The Global Environment Facility Pacific Alliance for Sustainability (GEF-PAS) is a unique response to address the issue of access to GEF funds. Through GEF-PAS, resources are used more effectively in the Region, thereby improving the global and national environments. Access to GEF funds in the Pacific Region has been low compared to other parts of the developing world. The new approach has been acknowledged by Pacific Island leaders as an improvement that will be “nationally driven and help to overcome many of the constraints the Region has faced in the past”. The GEF-PAS has the potential to be an early and substantive demonstration of the benefits of the GEF compact for both developing countries and the global environment. It could also influence the preparation of additional, comprehensive, regionally coordinated, and nationally executed strategic investment programs.

Targeting environmental and natural resources management, GEF-PAS projects will build local capacity; provide access to outside knowledge on improving environmental management; improve the mainstreaming of the environment in national and regional development planning; and encourage sustainable environmental management. Accomplishing this focused activity, the GEF-PAS will assist the Pacific Island countries (PIC) to work through a comprehensive checklist:(a) Balancing community-focused actions, country-based drivenness, regional coordination, and delivery of global benefits;(b) Ensuring that GEF modalities are more reflective of national and regional circumstances;(c) Adopting an integrated, programmatic approach rather than a focal area and project-based approach;(d) Balancing national and regional projects;(e) Emphasizing on-the-ground action rather than planning and assessments;(f) Ensuring that countries and the Region have the absorptive capacity required to undertake activities in an efficient and effective manner;(g) Recognizing the limited co-financing opportunities for environment-related projects in Pacific Island countries and(h) Sharing expertise and information.

Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Nauru, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Timor Leste with ADB, FAO, GEF, UNDP, UNEP, and WB.