4 10 2 print Interview with the new CEO of The GEF, the world's largest funder of environmental projects

The Global Environment Facility or "GEF" unites 182 government members, in partnership with multiple international institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector, with the goal of addressing global environmental issues.

Established in 1991, the GEF has grown to become the world's largest funder of projects to improve the global environment. The GEF has directly allocated $10.5 billion in project finance and supplemented more than $51 billion in co-financing, for more than 2,700 projects in over 165 developing countries. Through its Small Grants Program (SGP), the GEF has also made more than 12,000 grants directly to nongovernmental and community organizations, totaling $495 million.

The following is an interview with Dr. Naoko Ishii of Japan, who was recently elected as the new CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility, by the unanimous decision of the GEF's governing council.