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Multilateral Environmental Agreements

Certain multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) take into account the special needs of LDCs or give them priority in the allocation of resources. In most cases LDCs are considered along with other categories of countries, in particular SIDS:

The GEF

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established in 1992 to help tackle global environmental problems. It administers several funds, helping developing countries and countries with economies in transition to meet the objectives of the international environmental conventions and agreements. Apart from the LDC Fund (see the page on climate change here):

• Allocation of resources of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund for biodiversity, climate change and land degradation relies primarily on indicators of ¡°global benefits¡± (related to globally relevant characteristics of the country in the three target areas), country performance and GDP. After allocation based on these criteria, adjustments are made based on established floors and ceilings to ensure no country receives too many or too few resources. LDCs and SIDS have higher minimum allocation floors than other countries. For the GEF¡¯s 9^th replenishment period, the allocation floors are as follows:

• The has a portfolio level target of allocation for LDCs and SIDS, collectively. GBFF resources are allocated through competitive selection rounds under each programming tranche. Some project rounds may be limited to LDCs and SIDS.
• The Chemicals and Waste focal area programs under GEF prioritize LDCs, SIDS and African States.

Other funds

• The is a blended finance instrument to mobilise action and resources to protect and restore coral reef ecosystems. Although it does not cater exclusively to LDCs, it pays particular attention to LDCs and SIDS. The Fund advances the progress of projects and initiatives already underway in SIDS and LDCs, while delivering proven models to new focal areas.

What happens when countries graduate?

• GEF Trust Fund: After graduation, the LDC floor will continue to apply until the end of that GEF replenishment period. Graduating from the LDC category does not automatically mean that countries will receive smaller GEF allocations. It will only make a difference in allocation if the primary allocation is under the LDC floors. Rules and allocation floors are agreed upon for each replenishment period.
• Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF): A country that graduates will no longer be included in the priority group unless it is a SIDS, and will instead compete for the broader share of resources allocated to countries that are neither LDCs nor SIDS.
• GEF Chemicals and Waste: A country that graduates will not have access to future projects that are specifically targeted to LDCs.
• Organizations and funds that pay particular attention to LDCs but are not exclusively dedicated to LDCs will not typically withdraw funds or other forms of assistance abruptly. Account is taken of countries' persisting needs beyond graduation.