Washington – October 01, 2026 -- Diego Mesa Puyo began a four-year term as CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), taking charge of the world's largest public environmental funder as it opens its GEF-9 cycle backed by more than $4.3 billion in initial donor pledges for 2026-2030.
UK adds £330 million to GEF-9 replenishment as total donor commitments pass $4 billion
The UK government pledged £330 million to the fund last week, pushing country commitments to the ninth replenishment above $4 billion. The capital will finance environmental protection and restoration programs through 2030, with deepened support planned for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, alongside expanded engagement with Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Mesa Puyo previously mobilized $3 billion in private energy investment as Colombia's minister
Mesa Puyo, a Colombian-Canadian economist, most recently served as Deputy Chief of the Climate Policy Division at the International Monetary Fund. He led Colombia's Ministry of Energy and Mines from 2018 to 2022, overseeing an energy transition agenda that mobilized more than $3 billion in private investment and is cited as one of Latin America's most ambitious. He holds a master's in economics from McGill University, a bachelor's from Concordia University, and has held the CFA designation since 2012.
"We have a global responsibility to protect nature and the environment while propelling sustainable economic growth," Mesa Puyo said, adding that achieving 2030 goals requires aligning development with environmental action.
New CEO will prioritize blended finance and institutional reform across GEF-9 cycle
His four-year mandate will focus on scaling integrated environmental solutions, expanding blended finance mechanisms, strengthening whole-of-government approaches, and improving institutional effectiveness, according to priorities set by GEF member countries. He succeeds Claude Gascon, who served as Interim CEO and Chairperson and now returns to his role as Director of Strategy and Operations.