Be consistent with national and regional initiatives.

Ensure sustainability of global environmental benefits.

Be environmentally, socially, and financially sustainable. Facilitate effective responses by other entities to address global environmental issues.

The progress toward which it is working is global sustainability – the integration of local, national and regional economic development with protection of the planet’s environment. Initially created in 1991, the GEF was restructured, in conformity with Agenda 21, to be a permanent entity for financing global environmental actions while contributing to sustainable development. The total number of GEF members has grown to over 155 countries from the original 34 participating nations – including 13 recipient countries, in 1994.
Chapter 17 concerns the protection and development of the oceans, all kinds of seas and coastal areas, so here we will consider the response by GEF to international waters. This term is used for the purpose of the operational strategy to include the oceans, large marine ecosystems, enclosed or semi-enclosed seas and estuaries as well as rivers, lakes, groundwater systems, and wetlands with transboundary drainage basins.
The world’s water resources are under enormous stress, and the ecosystems, people, and economic development that depend on these resources are facing an uncertain future. Global environmental concerns relating to international waters include;

Degradation of the quality of water resources caused mainly by pollution from land-based activities.

Physical habitat degradation of coastal and near-shore marine areas.

Introduction of non-indigenous species that affect aquatic ecosystems.

Over exploitation of living and non-living resources.

The degradation of marine and freshwater systems is causing irreversible environmental effects, losses to economy, health concerns in the human population and investments to slow the damage.
The international water area includes numerous international conventions, treaties and agreements. Initiatives provide a new opportunity for cooperating nations to link many different programs and instruments into regional approaches to address international waters. Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 offers particular guidance to countries and GEF activities undertaken in the area of international waters are consistent with that of Agenda 21.

THE GEF ROLE

In international waters, the objectives of GEF is to contribute primarily as a catalyst to the implementation of a more comprehensive, ecosystem-based approach in managing international waters and their drainage basins as a means to achieve global environmental benefits. They will play a role in assisting countries seeking to leverage financing in association with national funding, development financing, agency funding, and private sector action to sustainably manage international waters.
Stakeholder involvement and participation of different sectors in each recipient country also constitute important elements of GEF activities concerning international waters. Such involvement can foster broad involvement in planning and implementing GEF international waters projects and should help to improve the quality, public awareness, and scientific basis of these projects.

EXAMPLES OF INTERNATIONAL WATERS PROJECTS

Project Name: Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the Dnieper River Basin and Development of SAP Implementation mechanisms The project develops a coordinated protection and rehabilitation program for the Black Sea that makes use of a comprehensive basin wide approach. The Dnieper River discharges pollutants into the Black Sea, some of which are through sedimentation from forests and the surrounding agricultural and urban areas. These pollutants have contributed to increased water toxicity in the river, leading to the disappearance of 20 wildlife species and the rapid habitat degradation of over 44,800 species of marine animals. The GEF have allocated £7 million for this project.

Project Name: Caspian Sea

The project will establish an effective Coordination Framework for the Caspian Environment Programme (CEP); identify a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the Caspian region; prepare a GEF Proposal for further development and implementation of a TDA and Strategic Action Programme for the Caspian Environment. The GEF have allocated £0.3499 millions to the project.
The CEP is a regional programme for the five Caspian Littoral States; Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan, aiming to halt the deterioration of environmental conditions of the Caspian Sea and to promote sustainable development in the area.
The need for joint protection and management of the Caspian environment and its resources has always preoccupied the Caspian States and since the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991), there has been heightened awareness of such a need. Regional agreements have expressed the desire for regional cooperation, i.e., The Declaration on Environmental Cooperation in the Caspian, Almaty, May 1994.
The CEP is addressing multiple environmental issues, focusing on:

Effective regional intersectoral coordination and environmental management. Public awareness and involvement in the CEP, including the National Caspian Action Plans (NCAP) and regional Strategic Action Programme (SAP). Transboundary biodiversity priorities. Sustainable management of aquatic resources. The Programme Coordination Unit coordinates and manages the development and implementation of the CEP. It arranges regional meetings, coordinates data and information management within the CEP and coordinates activities of the Caspian Regional Thematic Centres.
This programme and project support through the GEF, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank will assist in securing a full implementation of the CEP during the first four years (July 1998 to June 2002).
It is most appropriate to view the GEF as a pioneer operating on one of the frontiers of sustainable development. The mechanisms it has developed for cooperative experimentation, particularly among governments, non-governmental organisations and multilateral development agencies are proving to be effective and flexible.
Some developing countries however lack the full array of technical and managerial resources to see sophisticated projects through from the beginning to the end without some outside help. In some cases, this reality has slowed access to funds, which is a problem that GEF recognises and is seeking to overcome.
In summary, The GEF is a unique international entity with a number of positive accomplishments in response to the detailed mandate of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It represents a fresh force moving in the right direction.