 IPs and Focal Areas
execution
Innovation Window
Identifying novel solutions and upscaling
proven innovations for transformative
environmental impact , particularly:

• Technological innovation, with a focus

on emerging solutions, such as the use
of Al, blockchain, monitoring and early
warning

• Business Model innovation notably

blended finance instruments and
internalizing environmental values in
markets
Thank you