Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- UNDP Uzbekistan conducted a one-day workshop on the fifth cycle of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-5) for the Inter-agency Commission on GEF projects, headed by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of Uzbekistan, the convention focal points to present strategies and opportunities for programming/eligibility within the next four years period, starting in July 1, 2010.

The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) operating since 1991 provides grants to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, chemicals, land use, land use change and forestry. In partnership with its ten implementing agencies including UNDP, UNEP, World Bank and ADB currently the GEF is the largest funder of projects contributing to tackling the global environmental challenges. It also acts as a financial mechanism for three global environmental conventions: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UN Convention on Biological Diversity and UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNFCC, UNCBD, and UNCCC).

To boost cooperation with GEF, Government of Uzbekistan has established an Inter-agency Commission on GEF projects headed by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade aimed at formation of GEF national project portfolio to meet the highest national priorities. The workshop was attended by more than 50 participants including representatives of key ministries, convention focal points (UNFCCC, UNCBD, and UNCCD), government agencies, NGOs and state-owned business companies operating in energy, transport, construction, public utilities and other sectors.

Presentations delivered by Ms. Adriana Dinu, UNDP Environment and Energy Regional Practice Leader for Europe and CIS provided a comprehensive overview of strategies and opportunities that will be available within the new GEF-5 Programming cycle. During brief introduction to GEF activities Ms. Dinu highlighted main changes within the forthcoming programming cycle, informed participants on estimated GEF-5 replenishments as well as expected potential allocations available for Uzbekistan within the System for Transparent Allocation of Resources (STAR). Ms. Dinu focused and made a detailed presentation on six focal area strategies: biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, international waters, chemicals and sustainable forest management. Special session was devoted to presentation of GEF specialized trust funds: Special Climate Change Funds and Adaptation Fund that provide new opportunities to make Uzbekistan more resilient to climate change impacts.

Participants were very keen to learn various modalities of cooperation to be provided within the GEF’s fifth programming cycle and were able to receive information on opportunities to identify priorities within the respective focal areas, formulate their project proposals and submit them to GEF-5.