Notification 2008-098

Dear Madam/Sir, As you may be aware, the Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) requested the GEF Evaluation Office to undertake an independent mid-term review of the GEF Resource Allocation Framework (RAF) at its 32nd meeting in November 2007. The findings of the review will be presented to the GEF Council at its November 2008 meeting. In decision IX/31, the Conference of the Parties decided to continue to explore ways and means to improve the effectiveness of providing guidance to the financial mechanism, including the four-year framework for programme priorities related to utilization of GEF resources for biodiversity, coinciding with replenishments of the Trust Fund of the GEF. The GEF Evaluation Office is currently conducting an online survey as part of the mid-term review of the RAF. I am pleased to forward to you herewith a message from the GEF Evaluation Office, which contains a link to the online survey (http://www.surveymk.com//s.aspx?sm=aEMrnMQ2Q38exsvL_2fuE0vg_3d_3d) and a copy of the Microsoft Word version (http://www.cbd.int/doc/external/gef/gef-raf-review-2008-en.doc), which should be completed and returned, as an e-mail attachment, directly to: RAFevaluation@thegef.org . I wish to invite you all to actively participate in the survey and provide feedback on your experience with the RAF and your views on how it could be improved in order to enable the GEF to more effectively support the implementation of the CBD programmes and cross-cutting issues. The deadline for completing and submitting the survey is Friday, 22 August 2008. Further information about the mid-term review is available at: http://www.thegef.org/gefevaluation.aspx?id=18472 Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: SBSTTA Focal Points, GTI National Focal Points