The GEF National Dialogue Initiative aims to strengthen country ownership and involvement in GEF co-financed activities through a multi-stakeholder dialogue process. National dialogues bring together key stakeholders representing a wide variety of national and local interests in sustainable development. The dialogues provide unique forums that facilitate the link between formal, professional knowledge and informal, local knowledge to address national GEF-related concerns.

The Dialogue Initiative was developed to serve as one of the tools in response to the recommendations of the Second GEF Assembly, the Third Replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund and the Second Overall Performance Study of the GEF concerning strengthened country involvement and ownership and capacity building for national focal points. It also builds upon lessons learned from the GEF Country Dialogue Workshops (CDW) Programme. The Dialogue Initiative is being organized over a four-year period as a collaborative process between the GEF national focal points, the GEF Secretariat and the Implementing Agencies. It is being implemented by UNDP based on strategic guidance provided by the GEF Secretariat.