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Integrated Approach Pilot (IAP) programs were conceived as part of the Global Environment Facility 2020 Strategy to test the delivery of integrated approaches that address discrete, timebound, complex, global environmental challenges. In its sixth replenishment cycle (GEF-6), three IAPs were funded: Sustainable Cities, Taking Deforestation out of Commodity Supply Chains, and Fostering Sustainability and Resilience for Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa, also known as the Resilient Food Systems (RFS) program.

The Resilient Food Systems (RFS) program is one of three Integrated Approach Pilot programs financed by the GEF during the sixth replenishment cycle (GEF-6). In 2021, the RFS program made significant progress toward enhancing the long-term resilience and sustainability of smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa. The 2021 Programme Highlights showcases the achievements and innovations of the RFS regional partners, country project teams and beneficiary communities across 12 targeted countries.

To ensure that each of the Integrated Approach Pilot (IAP) programs achieve coherence and consistency, an overall governance framework is required to support their implementation, including alignment and coordination with diverse stakeholders and initiatives. A dedicated coordination project serves as basis for anchoring the governance framework for each program.

In addition to key principles for advancing the integrated approach, the design and implementation of the GEF-6 Integrated Approach Pilot (IAP) programs also considered five cross-cutting priorities for the GEF: gender mainstreaming, resilience, stakeholder engagement, the private sector, and knowledge management. This report synthesizes trends and emerging lessons on how these priorities are being addressed across the programs, including case studies and examples from the project portfolios.

The Integrated Approach Pilot (IAP) program on Sustainable Cities aims to promote sustainable urban development through integrated models of urban design, planning, and implementation. The program adopted two interrelated and complementary components – direct investment in sustainability solutions in cities and the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC) as a global convening space for developing and sharing knowledge to promote integrated urban planning and investments.

The Integrated Approach Pilot (IAP) program on Fostering Resilience and Sustainability for Food Security in sub-Saharan Africa, rebranded by partners as Resilient Food Systems, (RFS), is tackling drivers of environmental degradation in smallholder agricultural systems, specifically in the drylands.

The Integrated Approach Pilots (IAP) program on Taking Deforestation out of Commodity Supply Chains, re-branded by partners as the Good Growth Partnership (GGP), is advancing an integrated supply chain approach focused on three major commodities that account for more than 70% of tropical deforestation: beef, oil palm, and soy.

Integrated programming was a key component of the GEF-6 replenishment cycle and a priority for implementation of the GEF 2020 strategy. The focus was on supporting recipient countries to tackle major drivers of environmental degradation in a holistic manner, while ensuring that progress in any dimension of the global environment does not negatively affect other related objectives.

This report summarizes key findings from a learning exercise on the GEF-6 Integrated Approach Pilot (IAP) programs, which were launched in 2014 as a new approach to tackling major drivers of environmental degradation. The programs were designed to enhance synergy in generating multiple global environmental benefits across GEF focal areas, while ensuring that progress in one area does not negatively affect other related objectives.

The Resilient Food Systems (RFS) program is one of three Integrated Approach Pilot programs financed by the GEF during the sixth replenishment cycle (GEF-6). It aims to improve the resilience and sustainability of smallholder agricultural systems while generating global environmental benefits. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the RFS program has continued to progress with advancing integrated solutions in smallholder agriculture across dryland regions in Africa.