At the just-concluded 69th GEF, 38th LDCF/SCCF, and 4th GBFF Council Meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Washington, D.C., the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) delivered a strong message that urgent environmental action needs the best science and Indigenous leadership. STAP shared new reports, practical advice, and ideas to enhance the impacts of GEF investments.
Delivering the report of the STAP Chair to the Council, Prof. Rosina Bierbaum summed it up with a powerful reminder: “Great acts are made up of many small deeds.”
STAP is the independent scientific body that advises the GEF to ensure that projects and programs are grounded in the best available science and innovation so that “those small deeds add up to a global impact.”
STAP presented three reports on strengthening support for indigenous peoples, applying real-time monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and enhancing the implementation of source-to-sea approaches in GEF investments.
The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) report highlights best practices and approaches on monitoring, evaluation, and learning, showcasing case examples that demonstrate how learning during projects can enhance project success.
The Strengthening Support for Indigenous Peoples report offers recommendations to the GEF partnership on actions that can help facilitate the critical contributions of Indigenous Peoples to environmental sustainability.
The Source-to-Sea Approach report highlights the vital role the GEF has played in advancing the approach, identifies barriers to effective implementation, and presents advice on how to enhance adoption and scale-up.
Before the Council meetings, STAP also reviewed 21 new GEF projects, providing advice on how to enhance their impacts and ensure a good return on GEF’s investments.
On the sidelines of the Council, STAP held a briefing session with GEF Council Members and Agency Representatives. This provided an opportunity to discuss STAP products and activities and receive input on future work ideas.
