OVERVIEW

The GCFF was established in 2016 in response to the Syrian refugee crisis. As the crisis unfolded, many Syrians sought refuge in neighboring Jordan and Lebanon. These two countries opened their borders to their neighbors in need, thus providing a global public good. However, the arrival of large numbers of refugees put a severe strain on their economies, service provision, and infrastructure. These middle-income countries could not borrow from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) at concessional rates traditionally reserved for the poorest nations. Hence the international community created the GCFF to provide concessional financing to countries hosting large numbers of refugees.

The GCFF, hosted by the World Bank, uses donor contributions from Supporting Countries (SCs) to reduce borrowing costs for development projects that benefit refugees and host communities. Development projects under the Facility are supported by five partner multilateral development banks (MDBs): the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Investment Bank (EIB), Inter-American Development Bank (IaDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the World Bank (WB). The GCFF has provided support amounting to $953 million in grants which have enabled the provision of over $7.3 billion in loans on concessional terms for development projects which include focus on improving the lives of refugees and host communities in Armenia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Jordan, Lebanon, and Moldova.

Context

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million
People forcibly displaced worldwide as of end-2022
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million
People were refugees as of December 2022
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million
People were displaced within their home country’s borders as of December 2022

GCFF Impact

GCFF-supported operations to date have directly reached 7.5 million beneficiaries, including at least 3.9 million refugees and 1.6 million host community members.

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Almost 1.8 milliion people received essential health or nutrition services under GCFF-supported operations (just over 1 million in Colombia and almost 700,000 in Jordan)

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Over 2 million refugees received the right to work in their hosting country:

  • 1.8 milliion in Colombia
  • Almost 100,000 in Ecuador and approximately 57,000 in Jordan
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Over 1.2 million people benefited from improved access to infrastructure or municipal services to date, the vast majority in Lebanon

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23 policies supported to expand rights and protections for refugees and host communities

Since its inception in 2016, the GCFF has approved $953 million in grants, which, due to the leveraging factor of the Facility, has enabled over $7.3 billion MDB lending to be provided on concessional terms for development projects that include a focus on improving the lives of refugees and host communities. The GCFF supported projects cut across a range of sectors, including job-creation, expanding vital public services (such as health and education), and developing sustainable infrastructure.

$7.3 billion

Total lending on concessional terms

$953 million

Allocations to projects (2016-Present)

GCFF PORTFOLIO

1 project

In policy reform, inclusive and sustainable development

$16 million

Funding from the GCFF

$116 million

Total project financing

5 projects

In health, housing, policy reform, and economic opportunities

$134.79 million

Funding from the GCFF

$1.92 billion

Total project financing

1 project

In climate resilient recovery and territorial development

$20 million

Funding from the GCFF

$370 million

Total project financing

3 projects

In sustainable development, and green and resilient policy financing

$50.10 million

Funding from the GCFF

$1.5 billion

Total project financing

17 projects

In health, education, infrastructure, and jobs

$592.81 million

Funding from the GCFF

$3.6 billion

Total project financing

5 projects

In health, transport, and social protection

$92.55 million

Funding from the GCFF

$525 million

Total project financing

3 projects

In education, emergency response, resilience, and competitiveness

$44.24 million

Funding from the GCFF

$384.24 million

Total project financing

HOW DOES CONCESSIONALITY WORK?

KEY FEATURES OF THE GCFF

The GCFF is country-owned and reponds to benefiting country priorities.

Funding requests are submitted by Benefiting Countries together with Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs) when projects are ready for internal approvals.

The GCFF provides concessionality for loan operations for middle income countries. On an exceptional basis, the GCFF can also provide grant funding.

Decisions to allocate GCFF funds are made by consensus of the Supporting Countries.

GCFF funding is calculated to result in reduced borrowing rates that cannot go below the IDA (low income country) borrowing rate.

The ISAs integrate GCFF funds into their loan operations based on their applicable policies and procedures.

Funding requests involve operations that support both refugee populations and host communities, as part of the Benefiting Country’s development agenda.

Results reporting includes specific pre-agreed indicators regarding refugees and hosts.

QUOTES FROM SUPPORTERS

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SUPPORTING COUNTRIES

As of March 2024, a total of $947.98 million has been received.

  • null

    182.92

    Japan

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    78.92

    Denmark

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    175.38

    UK

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    72.41

    Norway

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    135

    USA

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    51.16

    Canada

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    102.41

    Germany

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    50.23

    Sweden

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    92.69

    Netherlands

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    5.36

    EU

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    182.92

    Japan

  • null

    175.38

    UK

  • null

    130

    USA

  • null

    102.41

    Germany

  • null

    81.82

    Netherlands

  • null

    78.92

    Denmark

  • null

    72.42

    Norway

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    55.16

    Canada

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    50.24

    Sweden

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    5.36

    EU

FOUNDING PARTNERS

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SUPPORTING COUNTRIES

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Canada

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Denmark

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European Commission

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Germany

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Japan

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Norway

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Netherlands

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Sweden

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United Kingdom

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United States of America

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Canada

null

Denmark

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European Commission

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Germany

null

Japan

null

Norway

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Netherlands

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Sweden

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United Kingdom

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United States of America

CURRENT BENEFITING COUNTRIES

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Colombia

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Costa Rica

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Ecuador

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Jordan

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Lebanon

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Moldova

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Colombia

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Costa Rica

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Ecuador

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Jordan

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Lebanon

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Moldova

IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT AGENCIES