GEF Council Consultation with Civil Society: Conversation with GEF CEO & Council Members

​The GEF partnership has long acknowledged the vital contribution that civil society makes in delivering global environmental benefits and to all areas of sustainable development, human rights, policy making and social services.  Engaging civil society, empowering women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples, and local communities as environmental leaders is essential to lasting conservation and development outcomes. Moreover, support for civil society organizations (CSOs), Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs), women and youth as conservation leaders has time and again proven to be an effective and efficient means of achieving and sustaining GEBs. As all of humanity depends upon the services provided by nature, the whole of society must be included in decisions and actions to turn the tide of environmental degradation, and shift to more durable, regenerative and robust production systems and livelihoods.

​This CSO consultation will build on a series of consultations with civil society, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and youth that the GEF Secretariat has organized and facilitated during GEF-8, including the “Whole of Society Talks” that have been organized by the GEF CSO Network. It will provide an opportunity for CSOs to hear about the GEF ambition around the Whole of Society (WoS) approach and engage in an open dialogue with Council Members, the GEF CEO and civil society leaders ahead of the third GEF-9 replenishment meeting scheduled in January 2026. 

​Note: The consultation will include simultaneous translations in French and Spanish. Feel free to share the information with your CSO networks.