The Global Environment Facility: Funding for Adaptation or Adapting to Funds?

Abstract: "International support for adaptation to climate change has evolved into an intricate system offinancial instruments, including four global funds: the GEF Trust Fund, the Least Developed CountriesFund, the Special Climate Change Fund and the Adaptation Fund.

Previous research on adaptationfunding focused on the financial adequacy of these global funds, as well as on economic and ethical dimensionsof the funds’ technical adequacy, as reflected by their efficiency and fairness. This paper assessesthe funds’ technical adequacy from a governance perspective, as revealed by their responsivenessto the needs of developing countries. These needs are expressed as various forms of guidance on the useof the funds.

The paper analyses the adherence by the GEF to guidance from the UNFCCC Conferenceof the Parties, and the adherence by the Implementing Agencies of the GEF to guidance from the GEF.It concludes that the funds are not technically adequate for responding to developing countries’ needs,owing both to the complex design of the funds and to poor implementation of the guidance. This findingmay be of relevance to the development of additional guidance on the Adaptation Fund, as well as contributeto discussions on the availability of adaptation funding under the GEF Trust Fund and on the roleof the funds under a post-2012 international climate policy regime.

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Locality: Global
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