Projects

Full-size projects. GEF's three implementing agencies (and soon RDBs) work with the operational focal point in each recipient country to develop project ideas that are consistent both with the country's national programs and priorities and with GEF's operational strategy and programs. Regional or global programs and projects may be developed in all countries that endorse the proposed activity.

Medium-Sized Projects (MSPs). Grants of less than US$1 million are available through expedited procedures that speed processing and implementation.  These medium-sized grants increase GEF's flexibility in programming resources and encourage a wider range of interested parties to propose and develop project concepts. View the MSP Guidelines.
In addition, the GEF has developed a two-year $5 million program with the Development Market Place to fund smaller projects using an expedited procedure.

Enabling Activities. Grants for enabling activities help countries to prepare national inventories, strategies, and action plans in cooperation with the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. This assistance enables countries to assess biodiversity and climate change challenges from a national perspective, determine the most promising opportunities for project development, and subsequently pursue full-scale projects.

Project Preparation and Development Facility (PDF). Funding for project preparation is available in three categories or "blocks." Block A grants (up to $25,000) fund the very early stages of project or program identification, and are approved through GEF's implementing agencies. Block B grants (up to $350,000 for single-country projects and up to $700,000 for muliple-country projects) fund information gathering necessary to complete project proposals and provide necessary supporting documentation. These grants are approved by the GEF CEO, with attention to the GEF operations committee's recommendations. Block C grants (up to $1 million) provide additional financing, where required, for larger projects to complete technical design and feasibility work. Block C grants are normally made available after a project proposal is approved by the GEF Council.

Small Grants Program. UNDP administers this project, which offers grants of upto $50,000 to eligible projects. Visit the Small Grants Program webpage.

Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Program. A partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank affiliate, the SME program finances projects that demonstrate a positive environmental impact and have basic financial viability, thus promoting private sector investment opportunities in developing countries. Visit the SME webpage.