The primary role of the World Bank is to assist countries alleviate poverty and attain their development goals in a sustainable manner. However, sustainable economic development is threatened by a wide range of global environmental issues. Hence, the World Bank can better help countries to meet their development goals if it also assists them to address these global environmental issues. This approach is articulated in The World Bank Environment Strategy (see link in the box on the right) which focuses on three objectives:
- Improving the quality of life
- Improving the quality of growth
- Protecting the quality of the regional and global commons.
The World Bank Group's GEF Coordination Team consisting of global environment specialists, GEF Regional Coordinators and IFC staff work closely with World Bank clients, regional project teams, and GEF partners to identify and prepare projects which are in full conformity with the guidance provided by the Conference to the Parties for the UN Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), and meet the financing criteria of the GEF and Montreal Protocol.
World Bank Country Offices and Regional Missions are the first point of contact for most government officials, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and other local partners interested in GEF support. For questions concerning the World Bank and GEF, you may also send an email message to the World Bank's GEF Coordination Team at:
Global Environment Facility Coordination Team
Environment Department
The World Bank
1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
USA
Telephone: +1 202 473 1816
Fax: +1 202 522 3256
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