The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established in 1991 to assist in the protection of the global environment and the promotion of sustainable development. The GEF’s involvement in addressing POPs issues dates back to 1995, mainly through regional assessments and pilot demonstrations that covered a number of pressing POPs issues. These initial activities allowed the GEF to quickly respond to requests for supporting the Stockholm Convention negotiations. At the first Conference of the Parties (COP1), a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the COP and the Council of the GEF, entrusting the GEF with the operations of the financial mechanism according to Article 14 of the Convention. A guideline for POPs Enabling Activities was adopted by the GEF Council in May 2001, the same month in which the Stockholm Convention was adopted. The year after, the second GEF Assembly amended the GEF instrument, adding Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) as a new focal area. To date, the GEF is the largest public source of financial support for measures to reduce human and environmental exposure to POPs.