14253 achieving the MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS A GEF progress report 678 3 about the Global Environment Facility The Global Environment Facility (GEF) The GEF's $24 billion portfolio is an independent financial entity supports more than 1,700 projects in established in 1991 -- in partnership 140 developing countries and countries with the United Nations Development with economies in transition. More than Programme, the United Nations 6,000 small grants are provided directly Environment Programme, and the to community groups and NGOs. World Bank -- to improve the global environment while creating livelihoods Every $1 invested by the GEF and opportunities for the world's poor. leverages $3 in cofinancing. The GEF is the largest single source More than 700 NGOs actively of funding for the global environment participate in GEF activities and with 176 member countries. oversee GEF projects. The GEF is a financial mechanism for the international conventions on biodiversity, climate change, persistent organic pollutants, and desertification. achieving the MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS A GEF progress report 1 The GEF mandate BIODIVERSITY CLIMATE CHANGE To promote the conservation of biological To develop, expand, and transform the diversity, sustainable use of its components, markets for energy and mobility in and fair and equitable sharing of the developing countries so that, over the long benefits arising out of the utilization of term, these countries will be able to grow genetic resources. GEF projects cover: toward and efficiently operate a less Protected area systems carbon-intensive path. GEF focuses on: Biodiversity in production landscapes Renewable energy Coastal, marine, and freshwater Energy efficiency ecosystems Sustainable transportation. Arid and semi-arid lands Mountain ecosystems To help least developed countries, many of Forests. which are small island developing states, adapt to climate change. GEF supports: INTERNATIONAL WATERS National adaptation programs of action To contribute as a catalyst to the on climate change. implementation of a more comprehensive, ecosystem-based approach to managing OZONE DEPLETION international waters. GEF projects target: To prevent releases of ozone-depleting Water body restoration substances in order to protect human Integrated land and water resource health and the environment from depletion management of the ozone layer. GEF projects support: Contaminant reduction. Phase-out of production and consumption of ozone-depleting LAND DEGRADATION substances in countries with economies To help mitigate the causes and negative in transition. impacts of land degradation, especially desertification and deforestation, on PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS the structure and functional integrity of To reduce and eliminate the releases of ecosystems through sustainable land persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in management practices. GEF projects order to protect human health and the promote: environment. GEF projects target: Sustainable forest management for Implementation of the Stockholm productive uses Convention on POPs Sustainable agricultural management Identification and safe destruction of for food production POPs, including PCBs, obsolete Sustainable rangeland management pesticides, and other toxic chemicals for livestock production. Safe, effective alternatives to DDT for vector control. 2 achieving the millennium development goals THE GEF PORTFOLIO GEF Funding by Focal Area Figure 1: GEF FUNDING BY FOCAL AREA (1991-2005) (1991-2005) Focal Area US Dollars (Millions) Land degradation 1.6% Biodiversity 35.9% POPs 2.7% Biodiversity 2,059.1 Ozone depletion 3.2% Climate change 1,982.8 Multi-focal areas 8.1% International waters 803.7 Multi-focal areas 466.6 Ozone depletion 181.9 International waters 14.0% POPs 154.3 Land degradation 92.8 Total 5,741.2 Climate change 34.5% Figure 2: GEF FUNDING BY REGION (1991-2005) GEF Funding by Region (1991-2005) Asia 25.7% Region US Dollars (Millions) Global & Regional 14.7% Asia 1,473.3 Africa Africa 1,308.6 22.8% Latin America & the Caribbean 1,216.7 Europe & Central Asia Europe & Central Asia 898.2 15.6% Global & Regional 844.4 Total 5,741.2 Latin America & the Caribbean 21.2% Figure 3: GEF PROJECTS BY REGION GEF Projects by Region (1991-2005) (1991-2005) Region Projects Asia 23.5% Asia 399 Global & Regional 7.3% Africa 507 Latin America & the Caribbean 367 Africa Europe & Central Asia 299 29.9% Europe & Central Asia 17.6% Global & Regional 123 Total 1,695 Latin America & the Caribbean 21.7% GEF progress report 3 "a once-in-a- FOREWORD generation We in the GEF family are committed Whether reducing the stockpiles of chance to to helping reach the Millennium obsolete pesticides throughout Africa or Development Goals (MDGs) by promoting safe alternatives to control bring about mobilizing international cooperation mosquitoes and other vectors spreading to protect the global environment in malaria, the GEF is helping to protect historic, ways that promote sustainable our common environment, improve development and create opportunities maternal health, and reduce the fundamental for the world's poor. This special report occurrence of destructive diseases focuses on some of the GEF's many that contribute to poverty's persistence. change..." contributions towards the eight critical As part of this effort, we are helping goals. Achieving a cleaner environment, women's organizations broaden Kofi Annan the heart of the GEF's work, is critical awareness about the dangers of POPs Secretary-General to alleviating poverty, improving health and press for safe methods of disposal. United Nations services, promoting education, eliminating disease, utilizing technology, GEF projects in Bangladesh, the providing opportunities for women, and Philippines, Poland, Sri Lanka, and furthering political stability by elsewhere are expanding renewable- preventing conflicts over access to energy technologies, such as solar, scarce resources. wind, geothermal, and hydropower. Such projects transfer new technologies, The GEF's portfolio of activities is provide training, promote new wide ranging: reducing the risk of climate businesses, and develop financing change, conserving and sustainably using tools. These renewable-energy projects biological diversity, protecting the ozone along with GEF's energy-efficiency layer, safeguarding international waters, projects are part of our global action eliminating persistent organic pollutants to address climate change by reducing (POPs), and promoting sustainable land the risks. management. The progress made by each GEF project brings us closer to achieving We are also helping the least the MDGs. developed countries, many of which are small islands, adapt to the possible Helping countries combat POPs impacts of climate change. An important illustrates this point. These highly toxic first step towards effective adaptation is compounds have led to rising mortality helping these countries determine their rates, unsafe drinking water, poisonous most urgent vulnerabilities and needs, foodstuffs, and contaminated farmlands. and develop realistic action programs. 4 achieving the millennium development goals As these and, indeed, the entire portfolio show, the GEF's purpose is the GOALS deeply rooted in the reality of people's 1 5 needs in the developing countries, which Eradicate extreme Improve maternal health. lie at the heart of the MDGs. Some of poverty and hunger. our efforts focus on the local situation -- 2 6 supporting women's cooperatives to Achieve universal Combat HIV/AIDS, create new livelihoods, or supplying primary education. malaria, and other schools and clinics with alternative diseases. 3 energy resources, which improves the Promote greater gender 7 quality of education and health services. equality and empower Ensure environmental women. sustainability. Other GEF efforts are large in scale 4 8 and impact, affecting whole regions -- Reduce child mortality. Develop a global the Andean mountains and marine partnership for basins, for example -- and continents, development. such as Africa's land, water, and biological resources. These efforts involve extensive coordination of how we are using technology to build government officials, scientists, local expertise, learn from shared experiences, businesses, and cofinancing agencies, and enhance cooperation. among many others. Such partnerships lead to effective solutions that reduce As the United Nations Secretary- the potential for conflict as demand General has reminded us, ours is "a once- intensifies for scarce resources amid in-a-generation chance to bring about rapid population growth. historic, fundamental change." Indeed, we do have that opportunity. The commitment, This report highlights a few of our effectiveness, resources, creativity, and accomplishments, but I encourage you to vision of the GEF and its partners are learn more about the work we are doing reason to look to 2015 with hope. by visiting our website. There, you have access to information about more than 1,700 GEF projects and 6,000 GEF small grants in 140 developing countries. This Len Good site, and the online International Waters Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Resource Centre that we host, demonstrate Global Environment Facility GEF progress report 5 Eradicating poverty and hunger 1 D ESTRUCTION OF THE EARTH'S development prospects, aggravated ENVIRONMENT worsens the regional conflicts, and threatened the struggles of poor countries to lives and livelihoods of people living build a better future. Air pollution under its shadow. damages crops, forests, rivers, and lakes that countries need for their economic One-fourth of the world's agricultural GOAL Eradicate development. Unsafe water kills land is no longer productive, and the extreme poverty approximately 3 million people each year, pace of degradation is accelerating and hunger. many of them children. Sickness and poor from erosion, salinization, compaction, health mean lost production for the nutrient depletion, pollution, and Target Reduce people and countries that can least afford urbanization. In developing nations, by half the it. Land degradation turns once fertile hard pressed to satisfy demands for proportion of fields into unproductive ones. As wildlife food and provide sustainable livelihoods, people living disappears and biodiversity is destroyed, productivity of agricultural land has on less than a so, too, are the many ecological services declined substantially in recent years. dollar a day. and wealth they provide. The greatest impact is on developing countries where Since 1991, the GEF has invested Target Reduce people are most dependent on natural more than $450 million in projects that by half the resources for food, medicine, income, integrate sustainable land management proportion of and employment. into national development programs people who and strengthen human, technical, suffer from The GEF sees the path to ending and institutional capacity. This is the hunger. poverty and hunger as one that largest financial commitment to the must involve sound environmental Convention to Combat Desertification management and sustainable since its adoption. development practices. In following this path, the GEF is enhancing food In Botswana, Kenya, and Tanzania, security, promoting local livelihoods, GEF projects are developing plant species and preventing conflicts over access to that stabilize soils and remain resilient resources. It is fully committed to helping to droughts, climate change, and other achieve the MDGs through innovative environmental stresses. Other innovative partnerships that leverage the GEF's programs are teaching communities initial investment threefold. sustainable farming and irrigation methods so they can produce sufficient FOOD SECURITY quantities of food to satisfy their needs Land degradation -- especially and generate income without harming desertification and deforestation -- the environment. has triggered large-scale population movements, disrupted economic The GEF's efforts in Latin America 6 achieving the millennium development goals are restoring pasturelands and boosting the productivity of farms in poor areas. Millions And GEF projects are supporting solar- 1990 2001 Goal 500 30% powered water pumps in remote villages 41% 31% 400 Percent to irrigate farmlands. In the small islands of population 2005 of the Caribbean, where scarce land 300 46% Bank, 45% 15% resources are under intense pressure from orld 200 development and population growth, the Project/W GEF is helping teach local communities 100 how to prevent soil erosion, and, in 11%10% 0 2% 2% 1% 4% Millennium turn, reduce the damage to housing, Middle East & Sub-Saharan Eastern Europe Southern Eastern Latin America & ec businesses, and infrastructure from flash North Africa Africa & Central Asia Asia Asia the Caribbean Sour floods and mud slides. LIVELIHOODS The GEF is supporting the Figure 4: PEOPLE LIVING In protecting biological resources, conservation and sustainable use of ON LESS THAN $1 PER DAY creating protected areas, halting Argentina's internationally renowned (1990, 2001 and Millennium desertification and deforestation, marine resources in Patagonia. This Development Goal) managing transboundary waters, and popular tourist destination generates promoting alternative energy resources, numerous jobs for local communities. GEF-sponsored programs help to create One result of the GEF project has been a Figure 5: URBAN AND livelihoods, particularly for women. reduction in the sea's oil pollution, which RURAL POPULATIONS is benefiting the region's unique species, WITH SUSTAINABLE In partnership with the Government particularly Magellanic penguins. ACCESS TO AN IMPROVED of Brazil, international organizations, WATER SOURCE nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), The GEF is also helping generate (1990 and 2002, percent) and others, the GEF has launched the largest joint initiative for the conservation of tropical forests in history. A key goal Percent Urban 1990 Urban 2002 Rural 1990 Rural 2002 100 of the Amazon Region Protected Areas Project is to combine ecosystem 75 protection strategies with the creation 50 of sustainable livelihoods. The project 2005 will establish an independent endowment 25 vision, Di to make targeted investments in 0 income-generating activities by local & Asia Asia Asia Asia of Statistics Africa Africa States people, including training staff for Oceania UN America CaribbeanEastern Southern Western ce program management and biodiversity Northern the Latin Sub-Saharan Southeastern Independent Sour Commonwealth monitoring systems. GEF progress report 7 livelihoods for coastal countries and competing needs in agriculture, industry, small islands by maintaining sustainable and urban and rural populations fisheries and reducing land-based across several nations while maintaining pollution sources that harm coral sufficient supplies in the environment reefs and bays. In Bangladesh, a GEF to ensure the long-term sustainability project is demonstrating sustainable of ecosystems. practices in fisheries used for local food needs and commercial harvest. The GEF is assisting collaborating Fifty pilot community-managed nations in their efforts to work together sanctuaries are being established in to address existing and potential water- small rivers and channels to help related conflicts, among both nations and protect nurseries for fish. competing users. Since 1991, the GEF has provided funding to 134 developing and "Today we are Hundreds of millions of people in transition countries for 87 transboundary developing countries depend on forests water resource projects. The GEF's faced with a for their livelihoods. GEF projects strive commitment of $700 million has resulted to reconcile the needs of local and in cofinancing exceeding $2.6 billion. challenge that indigenous people while protecting key forest refuges. In Kazakhstan, for example, For example, nine Nile Basin calls for a a GEF small grant is helping conserve and countries -- recognizing that regional restore wild apple forests in the Zilijskij- cooperation, trade, and sustainable shift in our Alatau Foothills. The project will enable development are shared objectives -- the production of a marketable apple have utilized GEF project funding to thinking, vinegar by a nonprofit medicinal and improve transboundary management of food research organization. their land and water resources. The so that region's leaders are committed to working CONFLICT PREVENTION together to establish priorities and decide humanity stops Battles among nations and regions on joint actions. By doing so, they are over access to natural resources have striving to overcome decades-old cycles threatening its devastated countries, leading to deaths, of food shortages, famine, extreme untold numbers of severe injuries, poverty, and environmental degradation. life-support extreme poverty, disease outbreaks in migrant communities, economic In Senegal and Mauritania, a GEF system." destruction, and environmental project has contributed to resolving degradation. tensions between nomads and local villagers. Both parties have agreed that the Wangari Maathai In the 21st century, the potential nomads can use Senegalese grazing areas 2004 Nobel for conflict over water is unacceptably in return for paying villagers a small fee peace laureate high. Scarce resources must now serve for use of the resources. 8 achieving the millennium development goals Empowering women, broadening opportunities W 2 OMEN ARE STILL THE Many GEF projects in all six portfolio POOREST OF THE POOR, areas seek to empower women. These concentrated in agrarian and projects generate jobs and business informal economies, often working in opportunities for women and their hazardous conditions. Their opportunities households, bring renewable energy to to generate income are severely limited villages, improve access to safe drinking as they primarily shoulder the water, and educate farmers about GOAL Achieve responsibility for unpaid family and environmentally sound cultivation universal primary household care. Gathering wood for practices. The capacity building that is education. home cooking and heating, and carrying integral to a project's success includes water to supply household needs and training to broaden knowledge, provide Target Ensure that irrigate farms, for example, can consume new skills, and empower women to make all boys and girls their days, leaving little time for studying a difference in their lives. complete a full or earning an income. course of primary QUALITY OF LIFE schooling. A mother's ill-health is one of the The GEF improves the quality of life for principal reasons why households women in a myriad of ways. Rural 3 become poor and remain poor. More electrification through renewable energy than half of the world's households resources reduces indoor air pollution cook with kerosene, wood, crop while at the same time giving women residues, or untreated coal in poorly more time to pursue income-generating ventilated conditions, resulting in activities. Protecting biodiversity through nearly 2 million women and children the cultivation of medicinal plants has led dying annually from indoor air to thriving cooperatives. Ecotourism has GOAL Promote pollution. Millions more become increased demand for crafts, hospitality greater gender afflicted with acute and chronic services, and guides. Higher yields from equality and respiratory infections. farms practicing sustainable cultivation empower women. Target Eliminate Figure 6: EDUCATING WOMEN gender disparity in primary A one-year increase in the schooling of all adult females in a country is associated and secondary with: education $700 increase in GDP per capita preferably by 1.4 percent reduction in children's labor force participation 2005, and at all 4.3 percent increase in females continuing on to secondary school levels by 2015. 3.7 percent increase in access to safe water and 5.4 percent to sanitation. Source: World Bank GEF progress report 9 installations, which electrify in excess of 4,000 houses, with more in the pipeline. TUNISIA Yet another project is exploring the MOROCCO potential for biomass and wind ALGERIA LIBYA technologies for village mini-grids, along EGYPT W. SAHARA with emphasizing new approaches to income generation and social services. MAURITANIA MALI NIGER SENEGAL CHAD ERITREA In Jordan, the Tubnah Women's GAMBIA BURKINA SUDAN GUINEA-BISSAU FASO DJIBOUTI Cooperative is implementing a GEF GUINEA CÔTE NIGERIA ETHIOPIA SIERRA LEONE D'IVOIRE program to improve living conditions C.A.R. LIBERIA A TOGO CAMEROON SOMALIA through income-generating activities such BENIN GHAN EQ. GUINEA DEM. REP. UGANDA as bee keeping, and herbal plant growing OF CONGO KENYA 51% and over GABON RWANDA and processing. The project will control 26% ­ 50% CONGO BURUNDI land degradation and increase soil Less than 26% UNITED REP. OF TANZANIA Insufficient data productivity through various conservation ANGOLA measures. It will also support the MALAWI ZAMBIA introduction of solar water heaters to Figure 7: PERCENTAGE MADAGASCAR ZIMBABWE reduce the community's dependence on MOZAMBIQUE ableT OF THE POPULATION NAMIBIA BOTSWANA tree cutting and wood burning. Data WHO MUST TRAVEL orld SWAZILAND MORE THAN 30 W SOUTH The GEF is supporting a group of AFRICA LESOTHO MINUTES TO FETCH WHO women in San Agustín, Colombia, as ce WATER Sour they attempt to capitalize on their ethnobotanical heritage by harvesting Women and girls often provide new income as families sell their medicinal plants and packaging them as walk 15 kilometers a surplus crops for cash. Easy access to teas for their corporation, Productos day, to and from water freshwater allows women, who are most Naturales San Agustín (PRONASA). The sources, spending 8 often the users and providers of water in women expect their new jobs to provide hours or more per day rural households, more time for profitable enough income so they will no longer collecting repeated loads pursuits, and allows girls more time to need to migrate to Chile to find work. weighing up to 20 kilos spend in school. each time. . The Toco Foundation in Trinidad In Sri Lanka, a GEF project is bringing and Tobago, with the help of the GEF, is solar power to houses and promoting small improving the potential for community- village-level hydro schemes, which will based ecotourism by establishing a dramatically improve the health and network of nature trails and visitor quality of life for local women. To date, facilities. The microcredit program the project has set up 84 village hydro provides the community with access to 10 achieving the millennium development goals "I was not able to get good grades in small loans to establish or strengthen communications, including information school because microenterprise activities, including the and communication technologies. marketing by women of handicrafts, honey, every other day fruit preserves, and local cuisine, based on In Papua New Guinea, a GEF the growing number of visitors. project is improving rural life by I had to miss providing environmentally sound In the Sudan, rangelands cover over electricity. The program targets 2,500 school to help 60 percent of the country, supporting one households in an effort to retain teachers of the largest populations of livestock in and health workers by reducing their my mother Africa, and one on which more than half isolation (access to radio) and providing of the country's population depends. A GEF safer, better living conditions through collect project is helping to rehabilitate rangelands lower cost, better quality lighting. and increase livestock while developing Finance packages help make purchases firewood..." alternative sources of incomes. The project of solar lighting kits affordable. includes digging boreholes and installing water pumps to allow women easy access Schools in rural Yemen, which is one Saima, a teenager in to water and so reinvigorate their home of the poorest countries of the Middle East, a village near the gardens, which yield produce to are benefiting from harnessing the Changa Manga supplement diets and household income. country's wind, solar, and other renewable Forest, Pakistan energy sources. Expanding access to EDUCATION electricity is leading to better learning More than 900 million adults are not conditions. In Tanzania, a demonstration literate, primarily in developing countries; solar project, underway at the Bwasi Figure 8: ILLITERACY 110 million primary-school-age children in Secondary School, is another example of AMONGST WOMEN developing countries are not in school. Of the GEF's work to improve education. (2004) these, 60 percent (66 million) are girls. Well-educated women have better educated and healthier children. A one- year increase in the schooling of all adult females in a country is associated with a 2004 significant increase in per capita GDP. Percentage of women over 15 years opulation,P of age who GEF projects contribute to expanding are illiterate orld W access to education. Electric lighting in 70 and over the of homes enables adults and children to 50 ­ 69 20 ­ 49 State study, thereby increasing the likelihood that A 5 ­ 19 women will read and children will attend UNFP Less than 5 ce schools. Electricity supply in schools Insufficient data Sour enables the use of educational media and GEF progress report 11 Improving human health 4 E NSURING THE SAFE DISPOSAL OF The GEF works with 139 countries PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS on projects to strengthen the integrated (POPs), protecting the ozone layer, management of land and water resources safeguarding international waters, and that are so vital to clean international encouraging research and cultivation of waters. GEF's efforts focus on medicinal plants -- these are some of the transboundary basins, where one half of GOAL Reduce ways in which the GEF is helping to the Earth's land area and population, child mortality. improve human health. In addition, the and more than 60 percent of global GEF is enhancing food security, preventing freshwater flows, are located. It is Target Reduce conflict through the resolution of resource committed to investing more than by two-thirds allocation disputes, reducing pollution, $1 billion to help prevent conflicts the mortality rate and promoting sustainable economic among and within nations competing for among children development. As described in Chapter increasingly limited water resources. under five. Two, the GEF is also helping countries transfer from energy sources that damage Lake Victoria, which borders Kenya, human health, such as kerosene, to cleaner Tanzania, and Uganda, is the world's 5 renewable energy. second largest freshwater body. The lake and surrounding areas are of CLEAN WATERS enormous importance to some 25 The links between water and health are million people and support an strong. The availability of clean water, agricultural and subsistence fishing the risk of waterborne disease in poor economy. Through a broad program, GOAL Improve countries, the dangers from pollution the GEF is working with the three maternal health. -- all are intricately linked with the robust governments to rehabilitate the lake and functioning ecosystems which GEF ecosystem so that it can continue to Target Reduce projects support. supply safe water, sustain a disease-free by three-quarters environment, and conserve biodiversity. the maternal The world's water resources are under mortality ratio. enormous stress. Degradation of coastal Another GEF project is helping to and marine areas, lakes, wetlands, coral sustainably manage the groundwater reefs, and other water resources directly resources provided by South America's affects the health of the people who largest aquifer, the Guarani, which depend on them. Pollution from land- supplies freshwater to 15 million people based activities, poor management in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and practices, the introduction of non-native Uruguay. Equal to the size of England, species, and overfishing are the major France, and Spain combined, the system culprits affecting the integrity of these has the potential for handling the ecosystems and the well-being of those demands of up to 360 million people if who use them. this resource is protected carefully. 12 achieving the millennium development goals 6 The GEF's extensive work in the chemical processes. Exposure to POPs can Danube River Basin includes establishing lead to disease and birth defects, and the International Alarm Center for the increasing morbidity and mortality rates. Danube River. Five years ago the Center and the Disaster Response Plan were This link is clearly shown in the successfully used to manage a cyanide adverse consequences of women's spill caused by a mining company. exposure to POPs: maternal health is a GOAL Combat According to local officials, without the decisive determining factor of offspring HIV/AIDS, malaria, Disaster Response Plan and the Center well-being and perinatal losses. Fetuses and other diseases. to implement it, the disaster would have become endangered as their mothers are been catastrophic and the response exposed. Breast milk may also transfer the Target Halt and much slower. contaminants to the feeding infant. begin to reverse Exposure to POPs impairs neurological the incidence of TOXIC POLLUTANTS development and can lead to learning malaria and other Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are of disabilities and developmental deficiencies major diseases. major health significance because they are in the young, and, ultimately, to death. not easily degraded and so remain in the environment for a long time. They can The GEF is one of the leading funders travel great distances on global air and sea of projects aimed at reducing health risks currents, and contaminate distant regions from POPs. Since 2001, the GEF has of the globe far from the polluting sources. approved more than $154 million, Humans efficiently absorb POPs because supplemented by an additional $114 the toxins are soluble predominantly in fat, million in cofinancing, to help developing and therefore accumulate in the fatty countries combat POPs worldwide. GEF tissues of organisms. These highly toxic grants are helping more than 120 countries compounds include pesticides, industrial assess their threats and promote safe ways chemicals, and substances generated as of destroying POP stockpiles. In all its work byproducts of incomplete combustion and on POPs, the GEF recognizes that children Figure 9: DEATHS ATTRIBUTABLE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES Mothers and children are the Indoor smoke from solid fuels main victims of the poisonous chemicals in smoke from Urban air pollution kerosene and wood-burning Unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene stoves, which kill almost 1.5 million people a year worldwide. Males Females Millions 0 per year 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 Source WHO World Health Report 2002 GEF progress report 13 which the GEF is supporting with a broad array of partners, seeks to eliminate all TUNISIA obsolete pesticides and put in place MOROCCO measures to help prevent their recurrence. ALGERIA Prevention measures include reducing LIBYA EGYPT W. SAHARA reliance on pesticides for agriculture and public health; better import controls, MAURITANIA storage, stock management, and MALI NIGER SENEGAL CHAD ERITREA distribution systems; improved awareness GAMBIA BURKINA SUDAN GUINEA-BISSAU FASO DJIBOUTI and training for pesticide users; capacity GUINEA CÔTE NIGERIA ETHIOPIA SIERRA LEONE D'IVOIRE building in poison centers; and C.A.R. LIBERIA CAMEROON SOMALIA establishment of container and pesticide TOGOBENIN GHANA EQ. GUINEA DEM. REP. UGANDA waste management systems. During the OF CONGO KENYA 1,000 metric tons and over GABON RWANDA first three years of the program, seven 500 ­ 999 metric tons CONGO BURUNDI countries (Ethiopia, Mali, Morocco, 50 ­ 499 metric tons UNITED REP. OF TANZANIA Less than 50 metric tons Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Not quantified ANGOLA Tunisia) will implement prevention MALAWI 2005 ZAMBIA measures, and then make inventories MADAGASCAR amme, ZIMBABWE and fully dispose of existing stocks. A MOZAMBIQUE Progr Figure 10: OBSOLETE NAMIBIA BOTSWANA further eight countries are scheduled to PESTICIDES IN AFRICA kpiles begin preparation and prevention activities. SWAZILAND Stoc SOUTH AFRICA LESOTHO Several thousand metric The GEF is also supporting projects African ec tons of obsolete pesticides Sour to destroy POPs safely through non- have accumulated combustion technologies, which are more throughout Africa. The and childbearing women are the most efficient and safer for human health and African Stockpiles vulnerable to these toxins. the environment. Two GEF projects are Programme, supported by The GEF's efforts in Africa showing how barriers to the use of non- the GEF, aims to dispose demonstrate the extent of its involvement combustion technologies can be removed of all these safely and and the improvements in human health and exploring effective technologies for establish measures to avoid that can be achieved by the safe disposal destroying polychlorinated biphenyls their future accumulation. of POPs. At least 50,000 metric tons of (PCBs). This work is essential because, obsolete pesticides have accumulated in despite the health risks posed by POPs, the continent, contaminating soil, water, there is currently almost no capacity to air, and food sources, and seriously destroy POPs in the developing world. threatening millions of people living in rural and urban areas. GEF projects in Mexico and Central America are providing safe and effective The Africa Stockpiles Programme, alternatives to DDT, a POP used to control 14 achieving the millennium development goals "Respiratory- related diseases caused by the malaria. People in tropical areas are enrichment plants, research on traditional smoke we particularly vulnerable to malaria -- a medicinal plant knowledge, and life-threatening disease affecting millions sustainable activities related to medicinal inhale will now of people. These projects aim to prevent plants or taking pressure off wild reserves. the reintroduction of DDT by promoting be a thing of new mosquito control techniques. Another OZONE LAYER PROTECTION goal is the elimination of DDT stockpiles, Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) the past..." which pose the risk of contaminating damage the Earth's natural layer of national and international waters. protection from ultraviolet sunlight. Exposure to this type of radiation is Margaret MEDICINAL PLANTS associated with skin cancer and eye Mwadzombo, a One of the benefits of biodiversity is the maladies, along with harm to wildlife mother of three, great medicinal benefits derived from many and aquatic ecosystems. following the plant species. Scientists have identified installation in her more than 2,000 tropical plants as having Since 1992, the GEF has been village -- Tsagwa, anticancer properties. In Southeast Asia, approving grants and assistance to Kenya -- of a hybrid traditional healers use 6,500 plants in countries that are not eligible for wind-solar system to treatments for assorted disorders. In the assistance from the Multilateral Fund for convert wind energy northwestern area of Amazonia, the Implementation of the Montreal into electricity indigenous peoples use more than 1,300 Protocol -- such as the Russian Federation, plant species as medicines. and the nations of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, the GEF is supporting initiatives Consumption of chlorofluorocarbons to conserve medicinal plants. In Ethiopia, a (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and GEF project is financing cultivation trials in methyl chloroform in countries eligible for home gardens of selected threatened and GEF funding has decreased more than endemic species. The project relies partly 90 percent. Russia, which was the largest on advice from elders -- mostly women -- producer of ODS in the region, reported who use herbal remedies to identify and that it halted production in 2002. conserve medicinal plants, with the support of youth groups. The GEF's success in assisting eligible countries to phase out ozone-depleting In Sri Lanka, the GEF is helping design substances in the Montreal Protocol's initial and implement a program for five reserves schedules has led signatories to stake out where medicinal plants are collected a new direction, and to seek, as far as is from the wild. The program will support feasible, the complete elimination of baseline research, monitoring, conservation methyl bromide during the third planning, community organization, replenishment period. GEF progress report 15 Ensuring environmental sustainability 7 T HE GEF SEES ENVIRONMENTAL The GEF supports practical SUSTAINABILITY AS A KEY measures to encourage conservation SOLUTION for meeting economic and sustainable use of biodiversity. and social needs in ways that leave a Since 1991, the GEF has provided $2 legacy of opportunities for succeeding billion and leveraged a further $4.6 billion generations. Poverty pushes the poor into from partners for more than 700 projects GOAL Ensure degraded lands and polluted slums, where that address the loss of globally significant environmental economic opportunities are minimal. The biodiversity. The GEF portfolio centers on sustainability. burdens include higher health costs, lower critical life-support systems and the productivity, and hopelessness that can interactions among them for drylands, Target Integrate lead to political instability. Environmental forests, mountains, and coastal, marine, the principles of degradation also puts the poor at greater and freshwater ecosystems. sustainable risk of natural disasters. For example, the development into flooding of inner regions of southern India Since its inception, the GEF has country policies during the tsunami has been attributed to supported investments in more than and programs; destruction of the mangroves that once 1,400 protected areas, covering nearly reverse loss of formed dense thickets along tidal shores. 2.79 million square kilometers. The GEF environmental has been credited with helping to place resources. Today, the GEF is the largest funder more than 12 percent of the world's land of projects to improve the environment. area under protection. Target Reduce It has allocated $5.7 billion, supplemented by half the by $18.8 billion in cofinancing, for more The GEF's strategic direction proportion of than 1,700 projects in 140 developing emphasizes conservation and sustainable- people without countries and countries with economies use activities within protected areas, the sustainable access in transition. The onset of climate change, surrounding lands, and the large to safe drinking the loss of biodiversity, worsening production landscapes and seascapes. water. deforestation, the rise in pollution-linked Biodiversity conservation is being diseases, ozone depletion, and the integrated into forestry, agriculture, degradation of international waters: fisheries, tourism, and other productive these are among the many environmental systems to secure local, national, and challenges in which the GEF plays a global environmental benefits. pivotal role to arrest and reduce threats to the quality and survival of human life. The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, a GEF-funded project in Central BIODIVERSITY America and southern Mexico, links The Earth collectively supports millions protected areas, buffer zones, and of species of plants and animals. This biological corridors. The region covers natural endowment provides livelihoods 768,990 square kilometers, including and ensures humanity's survival. 22 distinctive ecoregions and about 7 16 achieving the millennium development goals Figure 11: PROPORTION Land area protected (percent) 1994 2000 2004 MDGs OF LAND AREA 20 the PROTECTED TO MAINTAIN ards 15 w to BIODIVERSITY 10 Progress Since its inception, the GEF 5 vision, has supported investments in Di 0 more than 1,400 protected & Asia Asia Asia Asia Asia Statistical areas, covering nearly 2.79 Africa Africa WORLD Oceania CIS Europe UN REGIONS REGIONS America CIS million square kilometers. DEVELOPEDDEVELOPING CaribbeanEastern ce Northern the Southern Western Latin Sub-Saharan Southeastern Sour percent of the planet's diversity. total value of nearly $12 billion. Successful The project integrates biodiversity replication of the experiences of one conservation with sustainable country in another has broadened the economic development priorities. GEF's impact. CLIMATE CHANGE The GEF has invested substantially The GEF funds both mitigation and in transforming markets toward cleaner, adaptation projects to help developing low greenhouse-gas-emitting countries reduce the risks of and from technologies and promoting a path climate change. Although GEF projects toward sustainability. This focus has target developing countries, the effects of made the GEF increasingly effective GEF's work are global. Completed and in catalyzing private investment, active GEF climate change projects (1991 government commitments to programs through April 2004) are estimated to and policies, rural energy services, and result in a reduction of about 1.9 billion the expansion of technology markets. metric tons in direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. The range of technologies that the GEF supports has grown to encompass fuel As the largest financier of renewable cells, solar thermal power plants, efficient energy in the developing world, the GEF motors, and renewable energy. All help to is supporting solar, wind, geothermal, reduce greenhouse gases while improving biomass, and small hydropower energy, rural health services, broadening access to along with programs to boost the efficiency education, and creating new sources of energy use. In 14 years, the GEF's clean- of income. energy portfolio has grown to more than $1.9 billion in grants for projects with a The Philippines' utility, CEPALCO, is GEF progress report 17 enhancing the capacity of its existing states with fragile coastal ecosystems, hydro facility by supplying energy through such as the Caribbean and Pacific islands, a GEF-supported solar project. A GEF and least developed countries. The GEF is project in Botswana is testing a large- working with 48 least developed scale, solar photovoltaic-based strategy to countries to determine their most critical provide more than 5,000 households with vulnerabilities to climate change and access to clean lighting; another 1,000- sea-level rise. The goal is to enable plus households will receive more electric the countries to develop urgent and power from solar home systems. In immediate response programs and to Bangladesh, providing power without enhance regional and national intensifying the effects of climate change capabilities for dealing with climate is a priority for the government. To help change problems. speed the process, the GEF and its partners have undertaken an ambitious INTERNATIONAL WATERS effort to greatly increase the spread of The GEF targets transboundary water off-grid technologies, such as solar systems, groundwater resources shared home systems. by several countries, and marine ecosystems bounded by more than one GEF programs are also helping nation. Some of the issues addressed developing countries adapt to the adverse are water pollution, overextraction of effects of climate change since healthy, groundwater resources, unsustainable functioning ecosystems which GEF exploitation of fisheries, protection of projects support are the first line of fisheries' habitats, invasive species, and defense for disaster management. balancing competing uses of water Particularly at risk are small island resources. Since 1991, the GEF has In the past 30 years, the Figure 12: ENERGY CONSUMPTION Figure 13: SOURCES OF RENEWABLE worldwide consumption of FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES ENERGY, 2003 , renewable energy has increased Trillion Btu 2004 Conventional Solar energy 1.0% by 28 percent. As the largest 7,000 hydroelectric Wind energy 2.3% power 44.6% financier of renewable energy 6,000 Alcohol fuels Review 4.8% in the developing world, the 5,000 Geothermal energy 5.6% Energy GEF is supporting solar, wind, 4,000 3,000 geothermal, biomass, and small Waste 9.2% Annual 2005 2,000 hydropower energy programs. EIA, EIA, 1,000 ce ce 0 Wood 32.5% Sour Sour 1954 1964 1974 1984 1994 2004 18 achieving the millennium development goals invested $803.7 million in international waters projects, leveraging an additional $2.2 billion in cofinancing. Multicountry actions are necessary to foster sustainable development of these large systems, which cover most of the Earth. The GEF helps countries to 2005 Tropical moist forest collaborate with their neighbors to modify Tropical dry forest human activities that place stress on Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest transboundary water systems and interfere Temperate and boreal UNEP-WCMC, needleleaf forest ce with downstream uses of those resources. Sparse trees and parks Sour In this way, security can be improved, and sustainable resource use fostered in support of global goals. The GEF plays a Investments in municipal wastewater Figure 14: FOREST COVER catalytic role, making full use of policy, treatment plants and sustainable legal, and institutional reforms and agriculture practices are also part of the Forests are being felled faster investments necessary to address these basinwide approach. than they grow. Only eastern complex concerns about transboundary Asia and the Commonwealth of water resources. SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT Independent States are reversing Land degradation, especially their forest loss. One GEF program is focused on desertification and deforestation, is the Danube Basin and Black Sea, one reaching alarming levels. The Millennium of the world's largest bodies of water. Ecosystem Assessment confirmed that The drainage basin is five times larger drylands are most affected -- each year, than the sea itself, impinging on 17 120,000 square kilometers are lost countries, with enough pollution to make through desertification. Both this water body the most seriously desertification and deforestation have degraded regional sea on the planet. This triggered ecosystem destruction and resource is overburdened by pollution, large-scale population movements, eutrophication, invasive species, disrupted economic development overfishing, and other human demands. prospects, aggravated regional conflicts As a consequence, human health in the and instability, and threatened the lives region has suffered and economic of people living in affected areas. development has been adversely affected. From the beginning, GEF projects to The GEF served as the catalyst for preserve biodiversity, reduce the adverse installing clean technology and instituting effects of climate change, protect the necessary reforms in national policies. ozone layer, and clean up international GEF progress report 19 "Freedom alone is not enough without light waters have had the added benefit addition to direct environmental, of strengthening sustainable economic, and social benefits to local to read at land management. communities, the GEF project will generate global benefits such as improved night, without In 2002, the GEF's mandate biodiversity conservation and carbon was expanded to include land degradation sequestration. time or access as a focal area. The GEF has committed $250 million for projects that integrate PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS to water to sustainable land management into national The GEF's POPs strategy is to help development priorities, bring about needed countries reduce and eliminate releases irrigate your policy and regulatory reforms, implement of POPs to protect human health and the innovative sustainable land management environment. The GEF has approved farm, without practices, and strengthen human, $154.3 million in grants for more than 120 technical, and institutional capacities. country proposals to prepare national the ability to implementation plans. The plans outline a What makes the GEF's strategy unique country's strategic priorities -- for example, catch fish to is its holistic view on sustainable land phasing out PCBs or destroying pesticide management. GEF recognizes that land wastes -- as well as demonstration projects feed your and water resources are key to sustainable for alternatives to DDT, POPs destruction development in the world's dry areas. technologies, and alternatives for termite family." The focus is not on individual benefits, control. For a thorough discussion of GEF's but rather on synergies among GEF's work on POPs, please see "Improving Nelson Mandela focal areas. Human Health" (page 12). In the dry and highly fragile OZONE LAYER PROTECTION environments of China's impoverished Since 1992, the GEF has been providing western region, land degradation is assistance to the Russian Federation and seriously affecting the livelihoods of the nations of Eastern Europe and Central the region's 350 million residents, and Asia, countries that are not eligible for threatening critical habitats and assistance from the Multilateral Fund for endangered species. The GEF is working the Implementation of the Montreal with the Chinese to strengthen their efforts Protocol, to phase out ozone-depleting to ensure that ecosystems in the western substances. GEF commitments of $181.9 region are managed in an integrated million have leveraged an additional manner. A $15 million grant for the first $186.7 million in cofinancing. For a phase of the 10 year project is helping thorough discussion of GEF's work on coordinate the government's efforts as ozone protection, please see "Improving well as engage local people in hands-on Human Health" (page 12). conservation solutions for the region. In 20 achieving the millennium development goals Building partnerships T 8 HE GEF IS A NETWORK OF degradation, and steer a course that GLOBAL PARTNERS for the ultimately strengthens political stability. environment and sustainable development. It unites 176 member The GEF helps identify, invest in, and governments -- working hand in hand implement results-driven, practical with international institutions, national partnerships to protect the global governments, local communities, environment in ways that promote Goal Develop a NGOs, and the private sector -- to sustainable development and create global partnership address global environmental issues livelihoods and opportunities. for development. while supporting countries' sustainable Transboundary problems, in particular, development initiatives. demand well-coordinated involvement Target Address the by many diverse partners, some of whom special needs of The GEF was created as a partnership may be in conflict with one another. landlocked and among Bretton Woods and UN institutions. Vision, experience, innovative problem small island The GEF works with the United Nations solving, and commitment are among the developing states. Development Programme (UNDP), hallmarks distinguishing the partnerships the United Nations Environmental the GEF helps build, resulting in cost- Target In Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank, efficient, innovative, and effective cooperation with its implementing agencies, to better programs to achieve the MDGs. the private sector, integrate global environmental concerns make available the into national policymaking, coordination, GEF projects also promote good benefits of new and planning. UNDP, UNEP, and the governance in environmental sectors. technologies -- World Bank share credit for GEF's For example, a GEF project is helping the especially measurable on-the-ground achievements. government of Brazil implement its new information and Four regional development banks and national water law in the São Francisco communications three specialized UN agencies also basin, including a system for pricing water technologies. manage GEF projects and contribute to use. Another example is Madagascar -- the GEF's impact. home to rare species, such as the lemur. The GEF is helping the government to The GEF successfully leverages its institute reforms aimed at tackling investment by more than threefold to carry corruption and modernizing the park out 1,700 projects and 6,000 small-scale service to help ensure better management community-level initiatives in more than on the ground. 140 developing countries and countries with economies in transition. In the THE GEF'S LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS renewable energy portfolio, GEF's The GEF Small Grants Programme leveraging power is five to one. The touches the lives of thousands of people. GEF and its partners target the root causes Since 1991 the GEF has committed more of people's suffering and environmental than $220 million in small grants to GEF progress report 21 NGOs and community groups for The value of NGO involvement is projects that reconcile environmental demonstrated in a successful Sri Lankan benefits with sustainable livelihoods. energy project. Sarvodaya Economic Administered by the UNDP, small grants Enterprises Development Services (SEEDS), of up to $50,000 help to conserve a leading local NGO, entered the solar biodiversity, reduce the risks of climate and microfinancing business with help change, stop land degradation, and from the GEF and such partners as RESCO reduce water pollution through Asia and Shell International Renewables. community-level strategies and SEEDS offers loans to the purchasers of technologies. The program has leveraged household solar systems, reimburses the an additional $77 million in cash and supplier, and makes collections on loan $35 million in in-kind contributions payments. In addition to solar energy, from other partners. the project is promoting small, village- level hydro schemes. In addition to their participation in small grants projects, NGO partners In Viet Nam, the Women's Association contribute to the GEF in a variety of of Tan Linh Commune is learning about other ways, from policy analysis and organic farming. This GEF project transfers project planning, to project the simple technology for biofertilizer implementation and monitoring. As production, using local materials, such as part of this process, NGOs consult peat and rice husk. This effort prevents land regularly with GEF Council Members. degradation and improves soil fertility, resulting in increased rice yields. As a result, community dependence on the Figure 15: THE LEVERAGING EFFECT OF GEF SUPPORT forest resources of Ba Vi National Park is being reduced and incomes increased. SOURCES OF COFINANCING: The GEF has also funded the Small GEF allocation 23% Government agencies Island Developing States Network State governments (SIDSNet) to help facilitate partnerships Local governments among globally dispersed SIDS. SIDSNet Nongovernmental collects and disseminates information on organizations good practices addressing biodiversity Multilateral institutions conservation, climate change responses, Foundations and international waters management. Bilateral partners This GEF project has fostered sharing of Cofinancing 77% Private sector experiences and the use of information Academic community technology for ecosystem management and virtual capacity development workshops. 22 achieving the millennium development goals "The GEF is a network organization... NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS challenges in light of their own national an emerging The GEF works with 176 country partners priorities and circumstances. Based on to ensure that global environmental the needs assessments, the GEF provides form of projects reflect national priorities. Any financing to countries to support medium- or full-sized project to be a holistic approach to the management organization supported by the GEF requires the approval of global environmental issues and of the country's government. To facilitate build synergies between environmental in which this process, each country has designated and national sustainable development GEF "political and operational focal activities. independent or points" to help shape GEF policies and projects. All GEF projects are country INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS at least semi- driven, reflecting the needs and realities The GEF was created in 1991 in response of individual countries as well as providing to growing concerns in the international autonomous opportunities for the sharing of information community that there was no financial and lessons learned. mechanism for addressing global entities work environmental threats that required Through its support for the National coordinated efforts among nations. together to Dialogue Initiative, the GEF helps Today, the GEF serves as a catalyst for countries identify and develop national international cooperation, creating a achieve a priorities for the environment and platform for enhanced organization, sustainable development. The initiative collaboration, networking, and knowledge common helps link the priorities of national sharing among nations. governments, NGOs, the private sector, result." and the donor community with the The GEF's support for the New GEF's strategic objectives. The GEF has Partnership for African Development Third Overall conducted 16 national dialogues in the (NEPAD), a key initiative of the African Performance Study past year, and another 22 are scheduled. Union, exemplifies GEF's role in building of the GEF, 2005 international partnerships. With GEF The GEF also helps countries support, African leaders developed the build their capacity to carry out their NEPAD environmental action plan and commitments under international treaties. made a commitment to collectively GEF funds National Capacity Self address the environmental problems that Assessments (NCSAs), which enable confront their continent. One of NEPAD's countries to identify and analyze their priorities is to build capacity to address needs for capacity development to the disturbing environmental trends that implement the treaties. At the center of permit the growth of hunger, poverty, the NCSA process is the recognition hopelessness, and conflict in Africa. A GEF that individual countries must address grant of $1 million, matched by $235,000 global environmental and development in cofinancing, will support a four-year GEF progress report 23 "For everyone on Earth, the Millennium Development program to develop Africa's capacity to technical capacity, and broadening implement the global environmental awareness and trust in the technologies Goals are a conventions and other international by sectors and utilities. The renewable agreements, such as the protocol on energy projects involve private firms as linchpin in the biosafety. In recognition of the special manufacturers and dealers, local project needs of Africa, GEF has provided a total of developers, financial intermediaries, quest for a $1.3 billion for more than 500 projects on recipients of technical assistance, the continent. technology suppliers and contractors, more secure and project executors. The GEF's international waters and peaceful program provides another good example of Numerous projects in the GEF how the GEF brings countries together and portfolio are engaging private companies world..." builds trust and confidence among diverse and individuals in innovative ways, partners. In the most extensive campaign including approaches such as conservation Jeffrey D. Sachs against pollution currently supported by easements, payments for environmental Director the GEF, 17 Black Sea and Danube Basin services, and ecotourism. Private sector Millennium Project countries have collaborated in a broad support is playing an especially valuable Investing in effort to identify major transboundary role in developing innovative financing Development, 2005 pollution problems; highlight needed for renewable energy. Such investment policy, institutional, and legal reforms in lending programs are essential since each country; and support priority capital markets in many countries do investments to reduce discharges for not have sufficient liquidity and depth. municipal sewage, and industrial and The GEF, for example, has partnered agricultural pollution. With much of the with the Indian Renewable Energy analytical framework in place, the 17 Development Agency Limited to collaborating countries are implementing provide credit lines specifically for wind additional GEF-funded projects to reverse and solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. In the degradation of the Black Sea. Bangladesh, GEF is working with the Grameen Shakti Bank to provide PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PRIVATE microfinancing for renewable energy. SECTOR The bank's PV solar program The private sector offers tremendous is the largest business line in the country. potential for the GEF's work in furthering the MDGs. Through its projects with the Establishing partnerships private sector, the GEF is transforming that demonstrate the compatibility markets for renewable energy, developing between conservation and development supportive policy markets, generating objectives remains the challenge -- and innovative financing for installations or opportunity -- in the years ahead. supporting businesses, strengthening 24 achieving the millennium development goals Global Environment Facility No use of this publication may be made 1818 H St., NW for resale or other commercial purposes Washington, DC 20433 without prior written consent of the GEF USA Secretariat. All images remain the sole property of their source and may not be © GEF, September 2005 used for any purpose without written permission from the source. ISBN 1-884122-49-3 The boundaries and names shown and Banson developed and produced this the designations used on maps in this publication in preparation for the MDG publication do not imply official summit in mid-September 2005 as part of endorsement or acceptance by the GEF. the GEF's sponsorship of the magazine series, Our Planet. PHOTOS Project Director Shirley Geer Cover, p1 (left to right/top to bottom) and pp 4-5 (left to right) UNEP/Wihan Kwandee, J Schytte/Still GEF Editor Carollyne Hutter Pictures, UNEP/Reichling, UNEP/C Henriques, External Editor Geoffrey Lean UNEP/G Mintjens, UNEP/M Wendler, UNEP, UNEP. Text James D. Spellman Left to right: p7 M Kolloffel/Still Pictures, UNEP/L V Design Banson Khoa, J Schytte/Still Pictures, R Giling/Still Pictures p8 UNEP/S Avraham, UNEP/P Harris, UNEP, UNEP/ Printing Colorcraft T El Rafai pp10-11 P Arnold/Still Pictures, P Arnold /Still Pictures, UNEP/S Dan, Schwarzbach/Argus/Still Information used in this report was Pictures, M Kolloffel/Still Pictures, J Boethling/Still provided by the GEF, the World Bank, the Pictures, UNEP, C Thege/ Das Fotoarchiv/Still Pictures p13 R Giling/Still Pictures. R Giling/Still World Health Organization, the United Pictures, E Bartolucci/ Das Fotoarchiv/Still Pictures, Nations, and several NGOs. J Schytte/Still Pictures. pp14-15 J-L Dugast/Still Pictures, S Sprague/Still Pictures, UNEP/N Hanlin, The text of this publication may be J Boethling/Still Pictures, R Giling/Still Pictures, M Edwards/Still Pictures, H Lade/Still Pictures, reproduced in whole or in part and M Kolloffel/Still Pictures p17 UNEP/S Spripolklung, in any form for educational or UNEP, UNEP, UNEP/L S Li pp18-19 UNEP/K S nonprofit uses, without special Hong, UNEP/W Mack, UNEP/A Brown, UNEP/C permission, provided acknowledgment Adcock, UNEP/D O'Brien, UNEP/K Ferallo, UNEP/ J R Cerqueira, UNEP/D Fueitt p20 UNEP/R Otlerrga of the source is made. The GEF Sontojo, UNEP/S Hensek, S Chape, UNEP/A V Singh Secretariat would appreciate receiving pp22-23 T Allofs/Still Pictures, Peter Arnold/Das a copy of any publication that uses Fotoarchiv/Still Pictures, S Sprague/Still Pictures, this book for its source. Copies may UNEP/J Canete, R Giling/Still Pictures, J Schytte/Still Pictures, P Bubb, J Schytte/Still Pictures p 24 be sent to the GEF Secretariat in care M Edwards/Still Pictures, S Sprague/Still Pictures, of the address above. R Giling/Still Pictures, UNEP/T Mwai. 14253 678 Global Environment Facility 1818 H St., NW Washington, DC 20433 United States of America http://www.theGEF.org achieving the millennium development goals