FAO and GEF-9
Since 2006, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Global Environment Facility have partnered to help countries tackle the interconnected challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, land degradation, pollution and water stress through sustainable agrifood systems solutions. Today, FAO’s GEF portfolio supports more than 140 countries with nationally led projects that deliver global environmental benefits while advancing food security and sustainable development. Under GEF-9, FAO brings unparalleled technical expertise, a presence in over 130 countries, and strong partnerships across governments, finance institutions and communities to design and scale transformative solutions that turn environmental ambition into measurable impact.
Focal Areas
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BiodiversityIn GEF-9, countries can access financing to advance integrated landscape and seascape approaches, support the implementation of the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols, and mobilize domestic & international resources for biodiversity conservation, sustaianble use and restoration. FAO helps countries make the most of this opportunity by mainstreaming biodiversity across agricultural sectors — including fisheries and forestry — and developing the instruments needed to sustainably use and conserve biodiversity, with particular attention to at genetic resources, species and ecosystem levels. FAO also supports countries in designing biodiversity-friendly agricultural policies and budgets, ensuring that agrifood systems contribute to — rather than undermine — environmental sustainability. Alongside this, FAO strengthens countries' capacity to monitor and report progress towards global Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM GBF) biodiversity targets, providing the evidence base needed to demonstrate results and sustain financing. |
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Climate ChangeIn GEF-9, FAO will assist countries to scale up climate action towards more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems. In particular, FAO will support Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States to access climate finance through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) for investments in locally-led solutions, including climate resilient practices and innovations in crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries and aquaculture systems. FAO will support integrated projects and programs across the GEF-9 adaptation themes: agriculture and food systems, water security, and nature-based solutions, to deliver climate resilience, food security, emissions reduction, and biodiversity conservation benefits. |
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Land DegradationSustaining productive landscapes and livelihoods is central to GEF-9’s land degradation financing, with support for national drought plans, stronger policies, and improved land and water governance and management. Restoring degraded agricultural lands and soils is essential to enhance productivity, and deliver climate and biodiversity co-benefits. FAO supports countries across the full spectrum—from integrated land-use planning and sustainable land and water management to secure land tenure and governance. Data and decision-support systems underpin these efforts, enabling countries to identify degradation hotspots and guide investments. Participatory approaches and drought risk management tools further strengthen the resilience of agrifood systems in increasingly challenging environments. |
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International WatersShared water resources — from coastal and marine ecosystems to freshwater and groundwater systems — are under increasing pressure. Under GEF-9, financing will focus on reversing this trend through sustainable management, implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, and stronger governance of transboundary systems. FAO brings targeted expertise across this full spectrum. Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices can help restore the health and productivity of shared marine ecosystems, while dedicated action on marine hypoxia addresses one of the most pervasive forms of aquatic pollution threatening ocean health. In freshwater systems, FAO supports groundwater and aquifer management, integrated water and watershed approaches, and resilient, anticipatory responses to water scarcity, helping safeguard agrifood systems and rural livelihoods in a rapidly changing environment. |
| Chemicals and WastePollution from chemicals and waste poses growing risks to human health, ecosystems, and agrifood systems. Under GEF-9, financing will address these risks through stronger policy and regulatory frameworks, innovation and technology, action on plastics, private sector engagement and blended finance, and the remediation of hazardous legacy pollution. FAO’s solutions target the agrifood systems dimensions of this challenge at source and across value chains. Integrated pest management, pesticide risk reduction, and agroecology reduce the release of harmful substances into the environment, while FAO’s work on antimicrobial resistance in livestock and plants — together with food safety and foresight — addresses less visible but highly consequential chemical risks to agrifood systems. FAO also supports the transition to bioeconomy, circular, and bio-based alternatives to conventional chemicals, while applying integrated watershed management approaches to reduce pollution across landscapes and water systems. |
Integrated Programs
Food Systems
Food security and a sustainable environment speaks to the core of the FAO mission. Through multiple GEF Food Systems Integrated Programs, FAO supports countries in food systems transformation. We support countries in integrated landscape management, nature-based solutions, and policy optimization. Our expertise spans diverse agrifood systems: responsible aquaculture, resilient livestock, integrated land and water management, sustainable forestry, and value-chain innovation. FAO experts support cross-cutting areas, such as Integrated Soil and Pest Management, crop systems, monitoring, economics and integrated planning. Our convening power, decision-support tools, and resource mobilization helps countries achieve food security, climate resilience, and environmental protection at scale. Through technical assistance, an expansive toolset, and strong partnerships, including with the private sector, FAO empowers governments to design and implement projects and programs that nourish people and the planet.
Drylands and Droughts
FAO supports dryland countries to adopt integrated, anticipatory, inclusive and people-centered approaches to sustainable land and drought management in drylands. The FAO Drought Portal offers open access to advanced diagnostic and decision support tools, like the Agricultural Stress Index System, Drought Toolbox, the Water Accounting tool (WaPOR), and FireHub. FAO’s Commission on Forestry produced the first Global Drylands Assessment and multiple initiatives, like the Dryland Restoration Initiative Platform (DRIP) and the Women’s Community of Practice. FAO empowers countries to build resilience through inclusive governance, ecosystem-based practices, and innovative finance through a range of technical support needed by dryland nations: crops, livestock, forestry, land and water management, and a dedication to socioeconomic inclusion, gender equity, and support for fragile and conflict-affected contexts. FAO facilitates multi-level partnerships, participatory learning opportunities, integrated land and water management, and secure land tenure initiatives.
Critical Forest Biomes
FAO co-leads the GEF-8 Critical Forest Biome Integrated Program for the Southeast Asia and the Pacific. FAO implements 15 country projects in forest integrated programs across several GEF replenishments. With forestry expertise embedded in country and regional offices, FAO delivers tailored solutions for forest conservation, restoration, sustainable use, and building green value chains. Our technical leadership spans policy, financing, and innovative tools and platforms, like Open Foris and the Global Forest Resource Assessment. FAO's Committee on Forestry and Regional Forestry Commissions upscale results in regional and global norms and knowledge exchange. By empowering forest-dependent communities and promoting inclusive governance, FAO helps countries address climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, poverty and food insecurity through integrated action in forest landscapes.
Blue and Green Islands
FAO supports Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to address their unique challenges through source-to-sea solutions for biodiversity, climate resilience, and pollution reduction. Leveraging technical capacity across agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, forestry, sustainable land and water management, and Blue Transformation, FAO empowers SIDS through nature-based solutions, ecosystem valuation, policy coherence, and innovative, blended financing. FAO’s dedicated SIDS Office and local presence in the Pacific and Caribbean nations fosters deep local partnerships and ensures projects are nationally owned, context-specific and supportive of critical Large Marine Ecosystems. FAO connects countries to global platforms and innovative tools—SIDS Solutions Platform, Hand-in-Hand Initiative, Integrated Water Resource and Coastal Resource Management support tools—that support the uptake of integrated land-ocean management and sustainable blue and green economies for resilient islands and people.
Sustainable Cities
FAO’s technical and policy expertise and deep country-level presence help countries, cities, and partners design and implement resilient, circular, and coherent urban systems. FAO’s Green Cities Initiative, urban forestry agenda, food loss and waste platforms, and bioeconomy dashboards provide strong technical foundations for projects. Through integrated planning, knowledge platforms, and multi-stakeholder partnerships, FAO helps cities connect the dots between agriculture, forestry, food, water, and energy systems for circularity, green employment, and ecosystem restoration. FAO’s global ground presence enables context-specific, solutions that are scalable and aligned with national priorities for sustainable urban development.
Pollution-Free Supply Chains
FAO is uniquely positioned to support pollution-free supply chains in agriculture, agro-processing, and textiles, leveraging global expertise, normative leadership, and grounded experience. FAO advances sustainable agrifood systems through cleaner production, resource-efficient farming, integrated pest and nutrient management, and circular bioeconomy approaches. With strong analytical and policy advisory capabilities, FAO helps countries identify pollution hotspots, set standards, and adopt sound technologies across value chains. FAO convenes multi-stakeholder coalitions, aligns national efforts with global frameworks, and supports certification, traceability, capacity-building, and innovative pilots. Its integrated, systems-based approach drives resilient, inclusive supply chains that protect ecosystems and human health.
Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution
Plastics play a vital role in modern agrifood systems, supporting productivity, resource efficiency, and climate adaptation. However, their growing use creates mounting risks to soils, ecosystems, and human health. The Circular Solutions to Plastic Pollution Integrated Program offers countries a platform to act across the full plastics lifecycle. Bioeconomy represents an important alternative pathway: agrifood systems are well-placed to supply biobased and circular alternatives to conventional plastics, and FAO — the only intergovernmental organization with bioeconomy as a priority area in its Strategic Framework — is at the forefront of innovative approaches, partnerships, and biobased material solutions. These advances can reduce plastic pollution, lower emissions, and create new economic opportunities. While biobased solutions alone cannot replace all agricultural plastics, they remain an indispensable piece of the puzzle to transition to truly circular, pollution-free agrifood systems. Underpinning this transition, FAO's Voluntary Code of Conduct provides the guiding principles, actions, and measures needed to promote sustainable plastics management across the sector.
Global Wildlife
FAO can support countries to conserve wildlife landscapes and promote human–wildlife coexistence in line with its mandate to transform agrifood systems while protecting natural resources. FAO brings end-to-end expertise across wildlife, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and One Health, offering practical solutions and a comprehensive array of tools for sustainable use, ecologically connected landscapes, conflict mitigation, and alternative livelihoods. Through global partnerships flagship programs like the Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme, FAO scales rights-based, community-led models and informs policy. FAO's tailored technical support and innovative tools across animal health, forestry, biodiversity mainstreaming and ecosystem restoration empowers countries to address illegal trade, restore habitats, and build wildlife-positive economies for people and nature.
Cross-Cutting Themes
Blended Finance
Blended finance uses catalytic public or philanthropic capital to increase private sector investment in sustainable development. FAO helps countries plan and implement blended finance for climate-resilient, nature-positive and inclusive agrifood systems. Through investment design, technical assistance, stakeholder engagement and capacity strengthening, FAO enables blended solutions that support smallholder farmers, small-scale producers and agri-Small and Medium Enterprises in adopting sustainable practices and technologies. FAO works with governments, Multilateral Development Banks, International Financial Institutions and investors to develop dedicated blended finance facilities, guarantees, concessional loans, revolving funds, outcome-based payments, private equity funds, insurance and risk reduction facilities, carbon market funds, and innovative bonds to unlock private capital.
In GEF-9, FAO will support countries in assessing blended finance needs, strengthening institutional capacities, and fostering coordination to scale private investment for agrifood systems transformation.
GEF Small Grants Program
FAO is an accredited GEF Small Grants Program (SGP) partner working with countries to design and deliver GEF SGP portfolios that put communities at the center of environmental action. Through tailored technical expertise across forestry, rangelands, fisheries, agrobiodiversity, urban food systems and low-carbon energy, FAO helps local civil society and community-based organizations develop sound, innovative proposals and implement them effectively.
FAO streamlines grant administration, provide incubation and acceleration support, and promotes holistic, landscape- and seascape-based planning.
GEF SGP 2.0 channels direct finance and technical assistance to those on the frontlines—Indigenous Peoples, women, youth and vulnerable groups—to advance community-based ecosystem management, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, clean energy access, chemicals and waste management, and sustainable urban solutions while strengthening livelihoods and socio-ecological resilience.
Policy Optimization
FAO’s policy optimization tool (PolOpT) helps countries reallocate agrifood public support to simultaneously achieve economic, social, health and environmental goals without increasing fiscal burdens. It allows policymakers to define priorities, simulate alternative policy mixes, and compare scenarios, highlighting synergies and trade-offs across objectives such as agrifood GDP, rural poverty, off-farm employment, affordability of healthy diets, GHG emissions, and land use.
Applications in countries like Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria and Uganda show that optimized policy support can lift hundreds of thousands out of poverty, create rural jobs, make healthy diets more affordable, and reduce emissions and agricultural land use, opening space for restoration and carbon storage.
PolOpT is being integrated with KM-GBF targets and is in high demand, with GEF OFPs from 16 countries requesting support.