Frequently Asked Questions
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the world's largest multilateral trust fund dedicated to helping developing countries tackle the planet's most pressing environmental challenges. It serves as the financial mechanism for several key international environmental conventions, including those on biodiversity, climate change, and desertification. In Zimbabwe, the GEF supports projects that address climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, land degradation, and the sustainable management of natural resources.
The GEF's portfolio in Zimbabwe targets several interconnected challenges:
Biodiversity Loss: Protecting the country's rich wildlife and ecosystems, such as in the Sebungwe and Zambezi Valley regions.
Climate Change: Supporting both climate change adaptation (e.g., drought-resilient agriculture) and mitigation (e.g., the transition to electric mobility, energy efficiency etc).
Land Degradation: Restoring degraded lands and promoting sustainable forest management.
Pollution: Reducing the use of toxic mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
International Waters: is the largest funding mechanism for multi-country collaboration on shared aquatic ecosystems. It funds governments and organizations to jointly manage transboundary water resources, such as oceans, large marine ecosystems, shared river basins, lakes, and aquifers, to reverse fisheries depletion, reduce pollution, and resolve water-use conflicts.
STAR stands for the System for Transparent Allocation of Resources. It is the GEF's country-based allocation system that determines the amount of GEF Trust Fund resources a given country can access during a specific replenishment period (e.g., GEF-7, GEF-8). The STAR replaced the earlier Resource Allocation Framework (RAF) starting with the GEF-5 replenishment. The STAR allocation covers three key GEF focal areas: biodiversity, climate change, and land degradation. The allocation for each country is calculated based on a formula that includes indices for the potential to generate global environmental benefits, as well as performance and country-specific factors. It provides countries with an indicative resource envelope, which serves as a guide for planning and developing projects within their national priorities. Countries have some flexibility to program these resources across the three focal areas.
For Zimbabwe, the STAR allocation represents the primary channel through which the country accesses GEF funding for its national environmental projects. For example, under the GEF-8 replenishment cycle, Zimbabwe's STAR allocation is $13.2 million. This allocation, along with other GEF funding mechanisms like the Small Grants Programme and set-aside funds for regional and global initiatives, forms the basis of the GEF's portfolio in the country.
The GEF supports a diverse and dynamic portfolio of projects. Notable examples include:
The Sebungwe Project:
A $5.68 million initiative to unlock the biodiversity potential of the Sebungwe region by establishing a sustainable biodiversity economy that benefits local communities.
PlanetGOLD Zimbabwe:
A project working with artisanal miners to reduce mercury use by 4.85 tonnes over five years and improve their access to responsible markets.
Electric Mobility Project:
An initiative to accelerate the introduction of electric vehicles in Zimbabwe, focusing on reducing emissions and managing battery waste.
Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program (DSL-IP): A program implemented with the FAO to restore degraded land and improve forest management.
GEF projects are implemented by a range of accredited partner agencies in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe. Key partners include the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Bank. The projects are carried out in close partnership with national ministries, such as the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife.
The GEF Small Grants Programme issues calls for proposals periodically. Interested community-based organizations and NGOs can apply by submitting their proposals through the official UNDP Zimbabwe application portal. For the latest information on open calls, you can email the programme directly at: gefsgpzimgrants.zw@undp.org
Eligibility depends on the specific programme. The Small Grants Programme is open to local communities, indigenous peoples, community-based organizations, and other non-governmental groups. Larger national projects are typically developed and implemented through partnerships between the Government of Zimbabwe and GEF's accredited implementing agencies.
The GEF provides grant funding for projects. For projects managed through implementing agencies, a flat agency fee (typically 10% of the project grant) is paid on top of the grant to cover the agency's services in assisting with project preparation and implementation. For the Small Grants Programme, projects are often expected to mobilize co-funding, sometimes up to 50% of the grant amount.
The best way to stay informed is to regularly check the official websites of the GEF's implementing partners in Zimbabwe, particularly UNDP Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife. You can also monitor this website and our social media channels for announcements on new project launches and calls for proposals.