Tripoli, 21 December 2025 – The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved USD5.8 million for a new flagship initiative that will help Libya reverse land degradation, protect biodiversity, and strengthen climate resilience. The initiative, “Integrated Land and Water Management (ILWM) for Enhanced Ecosystem Goods and Services in Libya,” will be executed by the Ministry of Environment, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The project in the Ubari Lakes Basin aims to reverse ecosystem, biodiversity and land degradation while mitigating the impacts of climate change. Its objective is to integrate land and water management, harmonize environmental conservation with national priorities and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources.

The GEF-supported initiative will introduce a coordinated policy and operational framework that integrates land, water, biodiversity, and livelihood management. Over a period of five years, it will strengthen national institutions, introduce innovative nature-based solutions, and support local communities to adopt climate-resilient and sustainable practices.

UNDP Resident Representative, Dr Sophie Kemkhadze, welcomed the approval, noting that, “This initiative in the Ubari Lakes Basin represents a timely and strategic investment in people and ecosystems, helping Libya protect its natural heritage, expand sustainable livelihood opportunities, and build long-term climate resilience.”

To achieve these goals, the initiative is expected to strengthen environmental governance, including supporting national partners to lay the groundwork for a proposed 100,000-hectare Ubari Lakes National Park and updating policy and planning tools to integrate biodiversity conservation, Land Degradation Neutrality, and climate adaptation. It will also rehabilitate 225 hectares of degraded lake, wetland, and oasis ecosystems and promote sustainable, climate-resilient land and water management practices across 2,000 hectares, helping restore ecosystem services and reduce pressure on scarce natural resources.

At the community level, the initiative will widen livelihood opportunities for more than 2,250 people, at least half of whom are women, through targeted capacity development, improved ecosystem benefits, and the creation of approximately 700 green jobs in eco-tourism, sustainable agriculture, oasis restoration, and climate-smart micro-enterprises. 

The project will further enhance coordination by establishing a multi-stakeholder Landscape and Water Management Council and developing a digital knowledge platform to capture local innovations and traditional knowledge. 

This GEF investment directly supports Libya’s commitments under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), contributes to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and aligns with national efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda and strengthen resilience under Libya’s evolving climate and biodiversity policies.

For more information, or media interviews, please contact: media.ly@undp.org

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations organisation fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.

About the Global Environment Facility

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) includes several multilateral funds working together to address the planet’s most pressing challenges in an integrated way. Its financing helps developing countries address complex challenges and work towards meeting international environmental goals. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $26 billion in financing, primarily as grants, and mobilized another $153 billion for country-driven priority projects.