The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank have a deep, long-standing partnership: the World Bank co-founded the GEF in 1991, serves as its trustee, and acts as one of its main implementing agencies. Together, they mobilize billions in financing to support environmental projects worldwide, especially in developing countries.

Key Aspects

The World Bank acts as Trustee of the GEF trust funds, managing contributions from donor countries.

The Bank also hosts the functionally independent GEF Secretariat, providing administrative support.

GEF was co-founded in 1991 by the World Bank, UNDP, and UNEP to provide new funding for global environmental benefits.