The Global Environment Facility plays a pivotal role in implementing the important commitments made at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and the multilateral environmental agreements, SAEFL Director Philippe Roch told the representatives of the 171 GEF member states in Beijing today. Mr. Roch, accompanied by a delegation of six people, is representing Switzerland at the second Assembly held from 16 to 18 October.

Since the foundation of the GEF, US$ 4 bn have been invested in over 1000 projects, which in turn has generated an additional US$ 11 bn. Mr. Roch went on to say that it would be important for the next phase of the GEF to consolidate the Fund’s trendsetter role, continued Mr. Roch. The efficiency and sustainability of GEF interventions should be enhanced. Increased engagement by the national governments and the private sector should be secured in all areas. Regarding private sector engagement in the Fund, Mr. Roch stressed: «The GEF should not shy away from dismantling any unnecessary procedural barriers to private sector participation».

«In all areas of the GEF's work we need more integrated approaches and better coherence to ensure that GEF project interventions are mutually reinforcing and that they deliver sustainable and measurable impact». Mr. Roch gave water as a good example of this: «Here it makes little sense to focus on distributional aspects alone, while failing to preserve the underlying resource base. If we fail to protect forests and wetlands, if we do not manage soils with precaution, water will become increasingly scarce and polluted».

The head of the Swiss delegation welcomed the acceptance of the two new focal areas, namely the Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and the Convention to Combat Desertification. He launched an appeal for immediate development of an overarching Strategy on Chemicals.

The Global Environment Facility was recently replenished for the third time. Switzerland is due to make a contribution of CHF 99 m. Soon, the Swiss Federal Council Assembly will discuss the GEF message.

«Now that GEF funds have been replenished and its structure and processes enhanced, we can expect it to become even more off a catalyst», Mr. Roch said. There were, however, some difficult moments in the preliminary stages of the replenishment process, he stated. Diplomatic intervention was necessary, in particular to convince the United States to support a higher level of funding.

The Global Environment Facility as Trendsetter