Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has acknowledged the positive contribution by the Global Environment Facility (G.E.F.) to the development of countries like Samoa.

 Fiame, who is also Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, led Samoa’s delegation to the 6th G.E.F. Assembly in Vietnam.

She was accompanied by Samoa’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia, C.E.O. of M.N.R.E., Ulu Bismarck Crawley, and Anne Rasmussen, A.C.E.O. and G.E.F. Adviser, M.N.R.E.).

G.E.F. has successfully resourced national activities mainly on climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation, land degradation, chemicals and waste, and international waters. 

In a statement she delivered at the meeting, Fiame acknowledged positive progress on many fronts. 

This also included the issues that needed focused attention to ensure Samoa gets optimal benefit from G.E.F’s contribution, such as timely access to G.E.F. resources due to the delay in the approval process. 

In addition to that was the need to revise procedures for access and approval to environment and climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building of relevance to S.I.D.S. 

The gathering was reminded of the need to consider the special case of S.I.D.S. particularly their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and other external factors, must be considered and reflected in G.E.F. Council decisions both in terms of resource allocations and project approval considerations.

A total of 29 donors pledged resources to G.E.F.-7 resulting in an overall envelope of US$4.1 billion (T$9.7billion), which includes new donor funding of US$3.3 million in new funding and US$573 million in carryover from previous replenishment and US$150 million in projected investment income. 

Twenty two contributing countries maintained their pledges as in G.E.F 6 and 15 increased their contributions. 

Excluding the impact of currency revaluation, new donor funding to G.E.F.-7 is slightly more than G.E.F.-6 level – which highlights strong support for G.E.F. 

For the new cycle of funding, Samoa is looking at utilizing its national allocations on Food Security and an Ocean Programme focusing on waste, plastics and affected biodiversity.