The GEF has been supporting the implementation of commitments of the African parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) since its inception. The GEF has thus positioned itself as one of the main funders for biodiversity conservation on the continent, with a robust portfolio of 380 projects worth $1.27 billion of Biodiversity resources (plus $0.5 billion from other focal areas) and leveraging $7 billion in co-financing. Of these projects, 322 are country-based ($977 million and $6.5 billion in co-financing), and the rest are either regional or global projects with the participation of African countries. These are 58 projects that amount to GEF $295 million leveraging $426 million in co-financing. This publication summarizes these projects and investments and provides examples of successful or unique projects in the GEF’s different thematic areas: protected areas, mainstreaming of biodiversity in the productive sector, wildlife conservation, fisheries, the Nagoya Protocol, the Cartagena Protocol, and the Small Grants Program. In addition to the recapitulation of the investment in the last 27 years, this publication summarizes the opportunities of investment in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use via the Impact Programs (IP). The IPs are programs integrating goals pertinent to the three Rio conventions with the objective of conserving biodiversity, slowing land degradation, and mitigating the emission of greenhouse gases.
