Global Environment Facility

“Forests continue to be lost and degraded at an alarming rate, especially in tropical regions. This is something that can be fixed through improved governance and policy coherence in support of nature-positive activity, with benefits to communities as well as the environment as a whole.” – Global Environment Facility CEO Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, at the Yale School of the Environment International Society of Tropical Foresters | Yale Chapter of the International Society of Tropical Foresters

The first edition of the GEF International Waters Portfolio Bulletin of 2025 is out now 📰 Stay in the loop as you access your passport to success stories, updates, and global achievements here 👉 https://loom.ly/p8Me6Wk Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/eRa7kFAh

🌍 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 🌍 More than 100 government officials and civil society representatives from 10 Southern African countries joined the Global Environment Facility in Johannesburg to visit a GEF-funded sustainable cities project that is showing how environmental action can make a difference in housing, energy, and more. The initiative at several sites across Johannesburg aims to increase access to municipal services, improve quality of life, and promote sustainable urban development. 🏙️ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: • 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲-𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀: Improving the sustainability of social housing with a focus on #energy and #water efficiency, and waste management. • 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀: Residents have seen a nearly 50% reduction in energy costs and a 13% decrease in water usage. Improved waste management and solar-powered public lighting are boosting safety and health. • 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Lessons from this project are being incorporated into the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO) and other government agencies guidelines for future urban investments. 🌱 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: • 𝗘𝗰𝗼-𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴: Establishing high-density mixed-use urban areas, with energy-efficient buildings and improved access to public transportation. • 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴: Increasing #foodsecurity by promoting sustainable agricultural practices such as organic farming, efficient irrigation methods, and biodiversity-friendly food production at the community level. • 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Building a biogas plant in Johannesburg's largest landfill to convert biodegradable #waste into renewable energy. The project, a partnership between the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), UN Environment Programme, and the City of Johannesburg, aligns with the city's 2040 Growth and Development Strategy. The visit was part of a workshop for Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to discuss strategies to use environmental funding for greatest impact. Over the last 30 years, the GEF has invested almost $1.3 billion to 332 projects in the 10 Southern African countries represented by this group, with $5.7 billion in co-financing. Organized with South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the workshop included government officials, convention focal points for UN Climate Change, UN Biodiversity, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, and Minamata Convention on Mercury, GEF agencies, and members of civil society, youth groups, and Indigenous Peoples. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eDh6xGZy

A few months back I had the opportunity to visit one of Malaysia's pilot sites for peat swamp forest rewetting and sustainable management. A good example of synergistic approach to ecosystem conservation and integrated landscape management with benefits for climate, nature and communities. This blog post explores the Global Environment Facility's support to national and regional efforts to scale up this approach in partnership with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Global Environment Centre - a big thanks to the project team from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability for sharing their insights on progress made so far!

🌍 Kick off 2025 exploring stories of innovation from across the globe. This edition of our newsletter features an initiative targeting sustainability in fashion, a young agronomist’s life lessons from his work connecting forestry and farming, and a project in Zimbabwe aiming to reduce mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.   ⚡ Subscribe now to stay informed about the ideas and actions driving environmental solutions.

Over 4 billion people live in #cities, making them key hubs for environmental innovation. By investing in nature, we can transform these urban spaces into engines of environmental solutions that improve both people’s lives and the ecosystems within them. 🔗 Learn how the Global Environment Facility’s past and future focus in this area will help build a more sustainable future: https://lnkd.in/ePXQd8-5

Madagascar has secured $8.56M to protect its threatened species and habitats through the new #BioTAct project, thanks to funding from the Global Environment Facility. Covering 1.24M hectares, this 5-year initiative will restore #wildlife populations, safeguard critical ecosystems, and empower local communities. This project is a big win for Madagascar’s #biodiversity, and a massive step toward a sustainable future where nature and people thrive together. https://bit.ly/3WmbEZe

🔊 FUNDING OPPORTUNITY Re:wild and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) are excited to announce that the Fonseca Species Conservation Fund is now accepting proposals from early-career conservationists in the Americas region! 🗓️ Deadline: March 30, 2025 This fund supports conservation efforts focused on protecting amphibians, freshwater fish, primates, small mammals, and tortoises and freshwater turtles in GEF-recipient countries. 🌱 If you’re working to protect these species, this is your chance to access crucial funding. 🔗 Learn more and apply today! https://lnkd.in/gs8GGjjr #Conservation #FundingOpportunity #Biodiversity #GEF #Rewild

📢 Are you a creative, tech-savvy professional passionate about the environment? The Global Environment Facility is looking for interns to help manage social media, create engaging content, and enhance our digital presence. 💡 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗗𝗼: ✳️ Assist in managing the GEF's social media accounts ✳️ Create, organize, and schedule content  ✳️ Design graphic and video content for social media ✳️ Monitor social media performance and assist with digital campaigns ✳️ Help produce newsletters, media round-ups, and content analytics reports 💡 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗼𝗿: ✳️ Applicants must have an undergraduate degree and be enrolled or planning to enroll in a graduate study program ✳️Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to present and summarize ideas clearly, methodically, and concisely ✳️ Solid knowledge of Content Management Systems, graphic design, AI and marketing automation tools ✳️ Passion for environmental sustainability and international development ✳️ Attention to detail and excellent organizational skills 📆 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆: January 31, 2025 🔗 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: https://lnkd.in/ent6zcrg 

💡 The GEF recognizes the vital role young people play in driving transformative change and is proud to support research, professional growth, and leadership opportunities for the next generation of changemakers. The Fonseca Leadership Program, in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society, is thrilled to announce a call for applications for the Young Leaders in Africa Fellowship Program. As part of WCS’s Graduate Scholarship Program (GSP), this initiative supports African conservationists pursuing Master’s and PhD studies, preparing them to lead the charge in tackling critical environmental challenges. The fellowship, honoring the late Gustavo Fonseca, is open to candidates from GEF recipient countries in Africa who: ✅ Have at least 5 years of experience in conservation   ✅ Show strong leadership potential   ✅ Have a deep commitment to protecting nature   ✅ Plan to pursue a Master’s or Ph.D. in conservation studies 🔗 For more details and application guidelines, visit: https://lnkd.in/en2xzcvd