The 32-member Council will consider a new work program under the GEF’s eighth replenishment cycle (GEF-8) totaling over USD 550 million, which is expected to generate over USD 4 billion in co-financing for projects benefitting people and the planet.

A Just Land Transition would enable restoration of drylands while ensuring jobs, agricultural productivity, and social safety nets. Realizing this vision, speakers suggested, will require not only funding but also empowering community-based and women-led organizations.

While delegates did not adopt a decision to negotiate a framework or protocol on drought, many strong and groundbreaking decisions were adopted, including on gender, agriculture, civil society participation, rangelands and pastoralists, and land tenure, and science.

Members reaffirmed the central role of sustainable tropical timber trade in meeting global environmental and development objectives. Yet, despite high global funding levels for forests, clarity on how these ambitions will be financed remains limited.