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April 2008 |
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A Letter from the CEO
Dear Colleague: Here in Washington, warm weather is nearly here and the cherry blossoms are in bloom. At the GEF, we have a busy and productive spring ahead: the first meeting of the Adaptation Fund Board, preparations for the upcoming Biodiversity COP in Bonn, the GEF Evaluation workshop in Egypt and, of course, the April Council meeting. The Adaptation Fund Board Meeting
Last December at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, the GEF was entrusted with the management of the Adaptation Fund- a key initiative that has the potential to transform the way we finance environmental projects. We shall follow the guidance of the UNFCCC and the Adaptation Fund Board as we work closely with you to build on our past successes with adaptation. The Adaptation Fund Board held its first meeting in Bonn from March 26 to 28 and we expect projects to begin before the end of the year. Biodiversity COP 9 in Bonn (May 19th - 30th, 2008)
Never has the challenge or opportunity to preserve the world’s most unique and threatened areas been greater. Over the centuries nearly half of the Earth’s original forest cover has disappeared, cleared mostly during the past century, according to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Ironically, it is the climate change issue which is now helping decision makers refocus on preserving forests, which can act as a carbon sink and help slow environmental damage both locally and globally. We now have a unique chance to demonstrate the importance and relevance of biological diversity to the long-term health of the planet by linking forest biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation. These are just some of the issues that the GEF will be addressing at the upcoming biodiversity COP9 in Bonn, which will be hosted by Germany. International GEF Workshop on Evaluating Climate Change and Development
Our Evaluation Office is organizing a workshop this May in Alexandria, Egypt to share experiences in evaluating projects and programs aimed at cross-cutting issues of climate change and development. In addition to identifying current best practices and methodologies in mitigation and adaptation projects and programs, this important workshop will address the challenges that lie ahead in the evaluation community. Discussions will provide a platform for institutional leadership and underline the importance of this leadership in coping with climate change and accelerating development around the world. April Council Meeting On the agenda will be a number of important items to discuss. Some highlights include: an update on our Small Grants Program, progress on the implementation of the RAF, an evaluation of our annual country portfolio and our FY 09-10 Business Plan, including a discussion on our corporate budget in the year ahead… We will also receive a report from the STAP chair and provide council members with details on a strategic program designed to scale up investment in the transfer of environmentally-friendly technologies. I look forward to seeing many of you at the April Council meeting and perhaps in Bonn. As always, your comments and ideas are very welcome. With best wishes, Monique Barbut
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