Executive Director of the Ipanema Institute, Ninon Machado, represented FAN on one of its key themes – the rights to water and sanitation – at the 4th Assembly of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) in Uruguay earlier this year. It was a really good opportunity for FANAS to establish links with this important financing mechanism and spread the word about the network.

The GEF is a global partnership of 178 countries, international institutions, NGOs and the private sector which aims to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Having a presence at one of the organisation’s key meetings was great for raising the network’s profile. 

The GEF is also a major donor and provides grants for projects related to six focal areas: biodiversity; climate change; international waters; land degradation; the ozone layer and persistent organic pollutants. The network received lots of attention from the audience and German Rocha, focal point of the South American countries for GEF and co convenor of 4th Assembly of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) in Uruguaythe FAN South America network, facilitated the session Dialogue: Intensifying the alliance with civil society.

Capacity building and the lack of a gender perspective in programs was highlighted throughout the event which was key to building FANAS’s relationship with the GEF and opens the door for new partnerships and funding for FAN’s regional networks.