The financial mechanism of the Convention, operated by the
Global Environment Facility (GEF), has supported
biodiversity enabling activities in over 140 developing-country Parties and Parties with economies in transition. These have received support for the preparation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) and the preparation of first, second and third national reports.
At its fifth meeting, the Conference of the Parties recommended that Parties prepare their reports through consultative processes involving all relevant stakeholders and requested that the GEF provide support for this (
decision V/13). See the
GEF’s Revised Guidelines for Additional Funding of Biodiversity Enabling Activities (Expedited Procedures) At its sixth meeting, the Conference of the Parties requested the GEF to explore funding modalities for facilitating the preparation of future national reports and thematic reports from Parties, taking into account the comments made by Parties, during the sixth meeting, on their experience in accessing relevant funds, as well as the recommendations included in the second Overall Performance Study of the GEF and the second review of the effectiveness of the financial mechanism (
decision VI/17).
The seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties invited the GEF to provide the financial support necessary for the preparation of the third national report (
decision VII/20). In this regard, a
joint letter issued to Parties by the CBD and GEF secretariats in January 2005 advised of the availability of funds and stated that Parties should contact, through their GEF Focal Point, the implementing agency involved with national biodiversity enabling activities to obtain confirmation on their eligibility for support.
The eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties invited the GEF and other financial instruments to provide funding for the preparation of the fourth national reports by no later than 1 January 2007 (
decision VIII/18).
By Notification 2007-141, the Executive Secretary wishes to advise eligible Parties that financial support has been made available from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through a medium-sized project jointly managed by UNDP and UNEP for national assessment of progress towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target, including the preparation of the fourth national reports. In order to apply for funds, a request from national focal points, together with a letter of endorsement from the national GEF Operational Focal Point, should be sent to UNDP offices in your country or region. In submitting the country request, Parties are invited to use the appropriate project templates or forms below that are required for approval of funds. If you have any question in this regard, you may kindly contact the Secretariat directly, or the Environment Focal Point of UNDP offices in your country or region.
