The Global Environment Facility (GEF), through its Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), has launched a new set of projects aimed at strengthening climate resilience in some of the world’s most vulnerable nations. The LDCF and SCCF Council approved a work program providing approximately $52 million in GEF support, expected to leverage over $116 million in co-financing. These projects focus on country-driven adaptation solutions in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, emphasizing integrated land–water management, coastal protection, sustainable fisheries, and climate-resilient livelihoods. The initiatives prioritize community-led solutions, gender-responsive approaches, and ecosystem-based adaptation strategies aligned with national priorities.
The five projects illustrate how targeted, grant-based adaptation finance can generate tangible results, even in fragile or high-risk contexts, while building long-term resilience. Evans Njewa, outgoing Chair of the Least Developed Countries Group, highlighted the importance of ongoing donor support, noting that LDCF and SCCF initiatives demonstrate both the resilience of participating countries and the strength of the partnerships facilitating implementation.
In Africa, LDCF funding will support coastal ecosystem restoration and resilient livelihoods. In Eritrea, the project links mangrove rehabilitation with improved water management, food security, and fisheries value chains, benefiting over 21,000 households and restoring 3,500 hectares of degraded mangroves. In Senegal, a parallel initiative will enhance climate-resilient fisheries governance, sustainable aquaculture, and ecosystem restoration, including mangrove, seagrass, and coral reef rehabilitation, directly benefiting nearly 49,000 people, with women representing more than half of the beneficiaries.
In fragile contexts like Haiti, the LDCF project will strengthen community resilience against compounding climate, environmental, and socioeconomic pressures. The program focuses on smallholder livelihoods, climate-resilient management of 3,700 hectares, and the development of policy frameworks and partnerships to support long-term adaptation, reaching more than 45,000 people.
In the Pacific, LDCF and SCCF projects address acute climate risks such as sea-level rise, drought, coastal erosion, and saltwater intrusion. In Kiribati, an integrated program will enhance resilience through climate-resilient land-use planning, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable livelihoods, combining traditional knowledge, gender-responsive approaches, and strengthened governance. In the Republic of the Marshall Islands, funding will target groundwater salinization, land degradation, and coastal erosion, restoring over 5,000 hectares of land, mangroves, and food systems while improving freshwater security and community resilience.
The LDCF is the only global fund dedicated to helping Least Developed Countries adapt to climate change, supporting locally-led solutions across sectors including agriculture, water, health, and infrastructure. To date, it has delivered over $2.39 billion in grants across 51 countries. The SCCF complements this by driving innovation in climate adaptation for developing nations and Small Island Developing States, supporting projects in more than 60 countries and benefiting over 10.7 million people through nature-based solutions, climate-smart agriculture, and innovative financial mechanisms.
