The Environment Fund is the principal source of financing for the implementation of the programme of UNEP. The contributions are voluntary and all Member States of the United Nations are expected to make adequate and timely payments.

Background
The Environment Fund was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to provide financing for environmental programmes. Altogether 178 countries have made at least one voluntary contribution to the Environment Fund over the period from 1973-2008. 12 countries have maintained their regular annual contributions over the whole period, thus ensuring continuous support and implementation of UNEP programmes.

Environment Fund in 2003-2008
The Environment Fund takes first priority in the resource mobilization efforts of UNEP. The major progress in mobilizing contributions has been achieved since 2003, after the introduction of the voluntary indicative scale of contributions (VISC). The GC/GMEF in Cartagena (2002) requested UNEP to propose VISC for the biennial budget. The Executive Director made the first step and launched a pilot phase of VISC for the second year of the biennium 2002-2003. The first biennial VISC was developed for 2004-2005 and then revised for 2006-2007 and 2008-2009. The introduction of VISC and other voluntary options contained in paragraph 18 of decision SS.VII/1 has proved to be an efficient approach in stimulating voluntary contributions to the Environment Fund. The donor base has been broadened, as more than 110 countries are now making their annual contributions to the Environment Fund, compare to average 76 countries making annual payments prior to 2003. The payments also increased, and in 2008 UNEP is expecting a record high level of contributions of more than US$88m to the Environment Fund.