The assembly of the GEF is considered the highest decision-making body of the organization
The coordinator of the Rutî Indigenous Fund, of the Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), Josimara Baré, participated from June 2 to 5 in the 8th Assembly of the Global Fund for Agriculture Environment (GEF), the institution's main governance body responsible for financing environmental initiatives around the world.
The meeting held in the city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, brought together representatives of member countries to discuss strategic priorities and the future of the global investments in biodiversity, climate and sustainable development.
Josimara Baré, was at the event at the invitation of the GEF Secretariat, integrating the spaces of dialogue aimed at civil society and indigenous peoples. Participation had as an objective to contribute with recommendations based on the Fund's experience Indigenous Rutî, an initiative that supports projects and actions led by the peoples indigenous people of Roraima. Josimara, highlighted the importance of expanding the Indigenous protagonism in decision-making processes and direct access to resources aimed at environmental protection and sustainable development.
"It's mine first time participating in a GEF space, and I have been watching it carefully. There is a lot of talk about resources, nature, goals and flows. But there is still little talk about resources about real impacts and the courage to make big changes. We, the peoples indigenous people, we don't just want to be consulted or appear in speeches. We want to participate in decisions, access resources directly, with flexibility, and show that we already have our own paths to protect the future of all of us",said the coordinator.
The Assembly of the GEF is considered the highest decision-making body of the organization. Among its Attributions are the review of policies, the evaluation of the results achieved the programs financed and the definition of the guidelines that will guide the future applications of resources for environmental protection and the tackling climate change. It is responsible for analyzing and approving proposed amendments to the Instrument for the Establishment of the GEF Restructured, the key legal document that defines the functioning of the GEF, as well as any other recommendations emanating from the GEF Council.
Parallel to the official program, the Forum of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) brought together representatives of indigenous peoples, local communities, women, youth networks and other social groups to share experiences and present proposals related to the mission of the GEF.
The Global Fund for the Environment (GEF) plays a central role in architecture financial fund, being the largest multilateral fund in the world dedicated to tackling the global environmental challenges, acting as a financial mechanism for various multilateral conventions on the environment.