The Councils of the funds managed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), including the GEF Trust Fund, the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), approved work programs totaling approximately USD 372 million. These funds are intended to support climate action, biodiversity conservation, pollution prevention, and integrated environmental initiatives across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The GEF Council approved a Work Program allocating USD 290.6 million to 30 projects across 56 countries, including 21 small island developing States (SIDS) and 21 least developed countries (LDCs). The initiatives aim to combat illegal fishing, strengthen island economies, reduce pollution, and promote regenerative farming practices. The Council also reviewed the Eighth Comprehensive Evaluation (OPS8) of the GEF, which found that the GEF consistently delivers strong results globally and nationally, while recommending deeper integration, streamlined processes, expanded private sector engagement, and pursuit of higher-risk, high-reward innovation with proper safeguards.
The LDCF/SCCF Council approved USD 52.26 million to address climate change adaptation in four LDCs, including two SIDS, and one non-LDC SIDS. This work program is expected to leverage an additional USD 116.84 million in co-financing, with nearly USD 90 million coming from international financial institutions. During the meetings, Germany pledged EUR 10 million, Belgium EUR 5.9 million, Ireland EUR 3 million to the LDCF and EUR 2 million to the SCCF, and Sweden SEK 130 million to the LDCF.
The GBFF Council approved a new Work Program allocating USD 28.28 million to three projects in Colombia, Indonesia, and Madagascar, leveraging approximately USD 57.07 million in co-financing to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The Council also reviewed a draft resource mobilization strategy and established an Ad Hoc Working Group on Predictability in Financing to improve the reliability of future contributions to the fund. Council members emphasized that scaling impact in future programming cycles will require not only increased resources but also streamlined processes and stronger partnerships.
The meetings, held virtually from 15-19 December 2025, included the 70th GEF Council, the 39th LDCF/SCCF Council, and the fifth GBFF Council. A consultation with civil society organizations took place on 12 December 2025. On the final day, the Council announced the departure of GEF CEO and Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodríguez and appointed Claude Gascon, Director of Strategy and Operations, as the interim CEO to lead the organization into its ninth replenishment cycle, GEF-9.
